Mid-Summer Blood Loss

 Visit #1318, Saturday 24 July 21, 6:40-9:50AM. 5.3miles, 8.3lbs. of litter.

Temps in the mid-60's to start. Warming up nicely to the low 80's, with sun and reasonable humidity.

A couple weeks ago I noticed some graffiti at Castle Craig I'd forgotten about, and it needed some attention. I have been criticized for my typical method of eradicating graffiti on rocks, which is to paint over it. Today I would try a different method.

I walked the road all the way from the playscape, around Merimere Reservoir and up to Castle Craig. This is what I would address today.

I donned coveralls and nitrile gloves, and laid out my tools.

Some people have suggested I just leave it alone. But I say do that, and it will invite more graffiti. My opinion was reinforced by a conversation a friend had with a State of Connecticut Parks employee who expressed similar views.

I also adhere to this adage:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke

I'm not sure I approve of the results. I'll have to give it a while for rain to cleanse the rock, and to get a little weathering, before I decide this method is worth the time and expense. Painting is much quicker and more thorough. It seems to weather well, too.

I moved on, all the while being chased by mosquitoes. Stop for even a few seconds and you were their buffet. The frequent rains of recent were perfect conditions for mosquito orgies, hence the large number of hungry bastards.

On the return trip I found this spider had certainly been doing something other than nothing. That's quite a piece of work.

I dropped off my trash for the week, having done something, with only a small loss of blood.

Despite the bugs, it was still nice to get outside in the early morning placidness of Hubbard Park.

Beat The Heat

 

The high temps and humidity weighed heavily on Meriden. From my observations, it kept many people off the trails and inside some air-conditioned comfort space.

Visit #1317, Saturday 17 July 21, 7:15-10:00AM, 3.9 miles, 8.9lbs. of litter.

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

It was steamy out there, even in the early morning hours.

I'd recently noticed a tree encroaching upon the road up near Castle Craig, so I brought my chainsaw and loppers to clean up the space. The fallen tree was presssing on some other foliage so all of it would have to go.

No chainsaw cameo this time (it was feeling shy today), just a trash bag cameo, but it's all cleaned up now.

Reaching Castle Craig, I cleaned up the parking lot and surrounding area. I noticed all three klieg lights for the flagpole have shiny new grilles and electrical connections.

In 2017 I painted over these cans as they were looking pretty shabby; they were non functional then, and missing the covers. I'll have to check 'em out at night to see if the lights are actually working. They sure look good now with the covers.

I headed back down to the park, to the Face Rock. Last week I removed some graffiti from the Face Rock but was concerned the Goof-Off I used would discolor the rock.

Using a spray bottle filled with diluted dishwashing soap, I gave the Face Rock an exfoliating facial scrub.

There's no telling whether that will result in younger looking skin. It sure is squeaky clean, though!

I made rounds of trails closer to the park, picking up litter, then hastily made a path to air-conditioned comfort myself.

Post-Storm Elsa Inspection

 Water was flowing vigorously in one of the brooks in Hubbard Park, two days after Storm Elsa dumped rain on the area.

Visit #1316, Sunday 11 July 21, 6:45-9:15AM, 3.7 miles, and coincidentally 3.7lbs. of litter. Play the lottery!

Temps in the low 70's, very cloudy with moderate humidity and showers possible.

On a bike ride through Hubbard Park last week, I noticed someone had added eyebrows and a moustache to The Face Rock in the park. When I started today's hike, I walked to the rock to see if I could remove the magic marker.

I tried various techniques to remove the magic marker; first a wire brush, then sandpaper, then Goo Gone. 

The Goo Gone colored the rock, but it's citrus based and water soluble. If it doesn't wash off from rain this week, I'll try some dishwashing liquid next week to remove what remains.

I turned around and pointed myself toward Merimere Reservoir.

The missing bollard at the gate at Hubbard Park Drive has finally been reinstalled, with a fresh coat of paint. I didn't see anything that indicates this installation will be more theft-proof than the last attempt as I was told would be the case, so we'll have to wait and see.

At Merimere Reservoir, a gaggle of geese strut about like they own the place.

Someone had suggested I try to remove some graffiti and my old attempt to paint over it, by using a torch.

So today I tried it.

I won't even bother to post an After photo. It didn't work.

On the walkbridge over I-691, one of the American flags has become unserviceable. I recently discovered the Meriden Public Library has a drop box for old flags, so I removed this flag and will drop it off at the library.

Here's Cat Graffiti #9 since November 2016. I removed it. Talk about having nine lives...

I returned to the parking lot and fortunately did not find any tree damage as a result of Storm Elsa.

Creating My Own Fireworks

 A Happy 4th of July to y'all. Meriden's Fireworks are postponed until Monday due to rain.

Arrive at Hubbard Park early, because parking will be limited.

Visit #1314, Saturday 3 July 21, 12:45-3:45PM, 4.8 miles, 12.0lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 60's with a steady, light rain.

Visit #1315, Sunday 4 July 21, 12:45-2:30PM, 2.0 miles, litter n/a.

Temps in the 70's, mostly cloudy with post-rain clearing.

I didn't quite arrive early at Hubbard Park on Saturday; it was going to rain all day so there was no beating it, and my holiday weekend activities sort of had the final say; get out in the rain and don't complain.

Surprisingly, despite the rain and low visibility, there were people at Castle Craig AND West Peak, as Saturday's hike took me past both spots.

Fortunately, I was dressed for, and packed for, the weather. 

Earlier this week I was informed by a Hubbard Park hiker of a couple fallen trees on a certain trail. I decided to see what was up and I didn't really bring any tools to deal with them. As luck would have it, none were needed.

I followed the trails down and past the Halfway House, and it was when nearing Merimere Reservoir that I encountered what would be MY fireworks.

A very large tree had fallen across a lower section of the Yellow Trail. Due to the extra time off from work as a result of the holiday weekend, I decided to return on Sunday and remove it. I was looking forward to releasing some testosterone!

But first I had to go home and dry out.

Sunday was still very cloudy and while those clouds looked ominous at times, there was never a threat of rain. I returned with my chainsaw to make my own July 4th noise.

When the tree fell, the branches really exploded all over the trail.

Once I started sawing into it, I realized it was a hardwood and the safety chain (vs. my aggressive cutting chain) I installed wasn't going to cut through quickly. I was concerned I'd run out of fuel before I finished. I had to parse out the cuts and roll the heavy pieces away. I did finish, with very little fuel to spare.

I managed to keep all my fingers, as some people don't on the 4th of July.