This Week In Hubbard Park: Do The Right Thing

Hubbard Park will soon be lit up for the holidays. This Wednesday in fact, the day before Thanksgiving.

Visit #1506, Sunday 24 November 24, 7:20-10:00AM, 6.2 miles, 5.5 lbs. of litter.

Temps in the 40s, grey skies, dry.

I arrived at Hubbard Park Sunday morning surprised to find all entrances blocked. How easy it is to forget this happens once every year as the park is prepared for the annual Festival of Silver Lights.

Which also explains why the parking lot was empty. I saw people parking on Reservoir Avenue and across the street from Hubbard Park at Angelina's Pizza. I'm not sure the proprietor would approve.

In situations like this it pays to be an early riser; I was easily able to find a parking spot adjacent to the skate house. In fact there was plenty of parking there. However there were ZERO parking spaces when I returned to my car.

Last week I mulled the idea of re-painting the iron gates at Castle Craig as they are in need of a refresher. Fortunately I was freed of my idea when I was informed the parks department plans on giving them a proper sprucing-up next spring. That's quite ambitious considering all the work the parks department performs.

True Story: Many, many years ago I was performing an annual cleaning of the slope below Castle Craig as many people toss garbage over the wall. I actually found one of the two iron gates, and carried it all the way back to the park maintenance building. Wish I could recall how long ago that was...

Anyway, once parked, I hiked toward the Soap Box Derby track and found these broken car parts. Since that section of Notch Road (bet you didn't know that had an actual street name!) is usually not accessible by cars, I imagine there was an accident on the overpass above and somehow the car parts made there way down below.

Reaching Merimere Reservoir, I saw this swan enjoying the water by themselves. The swan didn't appear to move but was merely floating on the water. Quite serene and elegant. Two hours later, while walking back to the park on the road, the swan was still floating in the same spot!

In this next photo, you see I found some graffiti carved into a tree and painted as well, with the same swan in the background.

I used some handy spray paint to cover it up but I will return to effect more permanent repairs.

Now I know what you're thinking; is it affect or effect?

As a self-avowed grammar nerd (below is proof), I made sure before I typed!

Don't mind the wrinkles; I had to pull the shirt out of the laundry basket to photograph it!

And just what do I use as my sources of correct grammar?

For sure, I pulled out my fourth edition of Strunk and White's classic (with occasional dry humor), "The Elements of Style". Pomona College calls it "probably the most influential grammar guide in the English-speaking world."

But I also referred to a much more entertaining grammar memoir and reference, "Rebel with a Clause - Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian", by Ellen Jovin. Follow Ellen as she visits all 50 states to answer peoples' grammar questions.

So yeah; I WILL EFFECT more permanent repairs soon!

Farther (further? YOU figure it out!) up the trail, I came upon these 3D leaf-shaped stickers.

Next was #15 in the series since November 2016. I found #14 just last week. Whoever it is can't keep their magic marker in their pocket.

And I can't keep my spray paint in mine.

Reaching the gate to the Maloney Canal, I see the Meriden Water Department STILL hasn't replaced the lock on the gate even after I e-mailed them. I'm going to try another avenue of approach.

Walking on the road toward the north end of the reservoir, I saw a large branch had fallen into the road.

I cleaned up the mess by hand and, using a branch like a half broom/half hockey stick, tidied up best effort. With the parks crew busy stringing lights, they've got no time to tend to a minor task like this.