Just Stick to the S'nip Shenipsit State ForestTrails, Ellington, Somers & Stafford December 2016 & December 2023 Much has changed up here since my first visits, but I'll try to retrofit this page to some degree. If you are looking for the Bald Mountain Preserve and Pinnacle Loop Trail in Somers, go here. The rest … [Read more...]
Hockanum River Trail Intro
Hockanum River Watershed Association Hockanum River Trail East Hartford, Manchester, Vernon, Ellington HOCKANUM: From the Native American word "Hocquaun", meaning a hook-shaped or crooked river. I love the Hockanum Trail. There are no mountains or even hills. There are barely any rocks. The trail takes hikers … [Read more...]
Northern Connecticut Land Trust Trails
Northern Connecticut Land Trust East Windsor, Ellington, Enfield, Somers, Stafford/Stafford Springs, Tolland, Vernon These large regionalized land trusts that cover several towns are the way to go. Every few years smaller trusts are merging and spanning towns in Connecticut. You'll also notice that these regional … [Read more...]
Oldest Roadside Memorial in US
Steamwhealing Over Facts Oldest Roadside Memorial in US*, Ellington March 2013 *Well one of them anyway. And I think I can say this is the oldest in Connecticut, but that doesn’t have the panache. “Ellington is home to one of America’s oldest roadside memorials.” This is from the impeccable source called … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 5
Section 5: ShenipThat'sIt!* Ellington/Somers/Stafford ~ 8 miles May 2010 *The title implies that this section completed the Shenipsit. That later became inaccurate, for as you'll read, the northern end was extended. This just didn’t seem right. A hike on the Shenipsit – my final one – with good weather! … [Read more...]
Hall Memorial Library Exhibits
All Hail Hallowed Hall at Hall Ellington (Google Maps location) May 19, 2010 Connecticut museum visit #168. Somewhere along the CTMQ way, after readers kept pushing me to check out various libraries around the state for various reasons, I finally began to poke around what they have to offer. It’s a sketchy … [Read more...]
Shenipsit Trail: Section 4
Section 4: SHHhhhhhhenipsit Vernon, Tolland, Ellington ~ 6 miles May 13, 2010 Ahhh, such a clever title. For this is the secret section of what has become quite the oddball trail. I’ve come to learn why the Shenipsit isn’t included in the conversation with CFPA’s “big” trails (Metacomet, Mattabesett, … [Read more...]
Nellie E. McKnight Museum
Whoa, Nellie! Nellie E. McKnight Museum, Ellington (Location) August 2009 Connecticut museum visit #136. Ellington. Ellington. Ellington. Hm. I’m stumped. I don’t have anything to say about the rural community in north central Connecticut. Other than it’s rural and in the north central part of the state. … [Read more...]
Aborn Castle
This Place Wasn't Just Aborn Yesterday Aborn Castle Somers Road (Rte 83), Ellington This was offered as an AirBnB for a while, but no longer. I had never planned to write a page about this place. But I’ve gotten emails about it, and I’ve seen it featured on a couple television shows. So here you go… No, I … [Read more...]
Goofy Giant Animals and Chairs!
I honestly have no idea how many goofy giant things populate our fine state. I know there are a bunch of giant goofy chairs and I'm sure there are other goofy giant things that I will find on my travels. Some will have stories, some will not. Without further ado... Goofy Giant Animals Goofy Giant … [Read more...]