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…