Hot and Sweaty

 High humidity blanketed the area this weekend, obscuring Castle Craig. It would take over half the day to burn off the cover but the humidity would remain. That didn't stop the fun!

Visit #1313, Saturday 26 June 21, 6:40-10:00AM, 5.5  miles, 6.2lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 70's, rising to near 90, with very high humidity.

Starting early on Saturday helped me to avoid the heat, but the humidity was so high it was just a drip-fest. Of course, it didn't help that I was packing a chainsaw.

This was a Power Tool Weekend®. Last week I discovered a couple small trees on the Blue Trail above Merimere Reservoir that had fallen across the trail. I would address these trees and whatever else got in the way of a clear trail.

Shortly after starting out, I discovered a large number of animals trying to escape the humidity of their ziplock bag. I set them free.

A gaggle of Canadian Geese enjoyed the early morning quiet on the reservoir. A brisk breeze from south to north rippled the water.

Reaching the Blue Trail along the western edge of Merimere Reservoir, I followed the trail to the first fallen tree.

Further up the trail, a second tree got my love and attention.

Reaching a view of Mine Island, you could see the humidity hanging over the park.

The view of Hubbard Park from Castle Craig wasn't much drier, but the breeze was surprisingly cool. The tiny splot of water in the background is Mirror Lake.

Good thing I had my chainsaw with me. Immediately upon picking up the Blue Trail after leaving Castle Craig, I encountered this branch bent over across the trail and removed it.

Last for the day was a tree bent over the road, pressing on a couple other smaller trees.You can see the bent trees in the photo.

It's not as evident in the After photo, but I removed the three very small trees and improved clearances.

I followed the trails down, over I-691 and back to the parking lot, where I dropped off my bag of litter.

I returned to the park early Sunday morning by bike. There are plans afoot to replace the missing "eyes" in the Face Rock on Hubbard Park Drive. Details will follow at the appropriate time. I was asked to take photos of the face, which made a convenient excuse to take a bike ride, despite the continued humidity.

The stiff breeze from south to north was still present on Sunday morning,  resulting in slightly choppy waters on the reservoir, and making the continued humidity a bit more tolerable.

Ask And You Shall Receive

 Summer is here, escorted by the heat and humidity.

Visit #1312, Saturday 19 June 21, 7:30-10:40AM, 5.8 miles, 9.6lbs. of litter.

Temps in the mid-60's-low 70's, reaching the mid-80's, sunny with moderate humidity.

I tried to start early enough to avoid the mid-day weather. In the parking lot, I met parks department employee Rob, and told him I would be leaving a bag of litter at Castle Craig, and would he be so kind to pick it up today before critters get to it. He happily obliged, saying if he didn't do the deed, he'd pass along the task to the afternoon shift.

During last week's foray, I noticed the Halfway House was in need of a mowing, and the bollard at the gate at Hubbard Park Drive was in the process of being stolen. I notified the Meriden Parks Department of both, and this week wanted to see if either issue was addressed.

So I hiked a route which took me to the Halfway House, and found the parks department did a spectacular job of giving the area a mid-season refresh. Hikers should be impressed this trail landmark is not forgotten. All along today I was giving the trails some trimming myself, with my loppers.

I reached Castle Craig, cleaned up the parking lot and surrounding area, and left a bag of trash for the parks department to pick up later.

Picking up the Blue Trail along the ridgeline, it was mostly a downhill hike to the north end of Merimere Reservoir, where I walked the road back to the park.

I returned to Hubbard Park early Sunday morning, on my bike. On Saturday's hike I noticed some graffiti which would need spray paint to cover and I wasn't carrying any. The location was out of the way from next week's agenda, so I decided to tackle it Sunday morning, again before the weather cranked up.

I arrived at Castle Craig at 7:25AM by bike.

This paint will dry to a satin finish and match the surrounding rock nicely. And it was good to see parks employee Rob did in fact have my trash bag removed sometime Saturday. Thanks!

I rode down to the gate and took a photo of the missing bollard, which was wisely removed before it went M.I.A, and will soon be reinstalled.

Next week: Power Tool Weekend®!

Fire and Rain

 Visit # 1311, Saturday 12 June 21, 6:20-9:25AM, 5.4 miles, 11.3lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 60's, cloudy with showers possible in the morning.

There was a unique, "Ring of Fire" partial solar eclipse on Thursday. Viewing time was roughly 5:25-6:30AM. But your author likes his sleep, and wasn't going to get up that early and travel to a viewing point to see it, although it would have been a cool idea.

But I have friends crazy enough to do so.

My pal Elmer RODE HIS BICYCLE FROM WETHERSFIELD to arrive at Castle Craig in time to view the eclipse. I have crazy friends. By my slide rule calculations, he had to leave his house BEFORE 5AM. Crazy!

I'll let Elmer tell the story.

"So I rode up to the castle this morning to get an elevated vantage point to view the “ring of fire” eclipse. I figured I’d be the only one. Nope! As I rode up ...(this) Guy had an equitorial mounted camera and a laptop. Slick setup. Said my hellos and waited. ... 

Just then one of his friends pulled up... Come to find out we all grew up in Meriden but also all moved out. Camera guy lives in Wallingford and his buddy in Middlefield. 

There was another young guy at the top of the castle too. He hiked up from the lake. I climbed up and chatted with him for awhile and a couple and their dog come strolling up the parking lot. They also hiked up. "

(Photo courtesy of Elmer)

(Photo courtesy of Elmer)

(Photo NOT courtesy of Elmer!)

I woke up at a more rational hour on Thursday, and after work I rode my mountain bike in Hubbard Park. The grass around the Halfway House was getting high and I wanted to do some photography of my own.

I sent the photo to the Meriden Parks Department suggesting they mow the area if they can. Otherwise it starts to look abandoned.

On the ride back to the park, I noticed the bolts securing the bollard to the ground at Hubbard Park Drive are almost completely removed. I initially reported this in January 2020, suspecting this bollard might take a trip to a scrap dealer if not addressed. Well, now it's getting closer to its departure time if not corrected.

The bollard is necessary to keep motorcycles and the like out of the road when the gate is closed (I've seen motorcyclists unsuccessfully try to squeeze their bikes through that point).

I notified the parks department of this as well. On Saturday when I started my hike, the bollard was gone. No telling whether the parks department removed it or if it was redeemed for beer money.

Hopefully it is in safe hands and can be reinstalled in a more secure manner.

My travels on Saturday would lead me to a couple small trees which needed removal, and I brought lightweight tools to do the job.

Rounding the north end of Merimere Reservoir, I found #8 in the recurring series of cat graffiti.

I took a couple minutes with my sandpaper and removed it, only to reveal a dyslexic's idea of a swastika.

At the sharp corner in the road as it climbs to the peaks, was the first tree which needed attention, as it obscures the sign.

A few minutes of sawing and trimming...

I had just finished when a light rain started. Fortunately, the tree canopy on the road shielded me from much of the rain, and the sound of the rain on the leaves was quite relaxing.

At West Peak I reached the other trees needing removal.

I started cutting the trees with my bow saw then wondered whether I could just pull them over and uproot them, saving some time. Doh!

I cleaned up the parking lot,  then moved on. Just beyond the photo above was the last tree of the day. I forgot to take an After photo but rest assured, the trail is now clear.

Returning to the park, I dropped off my bag of trash for the week. 

I planned to finish around this time so I could join a walking tour on the history of Hubbard Park by Justin Piccirillo and the Meriden Historical Society. The rain ended in time, and the event was well attended. Justin more than held our interest with his anecdotes as we walked around the park, and members of the group added their own details as well.  I'm glad the rain abated and I did not miss it.

National Trails Day

 

Saturday was National Trails Day. Did you participate? The Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA) hosted a weekend of events. I did my own thang, but I think it still counts.

Visit #1310, Saturday 5 June 21, 7:15-9:05AM, 2.8 miles, 2.8lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 70's, rising to the 90's, sunny and humid.

Finally, the weather cooperated and I was able to paint over some longstanding graffiti. I packed a gallon of paint, some coveralls, and hiked up to the rock in the early morning so I could work in the cooler temps and less likely be disturbed (any more than I already am!)

I considered painting the entire rock but I also considered the time involved, and thought otherwise.

I cleaned up/packed up, and hiked over to the Halfway House, where I found this Nike logo'd hoodie, which I'll wash and bring to Goodwill.

Elsewhere on the trails, I sadly discovered someone vandalized one of the only months old trail markers installed by the Meriden Parks Department. I thought placing the markers as high on the trees as they did would make them vandal-proof. I believe this was done by a gang of clowns on stilts.

 Back at the park, I continued to up litter. I found one of at least 8 "nip" bottles today, along one particular road.

I mention this because the Connecticut Legislature recently passed an update of Connecticut's Bottle Bill.

But rather than A DEPOSIT on nips, politicians instead added a five cent surcharge (read: tax) on them. When you're getting loopy on hard liquor, I imagine it's difficult to think straight about recycling your empties, so in that light the surcharge seems to make sense, and therefore I'll not likely see fewer of these in Hubbard Park. But will the increase in deposit fees mean I'll find fewer other recyclables? We'll see.

Nearby the nip bottle I found this piece of irony:

Next Saturday, at 10AM at the Hubbard Park bandshell, the Meriden Historical Society will host a walking tour of Hubbard Park, lead by Justin Piccirillo, who recently authored a history of Hubbard Park.

If you can't attend the tour, the next best option is to check out the historical society's youtube page, where you'll find two lengthy videos on Hubbard Park. Grab some popcorn and enjoy!