On this day in 2005...

Hallockville Pond Marathon

August 11th, 2005 - Hawley, Massachusetts

Today I completed my 30th marathon.  Locale was Dubuque State Forest and we named the event the "Hallockville Pond" Marathon.  

For company, I had Wuzzam being his norm good sport, and Tippi with her normal determination.  Old Farmer Tom met us along the Notch Trail on bicycle, and enjoyed a few miles with us.

This was Tippi's 4th completed marathon.  Our time ended up at 5:21:16.

Mid-Morning run in Mclean for a bit of plus and minus...

Plus-side:

• Toe was pretty good
• Covered 5-miles
• Got it done early enough to relax for the rest of the day 

Minus-side:

• I just didn't have it after Mile-2
• Warm, Humid and Buggy
• New GPS isn't functioning as well as it should

For the minus grouping, I will be better once I regain consistency with running regularly.  The month of none running has hurt.  The weather will also improve as fall approaches.  And finally, I am considering sending this gps back and just purchasing the upgrade to my old faithful (and falling apart) Astro.

Granville, Massachusetts to further explore Sullivan Hollow, Hollister Brook and East Sweetman Mountain.  The damaged left toe did well today, over the 3.7-miles of constant up and down.

Small Falls on Hollister Brook after Mill Site

Small Falls on Hollister Brook after Mill Site

Hollister Brook at Mill Site

Hollister Brook at Mill Site

Hollister Brook at Mill Site Path

Hollister Brook Mill Site Path

Road running along  Main, Kent, Wisteria, Dylan and Bridge for 3.4-miles.

Back out to Granville and Bad Luck Mountain area.  Some pretty good news from the adventure was the toe was "ok" for the first 5-miles.  I am not saying it isn't "sore", but it was managable.

I found the old path from the topo maps, as well as some "single-track" that got me off the gas-line.

A couple of decent views, one should be pretty good once the leaves fall, the other was fine as it was.

Finished with 7.5-miles, with especially the last one being a bit "rough" due to the toe.

Looking southeast

New Stone Structure

New Stone Structure

Porcupine

Old Pond

Perched/Balanced Rock

I meant to do some running today, but an emergency at work caused a very long day.  It wasn't the worst thing, as the toe is still decently sore. 

Great news today...  I received the following notice:

The Connecticut Master Woodland Manager team is excited to welcome you to our first cohort!

I hope to participate!

"High Points" along the trails I've visited during July, 2021... (wrecked left toe, not much going on)

• Liar Mountain, Tolland State Forest, Tolland, Massachusetts
• Tow Hill, Tolland-Granville, Massachusetts
• Phelon Memorial Forest Lookout, Granville, Massachusetts
• Beech Hill, Granville, Massachusetts (Parsons and Black Pond Area)

On this day in 1996...

Appalachian Trail Marathon

August 3rd, 1996 - Salisbury, CT to Mount Washington, MA

I completed my 13th marathon today.  My route took me along the Appalachian Trail, from Salisbury, Connecticut into Massachusetts.  My turnaround point was at the summit of Mt. Everett.  My time on the trail was roughly 6:27:53, which included a break for a lunch at Everett.

What Played in Ed's Head -- Music listened to for the time-period  July 1st through 31st, 2021:

Exploring in Granville, off Old Westfield Road on a obscure path.  Looking over the topo map of the area, I was hoping this would lead to Bad Luck Mountain.

Decent route up to Bad Luck Mountain with a few intersections yet to explore.  I began the turn south a little too early though, and didn't find the woods road on the topo map of the area, but an alternative.

Very good route, lost all my elevation and emptied into an un-mowed field.  Wandered a bit, decided to bee-line it right to Route 57 through a backyard.  Ran the road roughly 1.2-miles back to the car, finishing with 4-miles.

Still tying up loose ends and the trail network throughout Granville.  This time, ventured around Parsons Pond, connected to the path to  Lover's Lane, and alternated around Black Pond a bit as well.

6.3-miles with the toe allowing for minor jogging here and there.

Stone-Pile along the route

Interesting Rock

Exploring Granville with the limitations of the sore left toe.  Managed 3-miles of hiking in the vicinity of Barber Camp and Parsons Pond.  Trail was decent but many briars and berry-bushes to contend with.

Abandoned Pool in the middle of the forest

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #4 for 2021...

"Clean Break", by Lionel White, first published in 1955.  The novel may be more famous due to being filmed as "The Killing" by Stanley Kubrick.

Cover Image

Alternate Edition

Alternate Edition

Movie Tie-In

Movie Tie-In

Ortho-Doc gives me great news regarding fracture of left wrist...  healed.

Now, Physical Therapy begins for the tendon and ligament issues for same wrist/hand.

And on this day in 2005...

Tippi and I ran the Savoy General Store Marathon.  It was lengthy, over 29-miles I believe.  From Haskins Road to the General Store, which brought us all the way over to Windsor Jambs, we had the company of "Max", a friendly dog we picked up at Loop & Haskins intersection. 

Tippi along the trails of Savoy, 2005.

Oddly, each time we came to an intersection on the trail, "Max" knew which way we were planning on turning (even though he lead).  He managed this for 9 - 10 miles.

Total for the day was roughly 29.30-miles in 6:17:52.  It was my 27th completed marathon, and Tippi's 3rd.  After finishing, I met Jane Phinney in the Savoy Town Offices;  she was the Savoy Town Clerk and is the author of  "Taking the High Road".