Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Steve's SRKG Interview with Peter St James & Jeanne Lester, WNTK 99.7 FM


On Christmas Eve, I received a telephone call from Peter St James of WMTK 99.7 FM radio. Peter and his co-host, Jeanne Lester, invited me to be a guest on their radio show on Boxing Day, to discuss my latest book, Outdoor Play, Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged, Kearsarge Greenway Trail: 75 Miles on a Fourteen Trail Loop. Click the link below recording to hear my radio interview.


Map of Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway




Trapezoid SRKG Direction Sign


The uniqueness of Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail is for each of the fourteen trails, I share a video of my experience on the SRKG. The videos make the hike “come alive." Each trail story is a short read with tips, details on preparation, pictures, maps, and references.

I follow the fourteen SRKG trail discussions with a Chapter on Warning Signs, Survival, Rescue, and First Aid. That section prepares the hiker for what it takes to have a safe and fun outdoor adventure. I shared preparations and the responsibility of hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire.

The Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Green Coalition has graciously given me full permission to use pictures, text, and maps from their SRK Greenway Trail Guide 3rd Edition. Indeed, I carried the Guide with me on all fourteen trails and regularly referenced it.  While my book and videos give you a “what it feels like” to hike the SRKG, the Guide is a continual reference with maps and content for locating a trailhead, when to turn, and where you exit the Trail. 

 History of SRKG

Conceived in the mid 1980′s by a  small group of creative and imaginative individuals associated with the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Lake Sunapee Protective Association and several local conservationists, the Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Coalition (SRKG or Greenway) has evolved into a dynamic non-profit corporation led by a board of directors, three ex-officio directors from the organizations mentioned, and ten towns that include SRKG trails: Andover, Danbury, Goshen, Newbury, New London, Springfield, Sunapee, Sutton, Warner, and Wilmot.

The mission of “Outdoor Play Hiking New Hampshire’s Sunapee-Ragged-Kearsarge Greenway Trail” is to inspire and encourage families and individuals to make the outdoors a key component of their daily lives.

 Locating the Book

The book is available in hardcopy and e-book at Amazon.com.  It also is available at OutdoorSteve.com, the Morgan-Hill Book Store (New London, NH), Harborside Trading (Sunapee Harbor), and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center Gift Shop (Lebanon.)

 "Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends" S. Priest

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel

Books by OutdoorSteve.com


References

  1. WNTK 99.7 FM Radio
  2. Sunapee-Ragged-Greenway Coalition
  3. OutdoorSteve.com
  4. Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS)







Friday, December 16, 2022

Outdoor Recreation for Seniors 2022 Christmas Caroling in New London, New Hampshire


Our Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) Christmas and caroling pageant is an annual "extravaganza." It remains a creative endeavor that warms the residents and our hearts. ORFS step out of their comfort zones and become a caroler for three hours. Our leader, Kathy, asks us to TRUST, go WITH THE FLOW, and HAVE FUN!



MERRY CHRISTMAS. MAY GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE!

We first visit the Bittersweet Residence and then the Lyon Brook Condominium, both located in New London, NH. Al is the keyboard Orchestra, and Cathy is the conductor of the ORFS Choir. We are decked in Christmas red with songbooks for the "formal chorus."

After singing is over at Bittersweet Residence, we socialize with the residents and wish everyone a very merry Christmas. We enjoy their hospitality of homemade goodies of pies, cakes, eggnog, and apple cider. We then depart to Lyon Brook Condominium Community for a repeat caroling performance, a dinner, and the famous ORFS Yankee Swap.


Thanks to Kathy and Rosemary for coordinating the event and for costumes, props, skits, music books, etc. Thanks to Al (piano), Rosemary (dinner), and Joy (Yankee Swap). Great leaders like you make ORFS fun and inspirational.


ORFS gives the gift of themselves, which is much appreciated and shared with the audience. 

Who are the ORFS? The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors are part of the Chapin Council on Aging, New London, NH. The ORFS meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am. In the summer, we kayak/canoe, swim, and hike. In the fall, we hike and bowl, and in the winter, we snowshoe and cross-country ski. Our trips are from 1-1/2 to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and location are available for our Tuesday 10 am outings via email and the Meet UP online site https://www.meetup.com/ , the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter and https://www.coachapincenter.org/orfs/ To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 357 Pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, New Hampshire 03752.  ORFS is a very informal group, and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly, fun group.

" Everyone must do something. I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of your daily life. 

Click this link to SUBSCRIBE to OutdoorSteve's YouTube Channel.

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Steve’s books are available as hardcopy and e-Books at Amazon's Kindle and hardcopy at Harborside Trading Company, 81 Main St, Sunapee, NHWild Goose Country Store, 77 Main St, Sunapee, NHMorgan Hill Bookstore, New London, NH, Bookstore at Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Gift Shop, Lebanon, NH, and Village Sports, New London, NH.


  Outdoor Play has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email and we can work out the logistics. 




Additional Sources of Books at:
Hardcopy at: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X
E-book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X