Finally some rain in the morning, with cooler temperatures.  The humidity is still difficult to deal with, with the associated outdoor recreational issues intact.  Kept the time down after yesterday's longish run, and the weather, to a comfortable 3.8-miles.

Used the Hatchet Hill trailhead for the Metacomet, and revisited Smaug's Lair and Keg Roller (which I may have previously read as Egg Beater or Egg Roller, no telling).  Took a side-trail heading further south close to the Farmington River and enjoyed that.  There remain a few more trails I haven't been able to tidy up yet.

The signage that appears on the mountain bike trails is pretty nice, and appreciated.  It looks like whomever is laying out these paths, and building them, has placed a great deal of emphasis on it being a substantial  trail network for a very long time.  Nice work!

I read this last month as Egg Roller.

Utilizing a nice natural feature along the trail.

Taj Mahal heads downhill (after some up) toward Cowles Park.

The sign for Metacomet is Taj Mahal's neighbor.

Beautiful section of the Metacomet using gentle swinging uphills embraced by fern.

Smaug's Lair, worth a look.

Made a trip to Hawley with Wuzzam and the Old Goat to run a big loop in Dubuque State Forest.  It's been almost two full years since I've run in this old favorite, and longer for my two companions.  

We were hoping for either 15 miles or 3.5-hours, and we were close to both...  14.1-gps miles (some of this is winding so actual distance on ground may be greater) and a running time of 3:17:00.

The Kiln is always a treat, and there is a real maze of trails zig-zag'ing around it that I'll have to get back to.  Along the way, there were other trails popping up that I hadn't noticed before, which I'll get to.

We did a little searching and found the balanced rock off Bog Trail.  I have photos we took during a winter snowshoe in the early 2000's, but lately it had escaped me.  Today, we took the time and it was very worth it...  excellent surprise along this trail.

Took a look at the Old Cemetery off Poverty Square Trail, something Wuzzam and I always do.

Moody Spring had a good flow of delicious water, which we all tanked up on.  The trails throughout were in pretty great shape, which was really nice to enjoy.  Great day with two old friends whom I have been running with for around 20-years.  That's longevity!

New Signage for the Hawley Kiln!

 

The Kiln Itself.

Dubuque's Balanced Rock.

 Dubuque's Balanced Rock.

 Very Weathered Signage for the Old Cemetery.

 Gould Meadow Shelter.

Moody Spring, a very mystical location for Wuzzam and I.

Wuzzam and Old Goat at the Spring.

Periwinkle Trail off South Road.

On this day in 2005, Tippi and I ran the Savoy General Store Marathon.  It was lengthy, over 29-miles I believe.  From Haskins Road to the General Store, which brought us all the way over to Windsor Jambs, we had the company of "Max", a friendly dog we picked up at Loop & Haskins intersection. 

Tippi along the trails of Savoy, 2005.

Oddly, each time we came to an intersection on the trail, "Max" knew which way we were planning on turning (even though he lead).  He managed this for 9 - 10 miles.

Total for the day was roughly 29.30-miles in 6:17:52.  It was my 27th completed marathon, and Tippi's 3rd.  After finishing, I met Jane Phinney in the Savoy Town Offices;  she was the Savoy Town Clerk and is the author of  "Taking the High Road".

Notes from the day include: Cool day with Big Sun, stayed in the 70's.  Felt fine through Tannery Falls Area, but Ross Brook and the Balanced Rock Section were a bit of a struggle.  Rebounded well after that until Windsor Jambs.  Tired but decent until the climb out of the Jambs to Griffin Road, which was a chore despite being mostly downhill.

Had a day off to take care of errands and meet with Mass DCR to discuss ideas and trails.  Everything turned out wonderfully.

Ended the afternoon with a stop at Robinson State Park in Feeding Hill/Agawam/West Springfield, Massachusetts.   

Many trails to explore, so I'll visit again very soon.  Extending the Metacomet from Suffield gets you here, as I once completed during a August 27th, 2008 Marathon using a partial of this area.

Town Boundary Marker.

Tall Trees throughout forest.

On this day in 2009, Tippi and I explored the Robert Frost Trail through Sunderland and Amherst (I think).  It was a day after a really hard rain, so the brooks and streams were really roaring.  We ended up losing a bunch of time "off trail" around Eastman Brook.

We parked at Amethyst Brook and did a bit south, then north to the foot of Bull Hill.  Outstanding area that I would like to return to.

This was my 41st completed marathon and Tippi's 14th.  The run took us 6:03:58 to finish.

The heat hasn't left Connecticut yet;  Tunxis would be a little more elevation and hopefully cooler temperatures for Wuzzam, K2 and I.

It's a good thing that we left our old dogs home, because all the water holes they usually would frolic in were dried up.  The big pool on Kettle Brook and the camping spot along Roaring Brook were dry.  The swampy area at the height of land a mile in was dry.  The deep pool on the east side of Pine Mountain Road was very shallow.  Tough conditions this summer.

We managed just under 9-miles, an out-and-back with a loop on the end for Pine Mountain.  On our feet running for 2:09, which felt good in this heat.  Indian Council Caves and Pine Mountain were the focal points of today's run.

View northeast off Pine Mountain.

Looking toward Indian Council Caves.

Wuzzam making the climb to the top of Indian Council Caves.

Very hot today, temperatures appeared to reach 100 on the drive home from Cowles Park.  Third Friday in a row for K2 and I;  4 tough miles in the heat.

One of several Stone Walls throughout the loops.

Awesome bench where I sat exhausted after finishing my run today;  It had my name on it.

On this day in 2008, I completed the Hallockville Pond - Mt Institute Marathon with Wuzzam and Tippi.  The 25+ miles were completed in 5:29:07, and ended with a dip in Hallockville Pond.  This was my 36th completed marathon and Tippi's 12th.

Still too hot to run long (for me, anyway).  Did an "old reliable" close to home out and back along the Metacomet in West Suffield, Connecticut.  Total of 3.5-miles.

 This northern section of the Route 20 to Phelps Road section offers some great views.

 Just above the sign in log.

Looking about 15 miles south to Hueblin Tower and Talcott Mountain.

Black Birch from possible "nurse log" .

Played a little more music in the morning with Jon Bon Evil; It's still brutally hot and humid, so my motivation / energy has been strained.  I had seen a couple side paths off the Metacomet in Tarrifville last week, heading down toward Wilcox Park.  This would be as good a day as any to explore those and not overdo it.

The trails off Metacomet are not long, but they are interesting and nicely built.  On a run, they will offer up a nice option of a loop to connect back.  Wilcox Park was empty;  the grass was moved and the park was clean.  I have no idea what the rest of it looks like, but there was a small picnic area and a portable toilet available.

Ended up with 3.5-miles, incredibly slow.  It was plain hot.

View without last week's fog.

Second Friday afternoon in a row to Cowles Park, this time with K2.  Basically the same route as on the 8th, with a minor diversion to grab some trail coordinates I'd been missing.

Ended with 3.8-miles in 54 minutes.  The heat and humidity were extreme, but I didn't push at all either, so no idea if it was conditions or me.  Most likely a little of both.

Excellent trail network, nice dark forest, and easy and quick to get to.  This spot is a keeper.

I am a really big fan of the tree id helpers along trails.

Large Beech along the trail.

 

Smaller Red Maple on same path.

Updated Map, showing inside the "Yellow Trail" within the park.

Temperatures today were cool enough, in the high sixties and low seventies, but there were low clouds and rain threatening...  so it was very humid running.  Other than a few raindrops, I did not get wet from outside in.

Rambled along the Metacomet Ridge from Phelps Road in West Suffield to Route 20 in East Granby.  I've been on this ten-mile out and back too many times to count.  It's a good gauge of fitness;  first, can the entire thing be run without stopping for breaks, and secondly, how quickly can it get covered.

I had no trouble making the distance, but a sore left heal (woke up with it yesterday) really slowed me.  Might be a bruise, or the start of plantar fasciitis.  

Heavy clouds sitting in the lowlands.

Snake Skin shed along rock.

An hour into the run, and the fog is getting worse.

Today's 10-Mile Route (out and back).

A busy Saturday morning at work, followed by a wonderful run along the Metacomet.  From Route 189, at the Farmington River, I passed through Tariffville and rose to the ridge, letting it carry me toward Penwood.  From there, I ventured into Wilcox Park a bit, and followed the trail to the Pinnacle at the height of land in Penwood.

This is a pretty nice section, if the gravel road enhancement could have been avoided through one short ridge-top section.  I am not sure why it continues as far as it does, but the stones are assimilating into the earth some over the years, so it isn't as bad on my feet.

Finished up with 8.3-miles in a little under 2-hours.  Once home, I was presented with a thoughtful gift from Donnalee, a tee shirt emblazoned as shown below:

Yes, I am a huge fan of Game of Thrones, books and television.  And, I dig that Hodor a great deal.  

As an added bonus, after receiving the tee-shirt, the phone rang and it was our old friend Johnny Bandit, who we hadn't heard from in many, many years.  What a day!

Just after the start, on Route 189, a view from the bridge (Farmington River). 

The Bartlett Tower, just a few tenths into the Metacomet Trail off Mountain Road.

One of the views off the ridge, looking west.

Today's look off the Pinnacle in Penwood, towards Hueblin Tower.

This old chimney used to be along the Metacomet;  the re-route goes away from it.

The rain never came, so it was a really great opportunity to get to Cowles Park after work.  K2 and Jon Evil joined excitedly, since neither had ever been to Cowles before.  They both finished up their tour impressed.

Took the inner-loops, and realized that the big intersection at the Shagbark Hickory would be a comfortable turn-around (1.8-miles).  This worked well with my hope of getting in about 3.5 total.  The route will be a nice way to get in some speed-work when there isn't time to go longer.

Jon navigating the turns.

 

 One of the small climbs.

K2 Finishing Up.