9/11 Resting in Newtown, CT #opwalkabout

I hadn't realize how homesick I was until Cassie pulled up to the Mental Health ward at Bridgeport Hospital. I'd been running on emotional empty for a few days. The support I was getting from home seemed increasingly distant, so having a loved one right there to give me a hug and hold my hand while spewing my fears was necessary. We spent the day in thrift stores, played with her dogs and talked about food, hitting the hay early to start off fresh the next day.

I love my friends.

9/8 - 9/9 Old Saybrook, CT to Wallingford, CT #opwalkabout

I set out from Old Saybrook, CT with the road stretching South and West before me.

My goal was to make Guilford, CT by night fall, the weather looked ominous, but at least the wind was a nice change from the previous days retarding humidity. Spotting the difference between townie and tourist in coastal Connecticut towns is like playing "Old or Asian" in Quincy, I sort of wished I had a walking buddy at that point to keep me company and make guesses along with me as I picked folks out during the morning commute.

9/7: #opwalkabout Old Saybrook, CT via New London

I got off the bus in New London, CT at around 9PM, hoping that the hotel wasn't booked up.  

When I called a few hours before they still had rooms available, albeit for on-season prices. I walked up to the hotel, a respectable four miles out, landing at the Red Roof inn at around 10:30PM and checking into their cheapest available room. I showered and unpacked my bag, hanging my pants still wet from the downpour in Providence.

9/4 - 9/5 Providence, RI With New Friends

http://smallbitesrhodeisland.blogspot.com

Once the rain stopped I got a chance to dry my feet out, fruitless endeavor though it was. 

The foot powder I'd put in my shoes the night before was caked between my toes and ground into what was left of the blister on my right foot. 

9/6 #opwalkabout on compromise and Coventry, RI

As soon as I heard the news, the only thing I could think was "I need food."

Spotting a sign for the Old Theater Diner, I hoofed it off the road and through the busy parking lot. Slow for lunch time, the attending demographic seemed to be in the 60 - 75 bracket, some wheeling oxygen tanks.  A quiet spot to digest more than the fact that my camping leg in Northern CT was axed. I needed to have a good hard think, and there's no better way to do it than over a good hash omelet.

9/10 #opwalkabout: Bridgeport, CT and Neon Hightops

"Are you sure you want to go through Bridgeport? It's pretty rough"

Thus far I've been through the "South Side" of most cities and towns between Boston and New Haven. That's not saying much. Elmwood Ave. and surrounding areas in Providence, RI remind me of Roslindale/ Roxbury. If you'll pardon the turn of phrase, it's pussy shit in comparison to Bridgeport. 

9/1 #opwalkabout takes $%&*# Fest

To backtrack a bit (har har), Brittany, my Providence host, was a find on couchsurfing.org, or rather she found me. I'd posted a request on my itinerary for Providence, it seemed like moments later when I got a hit.

9/1 - 9/3 #opwalkabout Providence layover and precipitation

The extended stop in Rhode Island put the brakes on my go-go-go attitude. The mentality has served for sheer volume of work, but in the case of traveling distance it's been necessary to set a pace as aggravating as it's been.