Outdoor Times (but still safe)!



As the weekend is coming to an end, I am looking at the weather forecast for this week and it is making me SO SAD!  I had to share the picture above because this rock I found brought a smile to my face + hopefully will keep me thinking about rainbows all week..... In MA, we will be getting rain (or snow!) every day this week except for Tuesday.  I am beyond happy that I have had the ability to get outside both this weekend and last weekend for a hike in the Fells Reservation nearby where I lived.

I was definitely a big hiker before my back surgery in Novemeber and have been trying to ease myself back into it as the weather gets warmer.  Conveniently, hiking is an activity that can still be done while social distancing!

I highly recommend downloading the Alltrails phone app if you want to start hiking or just make the hikes you already go on a bit easier.  I found this app when I lived in Virginia and spent a lot of time exploring the Shenendoah National Park.  It lets you browse trails that are nearby where you live and rates them on difficulty and length.

Last weekend, a group of four of us took on the Skyline Trail Loop in the Middlesex Fells Reservation.  This trail was a 7.6 mile loop, rated moderate, that most definitely felt like more than 7.6 miles due to the constant ups and downs of the trail.  It was probably a bit too much for me to take on as my first hike back, but I felt accomplished once it was completed!




Yesterday, we completed the Rock Circuit, also in the Fells Reservation (see photos above!).  This hike was 4.2 miles ans also rated as moderate.  I would say that this route, although shorter, was just as challenging as the previous hike.  It definitely felt like I was climbing more rocks and had some beautiful views!

I also tried to get out and shoot some hoops and work on my form shooting, since I haven't been able to play for almost two years now....... but unfortunately cities have closed all of their public parks.  This means that they have tied up their basketball nets so that no shooting is possible.  It made me so sad to see!  (See photo below.... )


I'll end this post on that note...  Try to get outside (but away from others) on Tuesday this week if you are in MA because the rest of the week won't be the best and we need vitamin D more than every during this shut-in!

-Vicky


P.S - Just saw that Google Earth offers free virtual tours of some of the U.S National Parks here in case you can't get outside!





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