Airline Trail - north from Willimantic

 It was a beautiful day: sunny and not too hot, so I ventured over to Willimantic to continue riding the Airline Trail. I had ridden other sections previously so this was still on my bucket list. 

I had planned on stopping somewhere along the ride to have lunch but it turned there was literally nothing at all anywhere - just wilderness and the occasional rural road to cross. Truth be told it was pretty boring after a while - I wasn't that tired but I turned around finally to find food - even rode off the trail to North Windham but there was nothing nearby! (I ended up chowing down way back in Willimantiic)

It was a barely perceptible climb going north but a blast when I headed back south so I bombed it as much as possible :-)

Highlights from the Ride

Start at Willimantic

Marshland 

Kiosk along the way

Singletrack for a change!

Going under Rt 6

Rough riding - glad I was on the mountain bike!

This next section was rocky...!

I stopped here at a bench and decided to head back

Embankments

I always marvel at how much work was need to build railroads - the embankments were frequent and some were quite high!

Video Summation

The tread changed from pavement to gravel to dirt and then to stone.

Collinsville (Finally!)

It was a gorgeous day so I decided to return to the Farmington River Trail to cruise on into Collinsville. I parked at a lot near where I got farthest north on my previous trek.

Once in Collinsville--after a quick ride around the quaint little town--I enjoyed a burger and beer at the pub which was once the old train station--how cool is that?

The former railroad bridge and factory.

Main Street was charming...

Historical Kiosks were abundant throughout the village.

The former train station is now a pub -- Ooo yeah!

Tools/blades a made at the local former factory were on display

Piers of the former RR Bridge

Further Details 

The central portion of Collinsville is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The ambiance of Main Street reflects period architecture with ornate details from the start of the 20th century. It was built around the Collins Company Axe Factory, a manufacturer of edge tools, such as axes, machetes, picks and knives. Collins machetes were the brand of choice in South America. Collins tools were used almost exclusively for the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway, and axes and picks made their way across the country to be used in the California Gold Rush. Admiral Peary carried Collins tools to the North Pole. Source (Wikipedia)

Collinsville has a unique railroad history because they had two railroads that were very close, but did not connect. The New Haven and Northampton (NH&N) came first in 1850, followed by the Central New England (CNE) in 1871. Source 

Farmington River Trail

On Friday, although the weather was humid and there was an air quality advisory due to Canadian smoke, I decided to head over the Farmington and ride the river trail. My intentions were to ride to Collinsville - have a brew and burger there and ride back.  Alas ... it was not to be...

Unionville 

Along the River

Disaster!

All went well until I got a flat (a staple pierced the tire and tube!). Despite help from a nice couple, I must have pinched the replacement tube with the tire iron and it didn't hold air. I very kind good Samaritan named Sam stopped and we spent a painful 20 minutes or more trying the fix the 2nd flat with bandaids and a dried-up ancient patch kit to no avail!! :-(

I walked most of the way back (probably took close to an hour) when Sam showed up again and promised to find a new tube for me! What a godsend! Sure enough within 10 minutes or so he finds me still plodding along walking with the bike and together we finally inserted a new tube that held air and I was on my way.  THERE ARE GOOD PEOPLE OUT THERE STILL - THANK YOU SAM!!!

Short One-Handed Video

Yes it was a bummer of a day but I will return soon--gotta check out Collinsville, etc.

Bolton Notch Revisited

Even though I rarely repeat myself on Rail Trail visits, the Hop River Trail is so great I came back for a repeat ride - this time in the opposite direction: from Bolton Notch back to Manchester. (Previous ride on this section - Sunday, June 13, 2021)

I had the morning free and fortunately the weather was gorgeous and sunny for most of my ride.

At the turntable at the Vernon Rockville spur junction

The map at the Manchester end shows all of the area's rail trails

At the Dobson mills

This section of the trail--back near the Bolton Notch parking lot, where the stream parallels the trail--is mighty rough--the bike was really shaking as I rode it!

North Chatham - South on the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail

On the way to a special lunch engagement in Troy NY,  I decided to start early and ride a bit more of the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail. This time I only had time for an hour ride so I just rode from North Chatham to Valatie and back.

Unfortunately it was a cloudy, gloomy day and the weather was FREEZING!!! Thank God I brought my winter coat and winter gloves because they were needed!

I started at the lovely old Trolley Station at North Chatham,

There were a few informative kiosks along the ride

Most of the ride was fairly flat and I tried to keep up a brisk place...

At Kinderhook Lake, there was a great kiosk about the amusement park that was here ages ago.

I arrived at Valatie (the arrow is pointing to the old station) and spent a bit of time exploring the old mill ruins just north of the Station.

Wild's Mill

Google Map aerial of dam and mill ruins

On the way back...

Further Info

Wild's Mill - Valatie, NY

• Waterpower in Valatie
• Wild's Mill Complex

Electric Park - Kinderhook Lake, NY

• 1905 Electric Park – Kinderhook Lake
• Electric Park: A Hudson Valley Amusement Park