We had several appointments throughout the morning and early afternoon, so I was able to get to Mt Tom to run at about 3 p.m.  The heat and humidity were still bothersome, and despite most of July being this way, I am still not conditioned for it.

I parked at the entry road, and took the following trails (to try to make it to the reservoir):

Bray Lake Trail

Knox Trail

Woodland Trail to Little Tom

Obscure Trail continuing toward the end of the Reservoir

Then, 

B-17 Memorial to Unlisted Trail

M&M

DOC Trail

Keystone

Universal Access

Just at the meeting with the Metacomet, just north of Mt Tom, the sky really opened up and I waiting it out underneath a big maple tree.  I stayed fairly dry, considering.  I am going to remember this tree.

After that, I had a mile or so on the Metacomet, and had my first close-up encounter with a rattlesnake laying in the center of the trail.  I didn't initially see the snake, which made it heart pounding for me.

Both the snake and I survived the scare, and at the end of the day I had 8.5-miles in.

Top of TTOR's Little Tom

Along the ridge, after the rain had fallen

Looking back at Mt Tom

Rattlesnake on the trail? (roughly 3' long)