We were up fairly early and headed downstairs to the dining room where Karen, our hostess had set up breakfast items the night before including coffee, juice etc. We made some oat meal and toast and got our bikes from the back yard where our host had covered them with tarps. Good thing as it rained pretty good during the night. It was over cast when we left and we took photos of the B&B and will post them along with other photos once I figure it out. We arrived at the corner down the street just as the school bus pulled away from the curb and left the Moms standing there drinking coffee and chatting. We joined the chat and asked the name of their road the bus had just left with their children. After a discussion, it was agreed it was Main which is what we were looking for. Asked about place up the road where we could buy some Gatorade and the answer in unison, without conferring among themselves was "Super Walmart on the right just before you cross Route 148". The group dispersed but the lady with the Bruins shirt lingered and chatted a bit more. The local accents are delightful.
Our route took us by several lakes today and at 9:40 am we entered Rhode Island on Rhode Island route 100 and by 10: 20 am we were in Connecticut. A lot of nice homes along the way as well as a very large state mental hospital. We stopped at the top of a hill near Thompson to have an orange and walked around an old cemetery. Most residing there have been there since the 1800s. We asked a nice lady out for her daily walk (she was older than us by 20 years at least) for breakfast directions and up and down the hill we went to North Grosvenor. Had a pleasant meal and got a bagel and cream cheese to go. Checking our maps, we called a B&B in Stafford Springs looking for lodging but got an answering machine. As we were leaving, a pretty good rain began to fall. We rode in the rain for 45 minutes or so and then it changed to drizzle off and on for the afternoon with some thunder later in the day.
Well, we found the hill that Steve, who we met yesterday, told us about. He said he hit 50 mph going down and I am sure he was on his brakes. We had some very steep hills today at 9% or better. I stopped three times on one rather long hill just to keep my heart rate from going to crazy. I start to think about stopping when it climbs into the 150s. Down hill I hit 39 mph for my fastest today and Rudy hit 41. If the down hills were a bit straighter and you could see farther, I think we could hit a 100, well almost. 39 is fast enough for me.
We called the B&B several more times but never got an answer and began to get concerned as lodging is sparse and we did not want to ride 70 miles, particularly not today because of all the climbing on the steep hills.
We stopped at a nice Fly fishing shop outside of Union on Route 190 just west of I 84. Launa, the owner, was very nice, helpful and told some good stories. After confirming the non answering B&B was the only show in town, Launa suggest the Ashford Motel which is just off our route, yet quite close but not listed on our maps. Launa told us the Ashford has a number Section 8 tenants (not that there is anything wrong with that). She called directory assistance and got the number and I spoke with Mr. Patel who confirmed they had a room. Where do we eat? Launa never offered us a dinner invitation but gave us directions to Smittys for some grinders. We went to the Ashford, checked in and showered and took the unloaded bikes to Smittys hoping to not get caught in the rain. Smitty fixed us one roast beef sandwich for us to take out. It was huge and neither of us finished our half. We should have ordered a half and split it. While we were waiting for our sandwich three other customers came in and Smitty sold 4 twelve packs of beer, two Bud Light, one Busch and one Michelob Light. The conversation centered around the end of the Red Sox season or an Epic Collapse as the Hartford Courant reported. We put our purchases on the bikes and headed up the 9% grade Launa had neglected to mention in her directions to Smittys. Even with our unloaded bikes it was hard for our tired legs. We were back in our room working on our monster sandwiches when the B&B returned our call from noon. She was very apologetic and was happy we had found a room and said that if we were out in the rain, she would have come and picked us up.
Anyway, long day 52 miles. More hills tomorrow.Rudy is asleep and I will work on the photo thing another day.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment