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NordicWalkMA launched its First Official Class for 2022!! January 6th, 2022, 10:15am.

 

First of all, Good Riddance 2021!!  We all hope that the craziness is behind us.  Happy New Year!!!  Well Sorta :)....  

 

We were supposed to meet at the Head Quarters of Harold Parker State Forest and hiking from there. Well, it turned out to be quite an adventure. Talk about a Perfect Storm for Denise and I.  First Denise forgot her phone when we left home. Then when we got to the turn at intersection of Harold Parker Road, we found that Middleton Road and the Harold Parker HQ had been closed off to do some unplanned tree work.  We were all supposed to meet and hike from the Harold Parker HQ. O'Boy!!  How were we to let the rest of the class know about this snafu??? Denise did not have her phone and everyone's contact info. To top the frustration, there was road work going on on the way to Harold Parker HQ and hence traffic disruption. Not to mention icy road conditions because Middleton road was not salted.  Ya!! We got to experience Murphy's Law.  Everything can go wrong at the same time when one least expects it!!!  Hence, very important to have a good attitude about it, Lol!!!  

 

After screaming at each other for whose fault it was, we decided that I leave Denise at the intersection.  She would greet the participants and direct them to the parking lot at the Harold Parker "Park" parking lot on Middleton road, the one that has the pavilion.  I was to go home and get the phone. Back on the Icy Roads, thru the roadwork Gauntlet, home I go, to get the phone. To make matters on edge, I have a MA State Trooper on my tail, all the way back home on Rte-125. Did you ever have the Devil and the Angel both on your shoulders to do the Opposite Things. Well that was my plight.  Yes, I listened to the Angel. Got home, Got the phone and back to the Pavilion.

 

Denise had managed to intercept all but one of our participants(the participant decided to head back, since entrance from Rte-114 was closed too, Yes, it was a mess and unplanned!!!).  Good thing is everyone was safe.  The Silver Lining, it was Gorgeous, Sunny, 34F-chilly, slightly Damp, Perfect New-England Day!!!

 

We had 4 wonderful participants that were willing to brave the eccentric New England weather(and apparently state officials), to join this class.  As always, Denise lead the team and I was the sweep.  The scenery was gorgeous as usual, Classic New England Winter, minus the snow!!  The First half of the trail was a nice stone dirt path that was nicely packed down.  Before the participants could get bored, we were onto the Bay Circuit Trail headed towards the Jenkins Road Parking lot.  It was a nice moderately-challenging hike.  We headed back on the same path.  

 

In the end it was all good and well worth the effort. We covered about 1.6miles at a pace of about 38min/mile (click on the link below for the map and hike details). The class was about an hour long.  Good Instructions, Gorgeous weather and conditions, Insightful Conversation, Awesome Participants!!

 

Trail Map for the Jan 6, 2022 Class