Hello fellow sizzlin summer challengers,
This week is all about exploring a new walking path. I can think of no better way to begin than to quote from Robert Frost’s poem, The Road Not Taken. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” How many times have we heard this particular verse or found it plastered on a poster and contemplated its meaning? How many times have we welcomed those lines as justification for a life altering decision?
My other reason for highlighting Robert Frost is because of the interpretive trail created in his honor. Located in Ripton, the mile long trail was developed by the Green Mountain National For
est and Reginald Cook, one of his close friends. This unique trail weaves through scenic and peaceful surroundings and is punctuated by several of Frost’s poems. I found the trail extremely inspirational and if you’ve not yet visited, make sure to check it out soon.
We are so blessed in Vermont. The variety of paths and trails ripe for exploration are plentiful in our forests, parks and communities. Old rail beds continue to be refurbished for walkers and cyclists. The Rails to Trails Conservancy lists several paths and provides topographical maps. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of VT has worked with several communities to produce walking maps available to the general public. In my hometown of Grand Isle, local recreation committee members and several volunteers are in the process of blazing a one mile p
ath around the town’s new park. When complete, the path will offer individuals of all ages a chance to get off the roadways and enjoy the local flora and fauna throughout the year.
And if you happen to be someplace other than Vermont this fine summer, I guarantee you will find some paths that meet your fancy. My most recent catch was the Shining Sea Trail, named for a line in the song America the Beautiful, written by Falmouth, MA native Katherine Lee Bates. This stunning trail is laced with marshes, salt water ponds, shade trees and sandy 
beaches.
Across the pond, otherwise known as the Atlantic Ocean, visitors worldwide now flock to walk the length of or part of the Camino de Santiago, an ancient 500 mile pilgrimage route through northern France and Spain.
Lastly, on a rainy day or after a pleasant day’s walk, you might want to curl up with a good book about walking. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is the fictional story of one man’s walk across England. It’s a winner (at least Gillian and I think so) and wil
l provide you with miles of entertainment without wearing out the soles of your shoes.
See you on the PATH ahead,
Shevonne, Gillian and Amy