Get in Motion – Bike the Northern Rail Trail

Join us in helping celebrate National Trail Day, 2011 by participating in one of several rides on Saturday, June 4th at 10:00 AM.

Choose from one of seven bike rides that will be led by various Rail Trail volunteers on specific sections of the Northern Rail Trail.  These rides will vary in length from 10 to 28 miles, depending upon the section chosen.  It is not necessary to ride the complete section chosen, but leaders will be going the entire round trip for each section if anyone wants to do that amount.  All section rides begin at 10:00 AM.  This is a great opportunity to try newly completed sections of the trail.

Please visit http://www.fnrt.org/ for more information. Details will follow on the site in a few days giving specific information about the trail section, leader, leader contact info., section starting points and lengths.

Biking Along the Northern Rail Trail has gotten more interesting . . .

Friends of the Northern Rail Trail in Merrimack County extended the trail in two directions this past October

Two more miles of smooth surfaced trail were added to eastern end of the rail trail in Franklin in October.   In addition, the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail just completed work along the ballast covered rail bed of the old Northern Railroad between Potter Place and the town shed in Danbury.  With that work completed, the Northern Rail Trail now follows Rte. 4, essentially, up to Enfield then on to West Lebanon going north from its Potter Place trailhead in Andover and follows Rte 11 east to Depot Street in Franklin.   As always, no motorized vehicles are allowed on the Northern Rail Trail, except for snow mobiles in winter.  Now the rail trail is continuous through two counties for about 45 miles from South Franklin to West Lebanon.

Combine your biking trip with a Bike and Stay Package at the Inn for a wonderful weekend getaway!

(source:  Friends of the Northern Rail Trail, http://www.fnrt.org)

Follow The Flock With eNature’s Spring Migration Tracker

Use eNature.com’s Migration Tracker to follow our returning spring birds week by week as they head north to their summer breeding grounds.  You can find and follow the birds whose summer homes are in town as well as those “just passing through” as they fly further north.

We often take for granted the remarkable annual ritual of bird migration. One morning, the bushes and trees around you are suddenly filled with singing birds that were not there just the day before.  But there’s an incredible story in their long, often hazardous journeys.

Go to learn more about this amazing journey and determine the whereabouts of your favorite species.

eNature.com has extensive birding resources for novices and experts alike.

Latest Tripadvisor Review: “Best Location for a Retreat Ever!”

Date of review: Mar 15, 2011

I’ve run numerous small (5-15 participants) writing retreats at various inns and hotels around the country. My most recent 3-day event at the Highland Lake Inn was exceptional, fulfilling the expectations of a “retreat” in every way. The accommodations were luxurious yet homey. Each room was spacious and spotless, repleat with fluffy bedding, TV sets, lovely amenities, and comfortable working spaces. We felt pampered from the first sip of delicious coffee in the morning to the incredible dinner our hosts invited us to share with them in the evening. Equally important, the Highland Lake Inn afforded our writing group the privacy and space we needed to meet and/or write individually. Last, but hardly least, our hosts Pecco and Gail were fantastic! This is where I intend to host many more writing retreats in the future!

• Reviewer ratings for this hotel:
  • Value
  • Rooms
  • Location
  • Cleanliness
  • Service
  • Sleep Quality

• Date of stay: March 2011
• Visit was for: Business
• Traveled with: Clients/Customers
• Member since: March 15, 2011

• Recommended by this reviewer? Yes

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g29727-d79158-r100273734-Highland_Lake_Inn_Bed_and_Breakfast-Andover_New_Hampshire.html#CHECK_RATES_CONT

A lovely poem from a recent writers retreat guest

Highland Lake Inn – The Write Place

Words flow like wine, hither and fro

The glass of merlot give my cheeks a glow.

Gail welcomed us with a big smile

And tales of romantic parties of a bygone style

Candlelight reflected in goblets fine,

The tuna Pecco cooked was just divine.

As were the berries, red and black,

To Highland Lake Inn, I will come back

It’s winter now and snow abounds.

I imagine Spring fields full of bird sounds.

Summer will come next with lazy days,

Spent writing in the evening haze,

Of red, purple, gold, and blue

Joni and Marjorie to their heart’s remain true

This writer’s group who met in March

Shared words and stories

Surrounded by pine and birch

Mountains green and clouds of white

Highland Lake Inn is a beautiful site.

Copyright 2011 All rights Reserved                      Denise M. Simpson                                   20 March 2011

Sunday, May 8 -Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Writing Retreat: How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier

Workshop Facilitator: Joni Cole
Location: Highland Lake Inn, Andover, NH
$530 per person double occupancy, $705 per person single occupancy, all inclusive.
This retreat is designed for writers who are looking for an intensive period to write, share their work for quality feedback and instruction, and make progress on a new or existing project. Writers of fiction and creative non-fiction are welcome. Participation is limited to six to assure personalized attention.

Aptly named “How to Write More, Write Better, and Be Happier, the retreat takes place at the beautiful Highland Lake Inn Bed and Breakfast, located in Andover, New Hampshire. Conveniently situated in the center of northern New England, the inn offers spacious guest rooms with full bathrooms, distinctive furnishing and amenities, and private television and Wi Fi access. Innkeepers Gail and Pecco Beaufays offer old-school hospitality and personal touches. Meals are included in the retreat package.

Workshop facilitator Joni B. Cole is the author of the acclaimed book Toxic Feedback: Helping Writers Survive and Thrive (“strongly recommended” by Library Journal), and Water Cooler Diaries: Women across America Share Their Day at Work ((“both fascinating and eye-opening,” Publisher’s Weekly). Her creative nonfiction has been nominated for The Pushcart Prize, and will be featured in her fall 2011 book Another Bad-Dog Story: Tales of Life, Love, and Neurotic Human Behavior. Joni runs the Writer’s Center of White River Junction, Vermont, and is a frequent speaker and teacher at writing conferences across the country.

For more information or to access a registration form for the retreat, visit: www.thewriterscenterwrj.com or  www.highlandlakeinn.com. Or contact Joni at joni.cole@alum.dartmouth.org or (802) 295-5526.

The Andover Outing Club and Blackwater Ski Area

Andover Outing Club

Andover Outing Club offers USSA ski jumping and NENSA sanctioned cross-country ski programs for youngsters from ages four to thirteen. The Blackwater Ski Club provides a Buddy Werner League, NHARA affiliated, downhill racing program for boys and girls ages 7 to 14.

Both clubs provide beginners and experts fun, family-centered, winter activities. Programs are affordable and are coached by experienced, responsible instructors who balance the fun with the complexities of competition. Blackwater Ski Area

All jumping and skiing activities take place at the Blackwater Ski Area. This area is centralized around Yarrow’s Lodge, a welcoming meeting place that houses a snack bar, bathrooms, woodstoves and first aid station. The ski area offers two ski lifts, ski patrol, four ski jumps, six alpine ski runs, snowboarding trails, 100% snowmaking, lights, and 7 kilometers of groomed cross-country trails. Proctor Academy, a college preparatory school founded over 150 years ago in Andover, NH, owns and maintains this exceptionable area. Proctor Academy makes Blackwater Ski Area available to both the Andover Outing Club and the Blackwater Ski Club.

Blackwater Ski Area Snack Bar: 735-6850

Blackwater Ski Area Timing Hut: 735-6244

Proctor Academy Main Number: 603-735-6000

Season passes: Blackwater Ski Area Season Passes are available for $55 for the first two family members; $30 for additional members. This pass provides access to all alpine, snowboarding and cross-country trails at the ski area. Passes may be purchased at the ski lodge or at the Blackwater Ski Shop located at 207-A Main Street in Andover, NH, telephone number 735-5437.

Directions to the Blackwater Ski Area: travel to the center of Andover and turn onto Lawrence Street (Lawrence Street runs between Jake’s Market and Proctor’s large white Admissions building). Cross two bridges, then turn right onto Blackwater Lane. Travel time from Concord is 25 minutes; from New London, 15 minutes.