(Re)introducing the WeeTour De Connecticut 3/31

A few years back, after requests for a shorter option of the big daddy Detour, I proposed people joining the ride on the first pass through Willimantic, but it was a convoluted action of guessing arrival times, much akin to riding Amtrak and their counter-positive train controls.  I dubbed this option the WeeTour, but my heart wasn't really in it, and I suppose sensing that, nobody took me up on it.  Just as well in all likelihood.

But anyway, I'm bringing it back!  Now that the Detour is a fall event, I miss organizing a ride for cyclists with a still pasty spring complexion, which to me, is the perfect excuse for a shorter WeeTour De CT.  Well, that and I did a really neat ride yesterday that I thought would work well for it.  Honestly, that's more or less how the original Detour came into being.

So, the route, at about 56 miles is roughly half the length of the Detour, and I'm going to make an effort to put about half the effort into running the ride.  You know, KISS (keep it simple stupid), but hopefully not the KISS of death.  With that in mind, this will be both the introduction and basic ride information, with updates to follow as I think of things.  Again, it's a good area to ride, so even getting lost should work out pretty well.

When: 10AM roll-out March 31, 2018 with Sunday April 1st (no fooling) as a rain date.  The 2nd is my birthday, so this is also a birthday ride, please, no presents, unless you have old 8spd parts you really don't want.

Where: The ride will start from the gas line clearing (look for the yellow "candy-cane" vent pipes) on Coldbrook Rd in South Glastonbury.  This is just past house #618 when coming from Country Club Rd, but do not pull into that driveway.  Park against the treeline on the gas line clearing.

Route: What can I say, I'm getting soft, especially since it is easier than writing cues.  The route can be viewed here at MapMyRide.  THREE VERY IMPORTANT NOTES/CUES:

1) (between markers 11 & 12) At the end of Aldens Crossing, just before the T with Rt16, turn left onto the crushed stone Airline Trail bike path.
2) (between markers 27 & 28) At the paved dead end, follow the blue trail blazes onto singletrack.  Continue straight on the old woods road when blue blazes depart to the right.
3) (between markers 34 to 37) Follow brown street signs into Day Pond State Park.
-Once in the park with the pond on your right, continue STRAIGHT through yellow gate onto the woods road.
-Descend to the large powerline clearing & turn left on powerline.
-The worn path will depart the powerline twice.  Shortly after the 2nd departure, continue straight(right) to follow blue blazes.
-WARNING: After a large clearing with expansive view, the blue trail drops down a STEEP rooty descent.  I have seen people on mountain bikes walk this section.  Use extreme care and walk as needed.
-When the blue trail reaches the covered bridge, cross it.

More about the route: Lots of well groomed, car passable dirt roads, but also some rocky woods roads and even singletrack.  You'll want a bike on which you're comfortable riding trails and shoes in which you're comfortable walking them.  That said, there are no long slogs and I expect 4-5hr ride time at a good clip.

Questions: As usual, if you have a question, post it as a comment on the blog and I'll answer in the form of new posting for everyone.  Sort of a preemptive FAQ, if you will.  Or even if you won't, so there.

So yeah, I think that's the basic nuts and bolts for now.  And to clarify, wee, as in "small", not urination (as a dear friend automatically assumed).  So, we hope you'll come out for this wee dirt road ride, and at the end, you'll maybe say "Oui, oui, give us more.  That was fun, wheeee!", instead of crying "wee, wee, wee" all the way home.

Hey, it's spring in New England,

things could be wet.