Journey to Penwood State Forest / Park today in search of Kalmia Latifolia, or Mountain Laurel as I know it.

It was over twenty five-years ago, hiking with my old spaniel "Dusty", when I first encountered a magic spot in Penwood totally encased in "blooming" Mountain Laurel.  I can still recall at that time, wondering "...how long can these flowers go on for?"  It seemed that the trail traveled through the bloom forever.

I try to make it back each year to witness the abundance of the mountain laurel in bloom.  Some years it's easy, as the flowers stick around for what seems like an eternity.  Other years, the window appears very short.

It appears I arrived right on time in 2019;  what beauty.

Completed a nice loop hike of 4.7-miles beginning and ending on Wintonbury Road.

Later, in the evening hours, I traveled to Florence, Massachusetts and the 13th Floor Music Lounge to hear Bunnies, Trinary System, and Landowner.  J Evil joined me for an incredible music experience.  We had excellent discussions with Bunnies and Trinary System!

Music 2019...

Effort #26, The Dark Heart Duo's fifth piece from the "Black Smoke Rising Sessions" of May 24th, 2019.  "In the Midnight Hour".

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #14 for 2019...   Gregory McDonald's "Fletch".  

This is our introduction to Irwin Maurice Fletcher, the first of the "Fletch" series.  Written in 1974.

Here are my accomplishments for May 2019.

May 2019 High Points:

• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• East Mountain, Metacomet Trail (NET), Easthampton, MA
• Snake Peak, Metacomet Trail (NET), Easthampton, MA
• Upper Junction Climb, Somers, CT/Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Hill 880' (Bald Mtn, Hampden), Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Diamond Ledge, East Granby, CT
• Trillium Hill, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT
• Hurricane Brook Climb, East Hartland, CT
• Hatchet Hill, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Nick's Hill, Metacomet Ridge, West Suffield, CT
• Pine Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Indian Council Caves, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Balanced Rock Hill,  Shenipsit State Forest
• Bent Birch Hill, Shenipsit State Forest
• Three Rock Alignment Climb, Shenipsit State Forest
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, CT
• Bald Mountain (Somers), Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, CT

The Mileage Goal of 1200 remains on-target...   I am currently 56-miles ahead of projected pace for the year.

Music 2019...

Effort #25, The Dark Heart Duo's fourth piece from the "Black Smoke Rising Sessions" of May 24th, 2019.  "Tugboat".

This day has found me completing two marathons in my past.  

In 2001, I completed my 23rd marathon at Nipmuck, in 4:27:17.  This was a 35th place, and my 5th completed Nipmuck.

Then, on this day in 2012, Wuzzam, Tippi and I completed a Tunxis Marathon in 6:26:10.  This was my 45th Marathon, and Tippi's 16th.

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #13 for 2019.  Dasheill Hammett's 1931 entry, "Woman in the Dark".

A second visit within a week to the American Legion State Forest, this time to manage up Legion Road to the Turkey Vulture Trail.

Wonderful 4.2-miles on a beautiful day.

Split Rocks on Turkey Vulture Trail

View off Ledge

View off Ledge, Ski Sundown in distance

View off Ledge, Ski Sundown in distance

Mountain Laurel along Turkey Vulture Ledge Trail

Short Stonewall along Turkey Vulture Ledge Trail

Legion Road leading from Turkey Vulture Ledge Trail

Old Bridge Abutment on the Farmington River

Way up in the distance, the Lookout

Farmington River

Up early for a 2-mile hike on the Metacomet Trail, from Phelps Road north.

Later on this evening, I'll be meeting up with my old friend "Hillbillidge" to attend "The Thing in the Spring", which takes place in Peterborough, NH.  On the card is Trinary System (with Roger Miller from Mission of Burma), Thalia Zedek, and one of my all-time favorite bands, Bardo Pond!

After the show in front of the Unitarian Universalist Church - ever seen two guys happier?

And, two throwbacks today...

On this day in 1998, I completed the my 4th Nipmuck marathon in 4:28:33, a 41st placement.  This was my 18th finished marathon.

Also on this day, in 2009, I completed my 7th Nipmuck Marathon in 4:37:03 (a fantastic 19th place).  This was my 40th marathon overall.

A great marathon day in my history!

Drove out to Cowles for my regular (for 2019) 3.3-mile run to the ridge and back.

Also on this day in 2010, I ran the Nipmuck Marathon for the 8th time.  It was my 44th marathon completed, with a time of 5:07:28.  This was good for 34th place overall.

Old accomplishments ~~

On this day in 1994 I completed my 3rd marathon - Nipmuck.  It was my first Nipmuck Marathon completed, and my time was 4:02:00, good enough for 23rd place.

Also, on this day in 2005, I completed my 25th marathon - also Nipmuck, with a time of 4:48:13.  This was good for 29th place.

Music 2019...

Effort #24, The Dark Heart Duo, third piece from the "Black Smoke Rising Sessions" of May 24th, 2019.  "What Goes On".

Relaxing day, with two decent walks for a total of 3-miles (1.5-miles each).  Early morning DL and I took a walk in Brazin Bruce Park, and then late afternoon we drove out to Hartland to hike the Falls Brook Trail to the waterfall and back.  We had "Bonita", a friends dog, to entertain.

Falls Brook "Falls"

Falls Brook "Falls"

After the long run yesterday, and hopes to cover some decent distance on Monday, I enjoyed a 2.1-mile hike on the Henry Buck Trail in the American Legion State Forest.

I've been across the Farmington River at Peoples State Forest many times over the years, but I've never before explored the Henry Buck Trail.  The route is a horseshoe, with a connector along the road if you wish.  There are many incredible large stones throughout the route, as well as a pretty impressive boulder field with possible caves.

Each "end" is a climb to get you to the high-point, and there is even the remnants of an old mill of some sort it looks like, half-way up the mountain.

Bridge along the Henry Buck Trail

Perched Rock along the Henry Buck Trail

Perched Rock along the Henry Buck Trail

Perched Rock along the Henry Buck Trail

Perched Rock along the Henry Buck Trail

View east through the Foliage

View

Stone Steps on the Henry Buck Trail

Old Mill Site?

Old Mill Site?

One of many brooks running down the mountain

From the archives department...  I completed my 11th marathon on this day in 1996 at Nipmuck.  I ran a 3:56:50 in the race, which was good for 15th place.

It was back to the Northern Nipmuck today, since the weather report was basically awesome for being outdoors.  I would begin at Eastford Road, and Wuzzam was to begin at Boston Hollow Road, which placed me roughly 1.6-miles behind him for the start.  We synchronized to start at 9:00 a.m.

Considering our slight differences in age and pace, this seemed like a really awesome idea on our part.  It seemed as if there would be a really good chance for us to meet at the Bigelow Hollow turn-a-round, which was 8-miles for Wuzzam, and 9.6-miles for me.

As I was beginning my descent off Coye Hill, there was my running partner coming at me.  Outstanding, things were working as we thought.  The only thing was I was still a chunk behind him, and it took me until about three-miles to go to catch him.

We ran in together, with a solid 16-miles for Wuzzam, 17.5-miles for me.  On the short ride back to my car on Eastford Road, it was admitted by Wuzzam that he didn't start running at 9:00 a.m., but at 8:39 a.m. 

We will have to consider these distance and time distances moving forward so that we remain safe in the woods during long runs, and still end up finishing up together.

The day Begins on Eastford Road Crossing

Nipmuck Dave's famous stairs

Somewhat "Balanced" Rock along the Nipmuck Trail

Another angle of a "Balanced" Rock

View from above Boston Hollow

And in the Old News Department...

On this day in 1997 I completed my 14th marathon - Nipmuck.  It was the 3rd time I completed Nipmuck, and my time was 4:31:44, good enough for 42nd place.

Also, on this day in 2013, I completed my 49th marathon - Hawley Berkshire East.  I had Wuzzam with me for this one, which was a real beast.  We had a total time on feet of 7:45:15, which was the longest either of have ever been on our feet moving through the forest.  It was most likely more than a marathon distance.  By several miles...  (or more).