Walden Pond

After two days of sight-seeing and travelling, I came to Walden Pond. This is a small lake or large pond near Concord, Massachusetts. It is famous for being the place where Henry David Thoreau lived for a time in a simple cabin which he built and where he wrote his Walden - a wonderful book for those who love the world of ideas and the sharing of experiences through beautiful writing.
If you have read Annie Dillards' Pilgrim at Tinker Creek and enjoyed it, you might like to try reading Thoreau's Walden.

I read Walden when I was in high school and fell in love with the book. I bought a copy that contained images of Walden Pond and have had the intention to visit the place for many years.

So, on a hot, buggy, muggy afternoon, after long hours of driving, I arrived at Walden Pond and was instantly struck by the feel of the place. I suddenly didn't mind the bugs or the threat of rain. I didn't mind that the place was thronged with people. I didn't mind that lingering there would delay my dinner hour. I was suddenly filled with a strange and wonderful feeling of peace and quiet joy.

My travelling companion noticed it too and remarked upon how the 'energy' felt wonderful there. I agreed with her wholeheartedly.

It is no wonder to me now why Thoreau chose to live there. There is no visible outlet or inlet for the water of this very deep pond (over eighty feet deep). The water is crystal clear and feels silky to the touch. It is of an exceptional quality.

The pond has been made a state park and is protected from development. It has naturally sandy shores and a sandy bottom and is popular as a place to swim.

I have never seen a pond with such crystal clear and clean water in it. I am definitely going back to Walden Pond!

Here are some photographs, although they don't do justice to the place.

A forest of pine, oak and maple surrounds the pond on all sides.

Its banks are naturally sandy and it has a feel to it that bring peace into my heart.

This photograph is my attempt to show how clear and clean the water is. Looking down into about 10 centimeters of water.

The hillside is steep above the pond on this side. We climbed up until I was breathless, which didn't take long because of my asthma. Still, you can see how high we are as I looked down onto the pond to take this photograph.

Walden Pond sits in a natural bowl of wooded hills. It is very close to a major highway, but we heard only the sound of cars passing more slowly through the state park as a two lane road brings visitors to the pond.