Five minutes into my run along the Metacomet Trail, from Phelps Road north, I was hit with a downpour.  Within 15-minutes of the rain starting it was over, and I was pretty soaked.  Ended up with the planned 3-miles.

Lady Slippers along the Metacomet Trail

Also, 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

  

An enjoyable 3.7-miles out along the Metacomet from Phelps Road south.

View north from Sign-In Log lookout

View south from Sign-In Log Lookout

(Heublein Tower in distance)

Cowles Park in East Granby for 3.3-mile loop up to the Metacomet Ridge.

Stone Bridge Work

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.  

Music 2019...

Effort #21, "High Noon Sessions" finale. 

Completion of the Dark Heart Duo's "High Noon" Sessions, April 26th, 2019.

Back to Tunxis with K2 to verify the next segment of our proposed marathon, Route 20 to Old Route 20 crossing.  We managed a late start (compared to our normal routine), and it was fairly warm and humid at 2:30 p.m. when we began.

The woods were still a bit wet, as it rained again last night.  The trail was in decent condition regardless, and the section measured out at 1.8-miles one-way.  (Verification of Section 05 of the Granville to Satan's Kingdom Marathon from Route 20 to Old Route 20 at 1.8-miles.)  This was regardless of the bad-weather bypass over the bridge, or the initial options just off Route 20.  Whichever option we choose, this section will run us 1.8-miles.

Nice easy run of 3.6-miles, which was enough to keep my legs from becoming too stiff after yesterday's lengthy effort.  

Balanced Rock just off the Tunxis Trail

Balanced Rock just off the Tunxis Trail, another view

Balanced Rock just off the Tunxis Trail, another view

Balanced Rock just off the Tunxis Trail, another view

Morey Brook, a true favorite of mine

Stone Steps on the Tunxis Trail leading down Morey Brook

It was going to be a fantastic day to be outdoors, and I needed a long-run.  I also have been thinking about the Granville State Forest to Satan's Kingdom Marathon route I figured out a couple years ago (or so).  I figured this would be an ideal day to verify distance of the first leg, which runs from Granville State Forest in Granville, Massachusetts to the Route 20 crossing on the Tunxis Trail in Hartland, Connecticut.

Section 01 would be from the Granville Forest parking area following the Hubbard River Trail down to North Hollow on Route 20 for 2.9-miles.  This is a very scenic section, especially along the dozens of cascades on the Hubbard River.  The section is basically downhill as well, so a nice lead in to a long day.

Section 02 carried me around the Valley Brook section, with a reverse of direction at Black Bear Crossing, total distance of 3.6-miles for this section, and a total distance of 6.5-miles.  When I first explored this area, the path's were just old, soft dirt roads with grass growing in the center and edges.  The last 15 or so years has been rough due to logging operations, and much stone has been placed on the old dirt.  The canopy is missing as well, so the sun leaks through easily, so early morning is the best time of day (or later just before night).

Section 03 is a climb up the old jeep trail turned into logging area running just north of Hurricane Brook, meeting up with the Tunxis Trail at the lean-to shelter, and continuing to Hurricane Brook Road before the Trillum Hill climb.  1.2-miles for this slow section, with a total for the day of 7.7-miles.

Section 04, and my last of the day for the marathon route, is the major climb along the Tunxis up to Trillum Hill and then down to Route 20, a 1.3-mile section with half of it being steep, slow, uphill.  The stop at Route 20 checked right at 9.0-miles - same as my old notes mentioned.

From here I took the jeep-path around the State Garage, to Hurricane Brook Road, and followed all the way back down to Route 20 again.  This was on dirt and paved (believe it or not) forest road for almost 2-miles.  Hurricane Brook has many wonderful cascades as well, not as "big" as Hubbard Brook, but really nice as well.  This section is nicely shaded, and pretty much all downhill.

There is one area along Hurricane Brook with a small waterfall/cascade and a nice swimming hole below it.  In the old days, Liddy, Tippi and Sam enjoyed cooling off within that wonderment.

Out to Route 20, ran along the shoulder for just under a mile to get me back to North Hollow parking area at 11.71-miles, and all that was left was the 3-miles back up along the Hubbard River Trail.  Ended it up with 14.7-miles in 3:08 (4.7 mph average).  A very satisfying run.

Monument to Milo B, Coe

Black Bear Crossing at Valley Brook

Feeder Stream to Hurricane Brook on the Tunxis Trail

Feeder Stream to Hurricane Brook on the Tunxis Trail

Trillum Hill, Tunxis Trail

Gorge on Hurricane Brook

Cascade on Hubbard River

Cascade on Hubbard River

Bounced around Holcomb Farm Trails in the rain at mid-day.  3.1-miles.

On the shelf

Perched Boulder at Picnic Table

Carpenter Falls

Above Carpenter Falls

View off Peak south of Diamond Ledge

Diamond Ledge

Walk along Plymouth Beach with DL.

Later today DL and I are driving out to North Reading for dinner, and then navigating to Plymouth for an overnight stay and a lunch on Thursday.  Something we are looking forward to, and a nice trip to catch two family members on our circuit.

This morning, I met up with Wuzzam to run the Simon's Skyline Loop for the 1st time this season.  It was wet, but not as bad as I thought it would be.  Between Skyline and Minnechoag there has been even more logging, and the route is easy to follow but I suspect it exist a bit lower on the ridge than it once did.  I can compare tracks at some point.

We completed the 7.7-miles (7.8 today as we swayed a bit here and there) in roughly 2:10.  That is the same time we ran on last years first attempt.  It was really good to complete the loop, all the climbs, and see the sun actually come out for most of it.

Kneeling Tree

Wuzzam at the Kneeling Tree

Top of 880'

View east off 880'

View south off 880' - Pine Mtn next up for climbing

Wuzzam cresting Pine Mtn

Wuzzam at the Upper Junction

Continuing on the New England Trail (aka Metacomet Trail), this time from Old Holyoke Road in Westfield (I believe), just off Route 20, out to the turn-around spot from yesterday at Snake Peak.

I totaled 6.2-miles for the day, pretty enjoyable on a rocky, rugged route.  There are several nice lookouts, two old fire-towers still standing, and many side-trails if exploring was on someone's mind.

As my thought's drifted today, it became apparent that I've traveled the New England Trail (Metacomet) from Heublein Tower in Simsbury, at my southernmost effort, to Bay Road in Belchertown, just after the Holyoke Notch sections.  I am actually missing from north of the Westfield River to my starting point today, however.

First Fire-Tower of the day

View off an open peak

Second Fire-Tower of the day

Another View, Fire-Tower

Moss, Stone, and Flowers

Arriving at Snake Peak

Looking north from Snake Peak, Mt Tom in distance

Another view of Mt Tom in distance

Gravel Road for Communications Tower, Mystery Peak to the south