Moody Spring, Dubuque State Forest, Hawley 

It has been written that Moody Spring has been a place of pilgrimage, and for picnics and outings, for over 150 years.  It is named for William Moody (died in 1860) on whose farm it was located.  The water here is said to possess strong medicinal properties, and people come from great distances to get some of it.  This water is reputed to be an effective cure for scrofula* and other skin ailments.

My mother occasionally mentions snowmobiling to Moody Sping back in the late sixties and early seventies for clambakes.  We started snowshoeing out to the spring back in ’96 or so.  The area remains very popular for snowmobiles, although I don’t know how many of them depend on the water from the spring to drink like we do. 

****  (Scrofula: a constitutional disorder of a tuberculous nature, characterized chiefly by swelling and degeneration of the lymphatic glands, especially in the neck, and by inflammation of the joints, according to Random House Dictionary).

The Old Goat filling up at Moody Spring from the mid-to-late 90's

Upped the effort to a 7-miler on the road in Suffield...  the Hill Street loop.

Ran on the roads to avoid ice and mud in the woods...  this is my least favorite time of year;  not enough snow to snowshoe and not bare ground to be safe.  Shouldn't be long til I can get back to the trails.  Right around 5-miles in Suffield.

I read a lot.  Always have.  Over the past decade or slightly longer, one book in particular has changed me and my thinking.  The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff.

A favorite piece from the Tao of Pooh is:

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast? said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully.

"It's the same thing," he said.

Fifteen years ago today, January 26th, 2002, Beaver Brook Snowshoe Race, in Hollis, NH.

Back in 2002, I did some snowshoeing from Hallockville Pond to Crooked Neck Pond....  including a graveyard pass-by (Stark Cemetery).

Starks Cemetery

Elvira Bartlett and Rufus Stark Gravestone

Crooked Neck Pond, Plainfield, MA.

Pop and Paul at the old Fritz homestead, January 2003.

Mount Greylock from Little Egypt, Adams.  Tippi for a bonus, 2003.

Warm temperatures, muddy trails, and moisture is present.  I didn't want to struggle on the trails, so a quiet run along the roads in Suffield was the choice.

The morning was spent at STCC and by the time I got home I was lacking motivation.  I drove to Robinson State Park to explore some, but I just didn't have the energy to enjoy it.  Tried to follow the Metacomet into the park but was not successful.

In 2002, on this day, I drove up Route 2 to Adams to venture into the Glen one more time.

Hail to the Sunrise, Charlemont.

Never frozen pond, Greylock Glen.

Fifteen years ago today, January 20th, 2002, we had a decent snowstorm in Connecticut... from the Suffield Swamp.

Fifteen years ago,

January 19th, 2002, we held a Greylock Glen Snowshoe Race.

Pop and the Steamer racing to the finish...

A drive to Adams to check in with my folks, wonderful visit.  Weather was foggy from the hill, looking toward the Hoosac Range....

Fifteen years ago, on this day, I made another visit to Hawley.  Stopped along the run to take some photos at the cemetery along Hallockville Road.

Another addition of music for 2017...

Here is effort #2, Jump Into the Fire.

"...we can make each other happy"

Happy Martin Luther King Jr day!  Spent a little time in Shenipsit State Forest with Wuzzam, Sammy and K2.  4-miles nice and easy.