The Slow Movement

I have always valued time more than money and as I get older this becomes more true. Perhaps it's just supply and demand - I mean obviously I now have less years ahead of me, so I value it more. But it's not just that. And, it's not just time "to smell the roses", although that is nice too.

It's living at what I think of as 'human speed' - that speed at which we all live and work best. In our own time, our own pace and time enough to do it right. Multi-tasking, although it is worn proudly, is just another way to waste life. You become so splintered that you cannot devote the time you need to focus your best self on what you are doing. How can giving just a part of you to each task be good?
You dont even have a chance of being creative because that requires attention, full attention.

I have read that as our world becomes more populated, new technology breeds more technology. The technology forces us to multi-task. We are pushed to commercialize, to monetize, to improve each and every thing we do in the name of efficiency and profit. It really doesnt save us time to complicate our lives - it speeds things up to the point that we arent really living life. It then becomes a virtual world that we inhabit through our gadgets and technology. Is this how we want to live?

It's not just slow food we need. It's slower motion (walking vesus driving) that allows us to breath, surprises us with meeting something or someone new, it's slower talking that allows us to think about and absorb what the other person is saying, and it's slower living that allows us time off to live in the moment. To putter, to think, to enjoy and just to be. I walk to absorb life - both mine and the life around me. It gives me the time to observe and reflect - to chew on a thought. And it only takes a pair of shoes.

Northwood Meadows

In Northwood there is a sweet, small hike around a lake that we enjoyed very much. With very little elevation and well-marked trails it is fine for families. It is just off Route 4 and there is a porta-potty just up the trailhead. You can follow the loop around the lake or keep walking up the hill to a lookout. It begins as a dirt road , but the turn-off around the lake becomes a trail through a pine forest.

College Woods at UNH

My daughter goes to UNH so we decided to have a bike-bonding experience while the weather was still so fine. We were able to download a map of the trails from the UNH website, but it was not particularly clear. One must get a visitor's pass to park the car (I parked by Woodside Apts.), but the University is so beautiful that biking is fun from anywhere on campus. The trailhead and kiosk is a right off College Road. You will see a railroad trestle that you pass under to get to the trailhead (just before the fire station). The trails are well-marked and well-used with some areas not easy to bike due to the roots, but most is flat and wide. The trail follows the Oyster River with a small footbridge across, but we opted to continue out onto Route 155A (across from the barns) and took a right to the dairy bar/ railroad depot where they have excellent ice cream. This is a short 1 - 2 miles trail depending on the route you take and is as easy as you make it.

Pissario, Sparky and Jane pose for a photo op.

Great Bay

An August walk took us to the Great Bay in Newington, NH. It's actually called the Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge although we saw no actual wildlife. This was a very pleasant , serene walk through a grassy meadow, shoreline woods and marshland with a wooden bird-watching stand extending into the marsh and overlooking Little Bay. From the parking lot there are 2 trails - to the left is the short - Peverly Pond trail (1/2 mile) and longer is the Ferry Way trail (about 2 miles) which skirts a small beaver pond and gives you views of the Little Bay. Both are loops- grassy , wide and flat and so are great for families. There is also a restroom at the trailhead.

This is such an interesting area because it is only a few minutes from the bustling commercial districts of Newington and Portsmouth, NH. As you drive out from the Pease International Tradeport you will be reminded that this was once the Pease Air Force Base which was closed in 1989. Right next to the parking lot is the former weapons storage area still enclosed by a high fence and looking very governmental. To the right of this area is the Ferry Way trailhead.
To get there just take Exit 1 from the Spaulding Turnpike (Rt. 4/16) and head toward the Pease Tradeport. Take a right onto Arboretum Drive and keep going (follow signs for the Refuge) until you get to the parking area/headquarters. The kiosk in the parking lot has maps.

Great Brook, Deerfield, NH

Just thought I'd share some places to walk/hike about in our little section of the country which is the seacoast area of New Hampshire. My friend Patti and I enjoy great views and some healthful challenges, but not to the point of exhaustion. We have 3 dogs that join us in our excursions who are far more enthusiastic than we are about exploring these trails and never, ever complain. They are the perfect companions. Sparky and Jane are fun-lovin and eager, but Pissario (a Basset Hound) is my vertically-challenged, olfactory-driven little friend. Anyways, we all decided that Sunday would be a good day to explore a local trail. We picked Great Brook Trail in Deerfield, NH.



Great Brook Trail has recently been worked on by a local eagle scout so the trail is well-marked with lavender blazes and there are 2 hand-hewn benches strategically located for views of the landscape. It is about 3 miles one way with rolling hills, beautiful forest and many large boulders along the way. The beginning follows the edge of a large beaver pond, and then along the brook you will find a small waterfall. The trail does cross the brook and the 2 bridges are not useable, but we had no problem crossing on stones. Pissario was the only one who needed help scaling the bank from the brook. This was a beautiful hike and easy to manage, about 6 miles total if you walk both ways.



Great Brook is not a loop, but goes from Harvey Road to Coffeetown Road, both dirt roads. If you follow route 107 north through Deerfield and at the northern intersection bear right onto route 43, Harvey Road is on your right. Follow this road until you see a small wooden sign on the left that says "Great Brook" and behind that is the large plexiglass covered map of the area. This is the trailhead and there is room for a few cars across the road on the right side.