Today was a FOUR state day, but the East coast states are more compact and it seemed that we blinked and were in the next state down. We woke up in Maine. Our preparation the evening before made for a smooth morning, aside from some technical difficulties with Tyler’s remote program. Fortunately, us waking up at 6:30 am means he had 3 solid hours to work it out before scheduled meetings and calls.
We gave ourselves a little grace this morning and took some time to enjoy breakfast and I set back up the Keurig machine to make Tyler his morning cup of joe! Before we left on this adventure, I had got into the habit of making Tyler coffee EVERY morning. Early in our trip, we set up the coffee maker and were making coffee regularly in the mornings but with no hookups more times than not, and a lot more miles, we have had to stow it away. It felt nice to stop and smell the…coffee!
After breakfast, we loaded up and began heading South. Our end game for today was a Harvest Host located in Connecticut. We made quick work of our trip and as we left Maine into New Hampshire and Massachusetts we realized the original route didn’t include Rhode Island. We both agreed we needed to re-route and see what the state had to offer.
From state to state there were very few scenic differences. We made it to Rhode Island in time for Tyler’s first meeting. We stopped off at a Walmart where we knew we could park and replenish a few items. Tyler sat in the pickup while the kids and I went inside. Rhode Island has been the busiest state thus far. Traffic was more congested and drivers were impatient and reckless.
Guilford, CT was a little under 90 miles away, but Tyler set his sights on the original hamburger from Louis’ Lunch in DOWNTOWN Connecticut. This was 15 miles past our campsite for the night, but according to him, WORTH IT! The burger itself was said to be first created in 1900 by Louis Lassen. It is still cooked in the original broiler and consists of 2 slices of bread, cheese, and a ground beef patty. The burger includes tomatoes and steamed onions, but no sauce. I wasn’t nearly as enthused as Tyler, but supportive of his quest nonetheless.
Tyler seems to forget we are pulling a travel trailer when he plans these excursions, so when we made it to the area it became quickly realized there was no place for us. He tried to retreat, but like any good wife, I suggested dropping him on the corner and told him I would drive around downtown until he was ready. In less than 10 minutes, I was picking him up on the corner with burgers in hand! The kids and I even saw Yale University while we were aimlessly wandering.
We backtracked the 15 miles to Guilford, CT where we are staying at Bishops’s Orchards Farm Market and Winery. After getting set up, we ventured up to the market to see what they had to offer. The offerings were farm-fresh fruits, vegetables, and local meats and baked goods. There is also a small petting zoo. We have an entire field to ourselves in front of the vineyard. Have I mentioned we LOVE Harvest Hosts?
When we made it back to the trailer, we worked out and settled in for the night. Even Addi didn’t get out of the workout tonight! Today we traveled 289 miles, but with several stops along the way, it was more like a casual stroll. We have begun planning our next trek for the return, but the back half may very likely be longer than the first!
Total state tally as of today: 21
The Church Hideout 