May 18, 2024
To Groton CT
I'm up early this morning cleaning out bags and pulling anything I can get along without for the rest of the trip, like the swimsuit. I'm not big on swimming and it's too cold now anyway. The hilly roads of New England lay ahead of us, time to lighten the load.
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Mike says the route goes by dozens of wineries in the North Fork of Long Island today. If we get going soon there should be time to stop on the way to the Orient Point ferry. Our destination is Groton CT, four miles past the ferry landing in New London. I wonder if it's pronounced Grow-ton or Grah-ton; have heard it both ways.
Mike takes off early as usual. Barry and I roll out close to our standard start time at 9:30, then burn some time on a wrong turn and wardrobe adjustments. The post office stop in Calverton to ship my stuff home sets us back some more. There's just one postal worker handling a long line of customers for passports and mail service. While I wait she patiently explains, three times, to the customer in front that she can't apply for a passport without a birth certificate.
By 10:30 we're on the road again with 36 miles to cover to the ferry. If I can avoid more faffing around we can still make a winery stop and get to the boat for the 3:00 departure. It's starting to drizzle though, I just need a minute to dig out my raincoat.
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By noon the drizzle has developed into full-on rain. We get a message from Mike that he is thoroughly soaked and is passing on the wine stop. An hour later the rain lets up as we reach Corey Creek Tap Room, which is the last winery I see on the route. This is all the encouragement I need to stop. We can afford a little time to sample some local wine and enjoy the live music on a Saturday afternoon.
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The rain returns for the last 15 miles to the ferry. Of the nine ferries we've taken so far this trip, this is the first one I can remember that has a bar. We get some good hot clam chowder and chat with Chris the bartender. He's a fellow cyclist and takes his eight-year old daughter mountain biking. She'll have mad skills someday starting this early.
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3 months ago
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While picking up takeout at the Pokemoto in Groton I get the answer to my burning question for the day - it's Grahton. The weather forecast here and tomorrow in Newport looks cold and cloudy but dry. I guess that's better. Sure hope we get some sun soon.
Today's ride: 64 miles (103 km)
Total: 2,292 miles (3,689 km)
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