Like most Connecticut towns, Norfolk has a Civil War memorial. Many of its sons served the Union cause. Many were killed. Here's the monument to those Union soldiers in the town common just across the street from the church seen below. Among the soldiers on the monument are two who were killed at the battle of Antietam: Benjamin Beach and Theodore Bates.
Beach was a private in the 11th Connecticut, which saw heavy action near Burnside Bridge at Antietam. He likely was killed during an attack near the bridge, which spans Antietam Creek. Beach is buried at the national cemetery in Sharpsburg, Md. Bates served as a corporal in the 11th in Co. E with Beach. Like many Civil War soldiers. his gravesite may be known only to God.
There are several advantages to traveling by bike rather than car. One is that you can get an up-close view of your surroundings. I took a new bike route today, starting a 14-mile journey at the Pleasant Valley Drive-In near Barkhamsted and winding my way on a road by the Farmington River through two Connecticut state parks. (The drive-in, by the way, is one of the few remaining in New England.)
This journey was special. The scenery was spectacular, the Farmington River carving its way along a pine tree-covered ridge. The river is supposed to be one of the best brown trout rivers in the country. There must have been 40 or 50 flyfishermen in it today.
Today's journey brought a nice surprise. After about six miles, I came upon Riverton, a small town of 19th-century homes, a general store and two churches that date to the 1830s. Riverton is still home to the Hitchcock Furniture Co. (above), which made the famous Hitchcock chairs during the 1800s. Oh, there was an interesting sign that caught my eye just as I entered town.
We took a bike ride on the Farmington Trail today and as we expected ran into...a llama? A nice family was walking two of the hairy white creatures down the trail along the Farmington River. We didn't have a chance to quiz them on where they picked up those interesting animals. I barely caught this one on my cellphone camera. And later during the ride, I shot a picture of an interesting looking bear in the back of a truck outside an antiques store in Collinsville. Luckily, this creature wasn't a live one.
This journey was special. The scenery was spectacular, the Farmington River carving its way along a pine tree-covered ridge. The river is supposed to be one of the best brown trout rivers in the country. There must have been 40 or 50 flyfishermen in it today.
Today's journey brought a nice surprise. After about six miles, I came upon Riverton, a small town of 19th-century homes, a general store and two churches that date to the 1830s. Riverton is still home to the Hitchcock Furniture Co. (above), which made the famous Hitchcock chairs during the 1800s. Oh, there was an interesting sign that caught my eye just as I entered town.
We took a bike ride on the Farmington Trail today and as we expected ran into...a llama? A nice family was walking two of the hairy white creatures down the trail along the Farmington River. We didn't have a chance to quiz them on where they picked up those interesting animals. I barely caught this one on my cellphone camera. And later during the ride, I shot a picture of an interesting looking bear in the back of a truck outside an antiques store in Collinsville. Luckily, this creature wasn't a live one.
