Rain on and off all day, but from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. the sun came out...  so I went to the Metacomet and ran from Phelps Road north, 3-miles.

View west from Metacomet Trail

Music 2018...

Effort #14, Bill is Dead.  A mellow song by The Fall.  I am really captivated by the "greatest times of my life refrain...".

Continuing to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.

March's High Points:

• Hart's Pond Hill, Agawam, MA
• Hatchet Hill, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT

February's High Points:

• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Goat Rock and Lookout Point, Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge, Suffield, CT
• Hill 880', Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• West Ridge, DAR State Forest, Goshen, MA
• Walnut Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Merritts Hill, Williamsburg, MA

January's High Points:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bald Mountain, Shenipsit State Forest
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest
• "Balanced Rock Hill",  Shenipsit State Forest
• "Bent Birch Hill", Shenipsit State Forest

Mid-morning run along the Metacomet from Rising Corner, Suffield, to the Agawam Bowman's Club on Route 57.   4.2-mile round trip, with a little more get-up-and-go in my steps than yesterday.

Stone marker just prior to new bridge-work

North of bridge, flowing to Harts Pond

Southern view from Bridge

An awesome sunny day in the upper 50's.  Drove out to the Metacomet Crossing at Route 20 in Granby, and headed south to the Farmington River at Tariffville.

The section from Hatchet Hill Road to the Farmington River, which includes a slew of side-trails to Cowles Park (and elsewhere), was well populated with bikers.

Enjoyable day, I ended up with 8-miles of very slow going, especially the last 2-miles.

View south from above Tariffville Gorge

View north from above Tariffville Gorge

At the Farmington River

Old Burial Ground, being "updated"

DL and I Met up with my folks today at lunch (at Williamsburg Snack Bar).  Had some Mrs. Murphy's donuts for them, and a ham and kielbasa from Perkarski's.  The visit was outstanding.

Early evening I took a run in light rain along the Metacomet, from Phelps Road south, for 3.7-miles.

And, from old gps data, Tippi and I were out on Florida Mountain snowmobile trails today, ten-years ago (February 29th & March 6th, 2007).

An early evening 3-Miles on the Metacomet from Phelps Road north.

Turn-around point at stonewall

"The Lost Forest of New England", a wonderful video from the New England Forests channel.  I've been fortunate to have been out on a few hikes with the filmmaker.

Cleared to Return to Work from the Shingles Virus, which is a relief.  I am starting to feel decently.  Late afternoon called for a drive to Phelps and the Metacomet, to manage a nice easy 3.7-miles of varying pace.

Music 2018...

Effort #13, Girls Got Limits.  Originally by D.Y.S., evidently one of "Aldo's" favorite bands from the early '80's. (see February 5th, 2018 post of us performing "Open Up" by the same group). 

This was the Primitives, Summer of '84.  Aldo was hitting on all cylinders, and DL supplied background vocals

Managed a nice slow hike at Minnechoag Mountain Conservation Land.  It hurt a bit, and I was winded, but I kept it short and took breaks along the way studying trees.  

I'll say it again, Shingles Sucks, but I am hopeful I am at the tail end of it.  I just finished day 7 of 10 on the anti-viral medication, and while I feel much improved I am still a ways off from actually doing any running it seems like.

Signage along all the trails is fantastic

Close up of Bent Tree (full tree picture available on Feb 2, 2018)

View east off north end of Minnechoag, 880 and Pine

View west up Zellweger Hill (Gas Pipeline)

Parking area on South Road

Today was an improvement regarding "Shingles".  Took two 1/2-mile walks around town on the sidewalks.

Catching Up Post, #5.

Not a bad day, recovery is noticeable.  "Shingles" sucks.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

And, for something a little "new"...  Music 2018!

Effort #12, Another 2018 attempt for the Road Warriors for Christ...   He's Alive.  

The Reverend sent this to me, a strong effort, and his first "lead vocal".  With all the negatives of  social media pretty apparent, it is encouraging to see how two old friends can collaborate over time and space.

This is all Reverend JK.  I hope to play it with him someday soon.

Catching Up Post, #4.

Back to the eye-doctor (everything looks great!), and additional conversations with medical doctor.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.

... and from the "way-back" machine...   15-Years ago today, in Savoy Mountain State Forest -

Tower Burying Ground; (this day, 2003)

Tannery Falls; (this day, 2003)

Eastern Falls (Parker Brook Falls); (this day, 2003)

Eastern Falls (Parker Brook Falls); (this day, 2003)

Estes Burying Ground; (this day, 2003)

Dunham Burying Ground; (this day, 2003)

View off Adams Road; (this day, 2003)

Catching Up Post, #3.

Just enduring "Shingles", day-to-day.

Catching up my post (from Monday through Friday) on Saturday, March 24th.  Honestly, I felt so bad through the week I didn't even have the lift to get on the computer.