Completed the drive from Chicago last night, and took it out to Tunxis this morning.  Route 219 to the Indian Council Caves, 4.4-miles.

It felt great to move again, after three days in a car averaging ~7 hours per day of travel.

Large Boulder at the beginnings of the Indian Council Caves.

The Yellow Mushroom looks like a face to me.

More from the Council Caves.

Again, Caves.

Once more.

Tunxis Trail at the top of the Council Caves.

Beautiful Trail section prior to crossing Washington Hill Road on way back to 219.

Ivy and Moss, together in a pattern.

Large sentinel after stonewall.

Stonewall crossing.

On this day in 2014, Wuzzam and I ran the Mahican Mohawk Marathon in 6:43:30.  We began and ended at Mohawk Trail State Forest in Charlemont, along the bank of the Cold River.  Our turn-around or midpoint was roughly at North Pond at Savoy Mountain State Forest in Savoy / Florida.

This was my 51st completed marathon.  Map of our route is included below

Running through Stafford Meadow

For the direction challenged

Red Pine Plantation, set in 1930's..

Up through the Red Pine.

Wuzzam at the first crossing of the Cold River.

Bog Pond, a long-time favorite area of ours..

Burnett Homestead Cemetery in Florida..

More Burnett

Second crossing of the Cold River.

Flew to Chicago to drive back to Connecticut with JC.  Took the turn toward Ohio, so that we could visit the Serpent Mound in Peebles.  The visit was fascinating, and well worth the travel.  Much to learn still, much to learn.

From the Archives, August 13th, 2006... Pop and his Oliver...

Meeting with Massachusetts DCR regarding volunteer work (a continuation of meeting of July 26th) and trails in Hawley / Dubuque.  I am hopeful that I will be of some assistance to them and the forest.  

Prior to the meeting, I rambled through the trails north of the Hawley Kiln.  It is a real maze, and unfortunately the trails are on private property.  I am surprised so many "alternatives" popped up within a couple years in such a small area.  The good news is taking the "lefts" will lead to the stone wall crossing and the beginnings of "Goat Head Trail".

After monkeying around at the Kiln, I drove to Hawley's "Old Town Common", to search for the "snake effigy wall".  I was pretty sure I knew the spot, and I was correct.  Ended with a nice little 3-mile run in tremendous humidity before a drive to Hallockville Pond and the meeting at SCA HQ.

Hawley Kiln, from the south.

Hawley Kiln, from north.

Inside the Kiln, looking Up.

 Out the door.

Snake effigy wall, looking mid-point toward head.

 Another, with a deeper look.

The wall undulates, and is on-top of a huge slab.

 Marker for the First Church of Hawley, on the Old Town Common.

After hiking and some history, this table awaits a picnic.

The Kiosk is full of information on the Old Town Common and the Hawley Bog.

Also on this day in 2005, I completed my 28th marathon in Dubuque State Forest.  Referred to the Hallockville Pond Marathon, I enjoyed the company of Wuzzam and Tippi, with Old Farmer Tom meeting up with us on the Notch Trail by bike.

This was Tippi's 4th completed marathon.  Our time ended up at 5:21:16.

Northern Tunxis to explore the side-track to Granville with Wuzzam.  No bears this time, but a route drew us up toward Winchell Mountain; we had hoped this path would connect to the Tunxis northern terminus at Pell Road, but it did not (about a half-mile too far north).

Great bit of climbing for us today, and some pretty cool things to see. Finished with over 10-miles of running.  It may be worth attempting a connection to the Tunxis in the future, when I feel adventurous.

Valley Brook

Interesting Stone Mound up the ridge toward Winchell.

 North-South Slab as part of trail.

Old Stonewall or Foundation, south of Trillum Hill.

Another version of stone south of Trillum.

Despite the dryness, something grows.

There was supposed to be possible violent thunderstorms today, with the best chance between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (reported by all weather services).  I was ready to get out the door at 8:30 a.m. and the sky looked dark to the north and west, so I figured "best stick close by".

Close by meant a return to Cowles Park in East Granby, Connecticut.  I would measure out the twisty loops that I thought of yesterday, with ideas of a 6-hour run (or something).

The loop measured out just under 2.20-miles, but it turns a lot, so 2.2 may be short by a bit.  As it stands, twelve loops would make 26.40-miles...  something to shoot for on a cooler day.  Today was brutally hot and humid, and it got worse as the day moved on.

Ended up taking the orange trail (westerly route) past Wynding Hills and using Tunxis Avenue and other roads to connect back to Cowles.  Ended with 5.7-miles in about 1:20:00.

Really nice bridge work at the edge of Cowles heading up to the power lines.

A view from the small meadow west of Wynding Hills.

Another Friday at Cowles Park with K2, another day in the 90's.  Enjoyed the winding out and back mountain bike trails, and while daydreaming I thought this route without an out-and-back but with a loop to complete it, may make a good 6-hour run.  Next time I'm here I will gps measure the loop I have in mind, and then see who may give it a try?

For today, close to 4 good miles on my legs.  Enjoyable!

Had this surprise me today..

The trails are in really nice shape in Cowles,

K2 finished up first today, and he had some Recoverite waiting for me!

On this day in 1996 I completed my 12th marathon.  My route took me along the Appalachian Trail, from Salisbury, Connecticut into Massachusetts.  My turnaround point was at the summit of Mt. Everett,   My time on the trail was roughly 6:27:53, which included a break for a lunch at Everett.

Finally some rain in the morning, with cooler temperatures.  The humidity is still difficult to deal with, with the associated outdoor recreational issues intact.  Kept the time down after yesterday's longish run, and the weather, to a comfortable 3.8-miles.

Used the Hatchet Hill trailhead for the Metacomet, and revisited Smaug's Lair and Keg Roller (which I may have previously read as Egg Beater or Egg Roller, no telling).  Took a side-trail heading further south close to the Farmington River and enjoyed that.  There remain a few more trails I haven't been able to tidy up yet.

The signage that appears on the mountain bike trails is pretty nice, and appreciated.  It looks like whomever is laying out these paths, and building them, has placed a great deal of emphasis on it being a substantial  trail network for a very long time.  Nice work!

I read this last month as Egg Roller.

Utilizing a nice natural feature along the trail.

Taj Mahal heads downhill (after some up) toward Cowles Park.

The sign for Metacomet is Taj Mahal's neighbor.

Beautiful section of the Metacomet using gentle swinging uphills embraced by fern.

Smaug's Lair, worth a look.