After a morning of excellent progress regarding spring-cleaning, I ventured back to North Hollow to run along the west-side of Valley Brook.  This would tie up the section from Friday, when I made it through the east-side.  The water level is a bit high to cross without getting pretty soaked up to mid-calf, so a couple trips were in order.

All went very well, the route is just as I recalled.  It's pretty open from logging, so early morning or later in the afternoon would work best.

4.4-miles for the day, with the North Hollow to the Black Bear Crossing measuring 2.2-miles one-way.  At least that is how I remember it (I changed up the return a bit).

Black Bear Crossing

Looking Downstream, Valley Brook, at Black Bear Crossing

Old Foundation along the trail

Two Day Combo, April 5th & 7th

Williamsburg, Massachusetts to explore the marathon route I targeted last year, from Unquomonk over past Petticoat Hill.  Rounded out with 7.6-miles, which included two small spurs that were errors, as well as a 1-mile or so bushwhack after Old Wolf Hill.

I did make my way back to Unquomonk, although it looks like I was a bit lower than that official "Big View" trails.  I did ramble downhill alongside a beautiful brook for a bit, which would be worth re-visiting.

I have better bearings for this area after today's exploration.  The route from the Gun Club to the Gas Pipeline seems cemented in my head.

Beautiful day in the fifties, with wonderful sunny sky.

Unquomonk Reservoir Area

Old Path / Gas-Pipeline, usually a "beaver marsh"

Stacked Stones as Trailmarker

Bench "Welcoming" Visitors

Brook Crossing in Hemlock Grove

 

Stonewall at Old Wolf Hill 

Perched Boulder

Perched Boulder

 Stonewall leading Downhill

Stonewall leading Uphill

I wanted to check the trail conditions along the Tunxis Trails in East Hartland, CT.  While out that way, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to verify the Hurricane Brook Connector to Valley Brook was still "in play".  The last visit exposed a heavy logging presence, and I wanted to see if the route was still something I could follow.

Winter looks about over, there were patches of some ice but nothing too bad.  One more week and it should be totally melted.  The route is still present, it looks as though the logging may have moved to the other side of Route 20.  In a couple years, the wide-open spots that were clear-cut may begin to grow in a bit, but for now there are a few hundred yards of exposed area.

All went well, totaled 5.3-miles for the day.

Hurricane Brook Road Signage 

Valley Brook at the Black Bear Crossing

Hurricane Brook at Route 20

Phelps Road south along the Metacomet Trail on a sunny, cool night.  Ended with 3-miles.

Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, CT (aka New England Trail)

A beautiful sunny day for the start of a little vacation.  Visited McLean Refuge for 6.2-miles of comfortable running.  The left calf-muscle is still tender, began aggravating me at about mile-5.

White Pine Crown at the Start

View of the Barndoor Hills from Stony Hill

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #8 for 2019.  Andrew Vachss 1994 entry, "Down in the Zero".

Music 2019...

Effort #14, "My Generation".  1984, Primitives, on Burlingame.

"...Not tryin' to cause a Big Sensation."

Out to beat the rain this morning, visited Rising Corner to explore the Metacomet North.  Ended with 3.6-miles of easy running.

Signage at Start

Memorial Stone

Bridge

View from Gas-Pipeline

Stonewall

The day began recovering from yesterday's rain.  Early morning was still grey, but the sun did come out and temperatures hit 60-degrees. I drove out to McClean with the goal of 10 - 14 miles out to Holcomb Farm, a big loop.

I managed 13.2-miles and didn't feel beat at any point.  My left lower calf muscle is giving me trouble this week, but at this point it doesn't seem serious. We'll see going forward.

Signage entering Holcomb Farm Trails

View from the pasture at Holcomb, looking at West Ledge, Weed and Broad Hills

Here are my accomplishments for March 2019.

March 2019 High Points:

• Mollison Hill, Goshen, MA
• Davis Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Grass Hill, Whately, MA
• Red Fox Pasture Hill, Plainfield, MA
• Paddy Hill, Ashfield, MA
• Soapstone Mountain, Ellington/Somers, CT
• Rowe Lot Hill, Savoy, MA
• Hank's Hill, Mansfield/Storrs, CT
• 50 Foot, Mansfield/Storrs, CT
• Nick's Hill, West Suffield, CT
• Harts Pond Hill, Agawam, MA

• I've continued on a good pace so far in 2019.  I've continued to work the "long run" plan, completing the following "long-runs" this year in March:
• 14.5
• 12.8
• 13.8
•   9.7
• 13.2

• I also have been able to stay a ahead of my mileage goals per week, with an end-of-year total of 1200-miles of running planned.  I am currently roughly 45-miles over my scheduled goal.

Music 2019...

Effort #13, "I Wanna Be Your Dog".  1984, Primitives, on Burlingame.

"Lay right down in my favorite place"

8:30 a.m. run along the Metacomet Trail from Phelps Road north, prior to work.  Wonderful morning, bright sunny sky, no wind and in the high twenties.  Managed an enjoyable 3.5-miles.

Nick's Hill

Nice early evening run along Main Street;  3-miles.

My pal Dusty in March of 1999...

Met up with Wuzzam and the Old Goat along the Nipmuck Trail in the Mansfield / Storrs area.  Without our knowing, a blast of snow had traveled through a day ago, just a band of "cold enough temperatures" to leave the trail very sloppy.  Much of Connecticut was spared with rain only, but where we were running had 3" or 4" of snow on the ground for much of the way.

We did our best, which was difficult running due to the many water crossings and slippery footing.  Ended up with 9.7-miles, and a few hours spent on trails I had never been on before.

I'll reserve judgement on this section of the Nipmuck until I revisit during a dryer season.  The area along the Fenton River is very scenic and beautiful, but much of the trail on the east side was very eroded and difficult to gain rhythm with.

Directional Signage on the Gasline Hill

Matching hat and gloves prior to 50-foot

Looking south off 50-foot

Hanks Hill Silk Mill Sign

Bent Tree Limb along the Fenton River