Back On The Chain Gang

 

That explains it!

Visit #1563, Sunday 23 November 25, 6:40-9:25AM, 5.9 miles, 4.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 20s to start, sunny.

Going back to last week, you'll recall someone who takes exception to my work in Hubbard Park wrote my name on a log I cut and removed from the trail. They had previously advised me that I should paint over that cut.

I returned on the same weekend and obeyed.

Fast forward to this week; I drive to the park only to discover all the entrances blocked off with jersey barriers. I panicked, then remembered this happens once a year when the parks department readies for the Christmas light display, as my memory was jogged by the display at the top of the blog. Thank goodness there was parking available at the skate house. It pays to be an early riser in this instance because that parking lot is sure to get filled up.

And it was upon parking that I see the skate house is getting a SERIOUS refresh. Looks like top to bottom and if I had to guess even the stone work is being tidied up. This is going to look fabulous when complete.

And just where do all those Christmas lights come from? Upon completing my hike and walking through the park, I was picking up litter as I went and found my answer.

That empty box went in the dumpster.

I hiked up behind the water treatment plant and found this pile of chain link fencing I'd never noticed before even though I have passed this location countless times.

I certainly wasn't going to leave it there so I dragged it over to the water treatment plant entrance and hoped the water department employees would take it away. I said I HOPED-I mean; placing it right in front of the gate would ensure it would get addressed, no?

Up the trails I went, stopping at the Halfway House to admire (and remove) what that person who takes exception to me has left.

I know you've been eagerly awaiting this; The Season of the Missing Glove 2025/26 has begun!

Entries #1 and 2 were found at Castle Craig, and will make their way to Goodwill once they dry out.

On to the trail where last week I found two newly fallen trees which needed removal.

All that, still working with a borrowed chainsaw. My chainsaw has been repaired and is ready to be put back in to service next time it's needed. Fact is, the local, top rated Stihl chainsaw dealer took four weeks to conclude they could not repair it. I learned of a Meriden individual who is obsessed with repairing Stihl chainsaws and runs a side business doing so. Fact: he fixed my saw in under one hour.

I left the trail and followed the road back toward the park, stopping at the south end of Merimere Reservoir. This traffic cone you see has been abandoned for so long I got tired of looking at it.

I got this great idea: I'll put it with the chain link fencing at the water treatment plant.

When I reached the gate I could see it was open and a vehicle parked in the lot. YOU WOULD THINK they would have put the fencing in the back of the truck...

Nope.

As I was walking back through the park to the skate house and my vehicle, I spied some graffiti in an unusual location, on a curb.

Removing this was easier than dragging that chain link fencing.

With Thanksgiving coming up, Hubbard Park will be a great location to walk/hike off those extra calories. Perhaps I'll see you there.