June 3, 2023
Crossing Connecticut
West Hartford to Thompson
It stormed like crazy for about four hours last night. The power went out briefly. I managed to fall asleep and woke up cold. The temperature had dropped about 35 degrees.
After some tea and cereal I headed out using the Google to guide me about 15 mercifully flat miles north, up the Connecticut River to Windsor Locks. It being Saturday morning, the highway I was on was virtually car free.
I crossed the river and continued in the valley for another seven miles. Very gently rolling terrain was the order of the morning.
In Ellington, I stopped for second breakfast at a diner. The stools at the counter were only about two feet above the floor so I nearly fell backwards on my ass. Whoa!
The food (omelet with ham, home fries, toast) was plentiful and tasty and the coffee woke me up some.
Before continuing, I put on my rain jacket. Temperatures had fallen a bit and I was riding into a steady wind.
I didn’t expect the level terrain to last and it didn’t. There were frequent ups and downs. One downhill was 10%. I’m pretty sure the hills are asymmetric – steeper if you are heading in a westward direction. Some thing to do with receding glaciers, the ice age, you know, earth science.
The next 30 miles featured one climb and descent after another. The hills were not as high as western Connecticut but they were more numerous. Thankfully, the scenery was pretty lovely. Woods. Small farms. Classic clapboard houses. White churches with tall steeples.
The miles seemed to crawl by. At Bigelow Hollow State Park I descended down a long, windy hill. I Then had to climb a steep one, stopping three times to let my heart and lungs calm down.
Once past North Woodstock, the road started leveling out, rollers that I could hill hop. I stopped at a diner in Quinebaug, less than a mile from Massachusetts. I ordered a cheese steak and coffee (to warm up).
The sandwich was enormous as was the pile of fries. It was 3 p.m. so I decided this was my last meal of the day.
I waddled out of there, put my ear plug in, and let my Google master guide me to the campground.
The campground is run by the Army Corps of Engineers so if you hear about a dam bursting and killing a bunch of campers, I’m your man.
The people running the place are super nice. I’m right next to the bathroom and showers. The shower was 135 degrees I am told. (Not true as it turns out, but plenty hot nonetheless.) I stayed in it for ten minutes just to warm up.
The only downside to this place is the hard ground. It’ll be a miracle if my tent stays staked. I managed last summer in Kooskia, Idaho on a concrete slab so I imagine I’ll make it through the night okay.
Tomorrow will be a shortish day because I can’t find accommodations between 40 and 80 miles on my route. It will also be a three state day. Such excitement! Five whole miles in Rhode Island. Woo hoo.
Big thanks to my daughter Lily for letting me stay on her amazingly comfy couch.
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Today's ride: 65 miles (105 km)
Total: 640 miles (1,030 km)
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