Drove out to visit my Mom today, and on the way back stopped at DAR State Forest to make an attempt at connecting the Tilton Farm Trail along Rogers Brook to the Bradley Sanctuary.  The last time it existed as an easily followed path for me was 2012.

I had efforts out here on February 24th and May 12th of this year.  Getting down to the brook from Tilton is a little tricky, but I believe I have that covered now.  Along the brook is easily to follow until the sharp "left" (east) uphill toward Merritt's Hill.  That has been clear-cut, with downed limbs left in a several hundred foot swath.  The tough part of this is the old snowmobile trail went right through this section for a little more than a half-mile.  Now, it is ruined.

Once the old route somewhat returns, until the intersection with the Bradley Snowmobile Trail, its very clear, yet still littered with timber and branches.  Not as bad as what preceded it, however.

On  the way back, I followed the well maintained gravel road until I spotted an old path just after Roberts Brook crosses under the road.  I recall being on this many, many years ago with Tips.  It brought us right back to the initial spot where the logging started, but by using this "alternate", the clear-cut is avoidable.

Oddly enough, I started down this path on the May 12th exploration, to get to Devil's Den.  Somehow, I lost the path on that day, although it appears strange that I did seeing it today.

Ended the day with 4.8-miles, which wasn't even half of what I had wanted.  The good news is making the alternative connection is very valuable, and I was worn out and tired before the run even started anyhow.

Also, on this day in 2012, I completed my 47th marathon, Nipmuck.  My time was 4:46:30, which was good for 28th place.  This was the 9th time I completed this event.

Tilton Town Farm Trailhead

Turn to Bradley Sanctuary

Old path after logging

Rogers Brook

Early run with K2 along the Metecomet, from East Granby to Suffield, and back.  It felt great to move along the ridge, the 10-miles went by somewhat easily (especially at the pace I was "running".

The fog covered the low lands, valley, and river bottoms like an ocean this morning.

Driving to an evening meeting this week, I noticed a Roadside Memorial on Route 159 in Suffield, Connecticut.  No name, but dates are evident on the cross, 4:10:66 - 6:14:15.

I set a goal of visiting twelve Williamsburg Woodland Trails this season.  There were not twelve sites within the Williamsburg Woodland Trails Properties, but there were some that subscribed to the same type of designation, and were in the area.  The twelve properties are as follows:

• Bradley (visited February 19, 2018)
• Breckenridge (visited February 24, 2018)
• Devils Den (visited May 12, 2018)
• Tilton Farm (North & South), Goshen Open Space (visited May 12, 2018)
• Henhawk (visited June 2, 2018)
• Historic Dam (visited July 4, 2018)
• Hall / O'Neil (visited July 19, 2018)
• Graves Farm (visited July 19, 2018)
• Big View (visited August 25, 2018)
• Briar Farm
• Petticoat Hill / Locke's Loop (visited August 11, 2018)
• Lily Pond

I have managed to visit 10 of 12 so far, which is just ahead of the one-per-month pace I originally thought of.  Big View and Petticoat Hill were added in August, and I have revisited both a few times since the initial visit.

Music 2018...

Effort #39, "Autumnal Equinox"...  acoustic guitar playing a blues in A, with a chorus of crickets recorded mid-evening.

"...On the day of an equinox, daytime and nighttime are of approximately equal duration all over the planet."

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Dusty (August 28, 1986 - September 25, 2000).

"Dusty" at Old Sturbridge Village, 1998

DL brought Dusty home at Christmas 1986, when we lived at Old Mill Pond in Arlington, Texas.  He was a cocker-spaniel, and a really great dog.

Once we made the move to Connecticut in 1989, we began hiking and backpacking.  Dusty loved the trail, and camping out in a tent.  As a spaniel, he also loved water, and even in December's winters, if the water was open, he was going in.

We began running in Shenipsit State Forest around 1992, after building up with the years of hiking.  We ran on the Metacomet three or four days a week, right up to a week before his passing. 

I have been extremely lucky with the dogs I've had.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of them.  As I still ramble through the woods, I encounter hints and reminders constantly.  Those first explorations throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts were with Dusty,.  Rest easy, boy.

Looking back to something really special run-wise, on this day in 2006 I completed my 34th marathon, at Mount Greylock.  Greylock Marathon's always mean more to me, and this one was especially memorable due to the company I had for the entire route.

Tippi enjoyed completing her 10th marathon, her second time at Greylock.  I had my dad and our friend Paul H along as well.  We finished at 7:29:23, and just beat some rain.  Unbelievable day!

Greylock Finish, 2006 

Another day spent with Wuzzam and K2 at Shenipsit.  Outstanding weather for being in the woods, or for anything really.

We managed 5.5-miles through the maze of trails around Bald Mountain Pond.  While the basic structure of the trails are embedded in our memory, I do get frustrated with "loops within loops".  Regardless, it was an awesome run.

Wuzzam at rocks

Rocks

Wuzzam identifying Black Birch

A beautiful morning... clear, crisp, no humidity or bugs.  Drove out to Unquomonk & Big View and explored trails leading around the reservoir and to Petticoat Hill along the Gas-Line.

I connected some trails, which was the purpose of the run.  I was still feeling poorly due to the head cold, but managed a solid 5-miles total.

Pond along the way, looking north

Pond along the way, looking south

Stonewall at Petticoat Hill Gasline

Stonewall at Petticoat Hill Gasline

Falls along Unquomonk Brook

Falls along Unquomonk Brook

Falls along Unquomonk Brook

A nice cool day, especially compared to what the last 3+ months have been like.  I visited Cowles Park, and ran a nice looping track inside the park for 3.5-miles.

Back in Time...

On this day in 1997 I completed my 15th marathon in 5:03:39.  This was my first attempt at Pisgah, and I have it listed as 29.3-miles.

Early morning run on South Main Street to the underpass, 3-miles.

... And On this day in 2009, I completed my 43rd marathon, the 2nd Curly's Marathon.  After feeling as though I was demolished at this event in 2008, I had a goal of finishing under 5-hours this time around.  In 2008, the event took me 5:54:36.  This would be a challenge, and something I do not usually stress myself with (having a "goal" time).

The day was tremendous, and I felt great.  Somehow though, in the first 5 or 6 miles, I missed a turn.  I ran a ways before I turned around.  By the time I re-entered the correct course, I was at the very back of the race.  After several minutes, I caught my (at the time) 70-year old father.  This was not great, but I felt so fantastically good that I wasn't really bothered by it.

A few miles later I caught Wuzzam, and we ran along the top and Berry Pond together.  I pushed decently down the Turner Trail, lost Wuzzam but got to half-way just after 2:30:00.  All I needed to do was run the same time for the second loop - yes, I would be tired, but I wouldn't have to run the extra mile or more.

I can still recall getting back to the top and knowing I would really have to push down the entire Turner Trail.  I did, and finished under my 5-hour goal with a 4:59:27.  I felt really, really good on this day.  I have no idea how far I went out of my way on that first loop - but judging where I came back out on the course and who I was behind at that point, it was meaningful minutes.  Keeping a positive attitude through it really helped, and I felt blessed.

We have three doctor visits scheduled today for DL;  in between the first and second, we arrived home long enough for me to run 3-miles along Main Street.

Music 2018...

Effort #38, "Splash 1"...  13th Floor Elevators classic done solo.

" ...I've seen your face before, I've known you all my life.  And though it's new, your image cuts me like a knife."

Still enjoying my old Black Lizard / Vintage Crime collection with another trip to Sweden with Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo.  This time, "The Man on the Balcony", the third Martin Beck novel, published in 1967.

Today is my Mom's Birthday;  this is a great opportunity to share a picture of her with her best buddy "Otis", from 2012.  

And...  Shenipsit State Forest in Somers with K2 & Wuzzam today for 5.2-miles.  We made it up and around Bald Mountain, as that is what the Wuzzam wanted to do.

Tree ID of the day - Chestnut Oak

The old Shenipsit Trail markers still exist on the more "western" route

Wuzzam having completed the climb up the east side of Bald

  

A beautiful visit to Adams for a visit with my Mom for her birthday (which is actually tomorrow, but she wished to celebrate today!).  Once back to Connecticut, I too a 3.1-mile run along Main Street at night.

Ventured out to Williamsburg again, trying to tie up loose ends.  This time, it was from the snowmobile crossing along Route 143 to Chesterfield, south to connect to the Petticoat Hill area.

I had only been on this trail once before, about a decade ago, late winter or early spring.  Some of it came back to me, which was a source of encouragement and strength.  I managed 8.2-miles, and connected to where I needed to be.

The gas line is interrupted by a swamp, which I think I recall during that winter.  There are a slew of single-track trails scattered throughout, very nice work.  The snowmobile trails connect to Unquomonk and the Big View area as well.  More work awaits here, but I have the connections to complete a Bullitt Reservation to Route 9 Williamsburg Marathon.

Signage for the Williamsburg Rod & Gun Club

Brook along single-track trail

Snowmobile signage

Rock Balanced on larger Rock

Swamp in the late afternoon

And some Old News...

On this day in 1999, I completed my 20th marathon at Pisgah.  Time was 5:47:30, and I am fairly certain this was a 50km event.  I missed a turn somewhere around 10-miles, and had to backtrack a bunch.

3-Mile run along Main Street in the dark.

Also, on this day in 2005, I completed my 29th marathon at Mt Washington State Forest, with the Riga Plateau, Appalachian Trail, and South Taconic Trail thrown in for good measure.  I had Tippi and Wuzzam along for the day, which set a record for high temperature unfortunately for us.  This was Tippi's 5th completed marathon.

Our time was 5:10:41, which shows we were really running pretty hard.  The lack of water on the trail was a real concern for me, with Tippi.  Luckily, the stream at the bottom of Bear had plenty, and from there on we were set.

Wuzzam looked absolutely beat climbing and coming down off Bear.  He needed the stream to cool off in as much as Tips did.

Music 2018...

Effort #37, "Bombed"...  Mellow melody from Mark Lanegan, done solo as RSC (Rapid Social Change) late one night.

"When I'm bombed I stretch like bubblegum"

3-mile run along the Metacomet Trail, north from Phelps Road.

On this day in 2007, Tippi and I finished the Notchview Marathon.  We ran from Notchview Reservation in Windsor, Massachusetts into Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, then to Savoy Mountain State Forest in Savoy.  I remember that we got crushed by a heavy rainstorm for the last 3-miles.

This was my 35th completed marathon, and Tippi's 11th.  All in all, I recall not being in fantastic shape but the year was winding down, and the run was incredibly enjoyable.  I also recall missing a turn shortly after Windsor Jambs, continuing on the dirt road for a bit.

Looking at the map, we passed Windsor Pond, Crooked Neck Pond, and Hallockville Pond along the journey.  

Meadow at Notchview 

Tippi on the Jambs Trail.

Windsor Jambs.

Alert, as always.

Jambs, with Tippi on the ledge, upper right,

 

Spent the morning relaxing, and getting a homemade brunch together with DL.  Shuttled JC to the airport for his trip back to Chicago, and then by late afternoon I drove to the Mt Tom Reservation to get in a run.

Explored some trails I haven't been on, trying to connect things.  Bushwhacked a bit as well, off of Little Tom Mountain.  All in all, a decent effort with 6.2-miles on my legs.

Signage for the entrance to Little Tom Mountain, The Trustees of Reservations site

Large boulder on the M&M (NET) trail

Drove to North Reading, Mass for my niece's wedding today with DL & JC (in for the occasion from Chicago).

Bit more reading completed as well.  Back to Jim Thompson, and "A Swell-Looking Babe", originally written in 1954 and published in the '90's as part of the Black Lizard / Vintage Crime series.

After Physical Therapy today I ran Phelps North, along the Metacomet Trail, for 3.6-miles.

From the wayback machine...

Two old marathons completed on this day, the first in 2008 and the second in 2014.  

In 2008, Curly's Marathon was held in Pittsfield State Forest, and it was a beautiful day to run.  I recall wearing old shoes rather than a new pair I had just purchased, and it was a bad decision.  The pain in my feet and lower legs was incredible for the last 6 or 8 miles, and I was lucky to finish in 5:54:36.  This was my 38th completed marathon.  My dad ran the Half-Marathon option as well.

In 2014, Wuzzam and I conquered Dunbar-Whitcomb-Jambs in 6:21:34.  This expanded from an old run the Bandit and I did, from Whitcomb Summit to Windsor Jambs.  This time, we began at Dunbar Brook in Monroe State Forest, and ventured out a new snowmobile trail to the windmills to Whitcomb Summit, over Crum Hill, over Flat Rock Hill and the old Viewing Platform for the Hoosac Tunnel, crossed the Cold River on an obscure grown in path, past Savoy Mountain State Forest at North Pond, past Bog Pond, over Lewis Hill and Borden Mountain, through Windsor Bush into Windsor State Forest and the Jambs.  Outstanding day with outstanding sunny weather.  This was my 52nd completed marathon. 

 Unfortunate Windmill site.

The Elk Monument at Whitcomb Summitt.

Viewing Platform for the Hoosac Tunnel construction.

View from Flat Rock Hill with Greylock in view.

 

Crossing of the Cold River.

Stone Carving on rock, obscure path.

Bog Pond.

The Dunham Lot, off Tannery Road.

We are getting close!

The Jambs!

Dwarf Forest and the softest ground-cover imaginable.