[April 25, 2026; Woods by the Assabet River, Marlborough, Massachusetts] Dallas and I are in Marlborough, Massachusetts for the New England Folk Festival Association’s (NEFFA’s) dance festival. We’re staying at Extended Stay America Suites (19 Northboro Road E, Marlborough) and dancing at the Trade Center (Royal Plaza Drive). I took a break from the dancing and drove to a nearby nature preserve for a hike. I first stopped at the Assabet River Canoe Access, on Robin Hill Street in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The parking lot is west of road and a short trail leads down to the river. At this point (at least), the Assabet River is more of a stream. It’s meandering, thirty feet or so wide, and a foot or two deep. A large dam-like flood control structure is on the opposite side of the street, as is another dam that impounds Milham Reservoir. I could not find any hiking trails in this area, so I moved the car a half mile to the Old Farm Trailhead on Boundary Street. The Old Farm Trail traverses a wooded upland area that is immediately east of the valley of the Assabet River. Ocassional spur trails lead down into the rover’s floodplain, which is five-to-ten feet lower than the trail. Wood Anemone, with its beautiful white star-shaped flowers, is just beginning to bloom. Canada Mayflower is abundant, too, but not yet in bloom. Skunk Cabbage is leafed out, but Fern is still in the Fiddlehead stage. I took one detour down to the river by the Beaver Point Picnic Area. The stream meanders through its grassy flood plain. Several anglers were casting flies. I followed the trail until it reached Main Street (Route 201), crossing several lovely tributary rivulets via wooden foot bridges, and passing a few derelict Nineteen-Fiftyish cars and rusty farm equipment. The last section of the trail is concurrent with the Boros Trail. I reversed my direction at the highway and followed Boros back to where it intersected Boundary Street, a little south of where I was parked. I took one short detour to view Milham Reservoir, which is a small impoundment with a muddy shore. 1:45.