Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Massachusetts border (Suffield) to New Haven The summer of 2020 - the pandemic summer of 2020 - sort of forced my son Calvin and I to begin riding Connecticut's rails-to-trails in earnest. Nothing was open for visits in any normal way, so why not ride our bikes. Unfortunately, Calvin … [Read more...]
Tunxis State Forest Intro
Tunxis State Forest Barkhamsted, Granby, & Hartland Although the CFPA's Tunxis Trail takes hikers south down to Southington, the state forest of the same name only covers land in the northernmost towns along the way. The forest surrounds the Barkhamsted Reservoir and always feels remote. Because it is remote. I … [Read more...]
East-West Trail Intro
East-West Trail Bloomfield to Cornwall, ~60 miles Began: June 2019 Completed: Note: This trail does not yet exist! It won’t be the longest trail in the state and it won’t even be all new trail. But for whatever reason, I’ve been obsessed with CFPA’s proposed hypothetical East-West Trail since I first heard … [Read more...]
The Brewery at Maple View Farm (Closed)
Reassessing Everything The Brewery at Maple View Farm May 2019 The brewery closed at the end of November 2024. I’ve been thinking about the old adage, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” While I’ve been clear in my 13 years of writing everything on this website that I sometimes … [Read more...]
Granby: Complete!
Granby: Complete! @ The Barn Here's the list of everything I've done in Granby! I’m very excited to write this page. This is the 9th of what may ultimately be 169 town completion celebration pages! Yes, of course I am fully aware of how absurd that is. Send your condolences to my wife and children, care of the … [Read more...]
Holcombe Preserve
"Holcombe I Can't Keep Him?" Holcombe Preserve, Granby May 2018 As of this writing, there are four signature trailed properties of the Granby Land Trust. Sure, they have a bunch of other parcels, some even trailed - and one containing the state's coolest tree. But the land trust focuses on their true gems. … [Read more...]
McLean Game Refuge: Pine Cone Trail
McDone Granby, ~3 miles, solo July 21, 2018 Y'know... I've given McLean the business over the last decade for some of their policies. Notably, that they "disallow" any trails to connect in to their property and trails. This is a terrible policy because McLean is literally surrounded by some incredible trailed … [Read more...]
Other Granby Land Trust Properties
A Whole Slew of Granby Goodness "Other" GLT Trails, Granby Spring/Summer 2018 I have hiked many, many wonderful miles within Granby Land Trust properties. It holds a special place in my heart because it was at a GLT property (The Godard Preserve) where a young Damian got over some of his phobias. As I wrap … [Read more...]
Granby’s 4 Other Waterfalls
Wild Granby Four Unnamed Falls, Granby This page describes what can best be called Lost Acres, Silver Street, Messenger, and MJ/Beach Brook Falls. Granby is home to one of the best waterfalls in the entire state. That would be Enders Falls and if you are any sort of waterfaller, you’ve probably been there. It is … [Read more...]
Holcomb Farm (East)
All it Takes is a Ninja Holcomb Farm (East), Granby April 2018 Anyone who has read more than a few pages on this website knows my older son has some very challenging special needs. Suffice it to say, hiking is not his thing. But I am patient and stubborn and I know that hiking is good for him. However, … [Read more...]