My life has been becoming too complicated lately, so I spoke to Gina and we decided to do a pilgrimage to Walden Pond to "simplify", as the philosopher would have said. It turned out to be a good choice. We drove up Friday night and came to Concord on Saturday to spend the day here. This is not my first time to Walden. I'd been here a few years ago when I was in Massachusetts on a work project. The problem is that I drove out directly after work and only had a few minutes to look around. The part I already saw hasn't changed very much. There is a statue of Thoreau and a replica of his cabin. To be honest, I wasn't much impressed at that time and I'm still not impressed now. I don't quite understand the statue. Poor Henry appears to be peering at his left hand as if it were leprous. What's more, I doubt that he would have consented to a statue had he been asked. I feel fairly certain that this was erected by his fellow townsfolk who initially despised his work on publication and edified it only after following the rest of the world. And, as if this weren't enough, someone felt the need to chain the statue's left foot to an adjoining tree trunk. One wonders what an ardent abolitionist would have had to say about that? So much for the 21st century...

I've been enamored with Walden since I first read it as a teenager in high school. That is why visiting the site on the pond has always been something to cross off of my bucket list. At this point, I would like to give special kudos to my wife Gina who endured the 45 minute hike to the actual site of the cabin. [Please note that I am doing so in a public forum. This will help to promote peace in my household. :)] She wore her hiking boots, smiled and laughed the entire time, and enjoyed the scenery. I was very proud of her and she claimed that the walk did her a lot of good. I think we were aided by the fact that there was a low pressure system over New England this weekend which kept the temperatures unseasonably high at around 65 degrees F.

We were very surprised to find people swimming in the lake. Life guards are not provided, even during the regular season. I assumed the water temperature was nowhere close to the ambient one and my suspicions were confirmed with a quick dip of my hand into the pond. Some of the swimmers had enough sense to wear body suits, but an equal number did not. We were told by one of the locals that there used to be a fellow named Bill who took a daily dip in the pond, in spite of the New England climate, and continued to do so until he died at the age of 80. I salute his fortitude, although I have no intention of ensuring my own longevity in this manner.

Once we reached our Canterbury, I discovered what I already had suspected. There was a placard with Thoreau's most famous quote. There were rocks where someone had excavated the foundations of his chimney and put stone markers around where the assumed edges of his cabin had once been. Pilgrims carry rocks to the site and some put messages on them that hold significance only to themselves. It is very inspiring. We heard several variety of birds, saw a family of ducks swimming in the pond, and heard some creature rustling through the brush. I can only guess what it was, but I assume it to be a woodchuck still longing to ravage a vanished bean field. Such is my imagination...

I am still perplexed concerning aforementioned bean field, however. Having personally grown these in my own garden, I know that they require a fair amount of light in order to thrive. I'm still wondering how Thoreau managed to coax them out of the local soil. It is incredibly sandy and the light is, at best, diffused when the leaves have fallen from the trees. I imagine that during peak growing season in the Summer, these woods are positively shady and probably not conducive to any kind of agriculture. There was no one to ask. I guess it will remain a mystery.

On leaving the pond, we went straight to the gift shop to do some Christmas shopping. I did indulge in a new hat which has now replaced the Whitman hat mentioned earlier in this blog. (Gina prefers the new one since she claims it is more stylish. So be it) We were also lucky enough to find an ice cream truck in the parking lot. I know these vehicles usually play odd ditties to attract the attention of juveniles such as myself. This one chose "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" using those high, silly, tingling bells we're all accustomed to. Odd as it was, Gina and I are not the type to look a gift popsicle in the mouth.

Our last stop was the local cemetery where the Thoreau family plot is located. This site is also home to Ralph Waldo Emerson, Louisa May Alcott, and Nathaniel Hawthorne (buried directly opposite the Thoreaus) For me, it was a little reminiscent of Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. I had that tingling feeling we all get while standing among greatness. Thoreau's headstone was pretty much what I had expected. I have a feeling this was more in keeping with the philosopher's wishes than the aforementioned statue.

If anyone is planning on visiting the park, I would suggest you come prepared. A Summer hike means taking precautions against mosquitoes, ticks, and other biting insects. The park commission asks that everyone park only in designated areas and there is a $5 fee per car which is very reasonable. The park is enjoyed by tourists and locals alike and can become very crowded during peak season. A word of warning on this point... In order to protect the pond's fragile ecosystem, the park service will deny entrance to visitors in the event that the place becomes too crowded. It would be advisable to arrive early if this is a concern.