1st Weekend Away (Part 2)

I gotta work on my timeliness. This trip was 2 weeks ago and I'm just now finishing the posts for it.

Anyway, Sunday, while Mom and Dad went to church, Steef and I took a wander through Hartely Field.

I grew up on Hartley and every summer was spent ranging around and exploring it. Tons of paths wind their way throughout and as kids Todd and I built several forts all over the field. A few years later my family tracked a cross-country ski trail through the field and over the pond to connect up with the city ski trail.

Such has been the growth over the last 30+ years that I could not find one single place we used as a fort. I could not even find the old Soapbox Derby racetrack! I remembered about where it was, but only a few broken, aged pieces of blacktop remained--the rest of it hidden, or better yet, consumed, by trees, bushes, grasses, weeds.

Still, it was a beautiful day and we had a great walk. Hartley Pond still looks good.

We strolled back and forth over the dam, then I got it my head to search out the racetrack. Alas, nothing.

As a kid, I remember the racetrack being there...it was broken up, and disused, but still there. I don't think we ever rode our bikes down it or anything...was in too bad of shape. I do have vague memories of hearing noises coming from it, when it was still in use. Although, I was only 3 years old the last year it was open. Who knows how reliable that memory is...

I did find an old photo of the track. But all that is left, I guess, is my faint memories.