Solitude

Sunday was a perfect fall day whether you were walking, running, hiking, or riding a bike.

Visit #1160, Sunday 30 September 18, 7:40-10:20AM, 6.0 miles.
Temps in the 60's, sunny and dry.

As I arrived at Hubbard Park on Sunday, I found there was a fundraising walk/5k road race being held for Hope After Loss. Since I would be starting my weekly jaunt well before the event's 9AM start, I decided to walk the route of the event ahead of time, around Merimere Reservoir, and make things nice and clean.

 Hope After Loss wasn't the only organization hosting an event in Hubbard Park today. Bike Walk Connecticut was holding a bicycle ride from New Britain through Hubbard Park via Merimere Reservoir, and posted signs along the route.

Upon reaching the north end of the reservoir my first trash bag was pretty full so, sneaky guy that I am, I left it at the event's water stop, hoping they'll do the sensible thing and take it away with their trash.

Here's where the real solitude comes in: The walk up the road toward East/West Peak takes you away from the noise of the city, and until the road opens for cars at 10AM, is just a enjoyably quiet place to be, whether you're picking up litter or just working hard on the uphill climb.

I reached the split to East/West Peak and had filled another bag with trash. I left it for later collection by the Meriden Parks Department.

I turned my attention and my feet toward West Peak. Enroute, I checked on the telephone poles I staked in place at a trailhead, to prevent vehicles from driving down it. I deliberately positioned them to prohibit cars but hoped the gap was wide enough to let ATV's through, otherwise they'd merely run over some other foliage to make their way to the trail.

Well, the gap I left apparently wasn't wide enough, and my stake job not permanent enough because they managed to remove a couple stakes and swing the log to widen the gap. I expected it to happen sooner or later. I don't know whether there will be a Version 2.0 on this but for now, the poles still serve their purpose.

Cleaning up the West Peak parking lot, I picked up a lot of litter; I left two more bags for later collection.

I walked out to the peak and took in the views.

Enough solitude; time to leave and rejoin noisy civilization.

I hiked down to the main trail, past the Halfway House, and down the Green Trail to the south end of Merimere Reservoir. There I ran into a large collection of police, fire, and ambulance vehicles. Everyone who knows of my time in Hubbard Park always says they're surprised I haven't found a body yet. Well, today was going to be about as close as I expect to get-for now. It appears there was a reported missing person in Hubbard Park. The search began Saturday and was likely suspended due to darkness. They didn't resume the search until after I walked by the spot at about 8AM Sunday.
As I reentered the park, a WFSB TV vehicle was driving around but couldn't drive up Percival Park Road to the scene because the gate was closed. I wonder if they walked up to the scene to film their report? As of this evening, nothing is mentioned on the WFSB TV web site.

(Update: The missing individual was found later on Sunday.)

I returned to the park, turned in my Solitude Card, and dropped off my final bag of litter for the week.

It Will Still Be There

Gray skies and cooler, fall temps were the order of the day in Meriden on Sunday.

Visit #1159, Sunday 23 September 18, 7:20-9:50AM. Temps in the 60's, cloudy.

Last week I lamented that some graffiti I wanted to address at Castle Craig would have to wait because I was called away for work issues.

As one intelligent blog reader pointed out to me, "...the graffiti will still be there!" How true.

I started early so I could reach Castle Craig before anyone else and work without disturbing anyone.

While picking up litter at the south end of Merimere Reservoir, I found this package:

My first encounter with marijuana infused candy, it seems it did not come from Massachusetts. Massachusetts limits the THC level of individual edibles to 5mg of THC. This single "sucker" contains 29.97mg of THC. I wonder where it came from, or if I'm interpreting MA's marijuana laws incorrectly. Transportation of recreational marijuana purchased across state lines is currently illegal, but I imagine we will see a lot more of this. (Update: Recreational sale of marijuana in Massachussetts has not started as of this blog's published date although it has been approved by the legislature. The candy must have come from another state.)

I reached the Halfway House. It was still there.

The trail up to Castle Craig is steep, regardless of which route you take.

Here's some of the graffiti I wanted to clean.

I treated it with Goof-Off before applying a wire brush. The Goof-Off will not stain the concrete, and will either evaporate or wash off in the first rain, forecast for this week by the way.

Unfortunately, my efforts weren't as successful as I had hoped. I tried it on other graffiti and had the same results.

Here I tried just a wire brush. The Before and After photos show almost no change. I'll contact the Meriden Parks Department as they have a pressure washer with a special solution which may be more effective.

While at the top of Castle Craig, I found this left over package from a personal fireworks package. Gee; I wonder who the target market is?

I cleaned up the Castle Craig parking lot, and left a bag of litter and the fireworks box for later pickup by the Parks Department.

While cleaning the perimeter of the parking lot, I addressed this tree which is encroaching into parking apron of the asphalt.

The entire tree needs to be removed, but that will have to wait until the next time I'm there with a chainsaw. It will still be there. For now I used my loppers to give it a trim.

I walked the road to a trail, then down and over I-691 where I encountered some new graffiti on the bridge.

"Gucci Flip Flops" is actually the title of a rap song. Oh yeah; real classy lyrics. Read 'em at your own peril. Click on the video in the link if you choose and check out the ahem, talent of the artist.

 Sorry; Gucci Flip Flops gotta go.

In case you're wondering what "420" refers to, it's cannibis culture. Did the same person who inked our walkbridge drop that wrapper above?

420 won't still be there if I'm packing sandpaper.

Some more elbow grease and...

I returned to the parking lot, which was still there, and a walk to raise awareness about liver disease was in progress, and the parking lot was filled to capacity. Good for them.

I dropped off my trash bag.

And next week Hubbard Park will still be there and so will I.

The Best Laid Plans

Hubbard Park was just as calm and quiet this morning as the water suggests.

Visit #1158, Sunday 16 September 18, 7:40-10:45AM, 4.4 miles.
Temps in the 70's, with moderate humidity and temps reaching the 80's, sunny.

Last week I took a "sans trail maintenance" hike along the ridgeline you see in the photo above, with no intention of picking up litter. This week I returned to the same trail to collect what I ignored then . Also, there was some graffiti at Castle Craig I found last week which needed tools and time I didn't have then. I would take care of it this week.

I enjoyed the quiet morning around Merimere Reservoir until I reached a small parking area and discovered a large amount of garbage discarded in the bushes. I dragged everything to the roadside for later collection by the Meriden Parks Department.

I continued around the reservoir and picked up the Blue Trail rising above the water which looked peaceful from above as well.

And this is about as close as I got toward Castle Craig when I was paged for a service call.

You see, I was on-call for my job just for today, and gambled I could accomplish all my plans without being bothered. That graffiti will have to wait. At least the photo turned out nice!

I hustled back to the park and deposited my trash for the week.

Far and Wide

Visit #1157, Sunday 9 September 18, 7:40-10:20AM, 2.8 miles.
Temps in the 50's, cloudy and very breezy.

I actually took a real, "no trail maintenance" hike in Hubbard Park on Saturday, except by the time I was done I wished I'd done the trail maintenance anyway. I saw too much litter and it pained me to pass it up.  So on Sunday I returned to pick up some of the litter and to tend to other duties, which covered the far corners of Hubbard Park.

On Saturday's hike I stopped at Castle Craig (I rarely poke my head inside whenever I pass by The Castle.) and couldn't believe people would leave their trash inside. So on Sunday morning I stopped by and removed it.

I took a trip to the top and noticed some new graffiti. I wasn't equipped to remove it; stay tuned next week for that.

After cleaning up Castle Craig and the parking lot, I went over to West Peak to continue pinning down the telephone poles at a trailhead to discourage people from driving their vehicles down the secluded trail.

I want to reduce the size of that gap.

First, I have to get one of the telephone poles in the background to move.

Once roughly in position, next I fix its position using 1/2" rebar which I've sharpened to a point.

I leave a small gap to allow ATV's to pass, otherwise they'd just do something destructive to find a way around or through there. If I get REAL CRAZY I might put that remaining telephone pole in the background to use.

I left West Peak and drove down and around Merimere Reservoir. Enroute I stopped to remove two trees which had fallen and were hanging so low they hit the antenna on my vehicle.

I had to climb the bank to reach the base of the trees, then used a bow saw to cut them down.

That's better.

Next, I returned to the parking lot, parked, and hiked the trail on the south side of I-691 to remove two more low hanging trees which I discovered on my hike Saturday.

More bow saw and elbow grease.

I returned to the park and dropped off my bag of litter. Next week I may retrace Saturday's hike to pick up the trash I passed by.