Tag: Elizabeth Park

August 21, 2022  |  The Slow Track to Fastrak

Time to put the Senator’s new configuration to the test. With fares suspended seemingly indefinitely, we’re going to scout out CT Fastrak.

Buff, the “pack mule”

Taking South Road lets us skirt the edge of car-infested Westfarms, then we get to skirt Batterson-Park-Pond.

Our next park connector is Stanley Quarter, where the geese (and their droppings) are out in force. Then a few landmarks…

… and we’ve arrived at Downtown-New-Britain, home of the Downtown-New-Britain-Fastrak-Station.

Well, that was nice. Time to take a… wait, what’s this?

The Fastrak-Multi-Use-Trail-to-Newington, which (mostly) runs along the (dedicated) bus track.

End of the line is Newington Junction Station, with fifteen minutes until the next bus.

Here it comes…

The rear cab contains a two-bike rack. Unlike CTRail’s bungees, this one uses velcro straps. Stick the front wheel in the rack, and strap the seat tube to keep the bike from lurching backwards (had to figure that out).

Dropped off in downtown Hartford at Bushnell Park, just aways across from Union Station.

Well, that was nice. Time to head… wait, what’s this?

Ah, El Festival Del Coqui.

With vehicles of all different wheel counts.

Heading home for real this time, but stopping for a rest at Elizabeth Park…

It might be leaving soon, but I’ll probably remember the Senator every time I visit this rose garden.

July 22, 2021  |  Soggy

In July, the Big River was like this:

The Farmington was like this:

And the trails were like this:

… Rewind to the end of June, the days were drier and Elizabeth Park reached peak rose:

Sunny days, return… some day?

May 8, 2020
  • Mid-January roseless garden
  • Not-so-seasonal mid-April snow

Winter took its time departing these realms, and even now as it lifts, a deeper chill has descended.

The greenways unnervingly crowded, I took to the streets and was treated to some new angles of old views:

  • 36 Views of Heublein Tower: Nod Road
  • An overstuffed Farmington River
  • Pinchot Sycamore from the south

This season’s agenda included a long anticipated bikecamping trip, but now I’ll be pleased as punch to simply stay safe and healthy.

Wishing the same for you and yours.

June 30, 2019  |  Elizabeth Park / Realm of Carcosa

Life may be no rose garden, but in Hartford you can still stroll around a fairly big one.

This segued into another ride downtown – this time across the Founder’s Bridge to the River’s east bank.

Then, at the north end of Great River Park, an ominous path I don’t recall having trodden before.

From a twisting lane strewn with broken glass, automobile trim, and puddles containing the effluent of who-knows-what, we emerge…

Alas! Is this area under the watchful “protection” of the Unnameable One?

Probably not. With nary a psychic barrier or dimensional rift in sight, I was able to safely return downtown, where things were as I had left them.

Or are they?
…