Drove to Northwest Park with K2 - hoping to get in another short run and position ourselves towards completing the 2023 NWP Trail Hike Challenge.

• Take the Trail Hike Challenge! 
• Hike the entire length of each of the park's trails by October 14, 2023. 
• You do not need to hike them all in one day. 
• Use the log sheet to document your success as you go. 
• Once you complete all the trails, submit your log sheet to join the Hiker’s Honor Roll and receive a badge.
• Be sure to fill in all your information clearly, then submit your information with the form below, or bring your completed sheet to the Nature Center at the park.

• Bog Trail
• Brookside Trail
• Conservation Trail
• Hemlock Trail
• Open Forest Trail
• Pond Trail
• Rainbow Reservoir Trail
• Softwood Forest Trail
• Triassic Trail
• Wetland Forest Trail
• Woody Succession Trail

Today, I lightly jogged 4.5-miles completing the Bog, Hemlock, Pond and Wetland Forest Trails.

K2 knocked out the Bog and Wetland Forest Trails.

Back to an actual run in the woods...  3-miles along the Metacomet from Phelps Road North.

A blast from the past....

Savoy General Store Marathon

July 28th, 2005 - Savoy, Massachusetts

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 29th completed marathon, and Tippi's 3rd.  After finishing, I met Jane Phinney in the Savoy Town Offices;  she is the Savoy Town Clerk and is the author of  "Taking the High Road".

The "back-ground" data for the Savoy General Store Marathon of July 28th, 2005.

Found some old files that took me way-back...

SAVOY GENERAL STORE 26 – 30 MILER

JULY 28, 2005 SAVOY MASSACHUSETTS

Notes:  Cool day with big sun, stayed in 70’s.  Felt fine thru tannery, but ross brook and balance rock were a bit of a struggle.  Rebounded well after that util Jambs.

Dog attack at Haskin/ Loop intersection, white Shepard mix (Molly).  Joined from here to finish by black Shepard mix (Max).  Tired but decent until climb out of Jambs, Griffin Road was a chore despite being mostly downhill.  Legs ached from midpoint on.

Rock & Roll Performer Sinead O' Conner passed away today (July 26th, 2023).

Hearing her early recordings for the first time, pretty much stopped you in your tracks.

This woman was out of popular music fairly quickly, for reasons her own and not her own.

If anyone needs proof of the talent Sinead O' Conner possessed as a singer of song, just listen to her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U".

Music 2023...

Effort #03,  "Goodnight"...  RSC.

Old news department...

On this day in 2009, Tippi and I explored the Robert Frost Trail through Sunderland and Amherst.

It was a day after a really hard rain, so the brooks and streams were really roaring.  

We ended up losing a bunch of time "off trail" around Eastman Brook.

We parked at Amethyst Brook and did a bit south, then north to the foot of Bull Hill.  

Outstanding area that I would like to return to.

This was my 43rd completed marathon and Tippi's 14th.  The run took us 6:03:58 to finish.

Drove to Adams for Lunch with the Folks.  Another great visit. 

Took a drive out to Granville with DL and hiked along the Reservoir for 1.8-miles. 

Worth Remembering -

In remembrance of Wuzzam's dog Sam... RIP July 22nd, 2019...

Sam was my dog Tippi's best friend, and the only dog she ever gave way to.  

Sam was just so big and strong, Tips realized and respected that.  

What a beautiful pair of animals they were as they ran freely though the woods with us.  

I will remember them splashing in the streams we came across, Tippi yapping away at Sam because he fetched the stick first (or grabbed it out of her mouth).  

Time goes on but I truly miss them both, still.

Sam on the Nipmuck, February 2016

At Pixie Falls, with Wuzzam

Black Lizard / Vintage Crime #16 for 2023...

"SignWave: An Aftershock Novel" written by Andrew Vachss, first published in 2015.

• Book Three of Three...

Visit with surgeon at St Francis, verdict of abdominal tear - follow up imaging but no surgery required just rest and time.

Music 2023...

Effort #02,  "Secret Agent Man"...  RSC.

From the Archives....

Hallockville Pond - Mt Institute Marathon

July 18th, 2008 - Hawley, Massachusetts

I completed the Hallockville Pond - Mt Institute Marathon with Wuzzam and Tippi.  

The 25+ miles were completed in 5:29:07, and ended with a dip in Hallockville Pond.  

This was my 38th completed marathon and Tippi's 12th.

Bands and Live Performances I've been a part of:

#6.

Midnight Hollow was hired to play Clarksburg, at a Youth Center Dance.  First time out of our Town.

I know my folks drove out and listened from the parking lot.  At this point, I imagine we were sounding pretty good, but the end was near.

DHD (Dark Heart Duo) record release on Bandcamp.

Removing All Doubt