Not Too Shoddy Shoddy Mill Preserve, Glastonbury April 27, 2014 I’ve been on a kick lately hiking with my sons. Credit the endless winter of 2013-14 and our shared need to just get outside now that the weather has warmed above freezing. (That and my OCD telling me that build out my new CTMQ sections on land … [Read more...]
Glastonbury’s Town Trails
Glastonbury's Town Trails My post-college, pre-Hoang girlfriend was from Glastonbury. I recall checking out Cotton Hollow with her once and thinking, whoa, this is pretty cool. Right here in Glastonbury. I would never have thought such a thing existed here. As she stumbled down the ravine in her improper footwear, … [Read more...]
KLT: Hollister and Whitehouse Family Nature Preserves
HOLLA-ster Hollister and Whitehouse Family Nature Preserves April 5, 2014 I could get used to this. Short drives, excited sons, cool hikes of perfect (for them) lengths. Perfect in the sense that it exhausts them, but don’t mentally or physically damage them. By my figuring, I can do this pretty much every … [Read more...]
Kongscut Land Trust Intro
Kongscut Land Trust Trails Glastonbury Kongscut is certainly one of the most interesting land trust names in the state. It certainly doesn't mean anything to anyone who doesn't know offhand that it comes from a Native American Indian woes meaning "place of wild goose". Furthermore, the name was chosen because at … [Read more...]
Mr. Al E. Gator
Rare Gator Sighting Al E. Gator, Glastonbury April 1, 2012 I can confirm this still exists in 2021. There is a tiny pocket of people in this East Glastonbury/Hebron/Marlborough area that love their roadside painted rocks. My title here isn't actually about how rare alligators are in Connecticut (rare as in … [Read more...]
Riverview Farms
Riverview Farms Fall Festival October 2008, 2010, & 2012 2019 Update: Here I am, cleaning up old messes on this here website. Unfortunately, the folks at Robb's Farm, Robb's Ice Cream, and Riverview Farms are making a mess on top of my mess. Robb's Farm has a website. Riverview Farms has a website. They share an … [Read more...]
URR Trail: Glastonbury
Kimberly Mansion, Glastonbury 1625 Main Street This stop along the Underground Railroad Trail is a rarity; it has its own Wikipedia entry as well as other web presence. Good for you, Kimberly Mansion! It also has a bronze plaque in the middle of the front lawn which I didn't notice until looking at my picture. … [Read more...]
(Former) National Champion: Downy Serviceberry
Amelanchier arborea, Downy Serviceberry Private Property, Glastonbury Location: In a nice big yard on a corner lot out near the road, so it’s not too creepy to check out Height: 34 Feet Circumference: 134 inches National Champion from January 2010 to January 2020 On a chilly mid-November Friday evening … [Read more...]
Gay City State Park
“We Built This Gay City… We Built This Gay City on Rocks and Roll(ing Hills)!” Bolton, Glastonbury & Hebron, about 11 miles total June 17 and 24, 2009 It is always challenging for me to logically and concisely present these "trail networks" for easy consumption. I put a lot of effort into planning for and hiking … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 2
Section 2: A Blistering Pace… A Bloody Failure Route 2 Crossing - Coop Sawmill Road, 8.2 Miles January 17, 2010 Argh. So frustrating. Now that I’m back to work, I can no longer just go for a hike any old time like I could in the good ol’ days of summer 2009. I did take advantage of that time, sure, but … [Read more...]