Leaving Victor, New York, we traveled the length of the state traveling past Schenectady, and Albany across the western end of Massachusetts through Springfield and into Connecticut.
Upstate New York is nice with forested rolling hills (like most of New England).
That's right! They have thought of almost everything back here including pullouts along the Toll Roads / Interstates for those who must text while traveling. What a waste of money.
Sorry about the bugs on the windshield.
We arrived in Hartford at 4:30 p.m. on Friday of Labor Day Weekend. This is just the beginning of rush hour traffic. We had driven here before and with tips from our son Erik, we had no problems. Can't say the same for some of the others we passed.
Arriving at our destination in Windham, Ct. the home of our son Erik, daughter-in-law April and their family. They are in the process of getting new siding and windows on their home which was build in the late 1800's.
Jose (in foreground) and Trey (in background). Jose has been adopted by Erik and April.
Trey has lived with them for 4+ years as a foster son. They are in the process of adopting him.
Jose and Trey
Erik, coming back from taking pictures of the boys.
Erik
Our first day in Ct. happened to be the Saturday of Labor Day weekend. We decided to go to the beach on Long Island Sound (Ct. side). Camp Harkness is a State owned property that has a private beach. The Camp is reserved for those with handicaps. Erik and April are foster parents to several boys with handicaps so this is where we went. There were a lot there, but not as many as would have been on the other beached.
A Day At The Beach
Beach at Camp Harkness.
Jose (in foreground) and Trey (in background). Jose has been adopted by Erik and April.
Trey has lived with them for 4+ years as a foster son. They are in the process of adopting him.
Jose and Trey
Erik, coming back from taking pictures of the boys.
Jose
Trey
While we were at the beach, this Direct TV Blimp flew past on it's way to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for the first game of the 2015 NFL season.
I didn't know we would be going to the beach so all I had to wear was my Idaho beach attire.
Erik, Jose, and Trey
Justin is also a foster son living with Erik and April. He asked me to video this; he had perfect form and got a strike. It went down hill after that.
While we were at the beach, this Direct TV Blimp flew past on it's way to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough for the first game of the 2015 NFL season.
I didn't know we would be going to the beach so all I had to wear was my Idaho beach attire.
The boys wanted to go bowling one afternoon. Shirley and I haven't bowled in years so my score wasn't hard to beat. Notice, there are no photos of the scoreboard.
Erik, Jose, and Trey
Margarita's in East Hartford
We went out to eat most of the time we were in Ct. Lots of places for good food and different types of food. We even tried Tapas in New London at the first and only Tapas Bar in southeastern Ct.
Erik
April
Shooting in Connecticut
Connecticut has crazy gun laws so it was surprising to see the types of local gun stores. We went shooting several times just above Erik and April's home. April's dad Ron Lee brought over some of his guns (including a Judge). That revolver shoots 45 long colt and 410 shotgun shells. What a blast!!!
Hoffman's is a gun store in Newington, Ct. Their motto is "Guns for the Good Guys." They advertise as having Connecticut's largest selection of firearms, and ammunition.
Hoffman's has an indoor shooting range and will let you buy up to 10 rounds of ammunition to shoot any gun in their store you are interested in buying at their range. You can take up to three weapons at a time.
We stocked up on ammo and ear plugs. April bought a new gun (actually it was an older Ruger Speed Six hardly used) from another store; and, headed home to Erik's back yard to do some shooting.
Erik's neighbor has a range set up on his property just up the hill from Erik's house.
I've got it? I thought you had it!
Like Chocolate?
No trip to Connecticut is complete without a stop at Munson's Chocolate. Shirley and I have been stopping here for years to get some of the best chocolate in the world. We have even ordered their chocolate on line.
This picture was borrowed from the Munson website (they need a better photographer). This pic is their store in Bolton, Ct. on Route 6 on the way to Erik and April's.
Munson's has 5 other stores in Connecticut.
Look at all that chocolate! Deciding just what to buy was a challenge as there was no way to take one of each.
Willimantic, Ct.
Willimantic is the closest large city to Erik and April's. It has a population of about 17,000 and is home to Eastern Connecticut University, and the Windham Textile and History Museum. It was incorporated in 1893. The city is called the Thread City and the Frog City. For more information click here.
One of the frogs on the Frog Bridge (Thread City Crossing) crossing the Willimantic River in the heart of Willimantic.
Erik and April bought a car to replace April's car that quit running while we were there. April had to go to Willimantic DMV to register the car. Shirley and I were glad we didn't have to register vehicles in Connecticut; Ct charges a personal property tax on the vehicle, then a registration and license fee on top of that.
April waiting to get in line to get her car registered.
In Custer County we think it an inconvenience to have to wait for one person a head of us.
Saying Good Bye
We left Erik and April's, drove through southern Connecticut and headed for New York City.
Even though we spent 10 days with Erik, April, and the boys; it was hard to say good bye.
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