Where's Walden?

On September 1st - Tuesday last - I dashed off on errands

to the nearby commercial district of Hooksett, a couple of

miles northeast of the Mission Office, and was delighted

and lifted at this wonderful visual indicator that we

are turning a corner toward autumn!

In my post from last weekend, I chronicled the territorial

changes afoot, and that just the recently-new stuff.

Here, below, I am SAFELY standing on the foot ladder

to install the "expansion pack" display boards that will

allow us to easily view the 230+ missionaries now serving

here under our jurisdiction, and those to be added.

(Thanks to young Elder T. Smith for his clever 

turn of phrase as we were counseling together about this.)

I count it a blessing to live where I'm able to observe

and experience the dramatic annual season shifts.

For this post I present a snapshot from the historical

locale and experiences of Henry David Thoreau,

so it is fitting to begin with a quote from him.

Live in each Season

as it passes:

And here's his advice (coming down through all these years)

that I try to continually let run through my thoughts,

expressed on my Walden Pond gift shop tee-shirt):

One "happenings" tidbit first:

In his role as vehicle coordinator, Vince's duties include

taking charge of the new mission vehicles when they arrive

at whichever auto dealership has agreed to act as

"middle man" for deliveries, as well as de-commissioning

those cars that have maxed out in mileage age.

Within a day of making this drive south for the previous eight

cars, he was notified that six more had been delivered.

So he sought and received permission to take these

young missionaries slightly out of the mission to

Arlington's Mirak Auto, so they could each, INDIVIDUALLY,

drive a Rav 4 back to Manchester.

 Above, they are loading into the mission van

(Elders Peterson, Ostvig, M. Smith, Wells, T. Smith,

Edstrom and Allison) to go down to MA, and here, below, 

I was able to capture them arriving "home", to park each

new car at the edge of the lot. For vehicle and person

protection, world-wide missionary rules require that each

driver have a "backer" to guide them whenever their

travel requires that operation. It was slightly humorous

to see them scramble that afternoon -- usually their

co-driver/passenger hops out to be the "backer".

Since they were each driving alone, they had to switch

around to do this for each other.

Now more about Mr. Thoreau.

Consciousness of him and his transcendental writing

came to me during high school English studies,

and I remember vividly having the following quote

resonate with me, even in only the second decade

of my life.

Early contemplation of our service here so very close

to his "haunts" in life prompted discussions with my well-read

son Cory, and plans to visit places important in Thoreau's life.

Here, below, is his modest grave marker in the family plot

that is part of "Sleepy Hollow" cemetery in Concord, MA

which I captured with cell camera the afternoon of my Walden visit.

(I plan to include more about that interesting place another time.)

 Henry's philosophical journey, observations and expressions

were strongly influenced by writers and thinkers of his day,

 including friends Ralph Waldo Emerson and the Alcotts.

Always interesting the reaction generated by initial

mention of this group - folks usually appear somewhat taken

aback, whether due to foggy recollection of who they were,

or possible skepticism of what they were advocating.

For myself, I can pick and choose those bits that seem to serve

best my own life path and beliefs, including respect and

appreciation for nature, trying to live simply and aim above the petty, 

and abundant introspection and self-analysis regarding motives.

With a day planned for sightseeing, I stopped early to visit

Walden Pond. So HERE is my FIRST confession:

my mind was envisioning a mid-nineteenth century experience

(but here we are in the second decade of the Twenty-first!).

 I knew, of course, that Walden would be a protected site.

Words from the introduction to a Windows to the Wild NH PBS show:

We are at Walden Pond, an almost mythical place known for

pristine wilderness and isolation. It is where

Henry David Thoreau spent time alone to reflect on

a world far removed from HERE.

Well, that turns out to be not all quite true.

And the REALITY of Walden Pond might surprise you.

(If interested in viewing that 26 min. program,

follow this LINK.)

Too bad I hadn't heard those words before my trip,

so that I could have avoided that GOTCHA moment!

Here, below, is a professional aerial photo of the pond

(these shots in foliage country are ALWAYS taken in FALL).

At lower right corner, the linear swath that cuts through trees is

a Boston commuter rail corridor. When my hike around the pond

took me close - at the halfway point in the circuit - I was

surprised to hear the very modern noisiness of a passing train.

Later, as I mentioned this to Cory, he informed me that

even when Thoreau lived there, the rail right of way existed.

This stone marquee, below, is near the pond. 

Well BEFORE that the scales were falling from my eyes! 

I knew there would be designated parking, since I had 

researched operating hours and conditions at least superficially. 

But since the site is public and open (not gated), 

operational and upkeep funding comes through parking fees 

(l'll spin this as my way to abundantly chip in -

'cause it was not CHEAP for this non-resident!)

Once I found a parking spot - in LOT E, the first not designated

as 'FULL', I was beginning to GET IT.

When coming back from the parking pass kiosk, I saw a slender

woman standing at car hatchback, removing "over clothes" 

to uncover her swimsuit. I realized I had been VERY naive. 

This WOULD NOT be what I imagined. Turns out this is 

really just a historic neighborhood swimming hole.

Here, below is a very lovely image (better than mine) of

the replica of Thoreau's original cabin, constructed by the MA 

State Parks Service near the original spot. 

Henry came here, partly because the land was owned

by his friend Ralph Waldo Emerson - from whence

comes my slightly twisted post title reference.

And here, below, is the view of the pond from where

the original cabin stood. According to answers.com:

Thoreau moved to a small one-room cabin in the hopes that

by living simply and purely, he could attain

a more meaningful life.

He lived there for two years, walking to Concord to visit

friends and share meals, and to conduct surveyor work.

Here is an evocative image from within the cabin

looking out at scenes Thoreau might have viewed.

For me, it captures all those internal questions I'm

asking myself  --

What would he think if he could see it now?

 I visited during COVID 2020. Things are different.

The trail was 'converted' into single direction.

Since the flavor of this report is somewhat sour,

I think it appropriate to include this trail intersection sign

that contains it's own mixed message:

The hikers graphic shows the people walking one way,

but the arrow is telling the viewers to walk the OTHER way.

(As a designer with graphics, I know it would have been 

so simple to flip the hikers to match the arrow directional!

Just the kind of thing that drives me crazy.)

Interesting would have been my potential observations 

if the trail had been busier - to see how many people 

respond to the hiker graphic, rather than to the arrow below it.

This matches a Thoreau quote very appropriately!

Through the parking lot, across the roadway crosswalk,

down the pathway, and finally at the edge of the sandy beach,

I discovered why it had been necessary to go clear back to Lot E.

The public swimming area was being thoroughly enjoyed!

Here, below, I only caught a corner of the floating barrier buoys

and a few of the swimmers. I spent my 1.5 hours while hiking

around the pond trying my best to PRETEND there were NO

others there, carefully staging my photos accordingly.

I share a few of the views from the forested trail.

Occasionally the path veered away from the pond's edge.

 Capturing here, below, a matted photo and Thoreau quote

that I knew Cory would like, from the gift shop:

Easy to see why the locals love this spot. Beautiful!

 When the trail comes close enough, the beach front

access is improved and convenient, either as stone-lined

walkways and steps, or as sandy beach. 

Aren't these just the most wonderful blended colors!

 I captured this nice view, below, with branches strategically

hiding the paddle boarders, picnickers and swimmers, near

the far end away from entrance - near the train corridor.

At lower right corner, I "cropped in" the wire fencing

so that I could make a comment here.

Deteriorating conditions along the bank and trail

could be seen continually, with officially-posted messages

warning visitors to "stay on the trail", cautions to allow

the sensitive plant ecosystems a chance to recover.

Yet, those HUMANS seemed to think it was instruction

 intended ONLY for someone else. Wires were spread and bent 

so visitors could climb through to these prime spots, and swimmers

had regularly hung their drying towels over the wires 

right next to the cautionary signage. Incredible.

Although I can characterize my experience as mostly

disillusioning, I am thankful to have had a chance

to correct my expectation. And to visit this famous site,

and ponder again on the things that Thoreau can teach.

Walking back up the trail (past the water craft launch area),

and back up along the sidewalk, I spotted this nice

but still ironic sign. Would Henry be happy?

As I exited the parking lot just the short couple of hours

after arriving, police were onsite there re-directing traffic.

This temporary but well-used tent sign was positioned

in the center of the roadway.

"WALDEN POND CLOSED

NO ENTRY TO PARK

UNTIL CROWDING EASES".

At least the officials realize there could be impacts,

but perhaps this is mostly a COVID-19 extremity.

Regardless of the chippy tenor of my commentary here,

I love [nearly] everything about our New England experiences.

Later that day, I would escape to the peace and solitude

of a famous cemetery.

Below is my parting quote, with best wishes that

you, my friends who are reading this, can find

your own piece of Heaven this week.