West Rock Quickie

 Before our Bike Chapter Meeting I rode a quickie at West Rock. It was late afternoon and it was already getting dark :-(

No photos this time...

West Rock Plus

Ages ago I rode here but don't remember much of anything. I popped down to North Haven to check out the park and had good intentions to ride Peter's Rock as well.

I parked at the Lake Wintergreen lot and headed north - all the way to Form Book Reservoir. It was a beautiful and a lovely ride. The first trail: Glenwoods was practically invisible with all the leaf cover and I veered off trail TOO many times!

The Red Trail (The Shire) was amazing and appropriately named as sections felt like you were in a Tolkien movie! After reaching Form Book Reservoir, I decided to head back and after a long and steady climb up the access road,  a bomb downwards after the turn was a welcome relief.

Lastly, I capped off the ride with a loop around Lake Wintergreen.

The Ride

See the heart?

I turned around here

Not great pictures
"The Shire"

The 3 photos above are at Lake Wintergreen

Next Stop Lunch and Peter's Rock

I headed over to Peter's Rock and chowed down at the pizza place across from the entrance. I had a 12" chicken parmesan sub and a Sam Adams lager.  Oops - I felt like a tired slug when I hit the trails at Peter's Rock and "petered out" [pun intended] after just doing the Round and Round loop. Shame!

Tidal Marsh Trail

Feeling like I had to do something else before returning home, I ventured over to the entrance to the Tidal Marsh Trail. I will be hiking this shortly to explore the eerie remnants of the Cedar Hill Railroad Yard.

Capturing that fiery red tree before heading home was a fitting ending to a lovely trek south. In the evening,  I returned to the Quarry View Drum Circle - it was a long but fruitful day!

A Short Taste of West Rock Ridge

West Rock Ridge Trail - New Haven, CT

Having heard there were some once trail above the tunnels on the Merritt Parkway and reading about them on Crankfire; Greg and I decided to check them out...

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- Judges Cave -

At the top of the ridge. Here is where we started the afternoon trek. 

(Morning time was spent on the other trails below the ridge to the east) 

- Battle Scars-Whew, it was a rough day.... I nearly had an endo / face plant after riding while holding Greg's tire.(It fell off his bike after an uphill climb that was mostly a "hike-a bike"athon in brutal humidity)