Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Massachusetts border to Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury (~11 miles) June/July 2020 Annnnd away we go! Definitely one of Connecticut's top few bike paths... greenways, rails-to-trails trails... whatever we call them. It bisects the state, right down the middle from Suffield to New Haven. … [Read more...]
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Intro
Farmington Canal Heritage Trail Massachusetts border (Suffield) to New Haven The summer of 2020 - the pandemic summer of 2020 - sort of forced my son Calvin and I to begin riding Connecticut's rails-to-trails in earnest. Nothing was open for visits in any normal way, so why not ride our bikes. Unfortunately, Calvin … [Read more...]
Cowles Park
Don't be Cowled Cowles Park, East Granby May 2019 Before setting out at Cowles Park, whether on foot or on mountain bike, just know that you will take a wrong turn somewhere. You won't get lost in any real sense, but you will get confused. (If you get lost in a real sense, your sense of direction needs some work, … [Read more...]
Luppoleto Brewing Company
Buon Giorno! Luppoleto Brewing Company, Windsor Locks November 2019 in June 2026, Luppoleto moved into the much larger space in East Granby vacated by Almost Famous Brewing. They plan on keeping the cute little Windsor Locks space open for a while, but I can't imagine they'd brew there anymore. This page describes … [Read more...]
Newgate WMA
Hunting for Trail Newgate Wildlife Management Area, East Granby May 2019 Rumor has it the trails here are much better now. A revisit is likely in order soon. When I set out to explore Connecticut’s wildlife management areas, I don’t ever have high hopes. I think that only one champions its hiking: (Sessions … [Read more...]
Brignole Vineyards
!!!! Brignole Vineyards, East Granby May, 2019 Brignole Vineyards is very excited. And they have reason to be; while relatively new to the local winery scene, Brignole immediately vaulted to being one of the most exciting to visit if only for their beautiful building alone. I suppose when you're located on the … [Read more...]
Tariffville Gorge Cascades
Not Too Taxing Tariffville Gorge Cascades, Simsbury & East Granby According to one map, I just learned that the Farmington River through Simsbury and East Granby is actually entirely Simsbury’s. Huh. That’s not usually the case - and I'm not sure it's accurate anyway. Something I’ve known now for several years is … [Read more...]
Tariffville Gorge Trails
An Ever Source of Confusion Tariffville Gorge, East Granby April 2019 The Eversource Land Trust is one of those entities that sort of exists on the fringes of CTMQ-land. It's real, and it's exactly what it sounds like: the massive utility company puts some land here and there into trust. Then they pretend they are … [Read more...]
Pond Meadow
There's a Pond. And a Meadow. Pond Meadow, East Granby April 2019 This is a Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy property. References to "EGLT" below refer to the East Granby Land Trust which became part of the Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy in 2023. What is Pond Meadow? Pond Meadow is a short little trail … [Read more...]
Great Marsh
Great. It's a Marsh. Great Marsh, East Granby April 2019 This is a Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy property. References to "EGLT" below refer to the East Granby Land Trust which became part of the Traprock Ridge Land Conservancy in 2023. This one takes some effort. The trailhead is along the Farmington … [Read more...]