Alaska Vacation II - Day 1

Flight from Chicago with DL, JC & AC to Seattle, Washington where we boarded Holland America's Eurodam for a week exploring Al;aska.

Leaving the Port of Seattle around mid-day.

And from the Archives...

Nipmuck Trail Marathon

September 30th, 2012 - Ashford, Connecticut

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.

Vacation begins with an early morning flight to Chicago. 

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period August 1st through August 31st, 2023:

"High Points" along trails during August 2023... 

Still Building up....

• Burnt Hill Lookout, Burnt Hill Catamount Trail, Heath, MA
• Northern Drake Mountain, Southwick, MA
• Ratlum Mountain, Canton, CT
• Hatchet Hill, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Warner Hill, Plainfield, MA

Short morning at work, then a drive to have a late lunch / early dinner with my folks.

From the Archives... 

September 26th, 2020 - The New England Trail

Bear Hole, McLean & Whiting Street Reservoir Marathon

I completed my 61st Marathon today in 6:00-hours (5:49:23 moving and 9:37 stopped).

The route began a little after 7 a.m. in Bear Hole Reservoir, and once connected to the New England Trail (Metacomet) I also passed McLean Reservoir and the Whiting Street Reservoir for a gps measured 24.3-miles.  Google Earth listed the total ascent at 4195', with a likewise total descent.

It was in the low sixties for temperature at the start, but very high humidity (80%+).  Once the sun came out the temperature hit 80-degrees.

I felt very good throughout the run, but my feet and legs were sore for the last hour from the multitude of rocks that exist along much of this trail.

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.

Rainy dreary day, stopped off at the "Old" High School track to attempt a second attempt at four Yasso 800's.

I completed each 800 as follows:

• 3:58
• 3:56
• 3:58
• 3:55

Just a bit easier than last week.  Roughly two weeks in a row is a really good start, if I can combine with the 5K runs into the winter months I'll be pleased.  

Finished with a total of 3-miles.

From the Archives...

 Mount Greylock Marathon

September 24th, 2006 - Adams, Massachusetts

On this day, I enjoyed a really special run and adventure.  

It was my 36th completed marathon, and it was at Mount Greylock.

The Greylock Marathon's always mean a bit more to me than others; this one was especially memorable due to the company I had for the entire route, my dad and my great friend Paul H, as well as Tips on her 10th completed marathon.  

We finished at 7:29:23, just beating some heavy rain.  An unbelievable day!

Greylock Finish, 2006 

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #14

Granville Reservoir 10KM (6.6-Miler)

K2 and I wanted to beat the Hurricane Remnants Heavy Rain that was projected for our region, so we began our run at 8:10 a.m.

We gave ourselves until 10, with an order to return to the car if heavy rain began.

In the end, we arrived back at the car just a few moments prior to the 10 a.m. cutoff, without any rain beginning.  Interestingly, within ten-minutes on the ride home it did begin to rain.  A small victory for us.

Still working on "field-checking" all the trails I have cataloged and mapped in the Granville Reservoir Section around Drake Mountain.

Using my "Naming Conventions" I've used on my map I covered the following today:

• Winchell Mtn Bike Trail
• UFO1 Trail
• Little Perched Rock South Trail
• White Pine Trail
• UnNamed #1
• Winchell Road

Completed 6.6-Miles in 1:34:30.

3.2-miles along the Metacomet (NET) and side-trails of Hatchet Hill / Farmington River @ T-Ville.

Running on the Metacomet (NET) from Hatchet Hill. 3.7-miles.

And From the Archives...

 Pisgah Marathon

September 21, 1997 - Winchester & Chesterfield, NH

I raced and completed the Pisgah Marathon today (29.3-miles), in 5:03:39.  Ran the majority with Zeke Z, covering a beautiful park in New Hampshire.  This was my 17th finished marathon.

From the Archives... 

Curly's Marathon II
September 20th, 2009 - Pittsfield, MA

I completed my 45th marathon today, 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.

Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks Inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site

Earlier today, the 21 countries on the UNESCO World Heritage Committee issued their decision to inscribe Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks as the United States’ 25th addition to the World Heritage List. 

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, which include five locations managed by the National Park Service and three managed by the Ohio History Connection, were built by Native Americans between 1,600 and 2,000 years ago. They are complex masterpieces of landscape architecture and are exceptional among ancient monuments worldwide in their enormous scale, geometric precision and astronomical alignments. 

Collectively, these special and sacred places constitute Ohio’s first World Heritage Site. 

“Inscription on the World Heritage List will call international attention to these treasures long known to Ohioans,” said Megan Wood, Executive Director and CEO of the Ohio History Connection. 

World Heritage inscription brings recognition to places of exceptional interest and value. There are only about 1,000 World Heritage sites around the globe. 

The eight Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks sites are in Licking, Ross and Warren counties. 

The National Park Service’s Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in Chillicothe includes the Mound City Group, Hopewell Mound Group, Seip Earthworks, High Bank Works and Hopeton Earthworks. 

The Ohio History Connection's Great Circle Earthworks and Octagon Earthworks are in Heath and Newark, respectively, and Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve is in Oregonia. 

The Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks were nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage List in January 2022 by the U.S. Department of the Interior, but the process to get to that point has been over a decade in the making. 

For more information about the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks and upcoming commemoration activities, go to hopewellearthworks.org.

• Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks
• Great Circle Earthworks
• Octagon Earthworks
• Mound City
• Hopewell Mound Group
• Hopeton Earthworks
• High Bank Works
• Seip Earthworks
• Fort Ancient

COVID Booster received this evening. 

Running in Granville today, roughly 4.5-miles. 

Celebrated my Mom's Birthday today!

Today we cleared our belongings from one storage facility and moved everything to another unit (huge price difference).

After a work-shift, I drover over to the "Old" High School track to attempt four Yasso 800's.

I completed each 800 as follows:

• 4:12
• 4:08
• 4:06
• 4:06

These were difficult.  Going into it, with the pace I've been at lately (and with the long layoff), I didn't know if I could do 4 minutes or 4:30's, but I figured somewhere in there would be it.

All in all, the attempt was encouraging.  Finished with a total of 3-miles.

From the Archives...

Pisgah Marathon

September 14, 1999 - Winchester & Chesterfield, NH

I raced and completed the Pisgah Marathon today (50km), in 5:47:30.  Ran the majority with the Bandit, throughout a beautiful park in New Hampshire.  This was my 22nd finished marathon.

From the Archives...

Mt Washington State Forest Marathon - September 13, 2005

 Riga Plateau, South Taconic & Appalachian Trails, MA, NY & CT

I completed my 31st 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.

Bands and Live Performances I've been a part of:

#8.

Primitives, Dong Show #1, Summer 1983.

We were asked after the fact if we ever "practiced".  

The Duke said "No, but we talk about it quite a bit".

This was a no practice session.  We were fueled by alcohol and youth.  

We just didn't give a darn.

This was a Primitives before Aldo.  He was in the audience and saw something in us, I guess.

Duke, K, TimB, Bruce, LA, Rollo and I.  I imagine there may have been another or two, but memory of the occasion is fuzzy.

We played something like a slow "Kick Out the Jams" with K mumbling "Baby Baby Baby" over and over again.  Bongos went flying into the audience, we got gonged.

Stopped off in Plainfield for a short run before visiting my folks.

Managed 3-miles, with one of the trails I had wanted to explore ending up dead-ending at a swampy pond or beaver pond.

I had a camera with me, and the stonewall network is very impressive within this area,

After the run, I stopped off at Plainfield Pond and took a dip to clean up.  First open water "swim" of the year, and I can't remember if I had swam last year.  I had taken a dip in the Ocean back in March.

Picked up some Chinese Food for the folks, had a great visit and drove home into some serious rain off and on.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #13

Granville Reservoir 10KM (6.2-Miler)

I thought I had until 2:00 p.m. until the rain hit, but I was wrong by thirty or so minutes and I got totally swamped.

The run itself went really well, I tried hard and managed 5 mph over the 6.2-miles.

It was a another opportunity to "field-check" all the trails I have cataloged and mapped in the Granville Reservoir Section around Drake Mountain.

Using my "Naming Conventions" I've used on my map I covered the following today:

• Turtle Effigy Trail (again)
• Little Perched Rock Cut Thru Trail
• Granville Reservoir Trail
• Winchell Road
• Winchell Reservoir Road

Completed 6.2-Miles in 1:14:10.

Also, from the Archives:  

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.  We got crushed by a heavy rainstorm for the last 3-miles.

This was my 37th completed marathon, and Tippi's 11th.  All in all, I was not in fantastic shape but the year was winding down, and the run was incredibly enjoyable.  Missing a turn shortly after Windsor Jambs, continuing on the dirt road for a bit, didn't count as a positive.

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

Tippi on the Jambs Trail.

Alert, as always.

Jambs, with Tippi on the ledge, upper right,

 

Electrical Storm issues at work beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday, spent until 12:30 a.m. working remotely with the on-call operator, then spent the morning and into afternoon at the facility and pumping stations getting equipment working again.

A washout of a day, basically.

3-miles in Cowles Park after a lengthy day at work. 

Suffield 5km Course #2 for 2023.

Very Hot, Humid and Sunny (~78-degrees @ 9:00 a.m.); 28:03.. 

Completed the 3.1-miles in 28:03, which considering the warmth of the day, I'll take.

1st loop in 13:46 and 2nd loop in 14:17.

Times for my Race Against Myself (plus official events) at this location:

• $2, 2023 - 28:03 (September 7th, 2023)
• #1, 2023 - 29:50 (August 26th, 2023)

___________________________________________

• #5, 2022 - 27:30 (October 1st, 2022)
• #4, 2022 - 26:07 (June 20th, 2022)  Official Event
• #3, 2022 - 25:28 (May 22nd, 2022)
• #2, 2022 - 25:20 (May 7th, 2022)
• #1, 2022 - 27:24 (April 8th, 2022)

___________________________________________

• #7, 2021 - 23:50 (October 30th, 2021)

• #6, 2021 - 24:34 (September 17th, 2021)

• #5, 2021 - 25:10 (September 3rd, 2021)

• #4, 2021 - 25:29 (August 27th, 2021)

• #3, 2021 - 26:48 (August 20th, 2021)

• #2, 2021 - 25:20 (July 9th, 2021)

• #1, 2021 - 27:00 (June 28th, 2021)  Official Event

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• #2, 2019 - 27:46 (July 9th, 2019)

• #1, 2019 - 28:04 (July 2nd, 2019)  Official Event

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A couple of Blast from the past, retelling from the Archives:  

Curly's Marathon was held in Pittsfield State Forest on this day in 2008, and it was a beautiful day to run.  I made the mistake of wearing old shoes rather than a new pair I had just purchased, and it was a very poor 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 40th completed marathon.  My dad ran the Half-Marathon option as well.

Additionally, More from the Archives:  

Dunbar - Whitcomb - Jambs Marathon for Wuzzam and I on this day in 2014.

Wuzzam and I conquered Dunbar-Whitcomb-Jambs in 6:21:34.  This expanded from an old run the Bandit and I did on a few occasions, 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 54th completed marathon. 

The Journey South Has Begun

During August, the monarch super generation will emerge and start their migratory journey south. 

Monarch numbers reach their peak by fall migration. At no other time of year is the population as large as it is now. Monarchs produce four generations during the typical breeding season and the population grows with each new generation. By mid-month, the first members of the migratory generation will emerge in the north. These butterflies are the great-great-grandchildren of the monarchs that left overwintering sanctuaries along the coast of California in the United States and the Monarch Biosphere Reserve in central Mexico last spring. This generation has a long and challenging life ahead: they will migrate to their overwintering locations this fall, survive the winter, and return to their breeding territories in spring 2024. 

We haven't had as many Monarchs this season as normal, but we did have a visitor today!

“If the building's still standing when we've finished then we've failed.”

― Charles Gayle

Charles Gayle, a saxophonist extraordinaire, who came to prominence in the 1990s after decades of obscurity, dies aged 80.

In the very early nineties, I was listening to an abundance of "Free Jazz".  I came across a review of a musician that I was not familiar with (very few were at that time, evidently).  The record being reviewed was "Repent" by Charles Gayle.  It contained two pieces, the first being "Repent" at almost 24-minutes of un-interrupted genius.  That was the short song.  The lengthier composition was entitled "Jesus Christ and Scripture" clocking in at slightly over 50-minutes.  I was sold before hearing a single note, and once I actually heard the record, I became a fan and quickly purchased everything I could find  by Charles Gayle.

2023 Unsupported "Non" Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #12

Granville Reservoir 8 KM (5.0-Miler)

K2 joined me in Granville again.

I began thinking that a worthwhile goal for September through December would be to "field-check" all the trails I have cataloged and mapped in the Granville Reservoir Section around Drake Mountain.

Since I've named most of the obscure trails and paths I've explored, I will use that nomenclature.

Today, I rambled on the following:\

• Round-A-Bout Trail
• Little Perched Rock North Trail
• Turtle Effigy Trail
• Circle Trail
• Winchell Mtn Bike Trail (1st Section)

As I was checking my path of today against my historical routes, I used OpenStreetMap for the baselayer in ArcMap.  Low and Behold, someone has finally loaded up the Drake Mtn and Reservoir Area Trails into the public map.  I've avoided doing this, as it may really introduce the area to the masses, but what will be will be.

Completed 5.0-Miles in 1:17:05.

And, remembering a Musical Life....

Gary Wright, singer of Dream Weaver and Love is Alive, dies aged 80.

Like just about anyone who listened to FM Radio in the mid-70's, those two songs (Dream Weaver and Love is Alive) are etched into our collective mind's soundtrack.

I also really liked those Spooky Tooth albums, which group Gary Wright belonged to.

What I didn't know until reading his obituary was that he played many of the keyboard parts on George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" multi album set.

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #11

Metacomet - New England Trial 10km (6.4-miles)

North to South, Beginning Phelps Road.

On a very hot and sunny mid-day I rambled out to the "Spine" from Phelps.

GPS recorded 3.18 miles in 49:00, registering 3.9 mph.

It got very warm on the way back, and I increased my pace hoping for a negative-split.  Stubbed the toe 5 times with two of those events leading to tumbles.

Completed the 6.36-miles in 1:33:00, a 4.1 mph average.

44 minutes on the return, including the two tumbles, was respectable.

2023 Unsupported Trail Race Unofficial Challenge #10

McLean Reservation 4.5-miles

I had time to get over to McLean Reservation before a short emergency shift at work to attempt a 4.5-mile run.

Hot and Sunny (~80-degrees); managed 52:50, running somewhat hard for the entire distance.  

Averaged 5.2 mph pace.

I am looking forward to the rust coming off.

• #1, 2023 - 52:20 (September 2nd, 2023)

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