July 8, 2009
Unsettled weather predicted for the entire day, so I took a Be-A-Tourist shopping break in Concord. Tomorrow was the beginning of the Annual Gathering events, and there would be less “free time” to ramble.
Unsettled weather predicted for the entire day, so I took a Be-A-Tourist shopping break in Concord. Tomorrow was the beginning of the Annual Gathering events, and there would be less “free time” to ramble. Breakfasted with an acquaintance from the wilds of Acton, who spends a great deal of his time portraying Thoreau. One simply cannot stump him on any question regarding HDT. Over our coffee, we lamented the omission this year of the Annual Gathering’s fabled trivia contest. (Perhaps because his team had won, the last three years running?) It should be noted that Richard, unlike Thoreau, does not (thank goodness) limit his beverages to water only!
Later in the day, started out for a hike to Fair Haven, via Walden Pond trail.
Whilst chatting with two friendly fishermen at the far end of the pond, we all heard some distant thunder.
The one fisherman hastily began to pack his gear, while the other laughed.
The one fisherman hastily began to pack his gear, while the other laughed.
“Hey, I was out here yesterday, & got caught out in that big storm,” the Cautious Fisherman said, “Saw a couple of close hits right over theyah.” (points to a nearby cove.)
“I could smell sulfur!”
Leaving them, I continued on across the railroad tracks, which run along the western edge of Walden Pond. The tracks were laid in 1843, and the passing steam locomotives surely must have rattled Thoreau’s desk, as he sat to write during the morning hours at his little house. He frequently walked the railroad causeway to travel to and from Concord while living at Walden.
On the other side of the tracks is the marvelous trail system that is part of the town of Lincoln’s conservation district.
Passing by the Andromeda Ponds, the wooded trail suddenly got very dark. Too dark to take a photo of Indian Pipe, though it came out ghostly enough.
Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)While I stopped to take this photo, the wind, which had been restless all day, stopped. It was way too calm. And eerie. Then came a low rumble of thunder, sounding much closer than before.
Throwing away any hope of seeing Fair Haven today, I turned on my heel and headed back, being some distance from shelter of any kind.
Throwing away any hope of seeing Fair Haven today, I turned on my heel and headed back, being some distance from shelter of any kind.
It was power-sauntering at its best!
Along the way, I caught up with the Laughing Fisherman. He was calling it a day, as well.
Statement as of 3:25 PM EDT on July 08, 2009
... A Tornado Warning remains in effect until 345 PM EDT for south central Middlesex... west central Norfolk and extreme southeastern Worcester counties...
At 323 PM EDT... National Weather Service Doppler radar continued to indicate a tornado. This tornado was located near Hopkinton... or near Milford... moving southeast at 10 mph.
When a Tornado Warning is issued based on Doppler radar... it means
that strong rotation has been detected in the storm. A tornado may
already be on the ground... or is expected to develop shortly.
If you wait to see or hear it coming...
it may be too late to get to a safe place.
it may be too late to get to a safe place.
In spite of these dire portents, all we saw in Concord was a light drizzle. Not enough to keep Corky & I from going to a sort-of reggae concert in town that evening, trying dance the rain away.
One Love! One Heart! Let's get together and feel all right
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