At Bob's Way, remembering friends on foot or at rest

Bill Thieriot

Bill Thieriot flew up from Atlanta Labor Day weekend. He made the trip so he could tell the story of how the Resources Council's new hiking trail in Monterey had been named for his late father, Bob, one of the great conservationists and all-around individualists in the history of Berkshire County.
I was thinking of things like Bob's Trail, but it just wasn't quite right, Bill recounted. So I went on the Internet, something Bob would never have done. I was looking up synonyms for trail: and there was road, path, lane, and way. I started thinking, with Bob there was only one way. And it was always Bob's Way. And that's how the trail got its name.

Bill also told the story of his fiancee's first walk with Bob at the Tall Pine Farm homestead. Leena wound up bushwhacking through the woods in a skirt and flats, not realizing that for her future father-in-law, the word woods always went with deep, walk was never paired with side, and don't be whining if you get mud on your legs and sticks in your hair.

So, said Bill, I hope this new trail gives a lot of pleasure to everyone in Monterey, even those of you who like to stay clean.

Rebecca, Sarah and Janet Cathcart at Dave's Bench

The crowd of some 90 people gathered and chatted, snacking on cookies, brownies and lemonade until slowly the tide turned and a stream of walkers crossed the wetland causeway and boardwalk and began climbing the hill.

We pause here to salute two masters of earth and stone: Peter Jensen, who designed and built this superb new trail, and Allen Williams, an artist who doubles as proprieter of the Chester Granite Co.
Allen has built the bench at the top of the hill where we meet Janet Cathcart and her family. No one would be here today if it were not for Janet, for while Bob Thieriot gave the land, Janet Cathcart made sure that the Council would get the local support it needed to build the trail.

Dave's Bench - though the word "bench" hardly does this seat justice - is here at the high point. You read the words carved into the ancient ledge that forms the bench's back: "In memory of David Cathcart, 1940-2003." You see Janet and her daughters Rebecca and Sarah sitting together on the bench, laughing. This has been a hard year for the Cathcart family. You look out over the stirring leaves toward Chestnut Hill, and realize you could sit here watching the wind and sky for quite a while.
And this is one of the things land is good for, whether you like it dirty or clean.