HOP RIVER RAIL TRAIL DAY TRIPS
June 7 and 24, 1999
Dudley, Vicky and RM with their Dahon Folder Bikes

Monday, June 7th:

Our destination is the section of the Hop River Rail Trail traversing the town of Vernon, CT north of Bolton Notch. RM had read about it in some books and had an opportunity to see a little of it on a guided walk last spring led by a Connecticut Forest and Parks Association volunteer. Her appetite was really whetted that time, and she was anxious to share this discovery with the other musketeers.

We drove to Hartford, taking I-84 East and then 384 to Bolton Notch. The highway was divided at our planned pull-off, necessitating our traveling past our intended destination and turning around. However, we soon found our pull-off -- a rather obscure, narrow, unpaved boat launch roadway. Generous unpaved parking space was available. We pulled over near a huge wood chip pile and parked our RV.

It was an ideal day, weatherwise. Pretty blue sky and friendly temperature.

We set up our folder bikes and installed new "Sigma Sport Targa" cyclometers! Our new toys! RM had already experimented with installing hers, and assisted Dud and Vicky with figuring out how to put them on and get set to record the day's cycling. We also had our much adored insulated day packs secured on our bike racks. They carried our essentials, including lunch, gorp, water, first aid, bike emergency repair kit, and whatever.

From the parking lot, we could see the tunnel going under Route 6 where the Rail Trail goes toward Willimantic. Today we are exploring in the other direction, toward Vernon.

We passed between large boulders placed at the edge of the parking lot where the trail entered the woods. The trail surface was a bit rough at first, with some large sharp looking crushed rock, but it was passable. For a while we biked along with a pretty ditch running with clear water very close to our treadway. There was evidence that some of the "scattered thunder showers" this morning had passed through the area, with a clean refreshed look to things.

We were biking in the woods! Nice packed stone most of the time, sometimes a bit loose, and sometimes single track. It was just barely downhill, pedaling was easy. The woodland was pleasant, the canopy of trees forming a tunnel for us to pass through. Many times we were highly elevated on a steep right-of-way and were impressed with the amount of fill workers had moved during the construction of this train route in the middle of the 19th century.

Occasionally we saw rotting railroad ties still in place at the side of the trail. Also, a few old telegraph poles with cross pieces are still in place, overgrown by the woods.

We passed by a privately owned, and posted, pavilion.

The Hop River is actually a rather small stream, and was not visible at this time of year with dense undergrowth. RM had seen more of it earlier in the spring before the leaves opened.

The trail passed through cuts in the rock. Mountain laurel flourished, growing out of cracks in the stone and benefiting from the break in the trees, permitting sunlight to bring them in to glorious full bloom. They were at their peak.

We also detected lady slippers which were gone by, their dried up blossoms still on the stalks. Perhaps we will visit again when they are at their best.

We biked along part of the blue blazed Shenipsit Trail which shares the trailway for some distance. The CFPA volunteer who led the walk RM took is responsible for maintaining this section of the Shenipsit Trail.

We saw the pathway leading down to the Vernon town park (Valley Falls Park) but did not choose to take the walk down to get a close-up look at the park and swimming area. We could glimpse a little of the pond and beach through the trees. It did not seem worth the effort of pushing our bikes back up the steep path, to take a closer look this time.

The Tunnel Road overpass had informational signs telling about the construction and history of the tunnel which allows vehicles to pass, single file, beneath the railway. It is a notable tunnel constructed with keystone arches.

Other signs were posted from time to time, telling historical tid-bits. We later learned that these were researched and placed by a boy scout as a project.

At a road crossing we came to a fork in our rail trail. First we took a right, to explore the "Rockville Spur". We were amused to see signs on this trail warning of steep grade! They were like warning signs for trucks on steep highways, only instead of picturing a truck, they pictured a bicyle! The steep grade was to bring us down to a road crossing and back up again. There had probably formerly been a bridge. It was a different experience for us to have a grade. Actually, it only required gearing down one or two gears. Not really that big a deal. But, we were so spoiled with our easy riding!

We were pleased to see a nice bridge crossing Tankerhoosen River. We enjoyed watching some ducks/geese swimming up the river. They were enjoying a grassy island. Another island nearby was heavily overgrown with shrubs.

RM had failed to bring the right map along, so we didn't know just how far this spur went. We came to a col de sac with huge bolders to keep motor vehicles from entering the trail. Beyond that, the trail seemed to diminish as it approached the I-84 underpass. We decided to turn around here and retrace our route to the main line.

Soon after resuming our trip along the main line we came upon a parking area with two picnic tables and a portapotty. Perfect! We moved one of the picnic tables over a tad so it was in full shade and made this our lunch break stop.

After lunch, we resumed our travels along the trail. We passed an area with piles of dirt and fill, which would have been the entrance to the trail described in RM's trail book, some years old.

Not having the right map, again, we weren't sure how far the trail continued. At a road crossing, we decided perhaps we'd had enough for the day and turned around.

As we returned to our starting point, we found that we had to pedal! It was just slightly uphill.

As we took a break in the RV before leaving, Vicky saw some birds very disturbed nearby. They were flying in and out of a shrub which was overgrown with vines. There seemed to be about three robins and a pair of cat birds. She thought at first they were fighting among themselves. Then, on closer inspection, she discovered that they were trying to attack a snake invading their nesting area. Vicky soon found a stick to poke the snake out of the vines and chased it away. It appeared to be a blue racer.

We drove cross country on Route 6 to Canterbury and looked up Wright's Mill Tree Farm. RM had been there with the seniors and remembered they had a gift shop in a converted old silo. We hoped to get a look at how they constructed the circular stairs, a bit of research for the cupalo project. The gift shop wasn't open, but we viewed the silo from the outside and had a visit with the proprietor who nvited us to drive up and take a look at his new banquet building. It was situated high on the hillside with a view of the valley. We gave the Christmas trees a critical survey from our professional viewpoint, comparing them unfavorably with Harrison's!

We decided to take a backroads, scenic ride southward from there. We saw many interesting stone walls and beautiful countryside, passing through some quaint villages. Before long, we found ourselves in Ledyard, and "since we were there," drove to Foxwoods Casino for their buffet supper!

We pigged out with a great feast. Then, on the way out, Dudley enjoyed a little recreation on one of the slot machines, using his pocket change. He is still ahead quite a bit from his winnings on a recent trip there with Butch.

We arrived home about 10:30 PM. Quite a full day!

Thursday, June 24:

Today we are returning to bike to the end of the two spurs we explored last time. RM studied the map left behind last time, and there appear to be sections to travel in both directions.

We begin our day with a nice breakfast at Rocky's Country Deli, and order grinders for our lunch and supper. We are foregoing supper at a pig-out, as we really must cut down!

Our travel this time is to Hartford and staying on I-84 to Exit 63. We are guessing about how to find our trail. We intend to pick it up at the parking lot where we had lunch last time, but don't know the name of the street for certain. We follow Routes 30 & 83, continuing on Route 30 where they split, looking for a likely street. Vicky spots Dobson Street! We try it, then find Church Street, mentioned in our guide book. Soon we are at our familiar parking lot!

Travel time from North Branford was 1 hour 10 minutes.

The day is clear and warm. We will find it quite comfortable biking in the shade. Open areas, as later found at the end of one of our routes, were hot.

We are trying out new bike saddles today. These are new saddles, hopefully with curves in the right places, gelled and contoured!

We clear the readings on our bike computers so that today's ride will be recorded.

Our packs contain their customary provisions, with extra water this time because of the warmer day.

We start out in an easterly direction and soon come to the trail junction. Here we take a left turn, to follow the Rockville Spur. The bridge over Tankerhoosen River is a nice spot to stop and look. We see some big fish in the shadow of the pipe that spans the river parallel to the bridge. Vicky gets a glimpse of a turtle in the water. The ducks and geese we watched last time are no where in sight today.

We pass the col de sac and go under I-84. It is marred with graffiti.

As we travel along, there are a number of road crossings, but for the most part we pass through peaceful woodland. The trail is good biking, packed dirt or mix of sand and stone dust. We find one damp area. It showed evidence of sometimes being flooded, with a higher path along the side which must have been necessary. We take the high road. Dudley wipes out when he gets too close to the drop-off edge while dodging a rock in the path. He lands hard on his left knee, but makes a fast recovery and bravely denies any injury.

Another time we come upon a sand trap! It is very deep sand but doesn't last very long. We walked our bikes rather than struggle with it.

At one road crossing, it appeared that our trail ended. No sign of it continuing across the road, or any trace of our familiar tunnel through the woods. There was only a guard rail on the other side. But, was that a tiny path going behind the guard rail? We walked over for closer look. Behold, the narrow path curved around and dipped down, then continued on! Soon we were on our familiar tunnel through the woods!
The roads were not identified for us as we came upon them. Our map was not complete, only showing key roads. We didn't know when we were crossing the roads on our map. It was an adventure of discovery!

Eventually we came along side a shop engaged in cabinet manufacture. Our trail merged with their unpaved parking lot and we were soon at the convergence of two roads. A road sign identified one of the roads to be "Nye Road". A paved parking lot was located in the triangle of the intersecting roads, and this is where our ride terminated. The parking lot was curiously located, serving no apparent purpose unless to be used by trail users, but it was older than the developed trail. A firehouse on Nye Road backed up to the lot, but there was no access.

Dudley speculated that this must have been the end of the railway spur.

RM and Vicky tried to figure out why Vicky's folding bike didn't make a close fit when the middle joint was opened. In the process, RM foolishly got her thumb in the wrong place while trying to help hold the bike. A bad mistake! Ouch! Blood! Pain! Anguish! Fortunately, no appendages went flying through the air. All was still attached. A bandana soaked in ice water applied to the offended thumb soon had it soothed.

We were so glad that we had the little container of ice! We should remember to always carry that along for first aid purposes.

We made this our lunch stop, sitting on a convenient curb under some shade trees.

After lunch we retraced our route back to the RV.

We took a leisurely rest at the picnic table, then set out in the westerly direction to see how far the trail continued in that direction. We traveled further than anticipated, the trail continuing on and on. A pair of huge bolders were placed to mark the official end of the trail, but it looked inviting so we continued! This unofficial trail took on a rugged character, sometimes dipping down and up in a fashion fun to ride. The overhead canopy of tree limbs was barely higher than our heads in places. Eventually we saw heavy earth moving equipment at work ahead of us and came out in a dumpy looking place where workers were sifting dirt. We cautiously rode past him, being careful not to be riding behind him while he was backing up! This lot ended in a rather scrubby behind-the-stores area. Trucks backed up to one of the stores indicated it was a Staples establishment. On the other side were industrial park areas. We came to a road where the trail really did end. Nearby was Lisa's Place, a breakfast and lunch spot. Reading the signpost across the way, we determined we were on Colonial Drive at Sheldon. A directional sign indicated Progress Drive was to the left and Parker Street to the right. If we ever see a map of the area, we will figure out where we were! The bike trip odometer showed 9.88 miles.
We returned to the RV.

And, Vicky wants to know, "Where are we going next time?"