Redundant Redundancy Vernon Center Middle School Trail, Vernon ~0.75 miles, May 2017 This seems like a rather odd place for me to finish up everything there is to do in Vernon (as far as this site is concerned, but... it was here, high atop the hill behind Vernon Center Middle School where the boys and I gazed … [Read more...]
Eckers Pond
What the Eckers? Northern CT Land Trust: Eckers Pond, Vernon May 2017 Do not read this page as a standalone page. Hiking the Northern Connecticut Land Trust’s Eckers Pond Trail without hiking the town of Vernon’s Center Middle School Trail is almost literally impossible. And if not impossible, it would … [Read more...]
Arts Center East
This Place is ACEs Vernon (Google Maps location) May 2017 CT museum visit #349. What a joy it is to visit a little art gallery/museum with a just-turned-six-year-old who is totally into it. I could write 4,000 words on Calvin’s burgeoning art career, and perhaps I will on other pages more relevant to that … [Read more...]
Hocknum River Trail 17: Oakland
I've Got a Bridge to Sell You Hockanum River Trail: Oakland, Manchester & Vernon 2 miles, December 2016 If you are reading my thru-hike of the Hockanum River Trail in order (generally south to north), you have already read the Union Pond Trail page. If you haven’t, it’s a fun one and you should. Better yet, start … [Read more...]
Pleasant/Stickney Hill
The Place That Shall Be Named Manchester Land Cons. Trust Trails (MLCT): Pleasant/Stickney Hill May 2017 I began with the following on the last MLCT post I wrote: You know how you think I’m nuts? Like, “what is wrong with that dude and why does he care about doing this stuff” nuts? I hear you. It is, again, … [Read more...]
Strong Family Farm
Their Strawberry Game is Strong Vernon June 2017 Through grants and efforts, the Strong Family Farm preserved some pastureland and added a trail as well. Yup, this is another one of those CTMQ pages that just sort of "exists." I learned about the Strong Family Farm via the CT Open House Day listing which said … [Read more...]
Keyhole Tunnel
Vernon’s Keyhole Tunnel Tunnel Road, Vernon I’ve driven through it dozens of times over the years and never gave it much thought. But now that I'm "completing" Vernon CTMQ-style, I figure I'll write about it. So, after going through it several more times while hitting every little trailed property in town, I … [Read more...]
Talcott Ravine/Dobsonville Falls
Same Dam Falls Talcott Ravine Falls, Vernon May 2017 & June 2020 Sometime I disagree with Connecticut Waterfalls and its decision to exclude certain falls around the state. However, I agree with this one not making the final edit. Mostly because from what I can tell, it’s a fake falls. It’s merely a dam … [Read more...]
Talcott Ravine
No, Really! It’s a Real Ravine! Northern CT Land Trust: Talcott Ravine, Vernon May 2017 Be honest with yourself; if someone said, “hey, let’s go check out that ravine in Vernon,” what would you think? You’d think that person is either lying, crazy, or both. Well, the ravine is real. And it’s spectacular. … [Read more...]
Indian Trail & Hatch Hill
Maybe Someday Northern CT Land Trust: Indian Trail & Hatch Hill, Vernon May 2017 This page’s existence is dumb. I didn’t hike anything here because I saw no trails to hike. Indian Trail Preserve in the southeastern corner of Vernon (near Valley Falls) certainly used to have trails. It has a handsome plaque upon a … [Read more...]