Hammonassett State Park

    Last Sunday I decided to take a bike ride to the beach. Now it's a snap to get to the small beach in town - just a small hill over the railroad tracks, a right on Main Street, then the first left... and there you are. 
   But I wanted to ride to the state park over in the next town which boasts one of the most beautiful beaches in the state. I would have to ride through our little town, over the marshes, across a few rivers, pedal into the next town and there I'd be. It seemed like a lovely Sunday outing. The maps told me it was a mere three miles...easy peasy...and so I was off.

     I got to town hall unscathed and crossed over the first bridge ...

 Indian River in Clinton

I passed two yoga studios, three churches, umpteen 18th century homes, some lovely wildflower gardens, a couple of antique shops....then over another bridge,

Harbor on Hammonassett River

then into the next town of Madison and beyond their little ice house,

pedaling through the marsh,

then into the park...

where rose hips on the beach rugosa line the paths,

Brilliance of sumac

and both the roses and golden rods kiss the Sound,

and rocks line some of the coast,

and on others sugary white sand,

and all of this beauty enjoyed from a bike, on a Sunday, in quiet, non-descript little coastal towns.

Happy Trails!