Impassable Canal Path – or so they said!

Today was an absolutely beautiful day…deep blue sky, not a cloud in sight, temps around 70°. How could I resist taking a bike ride…especially since I had not ridden since Sept. 22nd, when I was on Cape Cod.

I went down River Road in Enfield. The damage from the snowstorm was pretty much cleaned up. At the East Windsor town line it becomes North Water Street, and was open all the way to Bridge Street. The transformer and pole that had been blocking the road is now repaired.

I crossed the bridge to Windsor Locks and made a right onto the access road to the canal path. Already I could see trees down and lots of debris, and the entrance to the path was bridged by a small partially fallen tree. Two young men were fishing in the canal (are you kidding me?) and I asked them about the path. They said it was pretty bad and I wouldn’t get very far. That’s like showing me a sign that says “Do Not Touch - Wet Paint.”

Within a quarter of a mile from the entrance I encountered the first of many obstacles…some were not so bad and others were very challenging!

Photos of canal blockages

If you go to the link posted above you will see the pictures I took.

All the photos were taken in the first mile. When I got to the railroad bridge, my camera battery gave out. There was only one horrendous hurdle after that and a lot of little stuff. But this last big blockage was a quadruple branch over which I had to lift my bike from branch to branch. At one point my bike was practically upside down. It had me pinned to one branch while my shorts were caught on a snag and the handle of my bike was caught under part of the limb. I will admit I was a little concerned at that point. The way I was pinned, if I moved the wrong way the next snap I heard would have no doubt been a leg bone. But I managed brute strength and got the bike up and over and out. Then I went back and retrieved everything that had fallen out of my bike bag. ☺

I tried very hard to locate the eagle nest. From the Enfield end of the railroad bridge I scanned the canal bank with binoculars, but saw nothing. I was told this was the spot to see the nest. Could be there’s still too many leaves on the trees. Once on the canal path and right at the railroad bridge I scanned the trees…no nest. Either I missed it or the nest came down in the storm. Probably won’t know until they open the path next April (or not). Eagles nesting will keep the path closed until July 1st.

Riding Route 5 south to my street was a challenge. People have shoved the fallen tree branches out onto the shoulder where I ride. I had to dismount and walk around these obstacles a couple of times. At one point, I had to divert to the sidewalk.

All in all, it was an exhausting 12.44-mile ride. Normally it’s a piece of cake. Today I had to climb over more trees in one 4.5-mile stretch than I’ve climbed over in a lifetime of walking/hiking in the woods! ☺

I invite you to check out the photo album indicated above and marvel at how, if there was a Badge for Lack of Good Sense, I earned one!

Until next time…

Historic Snow Storm – October 29 – 30, 2011

For pictures go to:
What it looked like at my house

North Water Street in Warehouse Point

And best of all…Andy’s house in Warehouse Point

This storm was no surprise…it had been forecasted for days, and because all the trees still had leaves it was a disaster waiting to happen. AND happen it did!

I can speak only for the towns of East Windsor, Windsor Locks and Enfield, Connecticut.

I lost power at 11 p.m. on the 29th here in Enfield. I went to bed with my windows open a bit and listened to the trees in the woods booming, cracking, snapping and wooshing and they snapped and fell. Eventually I feel asleep until about 7 a.m.

Sunday, October 30th
Once I was up, I didn’t know what to do. Because of no power, my morning routine did not exist, so I walked around the house in a lack-of-caffeine fuzzy haze. I got dressed by flashlight but was unsure what to do next. No coffee, no morning news on TV, no catching up with email or Facebook. I was very concerned about what I was going to do for food…I had plenty, but I couldn’t cook it. And, how was I going to keep warm. If there were any warming centers in town how could I find out about them? Even my cell phone service was down.

I shoveled out the car and went to Friendly’s restaurant down at Sophia’s Plaza in Warehouse Point. Closed. Noticed I had a call from my daughter, Anne, in Maryland on my cell. I was able to call her back with false reassurance that I’d be just fine. At least it was warm in the car from a combination of sun and heater.

I spent a lot of time looking for coffee, food, and my lost wallet (yes, lost wallet).

Headache over no coffee and distress about the wallet. ☹

By noon I was getting very hungry…no breakfast. I opened a can of tuna and ate just a little with crackers…had to conserve…don’t know when I’ll get real food.

Threw my sleeping bag into the back of my car thinking I would go to Barbara’s (friend) because I knew she would have the wood stove going and had a gas cook top. But went to Pat’s (another friend) instead hoping their generator would be working. Not!

Still no coffee!

I went back home and put on three layers of clothing, wrapped up in my sleeping bag and sat in a rocking chair in my living room. The temperature inside was down to 55°, no TV, radio, phones…I felt so isolated.

THEN, the light must have hit it just right because I suddenly saw MY WALLET! It was on the TV stand next to the sliders to my deck. I must have walked past it a dozen times…why didn’t I ever see it? So grateful. Tears even.

Now I needed real food. Hot food. But how do I find out what’s open and serving food? Go to the Enfield PD, of course. The dispatcher didn’t have a clue, but a gentleman in the lobby directed me to the Red Rose restaurant in Springfield, MA.

There was a wait of 1½ hours, but it was warm and the food, once I got a seat, would be hot. I eventually got a seat in the waiting area and checked my cell phone to see if I had service. I had a missed call from my daughter, Kathy. I looked up and saw her. There she was in front of me. I had to call her name twice before she realized it was me calling her. Too funny. She and Lou were there for dinner. I joined their reservation and within 20 minutes or so we were seated.

Coffee…three cups later I was finally headache free.

Monday, October 31st
Kathy and I wound up in Springfield on Riverdale Road at a Burger King for breakfast. We were also able to stop at a gas station that had gas and no line.

We then made the rounds…Paul, Andy, then Kathy booked a room at the Clarion Motel in Warehouse Point. From here I let Kathy off at her house and I went to see Pat in Windsor Locks just as she was leaving for a motel. I was at Alice’s checking up on how she was doing when the power came on. It was 11:55 a.m. Thirty-seven hours without power. Since we both live in the same condo complex I knew I had power too! We jumped up and hugged each other we were so happy.

Since then I have opened my home to family and friends needing a shower and BYOF for a hot meal. I have had takers…my pleasure!

We have lost our ability to live as our pioneers did. We’ve grown soft because of all our technology…and happily so until something like this happens!

One thing I noticed is that people at intersections with or without non-working traffic signals were very good about stopping and taking turns going through. People I saw were very patient. The one place where I suspect patience was worn thin was the gas station on Route 5 at Exit 46 off I-91. They had two Enfield cops there to keep things moving in an orderly fashion. You could tell which neighborhoods had power because the gas stations were pumping and the lines were long.

So, all in all, my life is slowly returning to normal. Please keep a good thought for those who are still waiting.