Damage Assessment

 

Gotta do whatya' gotta do.

Visit #1519, Saturday 22 February 25, 11:25AM-1:55PM, 5.2 miles, no litter.

Temps in the low 30s with a slight, chilly breeze, sunny.

Visit #1520, Sunday 23 February 25, 5:45-7:00AM, 1.0 miles, no litter.

Temps in the 20s, clear skies and dark!

Last Sunday's ice storm brought down a lot of branches in my neighborhood. It was time to see how the trails in Hubbard Park fared.

I reached the I-691 walkbridge only to find yet more stickers plastered on the fence post, which I removed.

Conditions were very icy. It paid to wear my Stabilicers as well as bring hiking poles.

And there definitely were a lot of broken branches on the ground. I removed what wasn't stuck under the frozen snow but will definitely have to return with a chainsaw for some things. I'll also have to inspect all the other trails to assess the damage.

Exiting the trail I see the padlock I used as a substitute for the water department's missing lock, is still intact.

Walking on the road toward the north end of Merimere Reservoir, I could hear a racket which sounded like ATVs in the distance. Until it wasn't in the distance anymore.

I saw no signs that they came from Elmere Reservoir and with the gates closed, I don't know how they entered Hubbard Park unless it was from West Peak and they were heading back that way when I encountered them.

Reaching the Soap Box Derby track I saw my paint job from last week looks very good.

But it wasn't until I left Hubbard Park that I got my biggest surprise.

I got onto I-691 East via West Main Street and as I approached the walkbridge over the highway I could see a new, very large piece of graffiti on the walkbridge abutment. This would not do.

So I drove to Hubbard Park Sunday morning before sunrise to remedy this problem.

Sorry for the poor photo; it was very dark and difficult to get a good angle on the picture unless I was near the highway. Then of course, I might draw the attention of the gendarmes!

Note the "artist's" signature at the far right. It comes up again.

I would have preferred to use a roller and paint tray but the slope was too steep, so a paint brush it would be. It took me roughly 30 minutes to cover. As you can see, by the time I finished the sun had risen, exposing me to all sorts of raised eyebrows!

I have to admit from the highway it looks pretty good!

Upon the return walk across the bridge, I discovered the same person had tagged the bridge with their signature. So we know they walked across the bridge to get to the abutment vs. parking on the side of the highway.

No paint needed to remove this.

I assess I'm done this weekend.

Sticker Shock

 

More icy conditions are forecast, with snow changing to freezing rain, then to rain, beginning this afternoon.

Visit #1518, Saturday 15 February 25, 9:15-11:00AM, 3.3 miles, 1.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 20s, clouding up-see forecast above.

While not my main intent on today's hike, here's a look at the collection of stickers I found and removed today.

This pole continues to be a popular bulletin board for stickers.

But those were not the main task I'd assigned myself for today's hike.

During last week's hike I found some graffiti that needed to be addressed. So I made a list, gathered my supplies, and set out.

I first painted over this graffiti at the Soap Box Derby track so I could return to my vehicle and drop off the paint can when done.

The ghost image of graffiti I'd previously painted over needed a second coat as well.

The paint match will be perfect once dried since it's from the exact same can. I wasn't too crazy about applying paint at such low temperatures but you gotta do what you gotta do.

After returning my paint and supplies to my truck, I walked up the road toward Merimere Reservoir and noticed something unusual on the backside of a telephone pole.

Considering where I found the lockbox, I can't imagine what the enclosed key goes to.

Now on to more graffiti.

Using my Venal Sin Remover® I thought it was just good for the graffiti, but it removed the sticker remnants lickety-split, too. This was actually fun!

This next piece of graffiti was going to be tough, until it wasn't.

The problem was, it was out of my reach. I blame my parents for being shortchanged a height gene.

So you've heard of "Soap on a Rope". Well here's my invention- "Sponge on a Stick". Solves the height deficit.

I doubt it will get me a membership in Mensa but I thought it showed a morsel of intelligence!

Further up the trail I saw footprints in the snow leading off-trail and wanted to see where they led.

I didn't have to trudge far until I found the end, and the treasure.

But the most shocking thing I found today was as I was returning to the park and decided to clean up the gravel parking area in the northwest corner of Mirror Lake.

At first, I thought it was a turkey carcass. but on reorienting myself to the pail I saw this:

Still don't know what it is? I'll tell you- IT'S A FROZEN PIG'S HEAD, WITH FROZEN SLICED BANANAS AND KIELBASA!

I bet you'd never thought you'd read THOSE words in my blog!

Enjoy the coming storm.

Promises Kept

I told you I'd return to remove a couple fallen trees! I had to do so before Saturday night's predicted snowfall.

Visit #1517, Saturday 8 February 25, 6:55-9:30AM, 5.0 miles, 0.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 20s, partly cloudy, with 6" of snow predicted overnight.

Where are all the fun hogs; they missed a colorful sunrise. It's a lonely parking lot on a Saturday morning.

I saddled up for my promised Power Tool Weekend® to remove the trees I hopped over last weekend, hiking last week's route in quasi-reverse.

Good thing I wore my Stabil Max Cleats. Hiking on the trails would have been a whole lot more difficult without them.

 I'll give you my Before and After shots of the fallen trees.

Here I removed that leaning tree as well, or at least walked it to the other side of the trail with a couple proper cuts.

Hiking back to the park on the Yellow Trail, I found the branches of a fallen tree, which I took the opportunity to remove. Doing so required minor chainsaw cleanup.

On today's hike I found some graffiti which must be addressed and I'll do so next week.

Maybe I'll find more cars in the parking lot then!

What-No Chocolates or Flowers?!

 

An early Valentine, for me?! Not.

Visit #1516, Sunday 2 February 25, 7:20-9:40AM, 4.8 miles, 1.0 lbs. of litter.

11 degrees and sunny to start, clouding up and temps reaching the 20s. 1-2" of snow possible tonight.

All morning I chased and eradicated these painted hearts and other graffiti. I won't show you all of it, or the After photos. Here's a mere sample.

It was extremely cold on the hands and feet, until I started going uphill when my extremities warmed up nicely.

I started out on a trail I seldom hike and found this:

Not much architecturally (I had to look that one up; I could also have used "architectonically". There's your Word for the Day, people!) You could say it was Cubist in design. I doubt the birds care what you call it; they call it Home. It even has a patio!

Nearby were these two tagged trees, although I couldn't find any information about the tagging program. And you're likely to not notice either the birdhouse or the tags unless you're off-trail a couple feet.

More religious tracts, just like I found last week, and I suspect from the same person that did the graffiti.

At Hubbard Park I am fortunate to have the eyes and ears of others who inform me of goings-on. I like to think of them as my elves. One elf contacted me last week to point out Cat Graffiti #17 since November 2016.

It's one thing to scribble this junk on fence posts, guardrails, and trail markers, but when you defile such landmarks as the Beehive Fountain, you have reached a new low. Like the others it has to go.

I wouldn't dare dream of covering it with paint. Elbow grease did the trick in about one minute.

Hiking down another trail I found two newly fallen trees, which I expected given last week's, and maybe even yesterday's high winds.

Which of course means I get to look forward to a Power Tool Weekend® next week, weather permitting.

Nearing the park, I decided this Christmas Wreath posted near the water treatment plant has passed the holiday statute of limitations, and had to go.

Reaching the gate, I see the iron is looking a tad bit rusty and hole-y. Probably has a few more good years of use left, but we should start planning for its replacement. (Suggestion: Any replacement should be taller. I have witnessed ATVers approach the gate and as a group, pick up an ATV and pass it over the top.)

This week the Record Journal reported the Meriden Parks Department has deemed Mirror Lake safe for skating. Enjoy it before it thaws. No; you cannot skate on Merimere Reservoir. That's just today's closing photo so don't get any ideas!