This colorful growth circled a tree on the Brook Path near the Cottage Street crossing. Thanks to Wellesley’s Michael Tobin for sharing the photos.
Fungus among us in Wellesley
Museum of Science Traveling Planetarium at Wellesley Library August 16
Night Sky! with the Museum of ScienceThursday, August 16
6:30 – 7:00 OR 7:15 – 7:45 OR 8:00 – 8:30
Wellesley Free Library, Wakelin Room
Join us for Night Sky with the Museum of Science Traveling Planetarium on Thursday, August 16. Using the MOS portable planetarium, families will tour the solar system and beyond while learning useful tips to navigate the evening sky.
Families with children entering grades K and up are invited to sign up for ONLY ONE of three shows (or waitlists) from 6:30-7:00 pm, 7:15-7:45 pm, & 8:00-8:30 pm. Space in the planetarium is strictly limited. Registration is required for both adults and children if they plan to be admitted into the planetarium. Sign up going on now.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Wellesley Free Library.
Beyond Wellesley — Katharine Lee Bates’ very own ‘O Beautiful’ Cape Cod Bikeway
Which town truly can claim Katharine Lee Bates, best know for her poem-turned-patriotic-song, America the Beautiful? — Falmouth or Wellesley? Falmouth was her birthplace, but Wellesley educated her. She graduated from Wellesley High School in 1874, and from Wellesley College in 1880. Bates taught at Dana Hall school until 1886 and then at Wellesley College until 1925. She lived in Wellesley at 70 Curve Street until her death in 1929. And Bates Elementary School in Wellesley is named for her.
Just when you think Wellesley is comfortably in the lead, Falmouth swoops in, gives her an 11-mile paved and level bike path, and names it Shining Sea Bikeway, a reference to the well-known ending phrase of the first of America the Beautiful‘s three verses. Clearly, the two towns fiercely vie to call this New England teacher, writer, and poet their own. Bikeway or not, I’m unwilling to concede to Falmouth. But I had heard about the beauty of this trail and decided to sneak across the Wellesley border and enjoy its Cape Cod charms.
My companions and I started out at the Depot Road trailhead in Falmouth, about a 90-minute drive from Wellesley Square. There’s a free parking area there for about 80 cars, and you can’t miss the trailhead right across the street from the lot. The trail goes through a wooded area, and as you bike through an underpass, look for the bike-themed mosaics created by the AmeriCorps Cape Cod program. Another nice feature along the trail are the granite posts that count down the miles. Look down if you need even more encouragement as you ride along. Embedded in the trail itself are granite markers that count down the tenths of miles, a nice way for kids to track their progress.
A couple of miles in, look for the cranberry bog as you go over the wooden bridge. Then, after about four miles you’ll see the Great Sippewissett Marsh on either side of the trail. At 8.5 miles along, you’ll get stunning vistas of the Atlantic Ocean to the left as you pass by Surf Drive Beach. Go ahead and stop here for lunch or go for a swim. With the exception of a well-marked private beach area, the beach is open to all.
Moving along, you’ll see Little Harbor, dotted with all manner of watercraft from yachts to humble dories, and before you know it, you’ll arrive at the trail end in Woods Hole. Relax on a bench for a while and enjoy the people watching. There are clean bathrooms and water fountains available in the Steamship Authority ticket building, and vending machines outside. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, some swear by the nearby Wood’s Hole Oceanographic Institute’s cafeteria (open Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 1:30pm). If you’d prefer a restaurant, the Pie in Sky Bakery and Cafe comes up often as a good spot, and has the advantage of being open seven days a week.
Overall, we found the Shining Sea Bikeway to be a good recreational, family-friendly sort of ride. There are great amenities along the trail such as ice cream spots, and a bike fix-it station with tools and air available at the Bud’s Stop pavilion in the Depot Avenue trailhead parking lot (mile 3.5 of the path).
As far as crowds go, even though we were on the trail mid-morning on a high-summer Saturday in July, we found the trail crowded in just a couple of spots. Generally it was peopled along the trail and very quiet in few areas. The path doesn’t seem to attract many serious Tour-de-France wannabes in full spandex plumage shouting at you about how they are ON YOUR LEFT as they speed by to yellow-shirt glory in their minds. In fact, it was such an easygoing bike ride that we could actually pretend that the notorious summertime crowds and traffic of the Cape simply didn’t exist. Once we got to Woods Hole, that fantasy ended with the bustle of travelers coming and going.
Stopping into the Steamship Authority building, I considered the ticket counter. Outside, I looked longingly at the ferry. How easy it would be to just hop on and lose myself biking on Martha’s Vineyard for a couple days. The ferry would get me there in under an hour. I wouldn’t be the first to get to Woods Hole and just keep going.
In the end, I heeded the call of the Bates Bikeway because like that other American poet, Robert Frost, I had to go one way or the other. Faced with two choices in the road — one choice an oft-travelled path leading eleven miles back to my car waiting in a parking lot, one choice an entire ocean leading to a nearby island and then, well, who knows — I took the one that led back home.
I was sorry I could not travel both, but one was probably as good as the other. Now I can plan my next Beyond Wellesley adventure. Where will it take me? Newton? Worcester? Hard to say. Maybe my next road trip will be on one less traveled by. That could make all the difference.
Ride on…
Friends of the Bourne Rail Trail hope one day to use State-owned land to directly connect the Cape Cod Canal Recreation Path at the Buzzards Bay Railroad Bridge with the Shining Sea Bikeway. The 6.5 mile extension the group is working to make a reality would create 24 miles of uninterrupted trail by connecting Sandwich, Bourne, Falmouth, and Woods Hole.
MORE:
Beyond Wellesley: a gardens visit to Kennebunk, Maine
Beyond Wellesley: a hike on Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire
Beyond Wellesley: a restaurant visit to Buttercup, Natick’s new farm-to-table place
Here in Wellesley: an interview with a few Morses Pond powers-that-be
It’s been a safe and fun season at Morses Pond, Wellesley’s hottest spot to cool off and relax in the summer. I caught up with Recreation Director Matt Chin; Recreation Department Deputy Director Brandon Fitts; and Program Coordinator Jenn Lawlor to find out how things have been going at the swimming, boating, and fishing area located off Weston Road. We talked about everything from programming to phosphorus and algae blooms to creatures that exist in and around the 100-acre body of water.
Also part of the conversation: changes that may be coming to the popular recreation area. With Town Meeting’s blessing, Rec anticipates putting out a Request for Proposals this fall to find out what changes might be possible, desirable, and within budget. It’s no secret, for example, that the bathhouse could use updating and the parking area could be improved. What’s less known is what residents think the area needs. That will be sussed out during a series of yet-to-be-announced public meetings in which residents will be asked for input and about how changes and improvements should be prioritized. We’ll keep you updated as information becomes available.
In the meantime, mark your calendar: Morses Pond closes for the season on August 19.
SW REPORT: What fun events did you host at the pond this summer?
BRANDON FITTS: We hosted the fishing derby in May before the pond opened for the season. Also Council on Aging Day, when seniors got in for free, and we had activities for them; Wellesley Mother’s Forum had an event, there were fun things for dads to do on Father’s Day, and all the graduating 8th graders were here from the middle school for a party — they had perfect weather. Going forward, the library comes over and does Beach Tales [Thursdays through August 16, 11am – 11:30am], and we’re doing Cars 3 for movie night [August 9, 8:15pm], and the Family Camp-Out is Saturday, August 8 – Sunday, August 9.
SW REPORT: Were there any upgrades to the beach area this year?
MATT CHIN: We’ve saved money by not having to treat the pond for algae so we repaired the docks. Some pieces had to be sent back to the manufacturer to fix them and some parts we fixed here on our own.
SW REPORT: How have the algae blooms been this year? What about the E.coli count?
MATT CHIN: We’ve had no problems with algae blooms this year, and haven’t had to treat for them in eight or nine years. The clarity of the water is great this year. We test weekly for E.coli contamination, as the State requires. The maximum limit for E.coli is 235 colony forming units (CFUs) per 100 Ml. This year the tests have come back very good. The highest it has been is 164 before the pond opened. Every week since then it’s been 50 or even lower. We have been extremely lucky this year as many beaches, lakes and ponds in Massachusetts have been closed due to high bacteria
BRANDON FITTS: We haven’t had many problems with geese on the sand, which helps.
SW REPORT: How has the phosphorus level been this year (phosphorous levels contribute to algae blooms and become high when septic systems, animal waste, and fertilizers, for example, run off into the water. 2017 recorded the lowest phosphorus levels in 20 years at the pond):
MATT CHIN: The phosphorus levels continue to be low and we anticipate recording lower levels for 2018 than we did in 2017.
SW REPORT: How many times did you have to treat the pond with chemicals for phophoorus inactivation?
MATT CHIN: None.
SW REPORT: What kind of fish/creatures are in the pond?
ALL: Sunfish, eels, bass, perch, mussels, snails, painted turtles, snapping turtles on the pond that isn’t used (the old Ice Pond), crawfish…
BEN, CRUISING BY ON A GOLF CART: A kid pulled a catfish out of the water the other day. There are also pickerel in there.
JENN LAWLOR: There are two swans and one baby swan on the pond. Also geese, fawns, herons, chipmunks.
SW REPORT: What’s coming up in general in the Recreation Department?
MATT CHIN: Well, a Pickle Ball court is opening up at the Schofield School tennis courts in a couple of weeks. Also, the Fall brochure will be coming out online and in mailboxes soon.
SW REPORT: Thanks for the update, everybody.
After we finished talking, I strolled over the the entrance area and plunked down $25 for a rest-of-season pass. Morning swims through the August 19 closing date is my goal. With the water sparkling clean and the hated Canada geese generally at bay there’s nothing stopping me except my own inertia.
If you haven’t gotten your pass yet, go ahead and make it happen. See you there.
Check out Rec’s sweet Instagram account here.
Free home energy savings seminar at Tolles Parsons Center, August 3rd
Are you worried about high heating cost? Do you want to cut your utility bills?
Learn ways to reduce your energy usage and make your home more comfortable and efficient. The seminar will review available programs that help you reduce energy usage. The 2018 Town Wide Energy Assessment Campaign sponsored by the Wellesley Municipal Light Plant and National Grid is offering no-cost energy audits, free light bulbs, and significant rebates and assistance on insulation, heating equipment and appliances. The seminar will familiarize you with the audit process.
You are encouraged to bring your oil, gas, and electric bills with you. Volunteers will help determine your benchmark energy rating and assist with the audit process. The seminar will be held Thursday, August 3rd , 10:30 – 11:30am at the Tolles Parsons Center, 500 Washington St. Wellesley.
Sign-up with the Council on Aging by calling 781-235-3961. Walk-ins are welcome.
This program is sponsored by the Wellesley Sustainable Energy Committee.