Meandering with the Merrills Nancy Merrill realized soon after meeting her nowhusband, Tim, that enjoying the outdoors was going to be integral to their relationship. His family hiked, canoed and camped – activities with which Nancy was less familiar. After passing a “camping test,” she was welcomed into his family with open arms.
Park to identify wildflowers and Toms Run Nature Reserve, both near their home at the Masonic Village at Sewickley.
The Merrills have since embraced a lifestyle together centered around walking, hiking and outdoor adventures.
“The number of places in Pittsburgh to walk outdoors is so nice,” Nancy said, “especially during COVID. We’re always thinking, ‘What might we do tomorrow?’”
Early in their marriage, they spent weeks hiking the Appalachian Trail in the Smoky Mountains and took weekend canoe trips. After their two kids arrived, the family explored the White Mountains in New Hampshire and the Adirondack Mountains in New York. As they’ve aged, Nancy and Tim stick more to level trails and take “micro walks” but still enjoy the great outdoors whenever possible. They frequent Raccoon Creek State
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Winter 2021 Issue
“It’s a fun hobby,” Tim said. “I have a plant app that allows me to take a photo of a plant, and the app identifies it. This helps when we don’t recognize it or remember its name.”
They also walk on Masonic Village’s campus, combining sidewalks, paths and streets for a mile-plus loop. They’re very impressed with the new wooded trail on the property (see p. 20) and even recommended enhancing the project by identifying the trees and wildflowers along the trail. “The campus is so well landscaped,” Nancy said. “We have lovely trees, shrubs and plants. And it was designed to be easy to walk.”
