One of K2's favorite musicians, Sixto Rodriguez, passed away today.

CNN Reported that "Detroit musician Sixto Rodriguez, the subject of the documentary “‘Searching for Sugar Man” – which won the 2013 best documentary Academy Award – has died.

Originally a somewhat obscure figure of the 1970s Detroit folk music scene, Rodriguez had no idea that his music was incredibly popular in South Africa, where he was “as famous as the Beatles or the Rolling Stones.”

The 2012 documentary “Searching for Sugar Man,” directed by the late Malik Bendjelloul, documented the search for Rodriguez.

I know of only two records released by Rodriguez, 1970's "Cold Fact" and 1971's "Coming From Reality".  Both are wonderfully written and performed.

If anyone hasn't watched the "Searching for the Sugarman" documentary, it is well worth investing your time in.

Also, medical news from my front:  

• Visit to Johnson Hospital for a CT Abdomen & Pelvis with IV and Oral Contrast dye.

"High Points" along trails during July 2023... 

Got one in, at least it's a start...

• Nick's Hill, Metacomet Trail, West Suffield, CT

Drove to Northwest Park with K2 - hoping to get closer to completing the 2023 NWP Trail Hike Challenge.  K2 made it out there throughout the week, and managed to complete his last remaining sections today, so congrats to K2!

I managed 5-miles today, in roughly an hours-time.

The trails I completed today were:  Brookside, Open Forest, Triassic and the Woody Succession.

Last week I had knocked out the Bog, Hemlock, Pond and Wetland Forest Trails.

What remains are:

• Conservation Trail
• Softwood Forest Trail
• Rainbow Reservoir Trail

Ended up the day with a 3-hour emergency shift at work and a ride to JMH to pick up prep liquid for Tuesday's procedure.

And, remembering a Musical Life....

David LaFlammee, most remembered as a founding member of "It's a Beautiful Day" and White Bird fame, dies aged 82.

I do have the band's first two albums, and the self-titled first album is really remarkable and a favorite of DL and I.

DL and I drove to Clinton, Massachusetts today to visit Chloe, Chris and the animals.  

Had an enjoyable lunch out and a uneventful ride back home to CT.

What Played in Ed's Head -- 

Music listened to for the time-period July 1st through July 31st, 2023:

Visited the Folks today, with a stop at the Williamsburg Snack Shack for orders of Fish & Chips, Clam Strips and Shrimp.  

On the drive back to CT, I stopped in Plainfield and explored along South Road, completing 3.6-miles into Dubuque State Forest.

Called into work for an emergency for a chunk of the evening.....

And, from the Marathon Archives...

Appalachian Trail Marathon

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

On this day in 1996 I completed my 13th marathon.  

My route took me along the Appalachian Trail, from Salisbury, Connecticut into Massachusetts.  

The turnaround point was at the summit of Mt. Everett.  

Total time on the trail was roughly 6:27:53, which included a break for a lunch at Everett.

• 1:15:44 @ Bear Mountain (from Route 41)
• 1:04:45 / 2:20:29 @ Mount Race
•    34:52 / 2:55:22 @ Mount Everett
•    10:00 / 3:05:22 @ Lunch - Rest - Refuel
•    36:03 / 3:41:26 @ Mount Race
• 1:33:46 / 5:15:13 @ Bear Mountain
•     42:17 / 5:57:30 @ Lions Head
•     30:22 / 6:27:53 @ Route 41

92 Day Challenge will begin on August 1st this season....

It's that time of year again, the beginning of the 61 Day Challenge.

Weighed in at 222.1.

November 1 - December 31, 2021

The New England 61 Day Challenge is a healthy lifestyle initiative that includes education about healthy eating, physical activity, and positive behavioral changes. It encourages individuals and groups to participate and learn how to make smart choices and develop healthy behaviors.

New England 61 Day Challenge Pledge

Today, I pledge to participate in the New England 61 Day Challenge.

I will make my health a priority and focus on developing and nurturing my body, mind, and spirit.

I will strive to meet the challenge goals of no soda, no sweets, and no cigarettes.

I will remember that there will be bumps along the road, and I'll stay focused for the entire period.

I pledge to learn and grow in knowledge and to make healthier decisions on a daily basis.

I will support my colleagues, friends, and family throughout the Challenge.

I will take what I learned during the Challenge and strive to maintain my new healthy habits.

****  Additional steps we will be working on are:

•           No Fast Food.
•           Limited Fried Food.
•           Limited Bread.
•           No Alcohol.
•           Exercise regularly.
•           Drink 64 ounces of water daily.

This is my sixth consecutive year with this program, and once again I am determined to have a great multiple-months working toward success.

Dr Visit for Transthoracic Echocardiogram today.

Today we learned of the death of Paul Reubens, aka Pee-Wee Herman.

Whether he was seen with Cheech and Chong in "Next Movie' or "Nice Dreams", in the Playhouse, or starring in one of his feature films, it was always worthwhile appreciating the guy.

I don't remember much about Pee-Wee's Playhouse, but the video clip below was something I saw on TV back in the early 1980s' that I thought was genius.  I still do....

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.