Back to Back Double

I was at the power lines on Sweetser at 7 am to run with Blaine and Erin.  I pointed out to Blaine where we missed the trail the last time we tried to run this part of the connector.  We ran into the park and started on the Boundary trail, but decided that better be it.  On the return trip, we wanted to check out the quarry to see if the icy was still in the pool like it was about 10 days ago.  Nope.  All water this time.

I could pretend I did it on purpose, as payback, but I just got mixed up from going off the trail to the quarry.  When we got back to the trail, we came to where I thought was the place to turn off to head down to Lawrence Rd.  I yelled at Blaine; he was going the wrong way.  So, I led us...right back to the beautiful pool on the way to Bradbury.  Oops!  Turn around and then back just fine.

Unfortunately, running down the actual path to Lawrence Rd., Erin hurt her foot.  Blaine and I continued on to the cars while she waited at the monument on Lawrence to be picked up.  Aside from Erin's injury, it was a fun run on a great trail.  I ended with 7.8 miles.

I thought I would have time to go to E & L's for coffee and a doughnut before meeting Mindy at 9 am for trail work and another run.  With my little...um...detour, I only had a few minutes.  I headed right to the park.  Sitting in the car, my fingers started to go all white.  I never expected my Raynaud's to show up this late in the year.  I tried blasting the heat at them, but they continued to get worse.  When Mindy pulled in, I asked if she wanted to run first, trail work second.  I couldn't imagine holding a rake right then.  We were on the same page.  She was going to ask if I minded running first.

Good thing.  If we had raked and battled with all the billions of black flies, I'm not sure if I would even have wanted to run.  Yikes!  They were fierce.

From the lot, we headed up the Switchback Trail (more or less...it's hard to follow right now) to the summit and picked up the Boundary Trail.  It was fun running the connector with Mindy.  She was recognizing spots from when she'd run it in the winter.  I loved sharing Ian's pool with Mindy.  She appreciated it's beauty with all the moss and new greenery.  Turned around at the power lines, back to the park, and down the Boundary.
My Garmin said 6.9 miles with 1,640 elevation gain.

Somewhere after the pool, the blood returned to my fingers.  I even would say I was really hot.  And really hungry.  It didn't take much to convince Mindy we should eat before maintaining trails.  After another yummy meal at E & L's, we became a yummy meal for all the black flies on Bradbury, at least, all the flies on South Ridge.