Walking Across Nashoba — Stow Part 1

On a typical weekday morning, my family experiences the rush of getting children awake, dressed, and fed before heading off to school. My commute to Nashoba Regional High School, with a quick detour to drop my daughter off at Luther Burbank Middle School in Lancaster takes about fifteen minutes. From my home close to the Northwest corner of Lancaster it is a quick three mile drive down Lunenburg Road (route 70). This is followed by an additional three miles on 117 before reaching the high school. With the windows closed, the heat or air conditioning on, and the radio tuned to WBUR to catch the 7:00 am news, it is easy to miss the natural world surrounding the road. I pass the South Post of Fort Devens to the East followed by the Nashua River Green Way and then a view of the North Branch of the River itself. After passing through the small village of North Lancaster the road leads towards the Bolton Fair Grounds and Bolton Flats. On crisp fall mornings the mist rising from the river bottom paints an enchanting scene with the Vaughn Hills and often the sunrise looming to the East. A quick trip up the hill past Bolton Orchards and I reach the school, largely ignorant of the natural communities that I just passed through.

Were I to continue to the other side of the School District in Stow, I would travel through the picturesque center of Bolton, pass under 495, speed past Apple Orchards and high tech firms, before entering Stow. A few more miles and small farms will lead me to the Elizabeth Brook and the equally captivating center of Stow. A quick…