An awesome sunny day in the upper 50's.  Drove out to the Metacomet Crossing at Route 20 in Granby, and headed south to the Farmington River at Tariffville.

The section from Hatchet Hill Road to the Farmington River, which includes a slew of side-trails to Cowles Park (and elsewhere), was well populated with bikers.

Enjoyable day, I ended up with 8-miles of very slow going, especially the last 2-miles.

View south from above Tariffville Gorge

View north from above Tariffville Gorge

At the Farmington River

Old Burial Ground, being "updated"

DL and I Met up with my folks today at lunch (at Williamsburg Snack Bar).  Had some Mrs. Murphy's donuts for them, and a ham and kielbasa from Perkarski's.  The visit was outstanding.

Early evening I took a run in light rain along the Metacomet, from Phelps Road south, for 3.7-miles.

And, from old gps data, Tippi and I were out on Florida Mountain snowmobile trails today, ten-years ago (February 29th & March 6th, 2007).

An early evening 3-Miles on the Metacomet from Phelps Road north.

Turn-around point at stonewall

"The Lost Forest of New England", a wonderful video from the New England Forests channel.  I've been fortunate to have been out on a few hikes with the filmmaker.

Cleared to Return to Work from the Shingles Virus, which is a relief.  I am starting to feel decently.  Late afternoon called for a drive to Phelps and the Metacomet, to manage a nice easy 3.7-miles of varying pace.

Music 2018...

Effort #13, Girls Got Limits.  Originally by D.Y.S., evidently one of "Aldo's" favorite bands from the early '80's. (see February 5th, 2018 post of us performing "Open Up" by the same group). 

This was the Primitives, Summer of '84.  Aldo was hitting on all cylinders, and DL supplied background vocals

Managed a nice slow hike at Minnechoag Mountain Conservation Land.  It hurt a bit, and I was winded, but I kept it short and took breaks along the way studying trees.  

I'll say it again, Shingles Sucks, but I am hopeful I am at the tail end of it.  I just finished day 7 of 10 on the anti-viral medication, and while I feel much improved I am still a ways off from actually doing any running it seems like.

Signage along all the trails is fantastic

Close up of Bent Tree (full tree picture available on Feb 2, 2018)

View east off north end of Minnechoag, 880 and Pine

View west up Zellweger Hill (Gas Pipeline)

Parking area on South Road

Today was an improvement regarding "Shingles".  Took two 1/2-mile walks around town on the sidewalks.

Catching Up Post, #5.

Not a bad day, recovery is noticeable.  "Shingles" sucks.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

And, for something a little "new"...  Music 2018!

Effort #12, Another 2018 attempt for the Road Warriors for Christ...   He's Alive.  

The Reverend sent this to me, a strong effort, and his first "lead vocal".  With all the negatives of  social media pretty apparent, it is encouraging to see how two old friends can collaborate over time and space.

This is all Reverend JK.  I hope to play it with him someday soon.

Catching Up Post, #4.

Back to the eye-doctor (everything looks great!), and additional conversations with medical doctor.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

... and from the "way-back" machine...   15-Years ago today, in Savoy Mountain State Forest -

Tower Burying Ground; (this day, 2003)

Tannery Falls; (this day, 2003)

Eastern Falls (Parker Brook Falls); (this day, 2003)

Eastern Falls (Parker Brook Falls); (this day, 2003)

Estes Burying Ground; (this day, 2003)

Dunham Burying Ground; (this day, 2003)

View off Adams Road; (this day, 2003)

Catching Up Post, #3.

Just enduring "Shingles", day-to-day.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

Catching Up Post, #2.

"Shingles" diagnosis had me seeing an eye doctor, due to location of rash.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

Catching Up Post, #1.

Doctor visit revealed I have "Shingles".

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

It seemed like a good opportunity to finalize the little bit I had left to get from Camp Ayapo / Perkins Mountain to Rattlesnake Hill.  There were six or seven cars at the lot in Camp Ayapo at 11 a.m., which is nice to see.  Folks are really enjoying the trails around the lake and along the ridge.

I took the "Yellow" trail out to where it turns to the "Red" trail, near Mulberry Lane.  Ventured across the street and entered in along the old forest road that shows up on the topo map, which was what we used back in the day.

Rambled along and up, enjoyed the view east from the open edge of the ridge, and with a short drop down west I saw my footprints from yesterday.  All set!

Explored a bit on the way back; interestingly I could occasionally spot the orange blazes of the old Boy Scout Path that covered from Minnechoag Mountain all the way through Pine and Rattlesnake, to Ayapo.  I think this trail was set in the early 1980's?

Ended the day with 4.1-miles, it felt like more as it took me a while to fight through the snow.

View east off Rattlesnake Hill

Path through two boulders on extreme south end of Rattlesnake Hill

Top of Perkins Mountain

Old Bell at Camp Ayapo, Perkins and Rattlesnake in background

New sign / Kiosk at parking area at Camp Ayapo

Memorial Dedication Plaque on stone

With the woods being in-between snowshoe and running shoe conditions, I figured I'd just head out to Skyline to attempt connecting to Rattlesnake Hill from Pine Mountain.  This is the final piece of the old "Simons" runs, and thinking I'd be doing a lot of walking and hiking anyhow, exploring wouldn't be all that bad.

I made it over the Skyline Conservation Area just fine, crossed South Road, and headed east toward Pine.  I knew from my visit on February 23rd that there was a trail heading south at the base of Pine.

Jumped three small deer, forcing them to climb up the steep south face of Pine Mountain, and then bent back due south from my northeast direction.  Rambled on and it looked a bit familiar, and when I had a decision to head hard east uphill or stay more-or-less straight, I chose straight.  As soon as I was a few minutes into this decision, and I turned west, I thought I remembered that turn from the old days.  I lost a good amount of elevation, and didn't feel like turning back, and eventually I exited the woods into a large field with nearby homes.

I don't think this "new" development existed like this twenty or so years ago.  I wandered through the cul-de-sac and found an old forest road that took me back to South Road, right across from the trail back up to Skyline.  While climbing I jumped two more deer, so a great day for deer sightings.

Finished up with 5.8-miles, and a feeling of confidence regarding the last mile or two to get to Ayapo from Pine/Rattlesnake.  The long-path is coming together.

Pine Mountain from the east-side of Skyline

Very large boulder close to the Skyline Peak

Additional boulder on the Yellow Trail

And, 15-years ago today, I explored the old Moody Spring course with Tippi.  Nothing like a visit to Hawley and the Dubuque State Forest.

Gould Meadow Shelter

 Tippi crossing the "pinebow snowbridge" we constructed for the race

Moody Spring

Tippi at the Basin Brook crossing

The Basin Brook Shelter

Bridge over Basin Brook, recently washed out by Hurricane Irene

Another view of the Basin Brook bridge

GOALS 2018 Update

My original list of  twelve Williamsburg Woodland Trails to visit this year...  

• Bradley
• Breckenridge
• Big View
• Briar Farm
• Graves Farm
• Hall / O'Neil
• Henhawk
• Historic Dam
• Petticoat Hill / Locke's Loop
• Tilton Farm (North & South), Goshen Open Space
• Lily Pond, Goshen
• Devils Den

I have been able to visit Bradley and Breckenridge, on February 19th & 24th.  So, the one-per-month goal is working!

Bradley Sanctuary Kiosk

Breckenridge Sanctuary Kiosk

3-mile run along the Metacomet from Phelps Road north.  Snow remains on the trail, a few inches deep, for about half the route.

Looking off Nick's Hill

15-years ago today, March 15th, 2003, we held our 1st version of the Greylock Covered Bridge Snowshoe event.  Figure 8 course, either 3.5 or 8-miles.  29 humans and 3 canine took it out and enjoyed the extended season.

Gotha in front of the one locked in grey...

BH with Sierra and Summitt

Wayback Machine time....   15-years ago today, March 14th, 2003, Greylock Covered Bridge marking with Pop, Paul and Tips.

Paul, Pop, and Tippy (we sure were happy)

Pointing out where we started

The Mountain we grew up under, Greylock

Almost done marking, still daylight (wasn't always the case)

Music 2018...

Effort #11, A 2018 attempt for the Road Warriors for Christ... 

Lord, Can You Hear Me 

During the visit to the Hitchcock Center for the Environment yesterday, I managed a few photo's of "Bark" with Michael Wojtech.  Tree identification is an ongoing study for me.

Ash

Elm

Red Maple