May 23rd 2018: Dimsum Takeout from Sun Kong, Malden

My other half was craving some dimsum today, so I decided to get her Beaked Crispy Egg Tarts

and Sweet Tofu Beancurd

from Sun Kong in Malden.

Not bad, but I think Ming's is better.

May 22nd 2018: Hiking from Acton to Danvers

I started out this morning in the town of Acton,

Acton Water District

going for my first hike of the day at Robbins Mill Conservation Land, where the path I took is shown below in pink.

The water body here was nothing much to speak of though.

From here, it was on to Carlisle for a hike at Greystone Crossing,

where the path I took is shown below in pink.

The water body here actually had a better view from the road, but not much better.

From here, it was on to the town of Billerica

Commons at Boston Road

to hike at the Lampson Memorial Complex,

where the path I took is shown below in pink.

Pretty nice views of the ponds here.

From here, it was on to the Jones Town Forest, where the path I took here is shown below in pink.

There was nothing to see here though except for a view of the Country Club of Billerica at the end of the trail.

From here, it was on to Wilmington,

296 Shawsheen Avenue

Aleppo Shriners Auditorium

going for a hike at Lubbers Brook.

Unfortunately, only wetlands here,

From here, it was on to Danvers,

Monastery of Discalced Carmelite Nuns

William Penn Hussey,
Water Street and Pulaski Street

101st Field Artillery Regiment

where I went on a hike at the Danvers Town Forest, getting a little disoriented at first.

The water body here is more of a wetland, but still pretty serene.

Finally, the Danvers Historical Society, which was really not that well organized at all.

With that, I called it a day, heading into Malden to get a Loca con Todo Pupusa from GT Restaurant, a hole in the wall Latin American place in town.

I have to say, definitely one of the better pupusas I have had to date, being pretty flavorful.

Recommended Places to Visit: Southbridge

Recreation

Water Bodies
Carpenter Pond
Snow Street and Martin Street

Wells Pond
491 Eastford Road


Hiking

Recommended:
Westville Dam/Heritage Trail
End of Marjorie Lane

Tried:
Claire Birtz Wildlife Sanctuary
Tipton Rock Road near North Woodstock Road

McKinstry Brook Trail
Plimpton Street

Reservoir #3/#4/#5
End of Breakneck Road

Architecture

Monuments

War Memorial
~24 Elm Street beside Fire Department

Town Common
Crystal Street and Mechanic Street

Dresser Memorial Park
Main Street and Walnut Street

Felix Gatineau Statue
Main Street and South Street

Memorial
Hook Street and Hamilton Street

Places of Worship

Central Baptist Church
256 Main Street

Elm Street Congregational Church
61 Elm Street

St. Nicholas Albanian Church
126 Morris Street

Sacred Heart Church
30 Charlton Street

St. Michael's Romanian Orthodox Church
16 Romanian Avenue

Southbridge Methodist Church
449 Main Street

Notre Dame of the Sacred Heart Parish
61 Marcy Street

St. George Greek Orthodox Church
55 North Street

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
446 Hamilton Street

St. Mary's Church
263 Hamilton Street

St. Hedwig Church
29 Summer Street

New Vision Church
364 Main Street


Town Facilities

Jacob Edwards Library
236 Main Street

Fire Department
24 Elm Street

Town Hall
41 Elm Street

Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center
14 Mechanic Street

Police Department
1 Mechanic Street

Lasalle Conference Center
444 Main Street


Historical Buildings
Southbridge Savings Bank
253 Main Street

The Arc
100 Foster Street

Chapin Block
208 Hamilton Street

Hamilton Woolen Company
19 Mill Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Austrian

Vienna Restaurant and Historic Inn
14 South Street
Recommended Dishes:
Tafelspitz

Tried:
Thai
Thai Orchid
90 Charlton Street
Recommended Dishes:
Soft Shell Crab Curry

Breakfast

Happy Dog Cafe
275 South Street
Recommended Dishes:
Happy Dog

Fedele's Coffee Shop and Restaurant
13 Central Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hot Chocolate
Steak and Eggs
Corned Beef Hash
Kielbasa

Recommended Places to Visit: Dudley

Recreation

Beaches
Merino Pond Beach
End of Lakeview Avenue

Water Bodies
Larner Pond
~114 Charlton Road

Wallis Pond
~114 Charlton Road

Packard Pond
~82 Carpenter Road

New Pond
South side of 130 Hayden Pond Road

Hayden Pond
North side of 130 Hayden Pond Road

Pierpont Meadow Pond
30 Hayden Pond Road

Baker Pond
End of Kruger Island Road

Sylvestri Pond
28 Silvestri Road

French River Reservoir
Cemetery Drive near North Main Street

Hiking

Recommended:
Pierpont Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary
Marsh Road near Dudley Oxford Road

Quinebaug River Rail Trail
18 West Dudley Road

Tufts Branch Valley Wildlife Sanctuary
35 Healy Road

Tried:

Slater Woods/Peter Pond
Dudley Oxford Road near Piasta Road

Wieloch Woods/Wieloch Pond
380 West Main Street

Go-Kart Racing
Tri State Speedway
35 Chase Avenue

Architecture

Places of Worship
St. Andrew Bobola Church
54 West Main Street

First Congregational Church of Dudley
135 Center Road


Schools

Nichols College
124 Center Road

Town Facilities
Town Hall
71 West Main Street


Commercial Buildings
Webster Five Cents Savings Bank
208 West Main Street


Historical Buildings
Old Stevens Mill Building
10 West Main Street


Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western

Eighty Ates
8 Airport Road
Recommended Dishes:
Beef and Bella
Tortellini Carbonara
Three Cheese and Potato Pierogi 


Tried:
Chinese
Yummy Asian Fusion Cusine
3 Center Road
Recommended Dishes:
General Tzuo's Chicken
Chicken Fingers
Pork Fried Rice


Italian
Leoni's Brick Oven Pizzeria

59 Schofield Road

Recommended Dishes:

Spicy Curly Fries

The Unusual

Western
Drafter's Sports Cafe
35 Chase Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Corn Dog Nuggets
Wings

May 21st 2018: Hiking in Dudley, Trespassing in Southbridge

This morning, I started out in Dudley at the Quinebaug River Rail Trail,

where the path I took from the parking lot at 18 West Dudley Road is shown below in pink.

Pretty nice views of the river itself, even in the fog,

and even better of the waterfall.

Next, I headed into Southbridge in search of the 3 reservoirs there at the end of Breakneck Road. Apparently the entire place is out of bounds, but thankfully I only got caught after I had gotten to all of them.

Reservoir #3

Reservoir #4

Reservoir #5

Good thing they just let me off with a warning. A beautiful place though.