Signs, Sounds, and Snakes of a Great (Brook) Trail Run

Back out to wander the fabulous trails of Carlisle's Great Brook for this morning's E Streeters trail run, and this was one for the books.

All the signs were there that it was going to be a historic run, and less than one minute into the sojourn, we knew we had hit the jackpot.

Thank God that Jackie, Heather, Abby, and just about everyone else we know who has an inhuman fear of snakes wasn't with us today.  This bad boy ranks up there as one of the largest, most aggressive, and downright confrontational snakes we've come across.  It was particularly venomous towards Carlos.

Sadly, we didn't follow this trail marker, and instead ran in the other direction.

Everything was going quite nicely as we made our way through our first mile. 

Until the cyclists - Carlos' trailrunning kryptonite - once again distracted him to the point of him toppling like a mighty oak on the pathways.  Maybe it was the sap falling upon his shoulders.  Andrew provided the sympathetic support that E Streeters are wont to do whenever one of us falls.  In other words, he laughed hysterically at his co-runners' plight.   Me, I just took pics.

Somewhere in the mix of this maze of trails, there lies a town line marker.  If only someone was astute and skilled enough to find it and take it.  Twice.  Hmm... who could do that? 

The Garrison House,  and us, looking a little worse for the wear. 

Some call it Turtle Rock.  Others call it Pride Rock.  Either way, Simba wears the early morning majesty regally. 

Making the bridge to the second leg of our travels, onto the Beaver, Keyes, and Tophet trails of Great Brook.  And no, it's not a Bridge Over Troubled Waters. (See next pic) 

Turns out it's a Bridge Over Running Waters.

Come with me if you want to live. 

Even though we may consider ourselves mustangs, we chose to disobey this sign and take it. 

And along the way, encountered the noisiest batch of woodpeckers we've ever encountered.  They sounded NOTHING like Woody, I have to say.  You may not be able to see them, but trust me, they're up there in those trees. 

Back at the parking lot, Jill and Weezer had just finished up their mileage through the trails.

Great Brook was a beehive of activity today!  Cyclists, runners, walkers, snakes, you name it.  Everyone was out there taking advantage of this gem of trails.  What are YOU waiting for?  Get on out there and join the multitude!  Just watch out for those snakes underfoot!