Conditioning Hike 4!

All right -- time to get down to business. We've got two weeks before we're in Yellowstone, and more specifically, here:

Scared! So, we grab our new bible - 60 hikes within 60 miles of Boston - and head down 93 to the Middlesex Fells.

Normally, in the picture seen below, Mo would be saying, "I don't know! You have the map! How should I know if we should go left or right?" Not this time! Thanks to this book, which I'm convinced has saved numerous marriages, it is virtually impossible to get turned around. The descriptions are outstanding. That and the FANTASTIC trail marking at the Fells. Best we've ever seen. Great job Friends of the Fells!

The book didn't use this as a landmark. We were pleased to see that it was just a little harmless fella -- we have been informed by DickieJ that Blue Hills (Conditioning Hike 5 location) is home to Timber Rattlers. Eek.

We came around the bend in Winchester, and found this scene at the Reservoir. It reminded us so much of our hikes in the Lake District of England.

We were about 3.5 hours into the 4 hour hike when we got to the top of this hill, with this view of Boston. Very pretty! Until you turn around, and notice that the sky behind you is BLACK. Like the movie Independence Day black. Holy Moly! Thunder storms were on top of us. We pulled the rip cord, and took every short cut we could find back to the car -- we made it JUST in time. The skies opened and we drove home through sheets of (much needed) rain.

Loved the Fells! We'll definitely be back here after we come home.