Ritzhikes

Where: Camp Resolute, Bolton, MA When: October 22-23, 1999 With: Andy & the Cub Scouts This was a Father/Son "getting to know you" overnight at a local Scout camp for new Cub Scouts. Just a 15 minute drive North on 495. Things started Friday evening, so Dads arrived with their sons after work. We parked and found our way to the camping area without too much trouble, and proceeded to set up our tent. One Dad arrived well after dark with a brand-new tent, still in the box, which his wife had handed him when he arrived home from work. We all pitched in the help him set it up. I don't recall any dinner activities, so we may have been told to eat at home. There was a campfire though. The next morning we had breakfast, then were on our own. The campfire and overnight had been the primary purpose of the event. Several other families left early to get back for things like soccer games. We hung out and explored the camp before heading home. More photos

Where: Sudbury River, Fruit St. to Cedar Swamp Pond When: 10/10/99 With: Solo My annual excursion to the source of the Sudbury River. Given the size and surroundings of the waterway, it's always something of a challenge to hit the conditions just right to make the trip a success. This time I got it just about perfect. A recent rain got the water level up high enough to provide some good floating room and the late season date meant some of the more annoying shoreline vegetation was gone. I also had some nice fall foliage to look forward to. The sky was overcast and a bit threatening as I pushed off, and a few sprinkles began to appear as I began my journey upstream. The air temperature was pretty mild though, so I wasn't uncomfortable getting damp. The stream level was a little low, but not enough to be a problem and the decreased vegetation helped me move along pretty quickly. I made my way up through the first section of swamp and made my turn into the straight channel a...