4.3-miles of "quick" running in McLean Game Refuge.

I was back at the same location where the previous day's run ended, West Road in Ashfield, Mass.  I hope to attempt a marathon from Bullitt Reservation to Williamsburg Depot sometime in early November.  I verified that Section One from Bullitt to the West Road crossing was right around 5-miles yesterday.

Today I would run through the Second Section, from West Road through the Daughter's of American Revolution State Forest to Lower Highland Lake, at East Street in Goshen.  It was foggy again, but no drizzle today.  It was very humid to start, despite the cool temperatures.

The run along the Ashfield Trails section to the feeder to the Long Trail was in decent shape, with some high water levels early on.  Some of the mountain bike bridges are submerged due to the wet weather we have been having.  The Long Trail was in great condition, I've been on it recently enough, as was the trail to the entrance at Upper Highland Lake fishing area.

From here, I had planned on using the Boat Launch Road Trail to the Sunset Trail.  This was were Tips and I had parked in 2013 for our Marathon, that dog really loved the DAR woods.  The Sunset Trail looks like trouble right now, as at about a half-mile in dozens of white pine have fallen as blow-downs.  There is the beginnings of a "go-around" to get through the mess, but it is much scrambling and climbing over massive trees for a quarter-mile or so, with the trail difficult to follow.

I bushwhacked up to Camp Howe Road to join Camp Howe Trail and the White Pine Trail, and realized that I'd have to avoid the Sunset Trail, despite my desire to use it.  The easy alternative will be to avoid the last bit along Upper Highland Lake, and head south along the Boat Launch Road to Camp Howe Road, to the Howe Trail & White Pine Trail location.  It may end up losing a half-mile off the total of the run, so nothing severe.

The rest of it went fine, intersected Headquarters Road off White Pine and witnessed the large gang of men gathering for their annual Dungeons and Dragons Festival at Camp Howe.  This is the second time I've run into these guys, it is great to see young people having fun in the woods.

On the way back, I ran through the campground, and I recalled all our years of camping and how much I miss it.  Someday, we'll be back, I hope.  It looks like the end of the season, as only about a fourth of the spots were occupied.  I took the Darling Trail back to Moore Hill Road, and noticed a cellar hole along the way, which I'd never noticed before.

Ended the day with 9.4-miles, and really good scouting regarding the condition of the Sunset Trail.  I have time to adjust going forward.

Section 2 of the planned Bullitt - DAR - 'Burgy Marathon

Beaver Dam along the Ashfield Trails section

Gazebo along trail at Upper Highland Lake

Upper Highland Lake

Cellar Hole along the Darling Trail 

Sections 1 & 2 of the planned Bullitt - DAR - 'Burgy Marathon

K2 joined me for a ride to DAR State Forest, where we would actually not run in DAR.  We would run along Ashfield Trails, from West Road along the northeastern edge of DAR, to Chapel Ledge, Chapel Falls, and then the Two Bridges Trail to Bullitt Reservation, and back.

It was misting and cool when we began, and throughout the run in the woods I did not notice the mist at all, but once back at the car it remained.  No sun today, so we kept cool.

The view from the ledge was fogged in, but still uplifting.  The series of waterfalls were heavy with flow, crashing down the rocks.  Excellent run with a total of 9.3-miles for the out-and-back.

This is the 1st leg of a planned marathon route from Bullitt Reservation off Route 116 in Ashfield to the Williamsburg Snack Bar in Williamsburg, along Route 9.  I had measured along the map at 5.6-miles, but today I landed on 4.8-miles.  Some twist and turns, so the higher mileage may be more correct.

Chapel Ledge

Chapel Falls

Chapel Brook Kiosk

The Pebble at Bullitt Reservation

Bullitt Reservation Meadow

Stonewall along Ashfield Trails

Stonewall along Ashfield Trails

Stonewall along Ashfield Trails

4.1-miles along Main Street just as dark was approaching on a beautiful night.

Also, my friend the Woodswalker was flown out to Harris, MI to participate and present at the 2018 AAPS (Ancient Artifact Preservation Society) Conference, the 14th Annual.  The Woodswalker had presented at this conference back in 2014 as well, and he was in great demand to participate once again.

Scheduled Speakers for the event are as follows: 

* Goeffrey Whittum: Woodswalker extraordinaire, back after 5 years, to tell of his fabulous new finds in stones (dolmens, menhirs, balanced, structures, walls... of CT, VT, MA, NH) He calls his new program,  "Evidence of a Lost Civilization in New England; the Appalachian Backbone."

* Sarah Kholer: of Mass. A woodswalker and friend of Geoffrey’s, with a different approach to her finds: “Circles in Stone; Art and Geometry of the Stone People”

* Jo Lorichon, Jim Scherz & Team: on recent examinations of a very large magnetic  standing stone"menhir" with curious markings, in N. MN

* Wayne May: Publisher of Ancient American Magazine, author, researcher. And co-sponsor of AAPS Conferences. Exciting new research:  Hindu America"

* Dr. James Scherz: Master surveyor & mathematician, "Long Range Alignments from Effigy Mounds to the Keweenaw". More fine connections pointing to U.P. Copper Country!

* Dr. Lee Pennington: World traveler and award-winning author & film-maker shall share his long time research on, "Spratt Stone Works: Kentucky's Lost City"

* Lon Kreger: Retired military man, expert at digging for facts, has found a passion for ancient garden beds of Michigan. His expansive research gives a new and broader understanding to these mysterious structures. "The Amazing Garden Beds of Ancient America"

* Rick Osman back after many years, has much to share about his research in stone walls, structures etc. of the Ohio Valley.

* Jay Wakefield: world traveler, always has some well researched things to share, this time a most intriguing look at- "The ICA Stones" of South America.

*Dr. Steve Spyrison: Researcher- "Making the connection between 'crop circles' and ancient sites and petroglyphs" 

*Earl Meshigaud: A brief history of the Hannahville Tribe, their growth, the "Turtle" Center and association with AAPS. Earl is the director of the Potawatomi Cultural Center, and liason to AAPS on the AAPS Collection displayed within the Center. He is ably assisted by Claude Alexander in teaching their culture and language to their youth.

* Richard Moats  Avocational archaeologist and Archaeo-astronomer. "The Reconstruction and Archaeoastronomy of a Hopewell Hilltop Celestial Observatory in Ohio; A window into Hopewell religion"

** Bruce Hardwick & Duane Kinnart: These Ojibway cousins always bring us ways and wisdoms to look at the world and into our hearts. They are Spirit-led, so we never give a title for their talks.

* Dr. Carl Johannessen: The definitive researcher on "out of place" plants & animals of the ancient world. We hope our dear old friend will be well enough to again make the trip to the UP.

Music 2018...

Effort #40, "Fade Into You"...  Mazzy Star cover quickly done.

"...I look to you to see the  truth."

Newest completed Black Lizard / Vintage Crime read is once again by Chester Himes, and his 1959 novel  "The Crazy Kill".

Continuing to track my "peaks", or at least "high points" along the trails I cover.  September got me a bit back on track, as I was still recovering from an issue with my left periformis.

September's High Points:

• Petticoat Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Unquomonk Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Scott Hill / Petticoat / Locke's Loop, Williamsburg, MA
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Little Tom, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Battlecock Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Bald Mountain, Somers, CT
• West Sufffield Mountain, Suffield, CT
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT

August's High Points:

• Petticoat Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Unquomonk Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Big View, Williamsburg, MA
• Scott Hill / Petticoat / Locke's Loop, Williamsburg, MA
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT

July's High Points:

• Cat Rocks, Union, CT
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Little Tom, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Mt Tom, Easthampton, MA
• Deadtop, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Whiting Peak, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Goat Rock, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Dry Knoll, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• Mt. Nonotuck, Mt Tom Range, Easthampton, MA
• East Barndoor Hill, Granby, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• West Sufffield Mountain, Suffield, CT
• O'Neil Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Tanager Hill, Simsbury, CT
• Indian Council Caves, Barkhamsted, CT
• Pine Mountain, Barkhamsted, CT
• Lake McDonough Lookout I, New Hartford, CT
• Lake McDOnough Lookout II, Barkhamsted, CT
• Sunset Lookout, Barkhamsted, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge

June's High Points:

• West Sufffield Mountain, Suffield, CT
• High Ridge, Williamsburg, MA
• Orchard Hill, Goodwin Race, CT
• Parker Hill, Dubuque State Forest, Hawlaey, MA
• Lake McDonough Lookout I, New Hartford, CT
• Lake McDOnough Lookout II, Barkhamsted, CT
• Sunset Lookout, Barkhamsted, CT
• The Pinnacle, Penwood State Forest, CT
• Little Thumper Mtn, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont, MA
• Thumper Mtn, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont, MA
• Indian Path to Saddle between Clark & Todd, Mohawk Trail SF, Charlemont, MA
• Clark Mountain, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Florida, MA
• Todd Mountain, Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont, MA
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Hampden Overlook, Hampden, MA
• Goat Rock, Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Hill 880' (Bald Mtn, Hampden), Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Rattlesnake Hill, Hampden, MA + Somers, CT
• Perkins Mountain, Camp Ayapo, Somers, CT
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, CT
• Bald Mountain (Somers), Shenipsit State Forest, Somers, CT
• Peak / Copper Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Moore Hill, DAR State Forest, Goshen, MA

May's High Points:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• Pine Mountain, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Indian Council Caves, Tunxis Trail, Barkhamsted, CT
• Monks Mound, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville, IL
• Trillium Hill, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT
• North Peak, Tunxis Trail, East Hartland, CT

April's High Points:

• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bartlett Tower Hill, Tariffville, CT
• Pinnacle, Penwood State Forest, Bloomfield, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, East Granby, CT
• Hart's Pond Hill, Agawam, MA

March's High Points:

• Hatchet Hill, Granby, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Rattlesnake Hill, Somers, CT
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• Stony Hill, McLean Refuge, Granby, CT

February's High Points:

• Skyline Overlook, Somers, CT
• Goat Rock and Lookout Point, Hampden, MA
• Minnechoag Mountain, Hampden, CT
• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge, Suffield, CT
• Hill 880', Hampden, MA
• Pine Mountain, Hampden, MA
• Perkins Mountain, Somers, CT
• West Ridge, DAR State Forest, Goshen, MA
• Walnut Hill, Williamsburg, MA
• Copper - Peak Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Granby, CT
• West Suffield Mountain, Metacomet Trail, Suffield, CT
• Merritts Hill, Williamsburg, MA

January's High Points:

• "Nick's Hill", West Suffield Mountain / Metacomet Ridge
• Bald Mountain, Shenipsit State Forest
• The Pinnacle, Shenipsit State Forest
• "Balanced Rock Hill",  Shenipsit State Forest
• "Bent Birch Hill", Shenipsit State Forest

3.0-miles along Main Street during mid-morning.  Somehow, it began to get uncomfortably warm and humid again.

Also on this day in 1994, I participated in the 1st Hartford Marathon, running a time of ~3:16:00.  I needed sub 3:10:00 to qualify for Boston, and completing the run "easily" at this pace gained me confidence for my official attempt the following May at Vermont City.  This was my 4th marathon.

Drove out to visit my Mom today, and on the way back stopped at DAR State Forest to make an attempt at connecting the Tilton Farm Trail along Rogers Brook to the Bradley Sanctuary.  The last time it existed as an easily followed path for me was 2012.

I had efforts out here on February 24th and May 12th of this year.  Getting down to the brook from Tilton is a little tricky, but I believe I have that covered now.  Along the brook is easily to follow until the sharp "left" (east) uphill toward Merritt's Hill.  That has been clear-cut, with downed limbs left in a several hundred foot swath.  The tough part of this is the old snowmobile trail went right through this section for a little more than a half-mile.  Now, it is ruined.

Once the old route somewhat returns, until the intersection with the Bradley Snowmobile Trail, its very clear, yet still littered with timber and branches.  Not as bad as what preceded it, however.

On  the way back, I followed the well maintained gravel road until I spotted an old path just after Roberts Brook crosses under the road.  I recall being on this many, many years ago with Tips.  It brought us right back to the initial spot where the logging started, but by using this "alternate", the clear-cut is avoidable.

Oddly enough, I started down this path on the May 12th exploration, to get to Devil's Den.  Somehow, I lost the path on that day, although it appears strange that I did seeing it today.

Ended the day with 4.8-miles, which wasn't even half of what I had wanted.  The good news is making the alternative connection is very valuable, and I was worn out and tired before the run even started anyhow.

Also, on this day in 2012, I completed my 47th marathon, Nipmuck.  My time was 4:46:30, which was good for 28th place.  This was the 9th time I completed this event.

Tilton Town Farm Trailhead

Turn to Bradley Sanctuary

Old path after logging

Rogers Brook

Early run with K2 along the Metecomet, from East Granby to Suffield, and back.  It felt great to move along the ridge, the 10-miles went by somewhat easily (especially at the pace I was "running".

The fog covered the low lands, valley, and river bottoms like an ocean this morning.

Driving to an evening meeting this week, I noticed a Roadside Memorial on Route 159 in Suffield, Connecticut.  No name, but dates are evident on the cross, 4:10:66 - 6:14:15.

I set a goal of visiting twelve Williamsburg Woodland Trails this season.  There were not twelve sites within the Williamsburg Woodland Trails Properties, but there were some that subscribed to the same type of designation, and were in the area.  The twelve properties are as follows:

• Bradley (visited February 19, 2018)
• Breckenridge (visited February 24, 2018)
• Devils Den (visited May 12, 2018)
• Tilton Farm (North & South), Goshen Open Space (visited May 12, 2018)
• Henhawk (visited June 2, 2018)
• Historic Dam (visited July 4, 2018)
• Hall / O'Neil (visited July 19, 2018)
• Graves Farm (visited July 19, 2018)
• Big View (visited August 25, 2018)
• Briar Farm
• Petticoat Hill / Locke's Loop (visited August 11, 2018)
• Lily Pond

I have managed to visit 10 of 12 so far, which is just ahead of the one-per-month pace I originally thought of.  Big View and Petticoat Hill were added in August, and I have revisited both a few times since the initial visit.

Music 2018...

Effort #39, "Autumnal Equinox"...  acoustic guitar playing a blues in A, with a chorus of crickets recorded mid-evening.

"...On the day of an equinox, daytime and nighttime are of approximately equal duration all over the planet."

In Memory...  Rest in Peace Dusty (August 28, 1986 - September 25, 2000).

"Dusty" at Old Sturbridge Village, 1998

DL brought Dusty home at Christmas 1986, when we lived at Old Mill Pond in Arlington, Texas.  He was a cocker-spaniel, and a really great dog.

Once we made the move to Connecticut in 1989, we began hiking and backpacking.  Dusty loved the trail, and camping out in a tent.  As a spaniel, he also loved water, and even in December's winters, if the water was open, he was going in.

We began running in Shenipsit State Forest around 1992, after building up with the years of hiking.  We ran on the Metacomet three or four days a week, right up to a week before his passing. 

I have been extremely lucky with the dogs I've had.  Not a day goes by that I don't think of them.  As I still ramble through the woods, I encounter hints and reminders constantly.  Those first explorations throughout Connecticut and Western Massachusetts were with Dusty,.  Rest easy, boy.

Looking back to something really special run-wise, on this day in 2006 I completed my 34th marathon, at Mount Greylock.  Greylock Marathon's always mean more to me, and this one was especially memorable due to the company I had for the entire route.

Tippi enjoyed completing her 10th marathon, her second time at Greylock.  I had my dad and our friend Paul H along as well.  We finished at 7:29:23, and just beat some rain.  Unbelievable day!

Greylock Finish, 2006