In Memory...  

Today we said goodbye to another cherished pet...  

Rest in Peace, Otis.

Otis was my Parents Dog for the past 16-years, a great companion who happily traveled everywhere they did.  It was hard to tell who was watching who, between Otis and my Mother.

The last few years its been my Father who Otis looked after, sleeping at his feet on their recliner.

As is the case, goodbye does not mean forgotten.

And From the Archives - Old Marathon News...

Conway Covered Bridge Marathon - October 13th, 2012

Conway & Goshen, Massachusetts

On this day in 2012, Wuzzam and I ran the Conway Covered Bridge Marathon.  We had Ned and his daughter's dog with us for the first 10-miles or so, and they were good company.

The idea for the run had been with me for a while, but what sealed it was Farmer Tom was doing a group trail ride through the woods from either Berkshire East or South Face, to the Covered Bridge in Conway.

We would start running in the opposite direction of the bikes, beginning at the St. Mark's Church parking area (we hoped to start running on an hour but we found out the church bells haven't been active for many years).  We immediately crossed the Burkeville Covered Bridge and we were soon into Conway State Forest.

Highlights of the run included:

• Cricket Hill
• Joe Herrick Gulf
• Smith Hill
• Bullitt Reservation
• Chapel Falls & Ledge/Pony Cliffs
• Moore Hill and the Firetower

We finished really strong, final time of 6:33:15.  This was my 50th completed marathon.

On the drive out to retrieve our two aid station drops, we ran into the mountain bike group crossing West Road exiting the DAR State Forest onto the Chapel Falls Trail toward Conway State Forest.

An excellent day!

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 2.60 @ Cowles & 1 x 1.00;  Total 3.60-Miles.

Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #25 for 2026...

"Post Office"

Written by Charles Bukowski, Published 1971.

Post Office is the first novel written by American writer Charles Bukowski, published in 1971. 

The book is an autobiographical memoir of Bukowski's years working at the United States Postal Service. 

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 3.00 & 1 x 1.00;  Total 4.00-Miles.

It's been a while since we last watched the X-Files.

Originally, we watched the series live, as it was broadcasts, beginning in 1993.  Episodes were broadcast on Fridays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time for the series' first three seasons; the following six seasons aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time.  

This was must-see TV for us during these nine-years.

When JC was old enough, we revisited the series, watching on dvd. This would have begun somewhere about 2005, or slightly later by a year or two (at the most).

Since we completed that second run of viewing, X-Files has only really existed in our memories, with the exception of the two later seasons running January 24, 2016 to February 22, 2016 and January 3, 2018 to March 21, 2018.  These were Season's 10 and 11.

So, with some TV-Time available for the upcoming months, and nothing new really drawing us in, what better opportunity than revisiting old friends Scully, Mulder, Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man, the Lone Gunman "Byers, Frohike, and Langly", Doggett and Reyes.

I will keep a log of episodes watched and progress, as we journey through over 200 episodes!  

October 5th thru October 11th:

Overall / Season                    Title                                     Original Release Date            

• Episode 4.10 (83)          Paper Hearts                                      December 15, 1996
• Episode 4.11 (84)          El Mundo Gira                                    January 12, 1997
• Episode 4.12 (85)          Leonard Betts                                    January 26, 1997
• Episode 4.13 (86)          Never Again                                       February 2, 1997
• Episode 4.14 (87)          Memento Mori                                    February 9, 1997
• Episode 4.15 (88)          Kaddish                                              February 16, 1997
• Episode 4.16 (89)          Unrequited                                         February 23, 1997

Walking Plan:

                                    2 x 1.35 miles; 2.70-Miles Total.

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Top Albums released in 1969, #111 through #120" 

... from that incredible Year in Music 1969!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

111. Tyrannosaurus Rex          Unicorn

112. Vanilla Fudge          Rock & Roll

113. Vanilla Fudge          Near the Beginning

114. The Flying Burrito Brothers The Gilded Palace of Sin

115. The Moody Blues         To Our Children's Children's Children

116. The Moody Blues         On the Threshold of a Dream

117. The Rascals         Freedom Suite

118. The Rascals         See

119. The Beatles         Yellow Submarine

120. Jeff Beck                 Beck-Ola

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walking Plan:

                                2.9-miles at Bear Hole Reservoir with K2.

From the Marathon Archives...

Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest to Bullet Reservation (and back)

On this day, October 9th, 2013, Tippi and I ran the DAR State Forest Marathon in 6:10:00.  It was my 50th completed marathon, and Tippi's 17th and final finish.  She ran some decent distance after this one, for a couple years, but nothing over 20-miles.

We began in Goshen, at the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest, and ran out to Bullet Reservation, and back.  Had a nice stop along the way at Chapel Ledge and Chapel Falls.

Tippi looking off Chapel Ledge (or Pony Ledge).

Tippi looking off Chapel Ledge.

 

Tippi on Chapel Ledge.

Chapel Falls.

 

Chapel Falls.

Tippi cooling off in a pool at Chapel Falls.

Course.

Walking Plan:

                                2.4-miles at Cowles Park.

Free Jazz History....

Albert Ayler said, "Trane was the Father, Pharoah was the Son, I am the Holy Ghost"...

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 2.50-miles, 1 x 1.50, Total 4.00-miles.

ArchaeoEd Podcast

Get ready to embark on a time-traveling adventure with legendary archaeologist, Dr. Ed Barnhart!

Let's unearth the stories of the awe-inspiring civilizations of the Americas. 

These are the tales that only get a fleeting mention in western history books.

ArchaeoEd, S5E6 "Linda Schele - ArchaeoEd S5E6"

Episode 5.6 - "Linda Schele - ArchaeoEd S5E6" - ArchaeoEd

Linda Schele was the most influential Mayanist of her time.  Ed had the good fortune to be counted among her graduate students.  In this episode, he'll tell you some stories from his time with her.

Walking Plan:

                            2 x 1.00-miles, 1 x 1.25 (with K2 @ Cowles), Total 3.25-miles.

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Top Albums released in 1969, #101 through #110" 

... from that incredible Year in Music 1969!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

101. Iron Butterfly Ball

102. Grateful Dead Live/Dead

103. Joni Mitchell Clouds

104. Linda Ronstadt Hand Sown ... Home Grown

105. Pink Floyd More

106. Rare Earth Get Ready

107. Tim Hardin Suite for Susan Moore and Damion

108. Traffic Last Exit

109. Temptations Cloud Nine

110. Temptations Puzzle People

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Annual Eye Exam, passed once again!

Walking Plan:

                            2 x 1.50-miles, Total 3.00-miles.

Non Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #24 for 2026...

"Devil Red"

Written by Joe Lansdale, Published 2011.

It is the ninth novel in Lansdale's Hap and Leonard series.

Walking Plan:

                            3 x 1.00-miles, Total 3.00-miles.

It's been a while since we last watched the X-Files.

Originally, we watched the series live, as it was broadcasts, beginning in 1993.  Episodes were broadcast on Fridays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time for the series' first three seasons; the following six seasons aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm Eastern Time.  

This was must-see TV for us during these nine-years.

When JC was old enough, we revisited the series, watching on dvd. This would have begun somewhere about 2005, or slightly later by a year or two (at the most).

Since we completed that second run of viewing, X-Files has only really existed in our memories, with the exception of the two later seasons running January 24, 2016 to February 22, 2016 and January 3, 2018 to March 21, 2018.  These were Season's 10 and 11.

So, with some TV-Time available for the upcoming months, and nothing new really drawing us in, what better opportunity than revisiting old friends Scully, Mulder, Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man, the Lone Gunman "Byers, Frohike, and Langly", Doggett and Reyes.

I will keep a log of episodes watched and progress, as we journey through over 200 episodes!  

September 28th thru October 4th:

Overall / Season                    Title                                     Original Release Date            

• Episode 4.08 (81)          Tunguska                                          November 24,1996
• Episode 4.09 (82)          Terma                                                 December 1, 1996

Walking Plan:

                            2.00-Mile Hike at Granville Reservoir;  A Return to the Woods!

"High Points" along trails during September, 2026... 

• Blueberry Hill, Phelon Forest (NEFF), Granville, MA (a repeat, yes)

• Phelon Memorial Forest in Granville, two trailheads on North Lane take you to the summit of Blueberry Hill with long views to Russell, Sweetman Mountain, Mount Tom and the Holyoke Range. Perched up above Cobble Mountain Reservoir the trails here are spectacular for bird watching and is a popular hawk watch destination. More than 1,000 acres are conserved by the New England Forestry Foundation. 

• The property’s 1,487-foot summit allows visitors to see into five different states on clear days, and it becomes an even more awe-inspiring spot during seasonal raptor migrations, when birders and field biologists settle into the hillside to count birds and watch a wonder of the natural world unfurl. Hawks like the Broad-winged Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Red-tailed Hawk make up the bulk of the hill’s sightings, and birders on the hill once counted 2,406 migratory Broad-winged Hawks on a single day.

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 2.50-miles, 1x 1.00-miles, Total 3.50-miles.

Having been born in 1962, and liking and listening to music from the early sixties onward, I thought it might be fun to attempt a listing of my favorite albums each year since birth.

The initial post for this series of ideas began on December 26th, 2023.  You can look it up....

This time, I present my "Top Albums released in 1969, #91 through #100" 

... from that incredible Year in Music 1969!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

91. Humble Pie Town and Country

92. Jack Bruce Songs for a Tailor

93. Pink Floyd         Ummagumma

94. Savoy Brown         A Step Further

95. The Byrds Ballad of Easy Rider

96. The Byrds Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde

97. Creedence Clearwater Revival Willy and the Poor Boys

98. Cream Goodbye

99. Quicksilver Messenger Service Shady Grove

100. Canned Heat Hallelujah

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 1.50-miles, 2 x 1.00-miles, Total 3.50-miles.

From the Marathon Archives...

Hartford Marathon

October 1, 1994 - Hartford, Connecticut

Ran through the 1st Hartford Marathon today in ~3:16:00.  My father ran the 5km, my Mom and DL came along to cheer us on.  The finish-time is only six-minutes off a Boston Qualifying Time for my age divsion (sub 3:10).  I feel confident going forward I can reach the qualifying standard.

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 2.10-miles, 1 x 1.00-miles, Total 3.10-miles.

From the Archives:

On this day in 2012 I completed my 9th Nipmuck Marathon today, as well as my 49th overall marathon.

I finished in a respectable 4:46:30, good for 28th place overall.

Walking Plan:

                            3 x 1.00-miles, Total 3.00-miles.

Robin Trower at the Academy of Music in Northampton! 

DL purchased seats early, and we ended up in the Front Row Center!

Setlist:

Too Rolling Stoned (Bridge of Sighs)

Live Your Time (Shine)

Distant Places of the Heart (Seven Moons)

Somebody Calling (In City Dreams)

It's Not Time (Shine)

One Go Round (Come and Find Me)

Day of the Eagle (Bridge of Sighs)

Bridge of Sighs (Bridge of Sighs)

No More Worlds to Conquer (No More Worlds to Conquer)

Daydream (Twice Removed from Yesterday)

Little Bit of Sympathy (Bridge of Sighs)

Encore:

The Razor’s Edge (No More Worlds to Conquer)

Birdsong (No More Worlds to Conquer)

Walking Plan:

                            1 x 2.10-miles, 1 x 1.00-miles, Total 3.10-miles.