Sticker Shock

 

Guess how many of these stickers I found this week. 

Visit #1564, Thursday 27 November 25, 7:05-9:10AM, 3.0 miles, 9.0 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 40s, sunny.

Visit #1565, Friday 28 November 25, 7:00-7:30AM, mileage and litter n/a.

Temps in the low 30s, sunny.

Visit #1566, Saturday 29 November 25, 1:45-2:00PM, mileage and litter n/a.

Temps in the low 40s, sunny

Visit #1567, Sunday 30 November 25, 7:20-10:00AM, 3.6 miles, 5.9 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the low 40s, overcast with rain developing midday.

First, an issue of importance.

While in Hubbard Park this week, on a SUNNY MORNING, I noticed the Christmas lights were on. In fact the same was true on all my visits. It appears the Christmas lights don't shut off during the day. I would think the lights would only turn on at sundown. I checked a couple of the electrical sub panels and did not see a light sensor on them.

The klieg lights at Castle Craig appear to be connected to a light sensor mounted on the outside of the electrical service. It's practical and cost effective.

It's possible all the sub-panels are connected to a main panel with a light sensor, which would be connected to a relay and either one of those have failed. Such an arrangement would be even more cost effective rather than a sensor and relay at every sub-panel. Mechanical timers such as the older but popular Intermatic brand would be a less efficient alternative. Intermatic also sells photo controls as well (hint, hint). I have a low voltage contractor's license so I know a little about this stuff.

In any event, it seems the City of Meriden is wasting money having the displays lit up 24 hours. If there's a fault with the system it should be corrected. If not, I recommend installing photo sensors and relays if not at the sub- panels then at a common main panel. I'll mention this to park management.

So how many stickers did I find during this holiday weekend? How about twenty-one?

I removed all that I found.

Then I kept finding stickers etc. with my name. But I want to know - who's that other person, "asshole"? 😊

I removed those as well.

These were interesting finds. I'd like to meet Mike and Steve. I received a report of other people removing signs, stickers, and nails from trees. Good for them.

I also found and erased twelve pieces of graffiti. Here are just a few of them.

I also found Cat Graffiti entries 18 and 19 since November 2016, and removed them as well.

I removed a number of ornaments hanging from trees.

This last one says "Stop taking off". I wonder who that is addressed to?!

But the big find on Thanksgiving Day was this.

This tire was found after someone else freed it from many decades of rest near Crow Hollow Brook. Probably once they discovered it filled with mud and too heavy to move, they gave up. I managed to get it across the brook, up the bank, and rolled it back to the park. It took 17 minutes. An excellent lower back and aerobic workout, I might add.

But wait, there's more!

On Thursday's hike perhaps the same person found ANOTHER tire, one which was already on my long term agenda to retrieve, and they did the same thing; They got the tire to the trail and left it there. Fortunately, this tire/rim combination was light enough to carry, but on Friday I moved it a much longer distance than Tire #1.

I'm sure these tires were eyesores for park visitors. I'm glad they were removed by Saturday.

It was while wrestling with Tire #1 on Friday that I spied some elaborate graffiti on a rock in Crow Hollow Brook.

So on Saturday I took a bike ride and stopped by to cover it with spray paint.

I wasn't satisfied with the color -too light- so on Sunday I returned with something darker.

Despite four trips to Hubbard Park, Friday's and Saturday's trips did not consume a lot of time and Saturday's stop was in conjunction with a bike ride, a double win.