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!