We finally got out of the room around 8 after finishing our left over Grinders for breakfast, as the Ashford does not offer a continental breakfast and the nearest breakfast place is in Stafford Springs. So up the hill from Ashford, at this point "up the hill" seems redundant. After up and down some hills, we rolled into Stafford Springs and into a coffee shop/breakfast place that turned out to be very warm inside. We chatted with a local yoga instructor about riding in the area and it was clear he had never ridden his bike with any weight on it. Anyway, a bite to eat and yes, up the hill. Pretty town, and as with many of the towns on rivers in the area, some large brick buildings that were previously mills of some sort back in the day. Several of the buildings are now leased out to many firms for various uses. One of the rather nice old mills (not sure "mills" is an accurate description) in Whittinsville is being completely refurbished. There is a lot of money in the area as the towns are in good shape and there are many nice well kept homes along our route. We were close to Boston so I am sure many people commute from the area we have ridden through.
Anyway, on down the road through Ellington on Frog Hollow Road toward Windsor Locks. We stopped and took some photos of tobacco drying in a couple of large buildings (100 ft x 50 ft or so) and rolled on through some nice farm land in the Connecticut River valley.
On Tromley Road we pulled over with the idea of having a bagel. I asked the gentleman working in his garden if I could borrow his tree to lean my bike against. Ok, so I walked over to see his garden. He was picking what appeared to be seed pods of his climbing spinach plant, a new plant for him and me. We introduced our selves and Don Pomeroy, said he had picked spinach off the plant all summer and his wife had made some wonder quiches. We chatted for a while, talking garden stuff and bide riding; his son Peter rides a lot and has mountain bikes as well as road bikes. The dogs in a pen about 20 yards away heard us talking and would interrupt us now and again and Don would hush them with a persuasive, "Shut Up" command. He raises and trains hunting dogs, English Springer Spaniels, and owns Scantic River Kennel. He asked us in for coffee just as his son Robert, one of six children, 4 boy, 2 girls, pulled in to pick up some corn on orders of his Mom. Don, age 81, had been to the doctor this morning and got a clean bill of health and looked and moved very well in spite of having had both hips replaced. We went in and Don introduced his spouse Aggie and said we were here for coffee. We sat and talked for half hour or so and solved some of he world problems but mostly just talked about the important things like family. Aggie's family comes from Waterford, Ireland and we bemoaned the fact Waterford Crystal was closed and/or sold to a German company. Robert suggested they could make some nice crystal beer steins. We mentioned the tobacco and Aggie said the whole valley used to be filled with tobacco fields and the crop has almost disappeared from the area. Robert said that at age 12, under the legal age of 14, he had worked for an old farmer who on payday would gather all the workers around and hand them their pay in envelopes. A nice family and our meeting with them is an example of one of the reasons Rudy and I enjoy our rides. We exchanged e-mails and Aggie said she would try and open our blog on her new computer. After a very pleasant time we were back on the road toward Windsor Locks.
We stopped for lunch at the Pickle Works. I had a salmon caesar and Rudy had a chicken caesar. We had decided to make tomorrow a rest day, but as it was still early we called the motel in Granby listed on our maps. Unfortunately, they only had rooms with one bed. It is only another 9 miles up the road it is 9 miles we would not have to ride on our next riding day. We decided to stay in Windsor Locks which is the location of Bradley International Airport which serves Hartford and this area. Tom, the owner of Pickle Works gave us some suggestions and we settled in the Econo Lodge which has been recently refurbished.
Got settled and rode down the street to the laundromat and did our laundry which we needed to do as our limited wardrobe has suffered in the last few days of hard, rainy riding.
Back in the room and I showered and started my blog. Talked with family at home and Skyped my daughter in Ireland.
We walked a couple of blocks to Papa Ginos for dinner. As we got ready to leave, the skies opened up and heavy rain began to fall. We were standing by the door when Ricky, on break from his job at the local Honda parts distribution center, was leaving. We asked for a ride and he was nice enough to save us from getting soaked.
It is getting late and I am looking forward to kicking back tomorrow.
33 miles today. 37 mph for top speed.
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