4/26/09 Our anniversary , We went to Bigelow Hollow State Park in Union Ct with our brand new kayaks. Was a little strange on the highway as wind resistance is strong and intermittent , when you feel like your just zipping along cutting thru the wind , whap , swerve ... smack dab right into a wind wall that pulls the steering wheel from your grip ...well maybe not that bad but it will take some getting used to ..we took scenic non-windy side roads home.

It was a beautfiul day at the park , 85 and sunny and breezy , we found a nice shady spot by the water (mashapaug pond area is the best ) laid out our blanket , we brought our cooler full of food and drink including an italian grinder from Highland Market `s Deli , our hiking bag , some books , camera and fishing gear. We decided to take a walk before we took out the boats so we hit the nice blue and white bar trail ....it goes along the lake and thru other little picnic sites , we say a yellow trail , kind of a carriage trail and figure , what the hell , we are warmed up , lets do a bit more , 3 and 1/2 miles later , after reconnecting to blue and white the wrong way and backtracking. During which time there was some fair elevation areas and some gradual elevation areas that made this much more of an effort these two slightly hungover kids had in mind (yes I still refer to ourselves as kids and may continue to do so until I`m 60) ... I had to go on my palm internet to see if I can sort out where we were b4 I made us backtrack. I couldn`t pinpoint our whereabouts but did read that there are almost no loop trails and the shortest trail required a 6 mile trek. I wasn`t sure if we were even on that little jaunt. We did bring a backpack with emergency stuff in it but only 1 water and we used every bit of it. DUMB ... I didn`t look at the time , didn`t bring the map I have in my car in my walk book of the trail . DUMB!!! - I must berate myself publicly like this so as it may remind me to be prepared the next time even when we don`t plan on doing a HIKE , just a walk coz that`s about the umpteenth time that happened. NO MORE. My tongue was scraping my throat by the time we came back. I didn`t let on to Lori how dehydrated I felt coz I didn`t want to concern her or drink all the water on her. I think the few red bull vodkas I had last night sucked out all the moisture in my body and what sucks is I didn`t even get drunk or have a very good time. MY fault... whatever

Well we needed a rest after that hike , we put our footsies in the ICE cold water to reduce swelling and laid around on the blanket reading and dozing a bit. I then made us go back to the parking lot and grab the boats , Lori was wimping out but after yesterday , I felt I needed to have a productive weekend with the boats especially since next weekend we`ll be in New York CIty all weekend and the Yankee game on Sunday. We got the boats off and in the water in record time and with ease. We paddled about for only an hour or so but it was beautiful and Lori is getting much more comfortable on the water and getting a good paddlestroke going. She`s still tiring a bit but some of that was being sore from working out during the week.

Got the boats back up , went back to our blanket and ate our hero , or grinder as Ct`ers say. It hit the spot . We then napped together a bit with the breeze from the water washing over us. Took the scenic road home , treated ourselves to an Ice from Rita`s and called it a day. It was the first day of Spring as far as I`m concerned and it was great. I went on facebook when we got home and saw all my friends updates taling about the wonderful weather and weekend we all had. Its been a long long long winter.

I am looking forward to this year now that we have the boats to add to our activities.

4/25/09 on Lori`s Bday I bought her a kayak !!! Lori and I picked up our 2 wilderness pungo 120 kayaks from collinsville kayak , it was a few hundred more than I counted on , we picked up paddles , life jackets , and carriers that mounted to the 2009 Subaru Forester I just bought for this purpose. I forgot the 215 dollar cross bar ...damn !

We were headed up to burr pond state park to take our new boats , but it took so long to get the racks mounted and pick up the boats and get them tied off first the first time. I was trying to watch the guy so I can undo and redo the setup .. but he was 6ft someodd and could reach the top of the truck and he made loading the boat look easier than I who can`t react the top of the boat. He also tied off with a number of rapid - fire slip nots and double pull down knots so fast that I couldn`t figure out what he did. We pull out after a few hours of this process a bit bewildered and nervous as the moon roof is open creating a sonic boom wind effect with the kayaks up there .

I forgot that Burr Pond has a drop off area for boats giving you a good 100 yd run to the water and we weren`t up for our 1st experience to be this much work. Besides , half our stuff was still in bags and had stickers and price tags on it. We needed more time than this. We also were a bit unsure how to get these contraptions off the vehicle properly and then resecured for a long trip (torrington to manchester) home. I was so frustrated , I have been anxiously awaiting this moment since last year , did all the research , bought the vehicle , bought the boats , drove out to northwest part of CT and couldn`t use them , and was unsure if I was ever going to be able to. So we simply parked and ate lunch at the park while I sulked and threw myself around and generally made myself very annoying to my company .

Well after blowing up some steam and overcoming my disappointment with the whole scenario , we went to Union Pond around the corner from our house which has an easy boat launch right next to parking area , with some difficulty but none inusurmountable , we got the boats in the water , out of the water and back onto the truck. It was a nice little run on the boats and we felt much better. We picked up a milk crate which will make it much easier to get the boats on and off.

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2/20th 2009 - We found a cool little hidden trail behind Kohls in manchester . There are a few options of trails but we took a nice two mile loop that follows the hockanum river ...it winds around right behind our gym , court house plus in vernon which was a happy surprise. We`ll have to add this trail to our workout. I`m guessing it will look nice in the spring/summer with all the tall grasses and shrubbery and attract some more wildlife. We did see one red-breasted robin-swallow warblersparrow. I swear thats what it was !

See these directions and maybe print or email to your phone (if so equipped) so you don`t get confused ...there are some options here . I got this off the manchester website leisure that site shows other little walks which we`ve done as well

Oakland Trail (2.0 mile loop) Park on far right side at Kohl’s, 155 Tolland Turnpike. "Trail" sign marks trailhead, go down 8 steps to right, across bridge, follow trail upstream to Quality Inn Bridge, turn left over bridge and left after bridge, follow trail downstream 1 mile along river, under 2 highway bridges, turn left across the river on the new footbridge, turn right down slope to the river, and right again under the footbridge, upstream behind Lynch, Morande & Kohl’s to start. Easy walk along river in green belt close to I-84, river views, water birds, occasional deer. Also behind Kohl’s, down 4 steps, is longer bridge to Bryan Island (named in memory of the Bryan family that farmed here for many generations) and a 3/4 mile easy loop trail.

10/13/08 - Took a scenic drive down route 169 in ct to see some fall foliage. It was absolutely beautiful. Following up on yesterdays visit to berkshires , it was difficult to say which area was more beautiful. We didn`t hike as much as we did in Mass coz we were sore as hell , but did do a partial walk in pomfret at the CT Audobon Centers trails. Need to do it again in the spring. We drove down 169 and went into Rhode island. I meant to hit some parks there but only got to a stop-off park Beach Pond State park which might be a good quick fishing spot with a nice view but not a full day trip.

See some of the beautiful pics in the gallery

1/7/07 Welcome to my Connecticut Page - this will soon be divided into a Ct Local Government and a Ct Travel Page-

I have now lived here for almost 10 years -I like in manchester which is right outside of Hartford I hated it here when I first moved up but now I love ct - its close to vermont , long island, upstate ny ,rhode island , Mass and Nh - all within 3 hours which to me is a perfect road trip. Ct is home to hundreds of parks , hiking trails , waterfalls , state forests and lakes , beaches (though no waves) Hartford and New Haven are pretty cool cities (hartford not as much)