Battle Road Trail is a newly-opened, almost completed attraction of Minute Man National Historical Park. It runs from Merriam's Corner in Concord for the 5.5 miles to Fisk Hill in Lexington. The trail marks the April 19, 1775 route of the British retreat from Concord following the battle at the North Bridge, and remembers the skirmishes along the way.

On National Trails Day (that's June 6th, for those of you who don't mark this as a major holiday on your calendars), two companions and I joined a National Park Service ranger Mark Nichipor (shown at right, making one of many points) and other residents from the area on the first official end-to-end trail walk for visitors. We were 11 in number, including Mark and two children around 6-8 years old. The walk was a long one (from 1-4 PM) but it was interesting enough that even the kids didn't whine (though I was ready around mile 5 for it to end!).

Mark led us through the fields and woods, recounting as we walked the events of that April day. He has an enormous familiarity with local history and helped bring life at that time and particularly that day alive. The focus was not just on the events, but the individuals involved. He gave us a feel for the texture of life then, what people were doing just before, during and immediately after the fighting, and what happened to them in later years.

And a bit of theatre went on in in those woods on that day. At one point, we were delightfully surprised by nearby musket fire. We were soon accosted by red-coated British soldiers: one grendier and one light infantryman. They detained us on suspicion we were spies. They questioned our loyalties, asked our nationalities, and good naturedly let us go despite their suspicions. They then cheerfully offered to demonstrate their musket drilling and firing. They were very generous sharing their information, and were obviously excited about this new trail event.

Similar walks are scheduled twice a month through October (see the Concord Events listings for specifics). While I can't promise you, too, will be detained for questioning in these woods, the trail is well worth the trip. And of course, it is open for exploration outside of these dates for walking, birding and biking...and not to mention a little spying.