Thanksgiving morning I got up bright and early and went to Gloucester to help my friends at Cape Ann Animal Aid. On the way home, I decided to try and find the Myopia Thanksgiving Day Hunt. I knew they met somewhere near Waldingfield Road in Ipswich at 10:00 a.m., but wasn’t sure exactly where. Parking on the side of the road, I hooked up with a small group of people who were also trying to find the hunt. Deciding there was strength in numbers, I willingly followed them along wooded paths and picked my way through muddy fields. The gray and drizzly day made everything around me look ghostly, including a large flock of geese that took flight when we startled them. Suddenly, on a ridge, we saw a group of riders. Once we climbed up the hill, we could see the large gathering of horses, riders, and hounds before us in the distance. It was a sight to make me forget about my soaking wet and muddy feet. Once the group shouted “hip, hip, hooray!” they were off. The group of bystanders waited patiently for the riders to reappear. All of a sudden, the hounds came into view, running excitedly down the field. Horses and riders followed in hot pursuit. The black and tan hounds, red, blue and gray blazers of the riders, assorted colors of horses, and the muted scenery made for an extraordinary sight. When it was over, I wasn’t quite sure how to find my way back to the car; but after asking a few kindly strangers and walking a few miles, I finally found it. It was a nice way to spend Thanksgiving morning before leaving to be with family and eat myself silly. I’ll definitely make this a Thanksgiving tradition, but will be sure to wear rubber boots next year!
