Arcadia Solsticity

A beautifully warm and foggy night at Arcadia Wildlife sanctuary; to welcome a hopefully warm and foggy Winter.

Bucket Brigade

Sunday was Kelly's Birthday and we were en route to Shelburne Falls for a walk-around. Passing the Easthampton exit right around 9:30-ish, we (me) figured we had time to fit in a detour and a quick look at the 7th annual Derrill's Race going on along the Manhan trail, scheduled for 10am.

The annual race is in honor of Seargent Derrill Stoddard, a decorated Easthampton firefighter who died from Leukemia. The race proceeds are sent to the Cam Neely foundation for the care of cancer patients as well as other noble pursuits. Last year some of the funds went to repairing the Manhan trail's gaping washout.

We made it to trail side near the blown out Silk factories not far from the race route's turn-around and set up shop just as some of the leading runners were trotting past...





...soon followed by the pack.



The day had started out cool and cloudy but became instantly muggy as the sun peeked out and brought the high humidity to a broil, making for some mighty thirsty running...





...and a little delerium.



As they're wont to do, some firefighters and their volunteers were furiously tossing water at the problem, but eight ounces at a time.



And as they're wont to be, the townsfolk were extremely grateful.



In a double honor to the race's namesake, several of Derrill's cohorts ran in their heavy firefighting gear... Heat? This aint' heat.



It seems to me these charity-driven races have grown tremendously in popularity just the past few years. There were definitely a lot of runners in this one; just one more of the large community events dotting this town's annual calender.



The runners made their turn-around, dug deep and trotted on back down the steamy trail to the finish. Maybe have some ice cream.



The close cluster of the main pack began to slowly stretch and loosen up...



...until finally just a few determined stragglers were left.



And then, it was over on this section of trail.



The race was cool to see, and it's always good to see a charity event go off so successfully.

Now, it was time for us to go.

Shelburne Falls awaits...

Low Overhead

Leafless, but pretty mild for late November.



It was a fine afternoon for a quick drive through Mt. Tom State Park, for a quick overview of a newly bark-heavy valley...



There are several lookouts along the park road to stop and take in the burg just below, that is, the town of Easthampton.



The downtown area is easily distinguishable for it's former town hall-turned arts center, peeking up above the branches.





The town's former 19th century mill/factory complexes stretch for miles and are the other most noticable feature from above. Some parts of the old textile and rubber mills have been restored and put to very good use, particularly the Eastworks building, with shops, restaurants and a newly transplanted RMV office. Other projects at the old blown out buildings haven't had as much fortune, like a recently failed LBGT-geared condo project.



On the way back, I stopped at another lofty lookout by the Soldiers' Home, for a look at Holyoke's prominent red bricked buildings glowing in the setting sun. Here's another town, like many in the valley, with tons of old industrial factory space just begging to be restored and put back to good use.



Holyoke has had some success already with factory renovations, including some recently created office and arts space in the former manufacturing areas, and the ongoing development of a new walk/bike ways along a section of the factory canals. But the big hope in the wings right now is the projected renovations and installation of a major computer complex in one of the former factories. This multimillion dollar project could be a huge development for the city. One of the reasons for it's consideration was the factory area's cheap electricity; many of the buildings generate their own with water turbines straight from the canals.

Ideal.

Westerlies

My bud Mario was in town from California this past weekend. Not having been back in the valley during the leaf change in a decade or so, we took him up to the Mount Tom cliff sides so he could re-acclimate himself to some of autumn's fiery scenery.



On the way up, Mario regaled us with stories of life in the far off Golden State, from surviving in L.A. to snowboarding in the Sierra Nevadas. Father and son listened with rapt attention.



Mario is one of our original gang-of-four, from our previous lives as rogues and/or whippersnappers; and as far as I'm concerned a brother for life. I tried to roust the other two members for a reunited group hike, but adult commitments and responsibilities once again intervened...I'm pretty sure that's how the Beatles broke up...

However, Radar Check's brother was having a birthday, and being something of an outdoor enthusiast himself, was coaxed up to the summit to celebrate his day. Besides his brother, this included his sister, mom and associated in-laws and broods. It was something of a tribal migration up the side of the mountain. And RC being who he is -God bless his juvenile heart- had to add a twist to the adventure and brought a kite up, to test the air currents.



This officially made it a party.

The winds on top of Mount Tom, of course, regularly gust at about 40mph+ or so... so it would take a good bit of piloting to get the bird off the ground. Some trial and error, and a few mild abrasions later, ...



...and the bird was aloft, flapping madly, circling and struggling against the super-taut line, and threatening at any moment to be smashed down on the rocks, or be sucked out into the ether...



A little line let out...and it appeared for a moment that the experiment had found it's wings...



...but alas, the parrot flew free and clear all of 45 seconds before plummeting into the tree tops. Though not quite topping the Wright Brothers' air time, it was a valiant effort none the less.



A rescue mission was quickly underway, the parrot retrieved, and honorably retired.



That fun over, Mario, the kid and I scampered up the final few yards to the summit. It was one of the clearest days autumn can offer, and far off Hartford was glinting crisply on the southern horizon...



Far below, trees are again erupting in groups, patches and columns....





...and are otherwise peppering the countryside.



With a keen eye, the muddy remnants of the now completely dredged Nashawannuck pond could be made out, deep within the hamlet of Easthampton.





Colors everywhere,



And even up on top of the blustery mountain, life tenaciously clings on; surviving until it's very last opportunity.



On a broader scale, and one of the best things about these higher perspectives, is how man's carving (literally) of civilization from the wilderness becomes apparent.



The clear day was too good to last; and as the afternoon wore on all the gusty winds began bringing clouds and potential rain too close for comfort.





A few final observations for our visitor from the west, and it was time to head back down.



However much paradise lies out west, there are certain settings and spectacle that can only be found here in New England.



Hopefully Mario got enough of an eyeful of his home turf, to take back with him...