McLean Refuge for a short run to see how the sore hamstring is doing.  2.9-miles, just ok.

The Mummy Exhibit was incredible, from the Field Museum in Chicago.  We learned that mummification was taking place in Peru and Chile, earlier than Egypt...

The visit to the Field Museum in Chicago during the Thanksgiving Holiday was a real high-point.

Looking over some of the photos from our Chicago trip last week, here are a couple from the Field Museum.

Music 2018...

Effort #49, "I Just Want Something To Do", from the Primitives in 1984.

"...I just want to be with you, I just want to have something to do."

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime kick, completed Andrew Vachss third "Burke" novel, Blue Belle, from 1988.

Continuing to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.  November seems to have been a little short on the climbing

.November's High Points:

• Stone Wall Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Smith Brook Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Stone Bridge Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Ridge Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Mary Lyon Hill, Buckland, MA
• Putnam Hill, Buckland, MA
• Whiting Peak, Mt Tom Reservation, Holyoke, MA
• Soapstone Mountain, Somers, CT

October's High Points:

• Peter Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Stone Wall Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Smith Brook Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Walnut Hill, Goshen, MA
• Hyde Hill, Goshen, MA
• Chapel Ledge / Pony Cliffs, Ashfield, MA

September's High Points:

• Petticoat Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Unquomonk Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Scott Hill / Petticoat / Locke's Loop, Williamsburg, MA
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Little Tom, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Battlecock Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Bald Mountain, Somers, CT
• West Sufffield Mountain, Suffield, CT
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT

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, Hawley, 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

I developed a troublesome right hamstring from Thursday's run, so I re-scheduled the long run planned for this weekend indefinitely.  I took a trip to Peaked Mountain in Monson, MA, to enjoy a location I had never visited before.

The Trustee's of Reservations (TTOR) do a great job at their properties.  The 3-mile loop I covered was in awesome shape, and was very scenic.  There are more trails at this location to explore, but I did what I could today.

Newest completed Black Lizard / Vintage Crime read another by Chester Himes, and his 1965 novel  "Cotton Comes to Harlem".

Another early morning run along Main Street in Suffield, 3.2-miles.

I have been noticing much in the news about ecology.  I feel the following concerning the “7th generation” principle taught by Native Americans is important, and appropriate, for the growing lack of selflessness in our nation right now.

The “7th generation” principle taught by Native Americans says that in every decision, be it personal, governmental or corporate, we must consider how it will affect our descendants seven generations into the future.

Now, the interesting thing is that Western society generally considers a generation to be 25 years; while the Lakota Nation considers one generation to be 100 years.

I would appreciate if our current leaders could begin truly thinking about the many, instead of the few, and develop a "win-win or no deal" philosophy, instead of a "winner and loser". 

The "Mather" loop in Suffield, 5.2-miles before heading off to work.

Music 2018...

Effort #48, "I Want to Be Your Dog", from 1984, also in Maziarz Garage, the Primitives.

"...Now we're gonna be face to face."

More Black Lizard / Vintage Crime reading, as well as more Andrew Vachss.  This is his second "Burke" series novel, "Strega".

Ended the week with a 4-mile run at Cowles Park in East Granby.  I climbed up the Metacomet, then descended the Taj Mahal and Tobogon to get back to the car.

Last day of our Chicago visit, I took a drive out to Mallard Lake and Hawk Hollow for a run before we ended the day visiting with JC.

This was my favorite spot of the three I ran at this week.  A nice wide sand/gravel path through a forest preserve, on the plains.  I ran 7.7-miles at over 6 mph pace, including a few small hills.  On the way back I was following the largest coyote I have ever seen for about a quarter-mile, before I growled a little to get it off the trail.