Paddled the 361-acre upper basin of the Moodus Reservoir in East Haddam this morning. It was one of the few bodies of water of any substantial size in Connecticut that I had not previously explored. Needed to see this lake.

Explored the Pequabuck River by kayak yesterday, something I’ve wanted to do for years. A tributary of the Farmington River, it enters the Farmington just north of Meadow Road in the town of Farmington, having drained 58 square miles in Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Harwinton, Plainville and Plymouth.

In her new biography, “Henry David Thoreau, ” Laura Dassow Walls documents nicely and in detail how deeply engaged with his community Thoreau was, hardly the hermit that is the image many people have of him.

I met Steve Kotchko along the banks of the Connecticut River in Wethersfield several weeks ago to participate in the 118th National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count.

I’ve said many times over the years that the fall foliage color is never truly bad, that, yes, some years the leaf color is better than others, and, yes, some years maybe it is not as dazzling. Well, this year is one of those off years. There is color to be sure, and there are some spectacular trees out there – there always are – but overall, the season is a dud.

Until yesterday morning it had been at least 40 years since I’d paddled on Pachaug Pond in Voluntown, in southeastern Connecticut.

Wow, has it changed.

Spent a recent week kicking around Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire for the first time in years. My daughter, Allison Sterner, her husband, Sean, and their boys, Cy, who will be 5 in October, and Andy, who turned 2 in May, had a cabin maybe 100 feet away from the one Susan and I rented.

The Henry Buck Trail in American Legion State Forest in Barkhamsted, CT, is such a good spot for spring wildflowers. The strange thing is that until now I had never hiked the entire trail, and it is only a little more than 2 miles long.

I’ve thought for years that the Steep Rock Loop Trail in the Steep Rock Preserve in Washington, CT., is one of great hiking trails in the state. It has it all – a hike up to an outlook with long views of forest and farmland, a nice mix of mature forest species, wildflowers, birds and a long section of the trail following one of the prettiest rivers in the state.

I’ve been saying for years that there is no bad year for fall foliage color in Connecticut. One year may be slightly better or worse than another, but, be assured, there will be brilliant color.