Sorry for no post yesterday I had a busy day and it was Daniel and I's anniversary so we were out having a great night and blowing our diet all night long.
I have been wanting to ride my bike to the beach for weeks and yesterday I finally got there. You might be asking why it has taken me so long to get to a beach that is only 2 and half miles away from our apartment. In short is because I have only relearned how to ride a bike a week before we left for the summer. This past month has been the first time I have been on a bike in 12 years, and you know it is not like riding a bike you forget a lot. After several rough rides and one massive bruise I am pretty comfortable riding again. The most significant thing about this trip was it was my first time ever I had an unsupervised bike ride outside of my neighborhood.
Luckily I knew there was sidewalks almost the entire way to the beach so helmet on, basket full of beach needs I took off and immediately encountered this:
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| NOOOOOO! |
But I soldiered on, "To the Streets!" Luckily Norwalk has very wide roads which reduced the impending feeling of doom I had. I weaved though a lot of neighborhoods which was also nice. It was a pretty ride as the path follows along the harbor.
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| Boatyness |
It was not a continues ride and I won't admit how many times I got off my bike and chose to walk it for small stretches. Sadly Norwalk sidewalks are not very bike friendly and almost all have a 4" drop off to the road at intersections. Finally I triumphed "The Beach!"
I have learned Connecticut beaches are considerably less white sands than the Carolina and Florida beaches I am use to but a beach is a beach.
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| Cliché Beach Shot |
I didn't realize how cloudy it was today until I was on the beach but I also didn't have sunscreen so I didn't mind too much. I am fair like a 18th century porcelain doll.
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| Self Portrait of me in a bathing suit |
Sadly the beach towels and chairs were things that also did not make the packing list. Despite a little sand in the bathing suit on the ride home the lack of towel had little impact on my enjoyment of laying in the sun and reading The Great Gatsby. A book about the carefree wealthy living outside of NYC for the summer just seemed like a good fit, not perfect fit but a good fit.
Some views of the beach:
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| Someone's private island home |
Turns out Connecticut beaches come with boats. I didn't get a good picture of it but there is also a light house to the right of the boats, further solidifying my view of a light house at ever turn in CT.
Lots of people fish off of the pier. Had I had a bike lock I would have gone out on the pier, but as no bike lock no dock.
Calf Pasture Beach seems to almost have an identify crisses as it is also a park with lots of green space
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| Burger Grill |
I love how 1950's ish this picture feels.
A crane in what I believe is the clamming area. Signs imply that you can fish, clam and hunt at the beach. I am hoping the hunting is in the winter.
You can see my bike behind the bench as well as my clothes in the basket. I rode my bike around the park area a bit before I headed back, it had a very fun 10 year old feeling to it. The ride back was less dramatic, hopefully because I knew where I was going a bit better. I did have to ride out in traffic, I really need to learn those hand turn signals the only questions is does anyone else remember them?
Summary
Cost:
Nothing, the beach is all public access, it cost $5 to park hence the bike ride
Time: 2 hours (I burn easily or I would have stayed longer)
Average : $0 /hr entertainment Yippy!
Perks:
I got a little exercise, got a little sun and made good progress on my book, very much a win
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