To Medfield (Rocky Woods) for NEOC meet. Tried the Green (nominal 4.7 km). Woods were wet after yesterday's nor'easter. Nice temperature in the 50s. No precipitation, cloudy.
I made some bad route choices. Woods were full of saplings, lots of slash on the ground, not at all runnable. I would have done terrifically better if I had made more use of the (real) trails, which I did on #1. The trail I sought on #2 was merely an old track full of veg - slow but it got me to the control. #3 was a total mistake; should have gone SW to junction then back up N on major trails; going NE over the mountain was tough. OK through #7 then botched #8 after crossing the trail: thought I was on the spur near the pond to the W but veered way E and came out on trail near #10; totally confused, did not figure out which trail I was on until nearly back to the crossroads I'd been at before; resolved to stick to trails, going all the way around the east pond, not a bad route and I should have done that in the first place. The rest was just plodding along and being real tired, although I botched the compass reading on #11 and went to a knoll too far south. Went north, stopped, swore a lot, then noticed flag was 7 feet away on far side of a tree.
The real treat was being hailed by Becks and Rob in the parking lot. Nice chin wag. I encouraged them to ccme down to Ratlum this season and Becks showed inclination to do so.
My route.