8 Day Southeastern CT Tour
Gales Ferry, Ledyard, Mystic, Groton, Stonington

Day 8, Tuesday, August 20, 2013
50.7 miles
Ledyard, Groton, Stonington
3h 32m 13s
14.2 avg mph
max speed 29.5 mph

It was great cycling weather again today. Today's ride was the longest of my 8 day Tour here in Southeastern CT and is one of my regular rides that I do when I am training each year for my annual Alzheimer's tour. Because today's ride start was at my home, it gave me a little extra time to complete all the "stuff" that is necessary to do before heading out.

Some highlights for today: Although it isn't really a highlight, the ride on Thames Street in Groton was a mess! It is being torn up in several places, continues to have the annoying ruts, holes, uneven patches, broken bricks in some intersections, loose gravel and bumps. Maybe someday Groton leaders will get together and fix it right. The half mile ride down Meech Av., along the shores of the Thames River, behind Shennecosset Golf Course, Eastern Point Beach to Avery Pt, on a sunny day like today is always an absolute pleasure and it was today. Twenty six miles out the ride took an uneventful rolling 3 mile ride down Greenhaven Road. But the 3 mile ride back to Route 1 along the Pawcatuck River on Mechanic Street was very different. There are several Marinas on both sides of the river all of the slips seem to be occupied by beautiful boats of many sizes. I feel so lucky to live in Gales Ferry in southeastern CT. There are so many different special attractions and places to visit. This area really is a treasure.

Today's ride finishes my 2013, 8 day Southeast Connecticut Tour. Here is an interesting fact. I have been keeping track of the daily ride distances to the nearest tenth. If you add up 8 distances the sum is exactly 300.0 miles.

A special "Thank You" goes to all the hundreds of people who have donated to my "Ride for Alzheimer's" fundraising cycling effort this year and over the 15 years since 1999. In that period of time the effort has raised over $239,000.

Reminder: The traditional thank you gathering that follows my yearly rides will be this Saturday, August 24, 3 -5 PM at my home, 21 Inchcliffe Drive, Gales Ferry, CT. There will be light refreshments. The Executive Director of the CT Alzheimer's Association, Eleonora Tornatore-Mikesh, will be present and speak. I will also share some thoughts and stories.