[dudley]

Yesterday, my buddy and I did 10+ miles on the Nipmuck trail here in eastern CT... Westford to Rt 171
http://www.ctxguide.com/nipmuck.htm
The trail is fairly rugged and remote. We crossed only two dirt roads and saw only one other person. A man of about 70, doing trail work. He told us he'd laid out the section we were on 33 years ago... his baby I guess.
There were patches of snow in the hollows, but there was little ice on the trail. A couple of spots only.
The section we were on passes mostly through the Yale Forest. A working forest of 7,800 acres managed by the Yale forestry school.
http://www.yale.edu/schoolforest/
Toward the end, I was beat. 10 miles was as much as I could handle after a winter of pizza and watching basketball.

Afterward we headed north a short distance up to Sturbridge to check out Pioneer Brewing, a small brewery at a working orchard.
http://www.hylandbrew.com/
I sampled the farmhand ale and a very fresh porter.
The porter was excellent !
The taproom at the brewery was standing room only...... meaning there was no place to sit... no chairs
After a 10 mile hike, that's not what I needed.
Still, if you're ever in Sturbridge check it out. Sample a couple of pints, growlers to go.

This was our second hike/craft beer expedition this month.
I think it's going to be a regular thing.

[Andrew]

Nice, I'm occasionally down in the Sturbridge area. I'll check it out.