10-30-16 temps in the low 60s got in 19.5 miles. did some exploring west from the parking area near 157 Wachusett St Rutland but it was rough & very quickly became impassable due to fallen trees. moved the car to approx 101 Glenwood Rd Rutland & tried my luck east (heading toward where I was forced to stop). this way started very well but then narrowed to where I was surrounded by water & the trail under my feet got soggy. I walked as far as I could (glad to have my rubbers on) & saw the trail became impassable & looked completely flooded perhaps due to all the beaver activity. but I got lucky & I think I found a chunk of 100+ yr old coal from an old locomotive's tender?!

headed back west & made it to Barre. really high quality trail perfect for regular hybrids. I would even bring Wifey. I did see a pair of 29ers too. mostly I saw walkers, lots with dogs. I guess this stretch is about 9 miles. I did pass the Miles Rd parking area. however it required a quick roll down the road 2/10 mile to find it. there were no signs where the trail hit Miles Rd. near Moulton Mill Rd. I got lucky & guessed correctly to go right. there must have been an issue with a land owner right-of-way that forced the diversion onto the road?

in Barre the trail ended in the woods but they extended the crushed stone trail down a hill & along the river to the very large White Valley parking area. across the street was a restaurant. I took a left on RT 122 for approx 1/2 mile & found a picnic area w parking w grills & a big fire pit on the water (at Powder Mill Pond approx 1019 Route 122 aka 1107-905 Worcester Rd)

with all the starting, stopping, bushwhacking, archaeological exploration, backtracking, picture taking & moving the car, I was in the area for 4 hours.

lovely fall day tho & I would do this trail again. a touch of snow would be really pretty

this guy found some coal too "During a recent excursion with the kids to hunt for railroad spikes in Bowie, we came across a man collecting coal along the side of the tracks. The coal fell out of rail cars, and the man said that he was collecting it for a "friend" who burns it in a wood stove during the winter for heat. I'm not sure if he was just being frugal or if he fell on hard times.

Picking up coal along railroad tracks was a common practice during the . The following is a copy of a public service poster from the 1930s discouraging parents from letting their kids pick coal along the tracks." http://bowieliving.blogspot.com/2010...reek-line.html