2/20/13 City Forest

Mild with mixed sun and clouds. We got 0 .6" of rain last night so didn't know how the trails would be. The parking lot was muddy and slushy but the trails were not too bad- worse were the more open spots where the snow was deepest and the unnamed trail we took across to the rail bed which had had little use and none in last few days. The rail bed had snowmobile use a few days ago so it was the easiest to walk. It was not bad for Kelley because much of the crust supported her weight. We went a ways on the rail bed toward Forest Ave. but when we came to a large wet section turned back. We spent two hours on our walk and did not meet a single person- very unusual.

2/19/13 Little Long Pond

Sunny with warmer temps forecast. We started from the entrance on Rte. 3 rather than from the parking lot on the other side. A bit nippy and still quite windy. The carriage road looked like easier walking than the trail next to the pond and we started off on that but Kelley spotted a man with his dog and headed on down to the trail. After a brief visit we continued on that trail back to the carriage road. This was the hardest section of the hike because it is more open and subject to drifts but offered some nice views looking across the fields and the pond.

Once we were in the woods the walking was easier and there had been more traffic, including a snowmobile in one section. About a half hour into our hike the wind also died leaving us with a beautiful warm sunny day.

People had told us there were trails ( not on the maps) around Redfield Hill but we had not found them in the past. We added that loop today thinking if they had been used we would see evidence in the snow but we did not find any of them. We met several people with dogs and a family from Mass. skiing with their young children. All of this made Kelley happy along with just being out in the woods.

When we got back to the south end of the pond I found a rock to sit on and we had our lunch before heading back.  A very nice day 2  3/4 hours

2/18/13 Walden

We have had two days of blizzard ( with little snow) and high wind warnings. Yesterday was just gray and miserable and we walked around town a bit. Today was cold and windy - wind chills as low as -8 but beautifully sunny. After I shoveled the drive we walked around the neighbor hood. Kelley seems to like the wind and was excited by it- I was cold. After lunch went over to Walden thinking the woods would protect us from the brunt of the wind and they did. Kelley was very happy running ahead and doing lots of exploring and the sun was very pleasing.

There had been ( before the latest small snow fall) snow shoe traffic so the walking was not bad on the loop tail. Snowmobiles had been on the old rail bed and the surface was even better. We also met a couple with a dog and  of course that pleased Kelley. We continued on the rail bed past the loop trail and then, at Kelley's suggestion took the snowmobile trail out into the open. Much more wind so we took a side trail back to the loop and back to our car. A nice outing.

2/16/13 Bangor

Gray, dark. dreary day with light snow/rain. We just went downtown for our walk. Kelley likes all the different smells and she gets to greet people . I usually let her pick the route. Today we have a blizzard warning so will probably stick to the neighborhood.
Wasn't a very inspiring day for pictures but I liked these pigeons lined up on top of this building.

2/15/13 West Penjajawoc To Old Rail Bed

Mild but gray with a few peaks of sun. We started at the West Penjajawoc  Grasslands , a preserve for grassland birds.

Walking along the edge of this meadow you come to a snowmobile trail through the woods.

There had been snowmobile use ( though not in the last few days) and the walking was not bad. Just after a bridge there is a fork- the left takes you to the trail that connects with the trail on the easement and the right takes you to the old rail bed- we went right . On the rail bed  there had been more traffic and the walking was easy.

 We followed the rail bed  toward Essex Woods ( the opposite direction from that we took yesterday)  . At one point the trail leaves the rail bed and swings out onto the bog

We walked it for a bit but when I spotted small areas of open water we turned back. There was a side trail with a sign saying to 'Walmart and gas' and Kelley wanted to take that so we did. It didn't go far before the snowmobiles had turned around and we did too.


The snow provided a nice background  for things that would otherwise be lost in grass or brush.

Going back on the rail bed we passed the trail we had come in on but  continued on to a side trail that took us out to the easement and along that  to the trail mentioned earlier ( the left fork) which took us back to the trail we had come in on.

A nice two hour walk. It had worked out well with good footing for both of us and some nice variety.

2/14/13 City Forest

A beautiful day- sunny. about 30, and very little wind. Since we have had poor luck finding good trails of late we went to nearby City Forest. There had been enough traffic that the walking was pretty easy. At the end of the West Trail there is a road that goes the short distance to the old rail bed. There had been snowmobile traffic ( they usually don't use this section) and the snow was even better packed with very easy walking. We followed it through the marsh-which is usually to wet to walk - until we were almost to Forest Ave. where the snowmobile had turned into the woods. Those trails usually lead to someones back yard so we turned back the way we had come.

This British Soldier Lichen provided a bit of color

Kelley was happy to not have to struggle with deep snow and it was a beautiful day. We met four  skiers and two dogs but no walkers.  2  1/4 hours

2/13/13 Little River Trail and Belfast

Weather continues mild. Thought the Little River Trail might have got enough use to be good hiking. We started from the  Walsh Ball Field end. The beginning is across a large open field and the only use had been by skiers- not a good sign. When we got to the wooded area it was still just ski tracks but the walking was easier with less snow.

After a bit the tracks left the trail for a woods road and then back into the woods where the snow was even deeper and more of a slog. Kelley was also struggling, as the tracks were very deep and when it did not improve we gave up and turned back.

That had only taken an hour so we went to Belfast and parked by the harbor to walk around the town a bit. A few of the things we saw.

The boat ramp provided access to the water

 There is a section of beach along the harbor that we usually walk but today the tide was high and only a tiny stretch was above water. The water was very clear as this underwater rock shows