The second Trail Treasure Contest is closed, and we have our winners! 

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After receiving 27 entries earlier this month, response to the Trail Treasure hunt seems to have slacked off. 

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As several people wrote to let me know, someone swiped the Treasure Chest while I was off on vacation. I have since replaced it, and checked on it just last night, so check back if you get a chance!

This contest was perhaps too easy, and the chest hidden in a place too often visited. The next one will be much more challenging, and the hunt will require hiking or running.

This second round of the contest also gave us our first entry in verse, from Larry Wedick, 69, of Nashua.

 

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Congratulations to "Hogans10," the first person or persons to find the Treasure Chest! I will be off from work and away from e-mail this week so I won't be answering messages till I get back. If my inbox gets full, you'll get a message to that effect; just wait and resend it later. I'll keep the contest open for a couple weeks at least.

My good friend Steve has agreed to check on the chest at some point while I'm away in case it needs a refill. Thanks, Steve! Anyone with children in their lives should check out Steve's CDs (check his web site for ordering info). Steve is a great story teller, and writes some terrific songs and his newest CD, "Outta School," is in my opinion even better than his first, "Hang On Henry." You can also catch him live in Nashua at the Cultural Festival on Ash Street this Sunday Aug. 26.

 

 

It’s hard to imagine that the Nashua River Rail Trail needs any introduction, seeing the number of cars crowding the parking lots on sunny summer Saturdays.

There are other rail trails in the region, too, and still more are in the planning stages. That’s good news for people who like to get outside. Rail trails are terrific places for family bicycling (look, ma, no cars!), in-line skating, running or even just an evening stroll.

 

 

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Congratulations to Ken Miles of Nashua, winner of the first-ever Trail Treasure contest! Ken won a $50 gift card at Eastern Mountain Sports, courtesy of The Telegraph.

 

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The first Trail Treasure contest is about done. Get out tonight, or wait till next time... I will be drawing the winner of the $50 EMS gift care Tuesday (or Wednesday if I get too busy).

If you missed it, you won't have long to wait; the next contest starts Thursday.

The Trail Treasure contest is still open, and I'm already working on the next hunt. I plan to wind down the first one in another week or so... so if you've been meaning to get out and explore the Arched Bridge Conservation area, do it soon!

 

 

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The first Trail Treasure hunters have been quick to share news of their find (see earlier posts if you don't know about this contest), along with reminiscences about the area.

If anyone tried to e-mail, and it bounced back, please try again. I neglected to clean out my 'sent' folder before this contest started, so my inbox filled up far too fast!

 

 

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The Arched Bridge Conservation Area lies just over the state line, in Dunstable, Mass. The area is named for an old railroad bridge crossing Salmon Brook, a spectacular example of 19th-century engineering.

(Read on to the end for directions to the Treasure Chest)....

 

 

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Getting out into the great outdoors is its own reward.

Within a short ride, run or drive from any southern New Hampshire neighborhood, you can enjoy the tranquility of birdsong and a fresh breeze through the trees, the beauty of an open vista over rolling hills or perhaps the scent of a tiny wild flower.

It’s all good for you, except perhaps the deer flies, which can be murderous this time of year. They’re for the birds.

To encourage people to get out and explore, and share some of our favorite local spots, The Telegraph and Off Track will be running a contest of sorts, called Trail Treasures.

 

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