The “fun run” was in The Quarry and down to Stony Creek. It was not only fun, but surprisingly, challenging due to the fact I had done The Spring Loop 3 days earlier, and that I got lost in The Quarry! The Quarry.

Hey folks, these are the days… Get out there!

……………….. or more accurately, the runner LostC took these pictures of Mt Hood earlier this morning!

In the humid air, sweat is pouring off but when I get into the bathroom I discover there isn’t any water pressure for a shower – great! I ponder my predicament and contemplate going to dinner stinky. Just as I’m about to head out, the toilet cistern bursts into life signaling the flow has returned, after a quick refreshing shower I’m off in search of food.

Where am I? St John’s, Antigua.

The New England Trail, our newest National Scenic Trail, is officially designated. You may have seen some signs already. I know there is a sign at the base of The Bluff. Now, the question is: Is it over before it even got started? The New England Trail is planned to run from the Guilford shore to the MA/NH border, and all of the trail has been mapped. Please see two important upcoming events HERE The first is an upcoming “work party” to assemble trail signs for the new trail which encompasses the Metacomet, Mattabessett, and Menunkatuck Trails on July 18th. WOOHOO! The second is sad news that a 3.5 mile stretch of the trail may be lost due to a “wrongful injury” lawsuit regarding an injury that took place on PUBLIC LANDS. That’s right, the trails may be closed on land that the PUBLIC owns! BOOHOO. There are petitions that can be signed, and a public hearing that will take place on July 20th. By the way, this is the very same trail that any Bimbler wishing to hike, run, or race from Long Island Sound to Massachusetts would use. If you care about preserving and enhancing our opportunities to recreate on OUR property that WE own, I would urge you to participate in either or both of these events.

Sorry to Suds and Snobody, but your 6 AM start was not in the cards, plus we were starting at the southern end.  I did see your cars in the Route 9 lot when we dropprd off MRSAJC’s friends car so they could go get breakfast after 12.  I was going to miss my banana and Nutella crepes.  But again after logging 36 miles on the Quinimay in the last couple of weeks, alas I have not seen one horse.  Where are they training for their Vermont races????  I saw plenty of evidence in the form of hoof prints and horse poo, but no horses or riders.  I actually believe I got close when I heard people talking close ahead, and could see fresh hoof prints, well I’m not sure how fresh the hoof prints were, but the poo was fresh.  My nose could tell that.  Sadie and I even smelled horses on the breeze, and she was acting like something was ahead, but we never caught up.  Anyway, it was a beautiful day for a run and I was thinking of you all.  I was also empathetic for the crepes.

Maps of the Quinimay Trail: http://www.lcrvhc.org/mapproject.htm

I started my run at the baseball field in Stoney Creek on Saturday at 630 am and ran nice and slow to the dam, the Quarry, and out to the Evergreen Woods like I wrote last week. I had to find the entrance to the Evergreen woods from the parking lot, and it took a while but the stretch of trail was worth it! Isn’t it amazing what a new trail does to your spirit? I came out at the Woodwinds parking lot worried that I might not find the connector to the next trail section. I followed the dots to a construction company parking lot with suspicion-filled r#dn**ks. Just as one was making his move towards me in his pickup I found the white dot adorned tree behind a rusting 18 wheeler. I dashed through the entrance and was rewarded by a very nice half mile connector to rte 139. I trotted to the flax mill soccer fields and took care of pressing business in the Portalet. (This was a first for me – I’ve never done a big job in the middle of a run. Too much detail for you? You asked for it sister; re-read your email!) Significantly lighter, I took off on another new connector that spills out on Northford Road, close to Forrest’s house. After several tries I spotted the white dot on the other side of the road and took off on a trail that connects to a trail that runs along side a stone wall and comes out close to Linsley ponds. From there to the upper gorge and thru to the upper ridge inLake Saltonstall was a slog. I took a long break (checked emails and for messages) and took off again on the upper green near the power lines (I took you there last Sunday). I got out on Hosley Avenue at the boathouse entrance, and then ran a long road section to Beacon Hill. I was really tired by now, and as I ran by the trolley tracks the tram passed me in the opposite direction. I swear the engineer looked like the Baron. I was also thinking I was fortunate not to be on the small bridge when the trolley showed up. Really exhausted by this point I was walking and running in brief intervals when the Dillons came by and offered me a ride – yes I was shamefacedly walking at this point. I refused and started running again. Through Stannard venue, Harbor Rd, Maple Street past Donni’s place, past Indian Neck at which point I cursed myself for not taking the ride. I passed Lenny’s putting in really long walk intervals. I ducked into the shade of Waverly St and stopped at a tag sale. I wanted a memento of this run – I picked a small plastic horse which the woman gave me for free! I finally entered a trail I’ve been meaning to do for a long time and it did not disappoint! I experienced eighteen minutes of pain free jogging on soft shady trails after more than an hour of clomping on unforgiving black topped roads! I came out close to Anthony’s house, and then the rest you know – Young’s Pond, the white trail near the tracks and then the trolley trail and back to my car. I was too exhausted to include the Jennie Vedder trail, so I waved to her monument as I passed by. I collapsed in a heap at the baseball field and drank my Recoverite in 2 huge gulps. I rested for a while and looked at lonely clouds floating past the brim of my cap. I thanked many gods for taking care of me and for bringing me home safely.

It took a massive 6h 45 minutes to accomplish what I wanted to do for many years. I eschewed some parts of the trail, and replaced some sections with equivalents, but in my heart and soul I feel very accomplished.

Course Description

A. Start at Cox School, Three Corners Road. Cross Bishop’s field (white line on map) and enter woods onto Red Square trail.
B. Stay right and join Blue Circle, follow to Dunk Rock Road trail head.
C. Join Green Rectangle and follow until it joins with Purple Circle.
D. Follow Purple Circle before staying straight onto Yellow Circle.
E. Follow to intersection with White Circle and Orange Circle. The final yards are a scramble up to the aid station overlooking Lost Lake.
F. Bear left on Orange Circle (going to the right will be downhill) until Red Diamond.
G. Turn right.
H. Continue until trail joins with Green Square but ignore Green Square to the right and stay straight.
I. Follow Blue Circle until it rejoins the Red Square trail that you came in on.
B. Turn right back onto Red Square. At next junction stay straight, do not turn left which is the trail you ran out on from the start. You are still following Red Square.
A. Stay on Red Square until it loops around to trail head that you entered the wood at (still Red Square) turn right and retrace steps to finish across Bishop’s Field back to school.

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