Made it out early to Tunxis, to complete the Route 219 to Route 20 section.  On the way to stash water north of Pine Mountain, I was able to watch a young black bear cross the road and then stop to look at me.  Brother Bear (Br'er Bear), first sighting of the year for me.

Wuzzam met me for the run, we rambled out north from Route 219 and took the alternate dirt road options around Indian Council Caves and Pine Mountain for the "out" trip to Roberts Brook (our turn-around point on May 20th).  We managed the single-track trail sections on these two wonderfully magical locations for the trip back.

10.8-miles in sunny, mid 70-degree weather.  What a way to spend a Thursday.

Wuzzam at the Dog Pool

Looking east off Pine Mountain

Wuzzam pondering sites east off Pine Mountain

1st large boulder at the Indian Council Caves

A tiny Wuzzam climbing the caves

Looking north at the top of the Indian Council Caves

~10-miles of the Tunxis

Full morning of doctors for DL and PT for me.  The afternoon was flexible enough for me to roam around McLean Reservation again.  

I jogged past Spring Pond to look at some of the 140' white pine, which were amazing.  It is a little bit funny that I have been visiting McLean regularly since 1990, to enjoy the solitude and peacefulness of the white pine here, and to feel their height and presence, without knowing how tall these trees were.  Suddenly, very tall white pine have been measured to over 140' within this forest!

It was a slow run, which allowed me to notice a short, tall stonewall at the intersection of the North Trail and the forest road, just west of Kettle Pond.  I'll need to pay attention to this in the winter, and grab some photographs.

I worked my way up to the Eastern Barndoor Hill and enjoyed the climb, and the view.  Rambled on back to the car with 4.5-miles on my legs.

Looking at West Barndoor Hill from Eastern Barndoor Hill

Looking at West Barndoor Hill from Eastern Barndoor Hill

Looking northwest off Eastern Barndoor Hill

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 Bandit 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.

  

Music 2018...

Effort #22, Stooges cover of "I Want To Be Your Dog", recently recorded one late night.  

An enjoyable 3.5-miles along the Metacomet north from Phelps Road.  It was a bit warm, but a decently blowing breeze made me smile.

Just past a mile out, after the peak

Ladyslipper are prevalent along the trail

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.

Much better weather than Wuzzam, K2 or I had anticipated during our trip to Tunxis State Forest in East Hartland, Connecticut today.  A bit humid, but the rain held off and there was a nice, occasional cool breeze in the woods.

Wuzzam and I managed a comfortable 8-miles from Route 20 to Roberts Brook and back, with K2 doing slightly less.  The only real negative we came across was heavy logging, or planned forest thinning as the signs mentioned, between Pine Street and Sunset Road.  We didn't notice the old trail that connected off the main Tunxis to Roberts Brook, but at some point I'll check to see if it is still evident through the stumps and branches left behind.

On the way out, we took the bridge over the Cascade Brook, and on the return we crossed the water further downstream.  The many small falls and cascades that tumble down the brook are incredibly peaceful to observe.  Toward the top of the trail, there is a decently sized "pool" that our dogs always visited, regardless of temperature, in each direction of our run.  The memories we have of this location are endless, and welcome.  It is easy to visualize Liddy, Sam and Tippi bouncing around in there, until they finally just lay down and soak, waiting for us to continue.  Loop On you beast of the forest, I hope that I never forget the power of this spot.

On the way home, K2 and I took a small detour down Balance Rock Road to see which home the Balanced Rock lived in.  The large stone was visible from the road, and I'll get out there in the winter to shoot some photographs.

Unnamed Cascades

Balanced Rock at Cascades

Wuzzam at the Balanced Rock

Wuzzam at the Balanced Rock

Balanced Rock, another view

Cascades below Bridge

Cascades again

Wuzzam at Liddy, Sammy and Tippi's pool

Wuzzam at Liddy, Sammy and Tippi's pool

Upstream of the Dog's Pool

A cold, rainy day; the kind you wish to stay indoors on.  I went to McLean and ran 4.8-miles dodging rain-drops, some heavy, some light.  Underneath the pines, I was protected.  Not so much through the hardwoods.

4.0-miles along the Metacomet from Route 20 north to the Scout Camping area, and back.  Excellent evening for anything outdoors.

Trail along side one of many chestnut oak along this section of trail

The distinctive bark of the chestnut oak

View from roughly the 1.75-mile point from Route 20

Another view, same lookout point

3.7-miles along the Metacomet, south from Phelps Road.  A bit humid and the air was filled with mosquitoes and gnats.  My least favorite conditions...

Moss covered stone along the trail

Looking west

Music 2018...

Effort #21, Modern Lovers "Roadrunner", as performed in 1984 by the Primitives.  Burlingame Private Party.

"... It keeps me from being Lonely Late at Night."

Finally had some time during the Tornado Warning tonight to make a map of the Devils Den location, as well as the wonderful stonewall I came across on Saturday.

The Woods Walker has another entry into "Rock Show" 2018, May 30th in Farmington, Connecticut.  Here is an article in a local paper...

It was a wonderful Mother's Day, spent in Adams with my mom.  Once home, I managed a 3-mile jog along Main Street just before dark.

Rain and cold today, under 50-degrees for the duration.  Drove out to Goshen and the  DAR State Forest mid-afternoon with a plan.

The rain never really stopped, but I was prepared and dressed for it, so I was comfortable throughout.  I had a few things on my to-do list:

• Follow the old snowmobile trail from DAR to the Bradley Sanctuary.  I had attempted this from the opposite end (from Bradley) on February 24th, and lost the route to logging in the Hull Property.
• As part of the old snowmobile trail from DAR, the Tilton Farm Trail "South" has been improved and I wanted to explore that.
• I thought there would be a chance to head downstream following the stream and possibly finding the Devils Den.

The Tilton Farm Trail South was awesome, and improved tremendously.  That was a highlight.  The path has been widened and smoothed out, and is easily followed during the loop.

The old snowmobile path was somewhat successful as I found my way from Wing Hill Road in DAR to a sharp uphill east toward Merritts Hill, which I verified as correct from old coordinates (from 2011 & 2012), which placed me about 6/10's of a mile from the old cemetery on the topo map (and also where the logging is pretty extreme).  I turned back here to head further downstream, thinking I'd fight all the downed limbs and stumps to connect on another day.  

Following Rogers Brook downstream to meet up with the Mill River was slow, as there was no trail and I bushwhacked back and forth from one side of the brook to the other depending on terrain.  I finally viewed some incredible rock formations from steeply above the stream, as well as several small waterfalls.  I continued until I came upon the overhang rock from last weekend, and then began back upstream.

The Devils Den looked really interesting, but I was very high on the opposite bank, and it was raining and slippery.  I didn't want to risk a fall, especially by myself, so I went a bit further to a "safer" spot to climb down to the stream.

I ended up behind the main opening (or what I am going to assume is a main opening right now, at least until I see it during drier, better weather).  I was able to peer in to a smaller opening, that revealed a bit of a chamber.  It was really good to find this spot, and I will surely revisit soon.

From this point, I moved a bit west and then north, figuring I'd try to find easier terrain than the steep stream bank.  I noticed a nice stone wall below me, and I followed that north until I came upon an incredible stonewall set upon a very large, massive rock.  The wall was on a hill, and winding.  Nothing that seems to be colonist work, to me anyhow.  This is pretty deep in the forest, uneven terrain, and the set stones have many openings within the stacks.  Just amazing to wander into.

Ended the day with 6.4-miles and soaking wet.  A pretty good day.

View from the western bank of the Mill River to Devils Den

View from north of the Devils Den, on the river bank

Oddly placed together stonewall just northeast of the Devils Den

Another view of stonewall

Another view of stonewall

Another angle of stonewall

One more time, because this is fascinating

And yet again...

Looking downhill, the wall is serpentine

Bent Tree Limb and holes in the stonework

Began and Ended the run at Tilton Farm Trail

Looking across the pasture southeast

3.7-miles in McLean Refuge after physical therapy.  Outstanding day...  sunny and low 70's.

Beautiful night, took some time to run 3.7-miles along the Metacomet from Phelps Road south.