A beautiful visit to Adams for a visit with my Mom for her birthday (which is actually tomorrow, but she wished to celebrate today!).  Once back to Connecticut, I too a 3.1-mile run along Main Street at night.

Ventured out to Williamsburg again, trying to tie up loose ends.  This time, it was from the snowmobile crossing along Route 143 to Chesterfield, south to connect to the Petticoat Hill area.

I had only been on this trail once before, about a decade ago, late winter or early spring.  Some of it came back to me, which was a source of encouragement and strength.  I managed 8.2-miles, and connected to where I needed to be.

The gas line is interrupted by a swamp, which I think I recall during that winter.  There are a slew of single-track trails scattered throughout, very nice work.  The snowmobile trails connect to Unquomonk and the Big View area as well.  More work awaits here, but I have the connections to complete a Bullitt Reservation to Route 9 Williamsburg Marathon.

Signage for the Williamsburg Rod & Gun Club

Brook along single-track trail

Snowmobile signage

Rock Balanced on larger Rock

Swamp in the late afternoon

And some Old News...

On this day in 1999, I completed my 20th marathon at Pisgah.  Time was 5:47:30, and I am fairly certain this was a 50km event.  I missed a turn somewhere around 10-miles, and had to backtrack a bunch.

3-Mile run along Main Street in the dark.

Also, on this day in 2005, I completed my 29th marathon at Mt Washington State Forest, with the Riga Plateau, Appalachian Trail, and South Taconic Trail thrown in for good measure.  I had Tippi and Wuzzam along for the day, which set a record for high temperature unfortunately for us.  This was Tippi's 5th completed marathon.

Our time was 5:10:41, which shows we were really running pretty hard.  The lack of water on the trail was a real concern for me, with Tippi.  Luckily, the stream at the bottom of Bear had plenty, and from there on we were set.

Wuzzam looked absolutely beat climbing and coming down off Bear.  He needed the stream to cool off in as much as Tips did.

Music 2018...

Effort #37, "Bombed"...  Mellow melody from Mark Lanegan, done solo as RSC (Rapid Social Change) late one night.

"When I'm bombed I stretch like bubblegum"

3-mile run along the Metacomet Trail, north from Phelps Road.

On this day in 2007, Tippi and I finished the Notchview Marathon.  We ran from Notchview Reservation in Windsor, Massachusetts into Dubuque State Forest in Hawley, then to Savoy Mountain State Forest in Savoy.  I remember that we got crushed by a heavy rainstorm for the last 3-miles.

This was my 35th completed marathon, and Tippi's 11th.  All in all, I recall not being in fantastic shape but the year was winding down, and the run was incredibly enjoyable.  I also recall missing a turn shortly after Windsor Jambs, continuing on the dirt road for a bit.

Looking at the map, we passed Windsor Pond, Crooked Neck Pond, and Hallockville Pond along the journey.  

Meadow at Notchview 

Tippi on the Jambs Trail.

Windsor Jambs.

Alert, as always.

Jambs, with Tippi on the ledge, upper right,

 

Spent the morning relaxing, and getting a homemade brunch together with DL.  Shuttled JC to the airport for his trip back to Chicago, and then by late afternoon I drove to the Mt Tom Reservation to get in a run.

Explored some trails I haven't been on, trying to connect things.  Bushwhacked a bit as well, off of Little Tom Mountain.  All in all, a decent effort with 6.2-miles on my legs.

Signage for the entrance to Little Tom Mountain, The Trustees of Reservations site

Large boulder on the M&M (NET) trail

Drove to North Reading, Mass for my niece's wedding today with DL & JC (in for the occasion from Chicago).

Bit more reading completed as well.  Back to Jim Thompson, and "A Swell-Looking Babe", originally written in 1954 and published in the '90's as part of the Black Lizard / Vintage Crime series.

After Physical Therapy today I ran Phelps North, along the Metacomet Trail, for 3.6-miles.

From the wayback machine...

Two old marathons completed on this day, the first in 2008 and the second in 2014.  

In 2008, Curly's Marathon was held in Pittsfield State Forest, and it was a beautiful day to run.  I recall wearing old shoes rather than a new pair I had just purchased, and it was a bad decision.  The pain in my feet and lower legs was incredible for the last 6 or 8 miles, and I was lucky to finish in 5:54:36.  This was my 38th completed marathon.  My dad ran the Half-Marathon option as well.

In 2014, Wuzzam and I conquered Dunbar-Whitcomb-Jambs in 6:21:34.  This expanded from an old run the Bandit and I did, from Whitcomb Summit to Windsor Jambs.  This time, we began at Dunbar Brook in Monroe State Forest, and ventured out a new snowmobile trail to the windmills to Whitcomb Summit, over Crum Hill, over Flat Rock Hill and the old Viewing Platform for the Hoosac Tunnel, crossed the Cold River on an obscure grown in path, past Savoy Mountain State Forest at North Pond, past Bog Pond, over Lewis Hill and Borden Mountain, through Windsor Bush into Windsor State Forest and the Jambs.  Outstanding day with outstanding sunny weather.  This was my 52nd completed marathon. 

 Unfortunate Windmill site.

The Elk Monument at Whitcomb Summitt.

Viewing Platform for the Hoosac Tunnel construction.

View from Flat Rock Hill with Greylock in view.

 

Crossing of the Cold River.

Stone Carving on rock, obscure path.

Bog Pond.

The Dunham Lot, off Tannery Road.

We are getting close!

The Jambs!

Dwarf Forest and the softest ground-cover imaginable.

More enjoyment reading through my old collection of Black Lizard / Vintage Crime series.  The latest completed work of art was "The Pickup" by Charles Willeford, written in 1955.

Music 2018...

Effort #36, "Pocahontas"...  Visiting Neil Young today, from the Rust Never Sleeps album of 1979.

"Marlon Brando, Pocahontas and me"

Continuing to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.  August was not productive, I was recovering from an issue with my left periformis.  I was happy to get to the top of what I did.

August's High Points:

• Petticoat Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Unquomonk Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Big View, Williamsburg, MA
• Scott Hill / Petticoat / Locke's Loop, Williamsburg, MA
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT

July's High Points:

• Cat Rocks, Union, CT
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Little Tom, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Mt Tom, Easthampton, MA
• Deadtop, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Whiting Peak, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Goat Rock, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Dry Knoll, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Mt. Nonotuck, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• East Barndoor Hill, Granby, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• West Sufffield Mountain, Suffield, CT
• O'Neil Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Tanager Hill, Simsbury, CT
• Indian Council Caves, Barkhamsted, CT
• Pine Mountain, Barkhamsted, CT
• Lake McDonough Lookout I, New Hartford, CT
• Lake McDOnough Lookout II, Barkhamsted, CT
• Sunset Lookout, Barkhamsted, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge

June's High Points:

• West Sufffield Mountain, Suffield, CT
• High Ridge, Williamsburg, MA
• Orchard Hill, Goodwin Race, CT
• Parker Hill, Dubuque State Forest, Hawlaey, MA
• Lake McDonough Lookout I, New Hartford, CT
• Lake McDOnough Lookout II, Barkhamsted, CT
• Sunset Lookout, Barkhamsted, CT
• The Pinnacle, Penwood State Forest, CT
• Little Thumper Mtn, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont, MA
• Thumper Mtn, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont, MA
• Indian Path to Saddle between Clark & Todd, Mohawk Trail SF, Charlemont, MA
• Clark Mountain, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Florida, MA
• Todd Mountain, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont, MA
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Hampden Overlook, Hampden, MA
• Goat Rock, Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Hill 880' (Bald Mtn, Hampden), Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Rattlesnake Hill, Hampden, MA + Somers, CT
• Perkins Mountain, Camp Ayapo, Somers, CT
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, CT
• Bald Mountain (Somers), Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, CT
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Moore Hill, DAR State Forest, Goshen, MA

May's High Points:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• Pine Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Indian Council Caves, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Monks Mound, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville, IL
• Trillium Hill, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT
• North Peak, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT

April's High Points:

• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bartlett Tower Hill, Tariffville, CT
• Pinnacle, Penwood State Forest, Bloomfield, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Hart's Pond Hill, Agawam, MA

March's High Points:

• 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

Blasting furnace hot again, or at least it seemed so to me.  I kept things short and simple, driving to McLean and jogging through wonderful trails.  

One trail I use has been "closed" for recovery, the Summit Trail that connected to the North Trail.  Oddly enough, later on I stumbled onto either an old trail that hasn't seen traffic lately, or a newer trail that hasn't seen much traffic yet.

3.4-miles of hot running, with a dip for my head in the West Branch of Salmon Brook.

Took another drive to visit my folks, and I repeated much of last weekends pre-trip adventure.  I rambled through Petticoat Hill, with intentions of exploring some of the old snowmobile paths I'd been on long ago.  Luckily, things worked out just as I had planned, and I caught the route over to Route 9 (crossing South Street).  Ended up with 5.4-miles and no issues with the hip.

From there, a stop at Plainfield Pond for another refreshing swim.  What a way to wrap up a run, I hope I stay in this habit.  And then an outstanding visit with my parents.

Mill River Disaster Monument

Petticoat Hill Trailhead

Plainfield Arts Festival

I got back to running today, and chose McLean Refuge as my destination.  I covered an easy 3-miles, at a 4.8 mph pace.  I was not aware of the pace, it felt very easy, and truthfully I was pleased with this speed.

I did not feel any tightness, pain, or discomfort in my periformis muscle.  This made me glad.

The air was cool and these woods were comforting to get back into.  As a special welcome, at the end of my run just below Canton Road, I had to stop to let two huge black bear cross the old path in front of me.  The larger of the two was an easy 250 - 300 lbs.  The front-runner wasn't all that much smaller.

It always inspires me to observe Brother Bear, or Br'er Bear as Wuzzam and I call 'em.

I snapped a photo, but the old phone/camera is crap for photographing.  

Black Bear on September 1st, 2018, McLean Game Refuge

 Along the shore of Spring Pond