From Stamford, CT to Boston, MA
From Stamford, CT to Boston, MA
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I planned my route to include some of John's recommendations. Initially, I depart using I-95 heading north. The weather had been cloudy when I woke up but by the time I'm ready to leave, the sky is clear and it is fairly warm. I feel really lucky because the past three days were very overcast threatening but not delivering rain.
I exit I-95 onto US 1 in search of a fast food breakfast. The sign for McDonald's promised easy access but I can't even find the place. Back on the interstate there is a McDonald's in the Welcome Center complex. Off I go again -- traffic is really tight, not stop and go but because the Interstate twists a lot and the road surface is pretty dodgy it makes for a very active drive.
I see a sign for Merritt Parkway / W Cross Parkway and make the transition. John had recommended immediately getting on the Merritt Parkway but I had been interested in I-95. The parkway is a nice respite: no commercial traffic allowed. It is also beautiful.
At Middletown, I wander through some city streets in search of Connecticut 154. Middletown is another handsome city. The ride down CT-154 is alongside a river. There are a number of small towns filled with old buildings. The beauty here is a combination of the rural feeling, good road and historical interest.
The
road ends back
at I-95 and I reenter heading north. The traffic situation is much
better: far out from New York City the congestion is much lower. I
stop at a view point above Mystic Seaport. An environmental ranger,
visiting the region for a conference, strikes up a conversation.
Turns out he grew up in Redlands (where I got my Master's Degree) and
used to work in San Diego. It really seems like that old six degrees
of separation is more than a novel.
Within a couple hours, I am into Rhode Island and soon turn off
towards Newport. The approach to Newport is wonderful from the south.
You have to cross two bridges to get there. The first is a
conventional bridge and the second is a nice suspension bridge. It
has been a comfortable day but the temperature plummets as I head out
onto the first bridge. The air is filled with the smell of the ocean.
It is glorious soaring up above the sailboats and ocean.
Once in Newport, I'm reminded of Newport Beach, California. So much traffic with nowhere to go. So many elegant shops. So many tourists. This place must really hum during the summer. I don't take the time to park in town. I drive past some of the mansions and stop to take a few pictures on one of the beats.
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Finally I am heading north to Boston. I have a vague idea of where I want to go for a modest motel. I get lost a couple of times. I finally see a Motel 8 and stop in. I'm shocked -- they want $180 for a king nonsmoking room. I continue on and the next stop is a Days Inn. It is not a new building and though well maintained it is not 'recently remodeled.' They want $170 for their room. The next stop is a Days Hotel, same chain, but it is a hotel with a restaurant. The rooms are brand new and $195 a night seems O.K. after the last two stops. OUCH! This is a budget buster.
I was somewhat prepared for the situation. I had been searching for a reasonable room using Internet tools such as quikbook.com, travelocity etc. The prices there were easily double what I am paying for very nice downtown hotels.
I plan on going out to some of the local watering holes. I use my favorite mapping program to build a route from the hotel to the nightclub. The distance is 7.2 miles. There are twenty-two turns or changes to make. This is going to be a very tough ride on unfamiliar streets, in the dark on a motorcycle. I decide it is impossible. I watch TV and go to bed.
In the morning, I decide to take care of a few housekeeping items: namely laundry. The front desk gives me driving instructions that seem easy enough. Surprise! I get lost. I finally find a Laundromat and get the wash done. I've also experienced a software problem on the laptop. Excel and Word have decided to stop working. I've tried all my tricks and I can't get past the splash screen on startup. The only remedy will be to buy new software. Now I have to get from the Laundromat to Comp USA. It actually goes pretty smoothly. Along the way this morning I have discovered one potential reason for the difficulty in getting hotel rooms: Boston University is graduating today.
I change clothes and make my way downtown to do some sightseeing. I have heard that traffic in central Boston is uniquely awful. I am hoping that being Sunday, traffic will be a bit lighter. Wrong!
Well first off, the Avon Breast Cancer Walk is ending on The Boston Commons. There are swarms of people and not a single parking spot in view. Everywhere I go there are people, cars and no parking spots. We keep moving, moving, moving. Road snake around. Twice I end up at the same intersection.
And I recall the afternoon that Colin picked me up at the Naples train station. Before pulling away, he told Ron and I that we should not worry -- no one stops for lights or signs. Well Bostonites sort of obey traffic lights, but no one is quick to enter an intersection after a change to a green light. Like southern Europe the traffic lines seem to be indications of where utilities should install new conduits -- because drivers don't seem to use them. I manage to wander around for a couple hours, see a few sights but get no pictures. It is utterly impossible to stop to take pictures and just as impossible to park for a short visit.
Still, I like the city and will come back. But this time I will travel with at least one other person. It is just too hard to navigate in this environment. The weather has been great and the parks are filled with people. There is so much history and culture. I want to come back under different circumstances.
Depart Stamford on I-95 heading north.
Exit I-95 onto US1 for a short loop of about three miles. There is no particularly reason for this, but I thought I would document it for those of you following along at home.
Back onto I-95 heading north.
At Bridgeport, CT, transition onto Connecticut 8 heading east.
Transition onto W Cross Parkway heading north. (nice motorcycle road, interstate quality no trucks)
Transition onto Interstate 91 heading north and then onto I-691 / Connecticut 66 heading east.
At Middletown, turn onto Connecticut 9 heading south.
South of Middletown, turn onto Connecticut 154 heading south. (Beautiful ride starts here)
Turn right onto Connecticut 82 towards East Haddan.
Turn right onto Connecticut 156 heading south.
Enter I-95 heading north.
Cross state line into Rhode Island
Turn onto Rhode Island 102 heading east.
Visit Newport, RI
Depart Newport on Rhode Island 114 heading east.
Transition onto Rhode Island 24 heading east.
Cross state line into Massachusetts
Arrive Boston.
(c) 2001 Thomas N. Engler Revision Date: 05/20/2001
