AN URBAN ADVENTURE — by Steve Nadis
Some friends of mine–let’s call them Henry & Catherine–are often taking so-called “urban adventures,” hopping on buses to different parts of the Boston area and then getting out and exploring. Yesterday, my family had some urban adventures of our own. And even though they were rather modest, as adventures go, when they happen, unexpectedly, in your own backyard, that makes them even more special. First we took a hike in the nearby Middlesex Fells because of its proximity and the fact that we dawdled for much of the morning and well into the afternoon and didn’t leave time to travel farther. But even though we’d been there many times before, this time we found a trail we hadn’t seen that afforded great views of the city and great rocks for climbing and scrambling. Off the beaten path as we were, we saw snakes, toad, and frogs. For the last stretch mile, we wandered around off the marked trails, bushwhacking through the wilds, and the kids loved it.
On the way home, we stopped off at a new playground in East Cambridge I’d just heard about the day before that had challenging–and almost entirely new–play structures for kids. Having spent thousands of hours in playgrounds over the past several years (and that’s no exaggeration), it was nice for me, and especially for the kids, to find everything new, as if they’d reinvented the wheel at this park. The formula, I’m sure, we’ll be repeated in the next generation of parks, but for now it’s still fresh.
So that’s it for the week’s “urban adventure.” For those of you expecting my usual cynicism and sarcasm, I apologize. But don’t worry, tomorrow is another day. And I can already feel the negativity and rancor starting to bubble up within.
Posted by in 13:57:45
Good times, no? I used to do the same thing in Seoul… except insted of an “urban adventure”, I called it “taking someone’s advice.” … get lost.
Which just goes to show, there is good “lost” and bad “lost.” The same applies to the TV show, as well.
Wow! Thick Jungle over-growth! Vines,bushes,trees…& SO close to Cambridge. Wo whoud’a thunk? D’ja see any snakes, Snake? Buffalo? Any fleeting glimpses of Penobscot or Pennacook? Make sure you bring a camera next time. Sounded fascinating. {sarcasm courtesy of kustom productions(c)2006- “all rights in reservation”}
Thanks Marco. Now I feel totally humiliated. Which is good for me. It’ll only make my posts stronger. Or more humiliating.
Are you sure that is negativity and rancor bubbling up? It could just be something you got at Friendly.
You mean my favorite restaurant, the Friendly Eatin’ Place?
Your blog is amazing,i really like all the word and the style.