Great Hollow Lake is in Wolfe Park in Monroe CT which in season is for residents only. It also skirts the edge of the Housatonic Rail Trail.
Recalling the lake as I biked passed a couple of years ago I decided to return. The trail around the lake is well maintained and does not allow bikes or dogs. I enjoyed the shadows of the upcoming boardwalk coupled with reflecting sky in the thin icy top of the lake.
As the path continued I found a meandering Brook going under a bridge and that’s the area at which I stayed quite a while and reflected.
I was mesmerized by the sounds of the water and the sun beams reflecting on the icicles. I then came to an area where the icicles came off an area of moss and branches that I could spy through the barren trees. I crawled through the rocks and bramble to the edge where I could feel the chill of the water in the breeze to try and get a capture through the lens.
This park includes many recreational activities in season for its Monroe residents including swimming, fishing, boating, tennis – but for now, for me, the serenity, icicles, babbling brooks and boardwalks and bridges were all great gifts that were much appreciated.
As I am generally not a fan of the winter, I have had to do my research to continue my outdoor adventures in the cold. I had a gut feeling Southford Falls would be one of the locations I would enjoy. This state park is located on the line between Southbury and Waterford, hence the combined name!
I have a more thorough description of the options and trails here in a prior post. This dedication is to the ease with which beauty is found in the winter weather.
As the pond and falls are near the parking lot you get a lot of bang for your buck without being outside too long.
Additionally, the falls were impressively rushing over the rocks on this January afternoon which you can follow down the path to the covered bridge below.
You can make the loop down to the bridge and back and are offered various vantage points of the falls and babbling brook. As my fingers began to freeze and I thought I could take no more I saw the angle I was awaiting!
There was a wintry mix of swirls and bubbles at the base of the falls with edges of ice along the stone ledges. Notwithstanding the cold, I laid on the rocks to angle the camera to get both the icy water surface and the roaring waters above. Not bad for a city girl who lost enjoys the heat of a day!
I guess I can learn to like the cold when it comes with so many natural gifts of comfort and warmth. I returned at the end of January 2021 and the scene was different yet.
Original Fall blog with trail maps and details below.
Every day can bring new opportunities and new challenges. Some better than others and all offering lessons learned. It can take strength to take on each new day and the choice we each have is how we decide to approach it.
When I woke today at 5am I recognized immediately that it was going to be a full day. As I prepared the coffee and threw out the garbage I saw the crescent moon and stars and decided the sky was beckoning to provide a bit of encouragement.
With 2 1/2 hours before my first meeting at 7:30am I decided to find a sunrise. The winter sunrises while cold are better aligned on the Connecticut shore than in the warmer months. It is definitely harder to self motivate but I decided to give it a shot.
I arrived at Calf Pasture right behind the guard as he was opening the entry gate at 7am. The sky was already glowing marvelous colors in anticipation of the sunrise around 7:20am.
I loved the backdrop of the lighthouse and boardwalk with the ducks gathering in the water’s glow. It truly was invigorating to breathe in the cold air while running around finding all the opportunities and the gifts of focusing my attention on the opportunities surrounding me.
I then had to make a big decision! Do I stay by the ducks or do I go on the boardwalk for the actual sunset! While my day will be filled with many more complex decisions to be made, I allowed myself this half hour to focus on the sunset and where I should be.
I determined that if I sprint, I could likely do both. Ready, set, sprint!
I decided to be bold and left my cell phone and purse to capture the sunrise in time elapse mode as I sprinted down the boardwalk. If you move your eyes to the boardwalk in the clip, in addition to the sunrise, you will see me sprinting back and forth.
It was surreal to capture the sunrise in my lens as the lighthouse reflected its rays as well. Ahh but alas, could there be a better view from the shore. It was time to sprint back!
Back to shore!
Ah but then the sun started to disappear behind the clouds. At first disappointed I realized it was 7:25! I had five minutes to return to the car for the 7:30 call! Yes! Mission accomplished. I can now face the day!
This terrorist attack was certainly one where everyone likely remembers where they were.
I was facilitating a meeting at a Bank a few blocks away from the World Trade Center. A participant working from home shared that it appeared a plane may have crashed into the World Trade Center.
Having grown up in NYC as well as being married at Windows on the World at the top of the World Trade Center I assumed, as did many, that it may have been a small plane that had a near miss with the antenna at the top of the building. Once reality struck, however the Wall Street area quickly became a war zone.
Our next steps were uncertain. We feared that we were going to be bombed. We left the uncertainty of a building in an attempt to leave the area. We searched for our colleagues that were at different sites. This picture below is of burnt paper debris that was falling around us on 9/11 as we walked down Wall Street like cattle to the boats to New Jersey. I keep it near my briefcase which is forever marked by the tainted dust of that day.
Falling debris from the sky from WTC
My colleagues and I just wanted off the island as we all weren’t sure if the terrorism would continue perhaps at the nearby Stock Exchange. The boat runners really did an incredible job with over 500,000 fearful passengers crossing the Hudson to New Jersey. See video article below.
I pause in any location which has stood up a memorial in loving memory of our friends, families and firefighters who helped save so many from such a memorable tragedy. In this 20th anniversary year I hope to visit different locations which have such a memorial so we “never forget” what hate can do.
Sherwood Island State Park 911 Memorial
Below is a stone commemorating the father of my son’s friend who died that day. May he Rest In Peace and may we never forget what hatred can do in his honor and all those who perished on that day and since due to related complications.
A few weeks ago I published opportunities for drive up sunsets off season in areas that might otherwise be for residents only. This is part 2 in Fairfield County.
Twenty miles, four beaches, two wheels and one goose! So many gifts on one ride!
It was unusually warm on January 2, 2021 so decided to go for my first 2021 bike ride. One of my favorites is about 20 miles with a stop at four beaches – 3 only for residents in season- and a lunch recommendation!
Start at the commuter lot at the Sherwood island extension road. You can also start at Sherwood Island but starting here precludes any time limitations at the park. Most of this ride is part of the East Coast Greenway from Maine to Florida – this segment is part of The Shoreline Trail.
Turn left out of lot onto Sherwood extension road and another left onto green farms road to beachside avenue to burying hill beach (Beach 1)
Burying hill beach to Southport beach (Beach 2) along the shore continuing on beachside road. The approach to the beach is stunning in and of itself.
Follow East Coast greenway along the coast to Southport. From there you can make a right onto west way. But if you want to stop for lunch go to next bullet.
Detour up Pequot Avenue to continue to Grey Goose Restaurant for lunch where I had my favorite sun bowl and a latte.
After lunch, return to the corner of Pequot road and west way which is the beautiful Pequot Library and turn onto west way to the shoreline. From this direction you would be making a left.
Follow the coast passing the beautiful member only Pequot yacht club and make a right over the bridge of Harbor Road and another right onto Sasco Hill Road
Continue straight downhill to Sasco Beach (Beach 3) to take in the view returning back up (and up and up 🙂 Sasco Hill the same way you came
Wash away 2020!
You could return from here back to Sherwood Island but it was such a beautiful day I then made a right onto Old Field Road to Fairfield following the signs for the East Coast greenway
Continue to Salt March Trail which is right off the road on the right and easily missed. Meander through to the other side through the Town Of Fairfield Recreation parking lot.
Make a right onto Old Dam Road and then another right and left back onto Old Field Road back to Sasco Hill road.
Return back from here following the same way back over the bridge at harbor road and then back through Southport to Westport along the shore.
Given the hour, I went to Sherwood Island State park beach to see the sunset (Beach 4) before picking up the car.
A lovely 20 or so miles with loads of opportunities to be present and find loads of gifts!
Another great option off season is Tod’s Point in Old Greenwich. In season it is primarily a resident only location (non-residents can enter for a fee) but off-season the opportunity to enjoy Tod’s Point unique perspective is provided to all.
There is a lovely 2.25 mile loop paved walk around the point. The views of the NYC skyline and various interior wildlife offer wonderful opportunities to be present.
October 2020 NYC Skyline with fisherman
The two scenes below captured on my first walk of 2021, could easily be overlooked. I highly recommend an intentional “pivot and pause.” The top being a perfect reflection of the trees and house in the water. The bottom has the ducks in various conversations and preening while the herring gull caught a fish which he has hanging from his mouth.
January 1, 2021
The first time I went to Tod’s point many years ago, I can only say I was overwhelmed by the beauty it had to offer. As I am not a Greenwich resident, I was a guest and joined my friend for a walk. While we were in conversation that day, I admit I could not focus on the topic but rather at the ocean side walk and views of the NYC skyline.
History
In 1884 a wealthy banker, J. Kennedy Tod, purchased parcels of land that would become known as “Tod’s Point.” He joined two small islands with fill and optimized the use of marsh land. He created a road around the island to the main land and a small beach.
After Tod’s death and subsequently his wife, Tod’s Point property went to the Presbyterian Hospital of New York and then ultimately to the Town of Greenwich in 1944.
One of the restoration projects I particularly look forward to is for the Chimes Building originally built in 1901.
Per the Greenwich free Press, “through the restoration project, the physical chimes and their intricate mechanisms will be restored to their melodic glory. Upon completion, the chimes will be named “Emily’s Chimes” to honor the life of 16-year old Greenwich High Schooler Emily Fedorko, who tragically lost her life in 2014, during a water tubing accident on Long Island Sound. “ My son knew this family through school and the tragic event was quite impactful to many. The family has done incredible work to educate and support the community in Emily’s name. What a joy it will be to one day soon hear Emily’s chimes.
Chime Building
Sunsets
It’s also one of my favorite places to catch a sunset with the low horizon and opportunities to capture through the trees of stick season. There are many areas to drive up and see the sunset or picnic. I will continue to blog about Tods Point through the seasons.
October 2020
Note: while by this time it’s normally open to non residents to drive in, due to the pandemic the off season date keeps getting delayed. you can walk in with a paid ticket in season.
Said to be the Oldest Continuously Operating Inn in America since 1776, the Griswold Inn found ways to even stay open through Covid!
Born of Independence, the building and launch of the Oliver Cromwell warship was at the beginnings of The Griswold Inn, a destination for seafarers and land travelers alike for more than 244 years.
This is the only restaurant I have physically eaten in since the pandemic. George Washington even once dined here! It was a weekday in early December with few around with a few tables in each room. As the bar or Tap room was closed, it also offered me the opportunity to view the decorations and memorabilia.
Reviewing the history on their website, “Quite a unique part of the Griswold Inn, the Tap Room got its start as a 1735 schoolhouse before it was rolled down Main Street by a team of oxen in 1801 and attached to the main building.” Referred to as “the best-looking drinking room in America.” It even challenged Prohibition in 1920 with rum runners from along the Connecticut River. No wonder this town and Inn have been in so many movies and TV shows.
In addition to a restaurant and an Inn, the Griswold Inn possesses a museum-quality collection of prints, paintings and objects displayed throughout the historic dining rooms.
I was most intrigued by seeing the Norman Rockwell sketch of “ Steamboat chase on the Connecticut River” in the wine bar. There are also drawings of steamboats by Samuel Ward Stanton, a historian and artist who died on the Titanic. The hostess was most familiar with the paintings and artifacts and enjoys when a patron recognizes the museum quality surroundings.
You can certainly make a day trip out of Essex as you continue your stroll down Main Street with toy shops, ice cream parlors and the Connecticut River museum (holiday train exhibit). It was also the sight of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Essex is also the sight where the first warship of the colony was created. It was also voted the best small town in America! The below two shots is the house of the ship builder just beyond the sign. The other house along the river had cool shadows reflecting on it while being framed by the tree in the park before it. My gift of the day!
I look forward to returning in the Spring for both biking as well as kayaking around Essex which are two popular activities in this area.
The moon rising under the Illuminations of the walled garden at Untermeyer with musical accompaniment from various disciplines made for a truly enchanted evening stroll.
You will likely feel enlightened within the 20 minutes allotted in this free ticketed and timed event. I was fortunate enough to go on a clear night with just enough clouds to make it appear as the moon was rising to the beat of the music.
The event is through January 3, 2021 and my understanding is done annually. I don’t think I have ever taken so many pictures in 20 minutes and yet still so hard to select to share quickly so that you too may have a similar opportunity.
I am not going to lie, I have had a hard couple of days. Immersing myself in these 20 minutes focusing on the lights, the music and the rising moon was a surreal and magical means to rejuvenate my strength to face the challenges.
Buddha Bridge, a Tarzan vine, a waterfall staircase and a double breed maple growing out of a rock are only some of the sights to see at the largest preserve of the Westchester Land Trust. With wetlands, rocky paths, well marked trails and fun facts the secret is out.
This is likely the most fun filled informative preserve I have been to – of course it helped that I also was introducing it to my son.
Buddha’s Bridge
We only likely did about 2 miles today of the nearly 7.5 miles of trails which can be done as loops. I really love loop trails as every step is new! With the ice forming over the streams made for some fun photo ops including seeing sap that had frozen over as it seeped down the tree.
Tarzan vines and icy streams
Of course it’s a bit of a different experience hiking with someone who is 6’4” when you are a full foot shorter. However, what it taught me is that he has a completely different perspective up there!!
Frozen Sap from a different perspective
Parking is slight along the side of the road with only two explicit spots at the entrance. So much more to see than what I have shared- so many gifts from being present with my son.
I’ll be back! See you there! Here’s an outtake from the adventure
Pivot and Pause in New England 