On this day in 2006, I completed a Tunxis Marathon in 5:41:50.  I had Johnny Bandit along for company, as well as Tippi.  It would be my 32nd marathon completed, and Tippi's 8th.

John Scalise rambling through the meadow.

We rambled from Route 20 to Route 219 in East Hartland, Connecticut, and back for the first 19.5 miles.  We finished up with the Route 20 to Pell Road near the Massachusetts border for the final 6.5-miles. 

Small Waterfall on the northern section of Tunxis Trail.

Old Notes:  Another great day;  started out 45 degrees at the 9:15 A.M. start time.  It reached a high of maybe 60 degrees during the day, with majority in the mid 50’s.  Sunny and blue sky entire time, occasional strong breeze every once and a while.  Started the run at 9:15 A.M.

 Tippi taking a look down from the climb a mile from Pell Road.

John and I both felt that it was the easiest marathon either of us had ever done.  We finished strong, running all but the very start of Trillium Hill from mile 24.5 onward.  I believe we could have easily gotten thru another hour on this day.  Plenty of water for Tippi, no problems with her other than the porcupine around mile 18.  We escaped from that ok. 

 The Pell Road TurnAround.

  

After years of trying, I finally got Wuzzam to climb Negus.  We had K2 along for the day as well, and he was planning on the Mohican-Mohawk Trail across the street.

Climbing Up, almost to the boulder.

Wuzzam on the north-east side of the boulder.

The climb up Negus is still very tough, but at least the route is marked with white and blue metal markers from Brookfield Power.  These markers now mark a route from the bottom of Negus, across from the Nelson Family Graveyard and Zoar Picnic Area, all the way to Monroe Bridge.

Nelson Family Graveyard and Zoar Picnic Area.

Wuzzam on top of Negus, with Greylock in the background.

The route from Negus to Tunnel Road is crisscrossed and lined with awesome stone walls, worth viewing on their own merit.

We visited the graveyard on top of Tunnel Road, I have not been able to locate it's name.  The long descent along Tunnel Road includes a magnificent section through Rowe Land Trust.  The rock formations have to be seen to be believed.

Cemetery on top of Tunnel Road.

Rowe Land Trust Property, Nature Preserve.

Rowe Land Trust Property, Nature Preserve, really worth spending an afternoon at.

Once at the bottom, we crossed the single lane bridge, and ventured towards Reed Brook Preserve (A Nature Conservancy Property).  Up Torrey Mountain Road to South County Road, and a quick bushwhack to get us to the Mahican-Mohawk Trail along the Clark-Todd Ridge.

Single Lane Bridge across the Deerfield River. 

View from Reed Brook's summit.

We were on time to extend the run, so we took the spur to "Indian Lookout" on Todd's Peak.

Lookout on Todd Mountain Peak.

After the jog back to the saddle, and four-way intersection, we descended north toward the Deerfield River, and enjoyed the Elder's Grove section of the trail.

Four way on top of the ridge.

The Elder's are the group of White Pine in the very middle of the picture below, as seen from Florida Bridge along River Road.  Saheda is the White Pine to the far right of the group, with the flat top.  We feel the power in these trees, several over 160' tall, with Saheda at 170'.

 A look back at the Elder's Grove, Mohawk Trail State Forest.

Made it to our car in 4:07 total time, 12.5 gps miles.

 

Additionally, on this day in 2005, I completed my 26th marathon (and Tippi's 2nd) at the Mount Greyklock Marathon '05 version {AKA Molitori 50th Birthday Bash & Annual Celibacy Run}.  Total time of 6:47:02.  Five out of twelve starters completed the full 26.2-miles.  

Full story and results available in pdf.

First "speedwork" of the season;  two runners, three mountain bikers and one dog performed a 3.1-mile run in Soapstone during early evening hours.  I managed a 27:50, top time of the night.

It felt good to run sort of fast.  It has been far too long.

A good trip out to Bigelow Hollow, former home of the "Breakneck Trail Race", which I participated in all 13 years it was held.  Fond Memories for that great event.

The Old Goat was joining me, after all, he did invent "Breakneck".

We took trails I don't get out on much, and it was really special.  I should make this drive more often - there is a lot of exploring for me to do here.

10.5 miles total, good conversation catching up.

 

Prior to completing our Mashapaug Loop...

Another angle...

Entry Sign.

Mapped Route.

It seemed like a long while since I visited East Granby Farms.  Got out late in the day for about 4 1/2 miles, with some exploring mixed in.  One of the trails I used to run often, to connect in a roundabout way to Sunrise Park in Suffield, seems to have houses instead of woods.

The area and trails are heavily used by motorbikes;  it's always been that way, and the motorbikes most likely are responsible for the majority of trails into the eastern side of the ridge.  Seriously, they always had been pretty well maintained and not overused by any means.

Top of the Grassy Hill, Bench and Signage.

Another view.

Old Chimney along base of Ridge.

Abundance of Stone Walls throughout the shelf between the fields and the Ridge.

 

 More Stone Walls.

 

 Close up.

           

Interesting "Mound" with a stonewall.

     

Close up of "Mound" stonewall.

 Large interesting rock formation.

Same rock in relation to the stonewall leading to it.

A balanced rock along the stonewall.

Route for the day.

Just enough time and energy to get in about 5k in Shenipsit State Forest.  Began off Route 140, after a mix up trying to get there through Ellington.

Enjoyed the run, and this portion of the forest is beginning to make sense to me.  Map below....

Made a day of it during some great weather.  Ashfield Trails, starting at Bear Swamp in Ashfield, Massachusetts.  I would be running on trails built and maintained by Ashfield Trails (awesome work).

Finished with a total of 14.9 miles in roughly 3:43:00.  Ran along an old route that I had snowshoed on many years ago (to Mary Lyon Hill), and it was fantastic seeing this utilized as an all season trail.

Tried to re-connect along the old snowmobile trail through the Khandroling - The Land of the Dakinis, but I was not sure of the land being open to visitors, so I aborted.  

Did visit the Mary Lyon birthplace, which was awesome.   And I spent worthy time with a landowner along the trail, "Dick".  Wonderful story-telling man.

Brewer Tatro Memorial Woods signage opposite Bear Swamp.

  

Northwest Cemetery, along Ashfield Trails.

 Beautiful old tree along brook.

  

Closer of old tree along brook.

Looking up at the crown.

  

Smith Brook, just prior to the Smith Road crossing.

 Signage for the Stone Bridge, between Smith and Strohecker Roads.

 The Stone Bridge from below.

 A bit longer shot.

Sentinel tree on top of Ridge Hill, with stone walls along perimeter.

   

Close up on ridge.

   

 Mary Lyon Birthplace marker stone.

Well at Mary Lyon birthplace.

 

Mary Lyon birthplace foundation.

 An old birch sharing location with a rock.

 

Almost finished, the view above Bear Swamp.