Contracts are signed, so time to start plugging this. @BlackHarePress has accepted my short story, “The Weight of One,” for inclusion in their upcoming Grimdark anthology. This should be a great one, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy!
A shout out to Dark Horses magazine, who have accepted my short story, “Red Sands at Morning.” A bit of a taste:
Amid the buoys, bits of fishing nets, and jagged tree limbs sat a red sandcastle. Only, not a sandcastle, not really. It certainly had the FEEL of a castle, with walls and swooping turrets and exposed angles that looked defensive in nature. But it was rougher, wilder, and should have been pulverized in the storm had it been built before it. And it certainly wasn’t new; there was no one else in sight.
“Can we see that sand, Daddy? Please please please…” Alan set the girls on a sturdy tree trunk and made his way through the debris field to the red castle. The closer he got to it, the more sinister it became, with some of the spires topping the thing looking almost razor sharp. It also appeared to have washed in with the rest of the storm junk. As he approached it from the ocean side, there was a clear line between the off-white of the beach sand the solid red of the castle.
Location: Lincoln, NH
Date: 3/9/22
A very short and easy trail that is probably mostly used as a starting point for other trails. Still, a nice walk in the woods, although it is fairly heavily trafficked on the weekends. You can access this just north of the Flume Gorge at the Liberty Springs Trailhead parking lot. For a bit of a loop, hike the length of the trail and take a right at the end of it to hike the bike path back to the parking lot (not the best idea on a weekend – snowmobiles abound!).
Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!
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- Start of the White House Trail.
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- Still a fair amount of snow in early March.
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- There is a bit of elevation here, but not much.
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- You won’t see the river until the end of the trail. This runs along the bike trail.
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- Actually part of the Franconia Notch Bike Trail (which become the Franconia Notch Snowmobile Trail in the winter).
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- End of the White House Trail.
Location: Woodsville, New Hampshire
Date: 2/20/22, 2/24/22
Tucked away just north of Woodsville is the Lone Oak Trail, maintained by the Upper Valley Land Trust. While short, this moderate trail features a bit of elevation, making it steep in places (particularly as you reach the summit). It’s definitely worth the effort, though, as you can see from the view. I had a crampon blow out on this one, so actually had to make a couple of runs at it before getting to the top.
Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!
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- The trail is easy to find, and offers limited parking at the trailhead.
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- Trail is well-marked.
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- The last third is of the Lone Oak Trail is fairly steep.
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- Several staircases built into the trail can become frozen waterfalls; crampons are a must.
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- The same staircase four days later. It’s amazing what a difference a couple of 50 degree days can make.
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- The view of Woodsville from the top.
Location: Montpelier, Vermont
Date: 02/21/22
Just north of the statehouse in Montpelier, Hubbard Park is a 194-acre park packed with hiking trails, shelters, fire places, and a large stone tower at its highest point. There are multiple parking areas and access points; we parked on Parkway Street and hiked up, which was under two miles in and back, with some elevation. There is nothing too strenuous here, but it is a great place to do some light hiking, although I imagine it probably is pretty well-traveled at times.
Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!
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- A small pond and bridge mark the start of the trail from the parking area.
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- The trail is pretty much all elevation leading up to the tower, but it’s not too strenuous.
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- A sure sign that spring is on the way!
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- Through the trees, a tower appears.
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- The tower, added to the park in 1915-1930.
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- The inside of the tower, which is open to the public.
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- You get a 360 degree view of Montpelier and the surrounding area…
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- … and ants. Be careful if you go in the winter, as the top can be icy.
Drabbles are 100 word stories, and more challenging than they might seem. Much like a poem, every word counts in this form, and it’s not only a fun form to play around with, but also a good writing exercise in general.
I write these on occasion, usually for an antho call or contest. When they don’t “hit,” you’re left trying to place them elsewhere, which can be difficult and time consuming. I’ve taken to sometimes uploading them on sites around the Internet for a variety of reasons. When I get a fair amount of these, I’ll throw up a Rabble of Drabbles, of which this is the first. Check them out if you get the chance, and stick around the sites to read a wide variety of writers.
“Shadows”
https://medium.com/@rich_41534/shadows-a-speculative-b7dab4e21f82
“Case Closed”
https://commaful.com/play/rwaynegray/case-closed/?sh=1
“The Wizard and the Words of God”
https://www.wattpad.com/1189257886-the-wizard-and-the-words-of-god
“Last Halloween”
https://www.booksie.com/667412-last-halloween
“Home For The Holidays”
https://storywrite.com/story/16354928-Home-For-The-Holidays–a-Christmas-drabble–by-Rich1
“Equal Shares”
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/rwaynegray
Location: Peacham, Vermont (Groton State Forest)
Date: 02/17/22
The yearly winter hike up Owlshead. The temps were pushing 50 and rain was in the forecast, but it held off. I had the mountain to myself.
Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!
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- The start of the trail, just off the State Forest Road.
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- Definitely an easier hike. There is a bit of elevation involved, but for most of the way it frequently levels out.
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- This is just off the parking lot, which you can drive up to in the summer.
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- Trail is well marked, although there’s enough traffic (particularly on the weekend) that you can just follow the path.
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- It gets a bit steep and icy near the end. Crampons recommended.
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- You spot the stone shelter, you know you’ve made it.
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- A pretty easy hike, and the view definitely makes it worth it.
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- The picnic pavilion just off the parking lot. Great view here as well, including picnic tables and a fireplace.
Location: Lincoln, New Hampshire
Date: 2/8/22
Dubbed by no less than Henry David Thoreau as “perhaps the most remarkable curiosity of its kind in New England,” The Basin is also was fun short hike with a unique reward. Winter is no different, and you certainly won’t have the crowds to deal with. This is located directly off I-93 and along the Franconia Notch Bike Trail.
Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!
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- This was a few days after a foot of snow had fallen.
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- The Pemigewasset River just upstream from The Basin is cold and clear.
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- There are actually a few falls along the short hike to get to The Basin.
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- The Basin.
Contract’s signed, time to share. A huge thank you to Black Ink Fiction for accepting my short story, “Truce,” for publication in an upcoming issue. More info coming when I get a date…
Location: Lincoln, NH
Date: 1/13/22
A popular White Mountains destination in the summer, The Flume is also a great hike in the winter (and free). While the gorge itself is closed to hikers, the two-mile loop sees a fair amount of traffic, particularly on weekends. Crampons are highly recommended, as the trail can be quite icy in spots. This is a fun hike with lots to see — highly recommended.
Feel free to share or use these pictures for personal use, so long as you link back to this site. Thanks!
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- The path to the Flume loop is just off the parking lots and between these two sheds.
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- After a hundred yards or so, the path splits to the two ends of the loop. I recommend taking the right path.
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- The first covered bridge you will come to.
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- The gorge, closed in the winter time.
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- The gorge from the top.
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- A second covered bridge over a steep gorge is on the far end of the loop.
Subscribe to the channel or follow me on twitter (@RWayneGray) to keep up to date on new videos, horror stories that I have coming out, and more. Most of the videos on the channel will revolve around activities such as kayaking, road biking, winter hiking, etc.