birding – Catching Marbles

The Betsy Fosket Wildlife Sanctuary is a nature area and trail that starts at the end of Emerson Lane. You have to walk half-way up someone’s driveway (which is a twelve foot right of way) and you’ll find the entrance to the trail on the right where there’s a mailbox and a bunch of signs. It is mostly used as a preserve and breeding ground for various wild birds but the trail through it makes for a nice low-impact walk of 0.6 miles.

I walked this trail a lot when I was just a little thing, before a house got built right next to the trail’s beginning (which seems to scare most people away these days.) It’s a nice winding woodsy path that allows you a decent view of Crowcroft pond. It’s more damp than most trails I have been on but it’s nice in how few people use it – you’re not likely to bump into anyone else here. It’s been a favored spot for much contemplation over the years and if you’d like a longer hike this trail attaches to the Old Wood’s Road (follow the red markers when you see them!)

***I apologize for any missing photos and galleries as I continue to work getting Catching Marbles fully migrated to a new host. Please come back soon for restored photos and thank you for your patience!***

If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!

UPDATE: I have returned to the Betsey Foskett Preserve many times, mostly for the scenery and the exercise but sometimes my creative spirit needs more. Today, 5/30/2017, I headed out into the woods with an assortment of seemingly random props – a purple crystal goblet from my kitchen, a sack of marbles, a broach, and two crystal balls which were gifted to me with a smile and a wink during one of my gender bending escapades. My friend looked me up and down dressed in full regalia as The Goblin King, and said, “Well you got the c*** part down [with a codpiece] Now you just need some balls.” And with that anecdote I have completely ruined A VERY PRETTY PICTURE.

Ever since I was a tween I dreamed about going across the entire United States and soaking in everything it had to offer. I had grown up in a bubble – and as nice as that bubble was I wanted to know what else was out there besides the trees and stone walls of New Hampshire. Was it really like visiting another planet out West? Where the people the same all over? Was there anything that united this society besides the idea of country? As much as I longed to know the answer I kept my dreams to myself until at the age of 25 an opportunity arose and I figured it’s now or never.

Suddenly my freakish encyclopedic knowledge was actually useful! I picked lots of destinations – everything I had ever wanted to see from the geysers of Yellowstone, to the fossils of Butte National Monument, to the charismatic Robert the Doll in Key West. I was going to do it all.

A map was procured, one of those big pastel maps of the United States you see hanging in history and geography classes in every public school. Pins were stuck into desirable destinations like some sort of 2-D voodoo doll and then the waiting… the ungodly anxious waiting as the weather slowly creaked from one bone frigid season to something a little more livable. It begins!

If you are enjoying Catching Marbles please consider adding a dollar or two to my limited gas money fund so I can continue going on adventures and sharing them with you! Thank you!

Tag: birding

Betsy Fosket Wildlife Preserve/Trail Rindge NH

And so it Begins!