Northampton Neighbors<br />Monday Walking Group<br />1:00 p.m., Monday, April 25, 2022<br />Hadley Dike, Hadley, Mass<br /><br /><br />MEETING TIME AND PLACE: 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 25, 2022. Alexandra Dawson Conservation Area, 50 North Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 (this can be used as a GPS address). We will meet at the parking lot that is adjacent to the Hadley Dike, a few hundred feet east of West Street and the Hadley Commons.<br /><br />DRIVING DIRECTIONS: From the Coolidge Bridge proceed eastbound on Russell Street (Route 9) about one mile and make a left hand turn onto West Street (a landmark is the Esselon Cafe which is on the right hand side of Russell Street, next to the Hadley Commons). Proceed on West Street ½ mile to its end and make a right hand turn onto North Lane and proceed a few hundred feet where you will see the parking lot and a sign for the Alexandra Dawson Conservation Area on the left, where we will meet. Please use 50 North Lane, Hadley, MA 01035 for a GPS address. If the parking lot is full, please park on North Lane.<br /><br />DESCRIPTION OF WALK: From the parking lot, we will walk on the Hadley Dike alongside the Connecticut River as it flows to the west before it turns south near the Coolidge Bridge. We will walk approximately 1 to 1 ½ miles on the dike before returning to our starting point, for a total distance of 2-3 miles. However, others may prefer to walk shorter distances, so please feel free to turn around at any time and return to the parking area. No one is obligated to walk a specific distance. Because we are walking alongside a large river, it may be windy, so please bring a wind breaker along. The Hadley Dike is a popular birding walk, so please bring binoculars if you like.<br /><br />TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Hadley Dike has a very nice grass walking path, parts of which may be muddy if it rains before our walk. Please wear stout hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes, bring a rain jacket, hiking staffs if you use