The Annual

Visit #1222, Saturday 23 November 19, 7:00-9:30AM, 1.7miles, 84.4lbs. of litter.
Temps in the 20's to start, quickly rising to comfortable levels, sunny.

Thanks to the New Yorker magazine, and an alert coworker, for the pertinent cartoon.

Once a year I will clean up the slope behind the playscape, which rises up to I-691. People will park along the fencing and toss their trash over the fence. I do this in the late fall when it's too cold for snakes. Unfortunately, the fallen leaves can hide the trash, requiring an extra keen eye.

While the morning started off chilly, climbing up and down the slope does warm you up and I soon took off my appropriately named sweatshirt.

When I filled a bag, I'd drop it over the fence and start another.

 My Find of the Week was this sign, which belongs to the Meriden Parks Department and was formerly mounted on an adjacent post or the gate.

This sign was going to be my bargaining chip. The parks crews were busy in Hubbard Park putting up the Christmas display lights. I was going to jokingly approach them with a deal; I'd give back their sign if they would pick up the bags of litter I collected.

I didn't need to bargain with them; they eagerly agreed to pick up the bags and refused my help to assist. Thanks!

And they got their sign back.

My haul would have measured much more than 84lbs. had I included the weight of the steel posts!

A Pound and a Half of Flesh

It was way too cold and raw for a November morning in Meriden.

Visit #1221, Sunday 17 November 19, 8:05-11:10AM, 5.1miles, 15.5lbs. of litter.
Temps in the high 20's, cloudy with a biting wind.

Geez; I had planned to paint over some graffiti today and the forecast called for temps reaching near 40. But it was in the 20's when I was hiking and without the sun making an appearance today, I was wondering whether the paint would even cure.

But I'm stubborn, and I planned my agenda a week in advance. I couldn't be stopped now!

A couple weeks ago I had painted over some graffiti on the road around Merimere Reservoir, then noticed I missed one. This would cause me many sleepless nights until next spring, so I was going to paint over it even if it was raining!

I started my hike on the road, then turned to the trails at the south end of Merimere Reservoir.

Just as I reached the bottom of the steep trail to Castle Craig, I came upon a couple hikers, one of whom offered to take my bag of litter off of my hands and take it back to the park. While it only weighed 1 1/2 pounds (Yes, anal retentive me weighed the bag before I handed it over!), it was early in my hike and I never know how much I'll pick up, and I thought it was a kind gesture on their part so I should not refuse. She relieved me of my trash and I opened another.

Up near the top of the trail I encountered something else which would cause me more sleepless nights if I didn't finish the job.

I had used a chainsaw to trim back this fallen tree, but it was a half-assed job. I didn't bring the chainsaw this week, just a bow saw, to complete the task to my satisfaction.

After redeeming myself, I climbed up Castle Craig to take in a cold, windy view.

I walked the road down, with nary a soul in sight.

Nearing the bottom, I stopped to test out my roller paint method, looking to see how quickly I could set up and break down.

What the well-dressed painter always wears.

I had taken a mountain bike ride in Hubbard Park on Saturday, and spotted some trash dumped in the woods near the road. Today I collected the sleeping bag and pillow.

Because of its size, it needed its own trash bag. Now I was carrying two bags. Fortunately while bulky and clumsy, they weren't overbearingly heavy.

Nearing Echo Point, I found that last piece of graffiti.

I basically poured the paint straight from the can then spread it out with the roller.

Foot traffic on the road was so light, probably due to the cold, that there's little worry of someone walking through it while the paint cures-I hope.

Now maybe I can sleep.

Reaching the gate back at the park, I found Season of the Missing Glove 2019 Entry #10, The Tacky Edition.

I dropped off my litter for the week, wishing for warmer days.

Balance

 Visit #1220, Saturday 9 November 19, 11:40AM-2:45PM, 4.1miles, 3.2lbs. of litter.
Temps in the mid-40's, sunny.

During the warmer months, the majority of my effort in Hubbard Park consists of collecting litter. As the temperatures go lower, litter is reduced, and the balance of my work tips in the direction of keeping the trails clear. That is, if the weather is conducive to felling trees and breaking branches.

Last week was the discovery phase. This week was a Power Tools Weekend®.

I was mildly surprised to find ground frost early in my hike. It's too early in the season to be so cold!

I reached my first tree which succumbed to the high winds of recent weeks.

A couple cuts with the saw and done.

This fallen tree was on the steep trail up to Castle Craig, and was a new discovery to me. This trail is heavily traveled, and I was glad to restore it to foot traffic.

My Find of the Week, this wash cloth will come in handy as I'm always looking for cleaning rags when working on my bikes, or around the house. Which reminds me; I have to dig it out of my backpack and throw it in with the wash.

 

"If you're gonna keep your phone in a bag of chips, KEEP YOUR PHONE in a bag of chips ."
   -Arnold Schwarznegger, as a Terminator in the new movie, Terminator: Dark Fate.

I have to wonder whether Sarah Connor was hiking in Hubbard Park, hunting Terminators.

So what's the reference, and does it really work? Read HERE.

At the top of the trail, a fallen tree's branches spread out into the trail.

I trimmed them back, but I think I could have done a better job. Sounds like a return trip will be in order.

Turning right onto the Blue Trail above Merimere Reservoir, I headed toward the remaining fallen trees.

The first of three fallen trees on this trail.

The second.

And the third.

I reached the north end of Merimere Reservoir and walked the road back toward the park.

Arriving at the gate, I see the parks department got it right this week. Thanks!

I dropped of my trash for the week.

Take a walk around Merimere Reservoir this week and enjoy the fall views, and the quietude.

This Week's Foaming Rant

According to the sign, the road around Merimere Reservoir and to East/West Peak SHOULD have been closed for the season. So why was the road opened to traffic on Friday, Saturday, AND Sunday?!

Visit #1219, Sunday 3 November 19, 8:15-10:45AM, 5.5 miles, 15.2 lbs. of trash.

I started Sunday's hike planning on making a clockwise loop, returning via the road around Merimere Reservoir around the 10AM hour. But shortly after starting, I ran into someone who walks on that road daily and was expecting to enjoy some seasonal peace and quiet. Instead, they were met with car traffic when there shouldn't have been any. Needless to say, they weren't happy. And they weren't the only one to express their displeasure.

I truly think the city, and the parks department, does not understand how popular this road is for walkers, dog walkers, runners, hikers, etc., and to have an expected seasonal reprieve is valuable to many park visitors. The road should have been closed, beginning 1 November. Rant over.

When I learned this from the walker, around 8:30AM, I decided to change my route to avoid running into cars on the return leg. So I walked the road toward the north end of Merimere Reservoir.

Along the way, I discovered a piece of graffiti I overlooked last week in my painting duties. I will have to return in a few weeks to complete the job.

Had the road been closed like it was supposed to have been, this car would not have been here, left overnight at the north end of Merimere Reservoir.

I'll guess they discovered they were stuck behind the gate after closing time on Saturday and didn't want to call the police and risk a ticket. So they parked the car at the north end, and probably returned sometime on Sunday after the gate opened to retrieve it.

I picked up the Blue Trail along the eastern edge of East Peak. I wanted to inspect for wind damage as we had more high winds during last week and I expected to find more fallen trees across the trails.
I wasn't disappointed.

 

I will have to return with my chainsaw on another Power Tool Weekend® to clean up the trails.

I reached Castle Craig, cleaned up the parking lot, and connected to the trails to return to the parking lot. About this time, 9:50AM, cars were ALREADY TRAVELING UP THE ROAD TO CASTLE CRAIG. I Thought the gate opened at 10AM...

Along the way I found a discarded battery, likely from and ATV. It fit in my backpack and although it was heavy, I managed to carry it. I will recycle the battery.

I returned to the park and dropped off my trash for the week. Hopefully, next week's hike will include a car-free road.