tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74281662317995040162024-03-21T14:13:10.996-07:00The Rendezvous Point"I laugh with unbridled contempt at your pathetic lawn activities."Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-34705318279247773102021-04-16T11:25:00.006-07:002021-04-16T11:25:36.990-07:00Bike and Brew: Beer'd Brewing Company - The Silo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJlYX7aGLstCUlbZ_Zx0Qz0lDZstJ5cF-7Hrthw5_21DuUfTZcD7IBURNEJUm9XBE_o3eHUtARoTiBnsSqCVrcCe3A6OCoNBuUaAh0rObqCbzYWI_PQZ3QXSZrBv0EMPnQuquSg61CPHo/s1632/IMG_4901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJlYX7aGLstCUlbZ_Zx0Qz0lDZstJ5cF-7Hrthw5_21DuUfTZcD7IBURNEJUm9XBE_o3eHUtARoTiBnsSqCVrcCe3A6OCoNBuUaAh0rObqCbzYWI_PQZ3QXSZrBv0EMPnQuquSg61CPHo/s320/IMG_4901.JPG" /></a></div><p>How difficult is it to keep up with personal writing when you've got a hectic new job and newly arrived twins during a global pandemic? Well, I made this trip to the Beer'd Brewing Company's second location about a year ago and am only just getting around to writing it up now.</p><p>Craft breweries have exploded in Connecticut in the 2010s. Steve Wood, the guy behind the robust brewery and Connecticut cultural resource <a href="http://CTMQ.org">CTMQ.org</a>, originally hoped to sample every beer brewed in Connecticut before he got bowled over by a tidal wave of new taps and turned his focus instead to profiling individual breweries. </p><p>I've experienced something similar since making my first Bike and Brew outing in 2016: a goal to visit every brewery within biking distance became less and less feasible as first one, then two more children arrived, limiting the potential to take a lengthy solo ride. Meanwhile, beer entrepreneurs keep adding to the tally of potential places to visit nearby.</p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic has, unfortunately, diminished this number a bit. Noble Jay Brewing Company, which I previously visited, closed up shop in the summer of 2020. Stony Creek Brewery at Foxwoods, a secondary site of the Branford-based Stony Creek Brewery, shuttered recently before I had a chance to plot a ride there.</p><p>But there are still some outings left to do, assuming I can get around to them. One such opportunity came in the early summer of 2020, when my wonderful wife urged me to get out of the house and have a few hours to myself while she wrangled two babies and a preschooler. The result was a trip to The Silo, the second location of the previously reviewed Beer'd Brewing Company.</p><p>Which means once more over the Gold Star Bridge, my friends. It's the second to last time, assuming nothing new opens east of the Thames, as I still need to visit the Shunock River Brewery in North Stonington.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdiyWkG3yO6x_mKjyZwshWkekYbrUW4HnolhDahMfhp62POOhoqrzJGxruRiKwronjXm37n3Lmcxd1EpnaRLZ3XHmjYDqEDNx2wZZ92O93ik_gSwqSCt1gRRWbJrGRwSfD5RhCGnbQsCU/s1632/IMG_4892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdiyWkG3yO6x_mKjyZwshWkekYbrUW4HnolhDahMfhp62POOhoqrzJGxruRiKwronjXm37n3Lmcxd1EpnaRLZ3XHmjYDqEDNx2wZZ92O93ik_gSwqSCt1gRRWbJrGRwSfD5RhCGnbQsCU/s320/IMG_4892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>After the usual harrowing trip over the Gold Star Bridge and strip malls of Poquonnock Road, I took a turn into quieter territory. The route passes the Avery Homestead, an oft-overlooked historic landmark located next to a railroad bridge. Captain James Avery built his home here in 1671, and "The Hive" housed generations of the Avery family until sparks from a passing train burned it down in 1894.</p><p>The Avery Memorial Association was founded in 1900 to commemorate the homestead, and also runs the separate Ebenezer Avery House museum. It's still active, and the group had <a href="https://www.theday.com/article/20201001/NWS01/201009921">restored the memorial</a> a few days before my ride.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YFGhtE70GdAoPm1HGF_IA9Mxw-h-c-iHNU9-1Hi1DwOyDSMjEuUFX3nlE11sGz-44ngCCBd28Jr4hGu4Ai4OwYIvl6O4MvpLv19nLH5W2CZJRcS25YgfxRq4Dhy06TDMXy6m8ned9zae/s1632/IMG_4894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8YFGhtE70GdAoPm1HGF_IA9Mxw-h-c-iHNU9-1Hi1DwOyDSMjEuUFX3nlE11sGz-44ngCCBd28Jr4hGu4Ai4OwYIvl6O4MvpLv19nLH5W2CZJRcS25YgfxRq4Dhy06TDMXy6m8ned9zae/s320/IMG_4894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlkjiH7u1F_p-FZ8DtSUNBX9EkbsZeS9QjP3N_tdQ11z7wg0h2aZ-seCar0_Qziz8gCy1_iO5GsAEaNOealwxkBHqfCt_Bvq6ObhUeiIGSlNdqPwGnK8f7LHkyn8SSyfGgJ3IdHG1YijW/s1632/IMG_4895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlkjiH7u1F_p-FZ8DtSUNBX9EkbsZeS9QjP3N_tdQ11z7wg0h2aZ-seCar0_Qziz8gCy1_iO5GsAEaNOealwxkBHqfCt_Bvq6ObhUeiIGSlNdqPwGnK8f7LHkyn8SSyfGgJ3IdHG1YijW/s320/IMG_4895.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifknKK_95XpWRY8SL_58rdMTGVCa5B_Iu_Q4adWCDuEglOdh0gBBGEYeR5n1cbhWurMkWECB4aKNpJoyU58qFqEZl79YaHGEuLd5QvQU-CcdQRdOsPFrKlJvdpsgudgUHf85FHX59L5djG/s1632/IMG_4898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifknKK_95XpWRY8SL_58rdMTGVCa5B_Iu_Q4adWCDuEglOdh0gBBGEYeR5n1cbhWurMkWECB4aKNpJoyU58qFqEZl79YaHGEuLd5QvQU-CcdQRdOsPFrKlJvdpsgudgUHf85FHX59L5djG/s320/IMG_4898.JPG" /></a></div><p>During the early scuttlebutt about the second Beer'd location, there was only a vague idea that it would be "near the airport." The Groton-New London Airport is pretty impressive for a municipal airfield. It previously supported an airline or two for commuter flights, currently supports the Coast Guard's ice patrol missions (which utilize a massive C-130 plane), includes a National Guard wing, and regularly brings in Air Force One when the President comes to speak at the Coast Guard Academy commencement in New London.</p><p>When Beer'd finally did open its second location, it was in a small industrial park near the airport. It's kind of an odd mix of businesses here: a variety of technological/manufacturing/logistics/whatever concerns, the main lot for the city's school buses, some automotive businesses, and a brewery perched next to a cheese shop.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLEv5s5SJV18gifmU6kJOXwQrjfFXBu5wU6olm8yiUxhlmECjTX__A48sOahBD6mYIG-9zHd4s7jiKFwAMKExaON-oWkh3lgjFZwgXvA9aP6Z0DN8jB1jy4NHTD7x4aGxKyHTerfCejRg/s1632/IMG_4899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLEv5s5SJV18gifmU6kJOXwQrjfFXBu5wU6olm8yiUxhlmECjTX__A48sOahBD6mYIG-9zHd4s7jiKFwAMKExaON-oWkh3lgjFZwgXvA9aP6Z0DN8jB1jy4NHTD7x4aGxKyHTerfCejRg/s320/IMG_4899.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Beer'd began brewing operations at the Airport Business Park back in 2018 but didn't open a taproom until early in 2020. According to an article on The Silo's opening, Beer'd was going for something a little more industrial than the more rustic tone of their main location in Stonington's Velvet Mill. It's unclear if The Silo offers anything distinct to the location; apparently the site includes a one-barrel brewhouse for experimental offerings.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05jiV_cvF_JqiYA2xBSmHBgrQFk8w3QtDSRze8K_qu7ZEGqOpK1L7jL9Se11R01J1nKuB_57w26OiGKntKSoA6oTGUJC81Bewng1MqEsJcVy5DoExxFvqlEFgb7amuCXE9BGnChEB6AAm/s1632/IMG_4900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05jiV_cvF_JqiYA2xBSmHBgrQFk8w3QtDSRze8K_qu7ZEGqOpK1L7jL9Se11R01J1nKuB_57w26OiGKntKSoA6oTGUJC81Bewng1MqEsJcVy5DoExxFvqlEFgb7amuCXE9BGnChEB6AAm/s320/IMG_4900.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zHLEy22M7zpTvnjsBXCG5oIuwMuVHBcMa4-rSzLOvdawuQxFZxaAVbGj38nVuUDsjMqo6hF9fvKvqd9Wv-XTmNqIudKuL4wAUlANckE6cwoNZMCs4fCR2mbgjm6e-P9oZyr-nabNZ3CI/s1632/IMG_4901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="1224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zHLEy22M7zpTvnjsBXCG5oIuwMuVHBcMa4-rSzLOvdawuQxFZxaAVbGj38nVuUDsjMqo6hF9fvKvqd9Wv-XTmNqIudKuL4wAUlANckE6cwoNZMCs4fCR2mbgjm6e-P9oZyr-nabNZ3CI/s320/IMG_4901.JPG" /></a></div><p>I'd hoped to get a better sense of The Silo with my visit, but unfortunately the pandemic was still prohibiting people from actually going inside and checking it out. I'd also been hindered on a previous visit where I hoped to bring my daughter along after a hike, as The Silo is one of the few breweries in the state limited to ages 21 and older. So the interior remains a mystery to me.</p><p>The Silo is also remote enough that it had limited itself to pickup orders instead of bringing in a food truck or other dining options like several breweries have opted to do. Thus the sign with the detailed instructions that awaited me upon my arrival. I called in, ordered a couple of four-packs, and said they could bring it out front to the guy on the bike.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu2XSFepObJ2B5rc9l8Qk6uawXzop4LV_bMPHCtqTbFe425t3zSj7kzjhsysPTEekxlbere4vtr1GhIQxaAXd_HzOwY3H02oK1CDj7DWCsKhGSPQjk-BJ2VNvpNoHfQQeDhqoH9h-kKM9/s1632/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu2XSFepObJ2B5rc9l8Qk6uawXzop4LV_bMPHCtqTbFe425t3zSj7kzjhsysPTEekxlbere4vtr1GhIQxaAXd_HzOwY3H02oK1CDj7DWCsKhGSPQjk-BJ2VNvpNoHfQQeDhqoH9h-kKM9/s320/IMG_4902.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>So instead of the pre-pandemic routine of trying a beer or two before heading home, I was presented with eight beers to haul home in my backpack. One was a mix pack of some Beer'd offerings, while the other was their delicious Midnight Oil oatmeal stout, one of my wife's favorites.</p><p>I soon knocked the count down to seven. The Silo had hauled in all of their outdoor seating out of caution, so I stopped at a picnic table outside one of the business park buildings and savored a Midnight Oil while reading a book about the Cuban Missile Crisis.</p><p>Nearly a year later, we're still grappling with the pandemic but vaccination efforts are giving cause for optimism. The twins are still a screaming handful, but are starting to get a little more communicative and easier to manage alongside a three-year-old. The occasional weekend Bike and Brew outing may not be out of the question.</p><p>Out-and-back journeys are becoming increasingly rare, though. Aside from Shunock River Brewing and the potential to visit the imminently opening <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Bank-Bridge-103232798423633/">Bank & Bridge Brewing in Mystic</a>, my options are going to be limited to point-to-point rides ending in Old Saybrook, Chester, Colchester, and maybe even the famous Willibrew in Willimantic. Time will tell.</p><p><b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br /><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br /><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br /><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br /><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br /><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a><br /><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/12/bike-and-brew-these-guys-brewing.html">These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing</a><br /><a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/10/bike-and-brew-mohegan-cafe-and-brewery.html">Mohegan Cafe and Brewery</a><br /><a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/04/bike-and-brew-noble-jay-brewing-company.html">Noble Jay Brewing Company</a><br /><a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/06/once-explosion-of-craft-breweries-in.html">Tox Brewing Company</a><br /><a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/08/bike-and-brew-niantic-public-house-and.html">Niantic Public House and Brewery</a></p><p><a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/10/bike-and-brew-grey-sail-brewing-and_29.html">Grey Sail Brewing and Cottrell Brewing Company</a></p>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-28443312287588119902020-01-02T10:59:00.001-08:002020-01-02T10:59:56.074-08:00I Make Fun of State Quarters: IowaGiven that our American democracy includes aspects such as occasionally flipping a coin to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/feb/02/how-hillary-clinton-won-some-iowa-caucuses-with-a-coin-toss">decide who presidential candidate delegates will be awarded to</a> and general elections that can be won without actually earning the most votes, it shouldn't be any surprise that a great deal of importance is assigned to the first contest in the 50-state process of selecting a party's candidate for the highest office in the land.<br />
<br />
And so we get the regular flocking of presidential hopefuls to Iowa, where the first caucus of the 2020 election will take place in February. They're all expected to indulge in state fair fare like fried butter, hobknob with the locals, and pledge their undying loyalty to all things corn. Which always strikes me as a little odd, since they could just surrender this race and suck up to granite interests instead to make a bid for the New Hampshire primary.<br />
<br />
Anyway, what does this mean for the Iowa state quarter? Will they celebrate their vaunted status as the first place to start choosing who might end up in the White House? Is the winner going to have to engage in pandering and the unending ingestion of enough artery-clogging fried food to give it six coronaries? Will the residents of Iowa just demand that the quarter be made of corn?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f3AeamvI2AFy35Kac8oQG4Jjj26FQ8Zv-ihBx-9-2GWj8HV9TNppNiHVTzDRgH3DvNnSSyu0qj7XGWUWvrqTxaWorzISy8HJluqXVBztuCrS_yd2rHoyp5YQYhYwo6wQJoko9cPPtzYp/s1600/iowaquarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1280" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f3AeamvI2AFy35Kac8oQG4Jjj26FQ8Zv-ihBx-9-2GWj8HV9TNppNiHVTzDRgH3DvNnSSyu0qj7XGWUWvrqTxaWorzISy8HJluqXVBztuCrS_yd2rHoyp5YQYhYwo6wQJoko9cPPtzYp/s320/iowaquarter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://coinsofamerica.com/2004-iowa-quarter-d-mint/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
NO CORN? Are you kidding me?<br />
<br />
This is a highly unlikely scenario. Not just because Iowa residents are roughly 40 percent corn themselves, but because just about every one of the finalists for this state quarter were trumpeting Iowa's farm industry.<br />
<br />
But let's face it, Iowa's agriculture really is quite impressive. The state is indeed the first in the nation for corn production, but a lot of that crop goes toward supporting livestock as well - putting Iowa among the top ranks for dairy and meet production as well. It also claims to be the second largest producer of soybeans and a main supplier of turkey for Subway restaurants, among other things.<br />
<br />
So being the "Breadbasket of the World" is certainly something to be proud of. At the same time, I'm sure Iowans were a little reticent about making their representation on the state quarter focus on literally the one thing the rest of the country knows them for. They would be like the kid who excitedly runs to his friends to deliver some news only to find out that they already found out about it three days earlier.<br />
<br />
So when state residents were asked to submit their designs, they came up with plenty more than just variations on how to prepare corn on the cob. They included, well, farmland with corn that wasn't quite ready yet...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsmdVHAHmTKLwWp19xtOt1ZkGbEmJvow-9xR1kxaUHUJhSSTFgDNCjrkUE6EzO7_LOm5yRXV-5iVtGMFnzZ_-XpXPxfmSaF31ADGPpg3FpGqCmYX0nY8Y5b_-676LU9eGdp_IMOZ3nSe2/s1600/beautiful_land_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsmdVHAHmTKLwWp19xtOt1ZkGbEmJvow-9xR1kxaUHUJhSSTFgDNCjrkUE6EzO7_LOm5yRXV-5iVtGMFnzZ_-XpXPxfmSaF31ADGPpg3FpGqCmYX0nY8Y5b_-676LU9eGdp_IMOZ3nSe2/s320/beautiful_land_72.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/iowa.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
And that Grant Wood painting of a mopey farmer and his sour wife...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM_I4jW6hln7nGq_kgbYahpWElz5LxlhxTk5s5MUmaWkwjx-3ES0MfYxJwE1sxIXtEvX50hX8leSUQGNEqC_jsAOYDtP_YO_vTgTcem6gZXawVM5zeUN_-PVkWqtc1KryK3Cng3jDXPjc/s1600/GW_americangothic_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="792" data-original-width="744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM_I4jW6hln7nGq_kgbYahpWElz5LxlhxTk5s5MUmaWkwjx-3ES0MfYxJwE1sxIXtEvX50hX8leSUQGNEqC_jsAOYDtP_YO_vTgTcem6gZXawVM5zeUN_-PVkWqtc1KryK3Cng3jDXPjc/s320/GW_americangothic_72.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/iowa.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
And a tribute to the Sullivan brothers, a group of five siblings from the Iowa town of Waterloo who all served together on the cruiser USS <i>Juneau </i>and died when the ship was sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal. They became a potent symbol of patriotic duty and hometown heroes in Iowa, understandably, but personally I think this quarter design would have been a little shortsighted. It would have basically said, "Behold, nation, these hero brothers who gave their lives for the country! Also, 682 other people from elsewhere in the United States died on this ship, but whatever."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1ApuEcx0a8VQHI3afLi8V-XbE2fFKemRsnii553-ARegPLwkgWkFbDr9pK1ejsy5zCdItBmW9eUWTjl7nx39k0rsDn9Au0fz-oJUrrGhiI3d-9XcPKAltrnixJ7x-MEdJHOE-mDLoN1L/s1600/Kim_Behm_72.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="876" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW1ApuEcx0a8VQHI3afLi8V-XbE2fFKemRsnii553-ARegPLwkgWkFbDr9pK1ejsy5zCdItBmW9eUWTjl7nx39k0rsDn9Au0fz-oJUrrGhiI3d-9XcPKAltrnixJ7x-MEdJHOE-mDLoN1L/s320/Kim_Behm_72.jpg" width="315" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/iowa.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Iowa naturally gravitated away from showcasing wartime tragedy, but also decided that going heavy on the corn or farm theme wasn't the best thing to do. Instead, their final design is basically a facsimile of the painting "Arbor Day" by Grant Wood, an Iowa native (the state's residents are no doubt a fan of his quote, "I had to go to France to appreciate Iowa."). This work shows a teacher at a one-room schoolhouse helping a group of children plant a tree for the occasion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEomrCQW5jmKbutdmpXsFQX-dlQXS-SQ6jrZux9mtV___aQrCesTL9c8o3z8fqH8OBZHnzKFbEfNQontlnGIFEQuVWS0H04vYNVWoRm9cMijXJ-p-fHkUiQbpfjUfKSa5eLmrUcLWbRGxN/s1600/arbor-day-1932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="500" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEomrCQW5jmKbutdmpXsFQX-dlQXS-SQ6jrZux9mtV___aQrCesTL9c8o3z8fqH8OBZHnzKFbEfNQontlnGIFEQuVWS0H04vYNVWoRm9cMijXJ-p-fHkUiQbpfjUfKSa5eLmrUcLWbRGxN/s320/arbor-day-1932.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.wikiart.org/en/grant-wood/arbor-day-1932">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
It's a little strange that the quarter highlights Iowa's "Foundation in Iowa" when the painting itself is about a holiday that celebrates trees. That and the fact that a quick search on Iowa's educational history immediately brought up an academic essay noting how the state's rural schools at the turn of the century suffered from <a href="https://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8659&context=annals-of-iowa">"poor quality" and "inexperienced and poorly prepared teachers."</a> So that teacher helping the kids with the tree might be really bad at her job.<br />
<br />
But credit where credit is due, Iowa's current educational rankings are quite good. <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/iowa">According to the <i>U.S. News and World Report </i>rankings</a>, it ranks ninth in the nation for education, including eighth in higher education and 13th in K-12 schooling.<br />
<br />
So there you have it. Iowa wants you to know that they have a good educational system, and that they're really quite a lovely state overall. That's fair.<br />
<br />
But to be honest, the design actually seems to be lacking without corn. It's like if you had a cookout and didn't toss a few ears on the grill. At least throw a stalk in the background, guys.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-84474246166826245222019-10-29T14:12:00.000-07:002019-10-29T14:12:11.551-07:00Bike and Brew: Grey Sail Brewing and Cottrell Brewing Company<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2VOiB76Mi-eftY-D9PpfYkAkGiqPp52pNBbXKDXoOW5T7ROLp00ZNJWcRxh-0OM8s_XSZdEbRWMldvyri48yFNtABtMg3Hu7-IeJTh6opV_e3WN9qOahc5hsGFt9bixCOQfaHtLvNNhn/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2VOiB76Mi-eftY-D9PpfYkAkGiqPp52pNBbXKDXoOW5T7ROLp00ZNJWcRxh-0OM8s_XSZdEbRWMldvyri48yFNtABtMg3Hu7-IeJTh6opV_e3WN9qOahc5hsGFt9bixCOQfaHtLvNNhn/s320/IMG_3988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For some time after <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">starting this Bike and Brew series in 2016</a>, I wondered if the expansion of breweries in Connecticut was going too fast for me to keep up. Six new breweries have opened in southeastern Connecticut since then, and becoming a father in the interim naturally limited my ability to zip out on day trips to enjoy a leisurely flight or pint.<br />
<br />
Breweries have been sprouting up like mushrooms in Connecticut, with the total count currently hovering around 100. But the growth has slowed considerably, with only a handful of new enterprises in a serious state of development and a few places even shutting their doors. In the southeastern part of the state, it doesn't seem like any new breweries are on the horizon and it's giving me a chance to catch up.<br />
<br />
It also means going farther afield, as I've tended to focus more on nearby locations. So when I finally had a chance for an outing in late September, Grey Sail Brewing and Cottrell Brewing Company were the most feasible options. It meant venturing into Rhode Island, <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/10/bike-and-brew-mohegan-cafe-and-brewery.html">this time without the help of a ferry</a>, hoping that I wasn't too out of shape and that my new sealant-filled back tire would fight off any potential flats.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFASnQ-GsqO0oo_Dv8rTHyGL4mgF4rI8F3vCvCpItRQvP6RA7IFIizpbOfNItZa1ehgDBgwz85UCSxoIxhkfE2hU0YZBbOxDGlcj6QRg5qb2nwyNNHlOF4OheF-XGMEaCMLl5lnaitK7h/s1600/IMG_3957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFASnQ-GsqO0oo_Dv8rTHyGL4mgF4rI8F3vCvCpItRQvP6RA7IFIizpbOfNItZa1ehgDBgwz85UCSxoIxhkfE2hU0YZBbOxDGlcj6QRg5qb2nwyNNHlOF4OheF-XGMEaCMLl5lnaitK7h/s320/IMG_3957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
That once again means crossing the hated Gold Star Bridge (you can read more about that <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">here</a>, <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">here</a>). I'd forgotten just how narrow it is, especially when the occasional bump-outs for light posts and signs constrict you even more. This gives a glimpse of the New London skyline across the way, hinting at the beautiful view you can see if any when they ever put a bike lane on the other span.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyf9bC-J9-g9xsBBUr0m7MsyG0AE_N42Jqu7dk3IF8g9VdGrA8wo4J74dVfqSDhfNQjGbDAWBtE16-y24wMlpQDjSVpF5TMOLYMg_pRP9CYW-f9-3nCo3Ms2Klae39rAChUvJmDZJgN9y/s1600/IMG_3958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyf9bC-J9-g9xsBBUr0m7MsyG0AE_N42Jqu7dk3IF8g9VdGrA8wo4J74dVfqSDhfNQjGbDAWBtE16-y24wMlpQDjSVpF5TMOLYMg_pRP9CYW-f9-3nCo3Ms2Klae39rAChUvJmDZJgN9y/s320/IMG_3958.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The majority of the suggested route followed Route 184. I encountered some of this road's less than scenic qualities in my <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">journey to Beer'd</a>, but was surprised just how quickly I encountered new ground. The turnoff to head toward Mystic occurs about half a mile after this sign, after which I'd never ridden this road.<br />
<br />
It turned out to be pleasantly rolling terrain, allowing me to ride at a pretty good clip. The scenery still wasn't that impressive, with townhouse communities and strip malls popping up with unnerving regularity, but it gradually grew a little more secluded and peaceful as the highway went deeper into the woods.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp73M0Ohw4IOqSIXOAcKRpDgOk1XJj5w9OqIdjyBpWJt23FGRyOYuWXlR8k0Wp0rxIbfUx-lIcJakx6JfB2EA0MXDHNf_IcPyGzBUL_EQ0iR63eKTSwxeUt7Fpm27UvccN6W_GNAhQNmp/s1600/IMG_3959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikp73M0Ohw4IOqSIXOAcKRpDgOk1XJj5w9OqIdjyBpWJt23FGRyOYuWXlR8k0Wp0rxIbfUx-lIcJakx6JfB2EA0MXDHNf_IcPyGzBUL_EQ0iR63eKTSwxeUt7Fpm27UvccN6W_GNAhQNmp/s320/IMG_3959.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLOkuULd8MH8adhccbezZOgjTBq0LScOhCtcD-9eLSAybwTO4xNAso_uS4mIyUEvX6HP6W5984hV0ElrQEau2g1tQULC6AzaTmEtsOedAjkkd16uyKw8RLCrOAQdFG1SyE0PMMZEf48i1/s1600/IMG_3961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLOkuULd8MH8adhccbezZOgjTBq0LScOhCtcD-9eLSAybwTO4xNAso_uS4mIyUEvX6HP6W5984hV0ElrQEau2g1tQULC6AzaTmEtsOedAjkkd16uyKw8RLCrOAQdFG1SyE0PMMZEf48i1/s320/IMG_3961.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKBBHauYMdiy7V5qz7j0PL1UHZRUbsMgJdox7wdwhMhPWGWXLMt8loTBjXLOyCH3HbI8IHd_LqMtHDm0qDFMdFWJ7YPl4mhP_eWs7GWltXH6519SbrdD61jLqShEqcix2H984YunypZBm/s1600/IMG_3962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKBBHauYMdiy7V5qz7j0PL1UHZRUbsMgJdox7wdwhMhPWGWXLMt8loTBjXLOyCH3HbI8IHd_LqMtHDm0qDFMdFWJ7YPl4mhP_eWs7GWltXH6519SbrdD61jLqShEqcix2H984YunypZBm/s320/IMG_3962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It was just a brief detour to B.F. Clyde's Cider Mill, so I opted to pop in. The place prides itself on being the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the United States, having first opened in 1881, and you can get an up-close look at the machinery at work during the weekends. There's also a couple of stores on site offering baked goods, jams, hard ciders, wines, and more.<br />
<br />
I think everyone in the region makes it a point to stop there at least once during the autumn. Just don't be surprised to see the place mobbed with visitors, and swarmed with yellow jackets until the first hard frost.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3raYsZ7O1Xc0JU3HfzY_GtMtELMSh86Y2oK5Un8EdJ_hkXub-S0WpvV59Cy8rD-K9a2jEcupxVFYRaMs0w-9QHMOIepP6Pg6gvKAi5ghs6fNAOjpgfXWdqkeARP63vcP8c_ZXvNxI6KP9/s1600/IMG_3963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3raYsZ7O1Xc0JU3HfzY_GtMtELMSh86Y2oK5Un8EdJ_hkXub-S0WpvV59Cy8rD-K9a2jEcupxVFYRaMs0w-9QHMOIepP6Pg6gvKAi5ghs6fNAOjpgfXWdqkeARP63vcP8c_ZXvNxI6KP9/s320/IMG_3963.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP8V2tmRWuAgM2EpWHSVKQ5me2tErD0zmWErMPMGrH7BgGMMNZiqHr6aLhFb8355IGHNK7VJDxaKsxgzfQeHymel2bADmg_56I5xMbT6vr2ejvBC5yza8YeQFzNQNKpYfnI_hSVGxJxue/s1600/IMG_3965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpP8V2tmRWuAgM2EpWHSVKQ5me2tErD0zmWErMPMGrH7BgGMMNZiqHr6aLhFb8355IGHNK7VJDxaKsxgzfQeHymel2bADmg_56I5xMbT6vr2ejvBC5yza8YeQFzNQNKpYfnI_hSVGxJxue/s320/IMG_3965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Route 184 finally ran straight into this meandering roundabout, which brought me to Route 2 and then a smaller road to get to Westerly. This way includes the White Rock Bridge, an old railroad span which has been preserved as a pedestrian way.</div>
<br />
The bridges cross the Pawcatuck River, which marks the line between Connecticut and Rhode Island. One of my co-workers once remarked that Westerly is so closely associated with southeastern Connecticut that it's essentially part of the region, and this crossing drives the point home. There's nothing to show that you've entered a different state.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2Y8NEg2ZWNDjf7cTemSWNSLtUedF90ysOUM2vJZrIn7qfUjOh6-7bPWWWup4Ucj82q0woCXuOhSR2A8GwP6ZUPTHvSex02OZAjGeQfdG4piSmdcOPZ1ZaQOmC827pSCfxodtMp8CKjwf/s1600/IMG_3966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2Y8NEg2ZWNDjf7cTemSWNSLtUedF90ysOUM2vJZrIn7qfUjOh6-7bPWWWup4Ucj82q0woCXuOhSR2A8GwP6ZUPTHvSex02OZAjGeQfdG4piSmdcOPZ1ZaQOmC827pSCfxodtMp8CKjwf/s320/IMG_3966.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Oh this is gonna be sweet...<br />
<br />
I actually didn't take advantage of this benefit, though it's nice to see it clarified. Westerly has apparently been using the same people as New London to do some downtown upgrades, including large stencils on the street meant to drive home the point that bikes can ride in the center of the lane when parked cars or other hazards make it unsafe to stay to the far right of the road. In New London they caused the city's perpetually sour gadflies to complain that their meaning was unclear, so I guess the signs intend to add another layer of explanation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmrL8Ne8EI2SsiaqoaEdXsIyolTH6w7q2W5rOe_DxriYZ-clarWJ2uTVNxToLb8aSOz6Y4WgQl1VkQ7lSz7s6YBwaGWb29vIe1x_9C_ZXsY_3wkE4GsWQq1_SoJtq2ygj-04L1wS1m28N/s1600/IMG_3967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="1600" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWmrL8Ne8EI2SsiaqoaEdXsIyolTH6w7q2W5rOe_DxriYZ-clarWJ2uTVNxToLb8aSOz6Y4WgQl1VkQ7lSz7s6YBwaGWb29vIe1x_9C_ZXsY_3wkE4GsWQq1_SoJtq2ygj-04L1wS1m28N/s320/IMG_3967.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Grey Sail Brewing, located in the former Westerly Macaroni Factory, opened in 2011 as the craft brewing scene was starting to pick up steam. Its name refers to the appearance of sailing ships on the nearby ocean, and the beers tend to have a nautical theme to them.<br />
<br />
Originally, Grey Sail had a small place at the front of the building to try out their beers. They still use this space to sell merch and fill growlers, but their taproom has since gotten a major upgrade.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSks0cxqRhfMG-tN1MdHhbQrHRKLuUqB-Zt3Z2e1-9fuDhMB0gDTW_-pHJa5IXQuLcgb0MKnkGw7ymwl8p2LDGS7b4tzY4C1KDcuDYMzI3WohI-yvJf7waqRHafZNm-vJz5Myar6NOIANh/s1600/IMG_3968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSks0cxqRhfMG-tN1MdHhbQrHRKLuUqB-Zt3Z2e1-9fuDhMB0gDTW_-pHJa5IXQuLcgb0MKnkGw7ymwl8p2LDGS7b4tzY4C1KDcuDYMzI3WohI-yvJf7waqRHafZNm-vJz5Myar6NOIANh/s320/IMG_3968.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5CYVZ_WSQyqWUTjPqQYsIR0JQebPZLnEfFjN7WEkL5YmrkR6D4LeR34FXbAIMt1ECYqqR0KG2XG01IfcSOh77oDkHLRR10IPcUJytfbY3k-SjYGOMyEtXXQHY70QFgvf7DkY_p75f0Ac/s1600/IMG_3970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5CYVZ_WSQyqWUTjPqQYsIR0JQebPZLnEfFjN7WEkL5YmrkR6D4LeR34FXbAIMt1ECYqqR0KG2XG01IfcSOh77oDkHLRR10IPcUJytfbY3k-SjYGOMyEtXXQHY70QFgvf7DkY_p75f0Ac/s320/IMG_3970.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXpGjJnzQZvmLfDoNTWsQQ7CLGNtJsfrDuzfO_xyCrFgMkeOLh1yurLV9yBEsRYz1__yAeh3Y5TR7RvsnwrS5iaEv1Y06flFKkVuTF3HVix1QZ15nOg-CPxkrgWvfo9m5ApV_wWQfZRj5/s1600/IMG_3971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXpGjJnzQZvmLfDoNTWsQQ7CLGNtJsfrDuzfO_xyCrFgMkeOLh1yurLV9yBEsRYz1__yAeh3Y5TR7RvsnwrS5iaEv1Y06flFKkVuTF3HVix1QZ15nOg-CPxkrgWvfo9m5ApV_wWQfZRj5/s320/IMG_3971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This elegant house stands right next to the Grey Sail brewery, seeming a little out of place among the industrial buildings and electrical substations. It was once owned by the people who ran the macaroni factory, and the hand-painted murals are an original feature. The home had been on the market for some time, and in 2016 Grey Sail decided to buy it and <a href="https://www.theday.com/business/20160530/grey-sail-tap-room-new-tack-for-brewery">turn it into their new taproom</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEGgnqY11MXSNRL_aTfceqPx2ylCTaCedEzrzSex24XWbz7vaLxwAkmstiP283SGAYu2SRqbEpmH7AeeApwW4oYm5FuHRb5was9YLrWICA-1Ab7nmr7ly1Cdmy_e6wTy9dLXjqwHuMA5v/s1600/IMG_3969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCEGgnqY11MXSNRL_aTfceqPx2ylCTaCedEzrzSex24XWbz7vaLxwAkmstiP283SGAYu2SRqbEpmH7AeeApwW4oYm5FuHRb5was9YLrWICA-1Ab7nmr7ly1Cdmy_e6wTy9dLXjqwHuMA5v/s320/IMG_3969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
There's a spacious lawn off to the side, which Grey Sail has turned into a beautiful beer garden. They've done a good job of putting up fencing, plants, and other screening elements to give it a more private feel, and the mild temperatures and first signs of autumn made it a great day to get outside. The space also has a cornhole court, fountain, and brick oven pizza.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kOcbXl3wnmx20bhnGVrWW2LkXHsEB0fME_9ILMBZAjtL8wl8estBbeftif0qt6Mv0z_42t887kmJkznzPplT5gM9QdnHV9bpHNph6o8eHNJ1T4smGJddaiXo5QVI16D1_ADVq7AkfZtT/s1600/IMG_3972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kOcbXl3wnmx20bhnGVrWW2LkXHsEB0fME_9ILMBZAjtL8wl8estBbeftif0qt6Mv0z_42t887kmJkznzPplT5gM9QdnHV9bpHNph6o8eHNJ1T4smGJddaiXo5QVI16D1_ADVq7AkfZtT/s320/IMG_3972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
With the exception of the Autumn Winds, which I belatedly realized is one of their mainstay fall beers, I chose some beers that were more unique to the taproom. I gave all of them high marks, finding the Little Sister IPA to be smooth and have a nice taste, the Rising Hope Pale Ale to be a little tart but still good, and the Bobbin' For Apples offering of the Wheelhouse series to have an interesting cider/beer mix quality.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYb9bocr-IdfRSx9AlvEJMy1osMBOVLZl_s-j1mi493MclLLbYJHByxT7QVpy2okQ1VMJn5gF0nPQwej5YW-QnH9i7wtySBXIqs8UCwWAuErQa5260kAFFxJH31AT7ElxySld6s_zUipc/s1600/IMG_3975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYb9bocr-IdfRSx9AlvEJMy1osMBOVLZl_s-j1mi493MclLLbYJHByxT7QVpy2okQ1VMJn5gF0nPQwej5YW-QnH9i7wtySBXIqs8UCwWAuErQa5260kAFFxJH31AT7ElxySld6s_zUipc/s320/IMG_3975.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
There's only a little more than a mile separating Grey Sail and Cottrell, and I spent a good part of that distance walking my bike instead of riding it. Downtown Westerly is a beautiful place to stroll, with lots of pleasant shops and restaurants, and I wasn't in too much of a hurry.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xlg1wzwJE1MPb9rqQj74wyXG2WGjPvbnhLLs-52IxywWi77w0irOQzLz9pFhuDlsYIZNGSsOZyfAak9MTzPOPEMCsR2NBteczeGJauhU_3DTo7OY087Z9Kmg4WmE3wAjVw0JUSyQayTr/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xlg1wzwJE1MPb9rqQj74wyXG2WGjPvbnhLLs-52IxywWi77w0irOQzLz9pFhuDlsYIZNGSsOZyfAak9MTzPOPEMCsR2NBteczeGJauhU_3DTo7OY087Z9Kmg4WmE3wAjVw0JUSyQayTr/s320/IMG_3976.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
When I first mulled this journey, I was surprised to find that it could potentially include three breweries in extremely close proximity to one another. 84 Aleworks first opened in 2006, moving to this location in downtown Westerly in 2012 and converting to a brew pub in late 2018 in an effort to boost revenues. Unfortunately, this wasn't successful and they <a href="https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/westerly/ale-works-tavern-in-westerly-closes-its-doors-for-the/article_9e2735ac-9b4a-11e9-a838-fbaeb8e9fdb8.html">closed down the following summer</a>.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dC8aSYPUMWGc6jSck328-CYh4rLTIyhgyeDALa1oxmoKlPRnHgmXhyJcoYHXuctYEF9cXYN-ozVEV5-XpdiU9l70k2ZCPe_i1wRcB4pfnkdia6bMXUYcYgKx0JBnzHEFjxCX0v6D2e-L/s1600/IMG_3977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1532" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dC8aSYPUMWGc6jSck328-CYh4rLTIyhgyeDALa1oxmoKlPRnHgmXhyJcoYHXuctYEF9cXYN-ozVEV5-XpdiU9l70k2ZCPe_i1wRcB4pfnkdia6bMXUYcYgKx0JBnzHEFjxCX0v6D2e-L/s320/IMG_3977.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I also considered including the Malted Barley, which is renowned in the area for its terrific beer selection, wonderful atmosphere, and delicious pretzels and sandwiches. But I didn't want to get too heavily laden with beer or food, especially on such a long journey after a summer with minimal time on the bike.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_m1tUOFJwZngGJT8jhklXCfMACdTcHkZf4vlPnru1HlG5VlnF-Ij4VTukq6P8SuuhyphenhyphenGDgg_RjEqGHdHZ_WSLreX-PJm4pCWgViuQH2NEfeWlLWJoYJ-u4CInyrRqwwnJZqc4ElKovfca/s1600/IMG_3979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_m1tUOFJwZngGJT8jhklXCfMACdTcHkZf4vlPnru1HlG5VlnF-Ij4VTukq6P8SuuhyphenhyphenGDgg_RjEqGHdHZ_WSLreX-PJm4pCWgViuQH2NEfeWlLWJoYJ-u4CInyrRqwwnJZqc4ElKovfca/s320/IMG_3979.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbarUtPEGF2NVD6BwDH3mS07xnt2hi8gUl27mNbXGzblnqQhcP2tBTRCwVytc_HD82VdQag4rkoEkh9_PmGXg-_wElB66NaXCyD8IwSKxMZI5NiQtDbLGY-iHzQ68z3NYy04Oy59qVGjH_/s1600/IMG_3981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbarUtPEGF2NVD6BwDH3mS07xnt2hi8gUl27mNbXGzblnqQhcP2tBTRCwVytc_HD82VdQag4rkoEkh9_PmGXg-_wElB66NaXCyD8IwSKxMZI5NiQtDbLGY-iHzQ68z3NYy04Oy59qVGjH_/s320/IMG_3981.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You can't ride a bike there, but I still made a quick (walking) stop at Wilcox Park, one of my favorite places in Westerly. Designed by an associate of Frederick Law Olmstead, the man behind Central Park in Manhattan, Wilcox Park is a beautifully landscaped 16-acre site in the middle of town. The walking trails, fountains, and small hills make it a perfect place for a walk on a nice day.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2reeb-IXlRyeMrmsDgX-tQkkkul3PuL05ECMM1S7WfmNjTL4EjUF3zA8MAWSJETjGUFQWpqa00OFyU0F1EPXod6T9pYgnm1yq7oI0hUwh6ndHfLzTF0Fj3Sx6V8JpLYvn-18asWXQ5svt/s1600/IMG_3983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2reeb-IXlRyeMrmsDgX-tQkkkul3PuL05ECMM1S7WfmNjTL4EjUF3zA8MAWSJETjGUFQWpqa00OFyU0F1EPXod6T9pYgnm1yq7oI0hUwh6ndHfLzTF0Fj3Sx6V8JpLYvn-18asWXQ5svt/s320/IMG_3983.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CmYsTrE4mHVXI4f6kby_OHh_obnv9m8QVkmrv_iRMepChry3V889TDhU9k374o-bM_jlTd9CWK_RDSrrUH05Whsk5ntM60Y4yNNhljW6Y6P0mbtMk98Vu_ugIPQdVW4dZ8VoMM4UrEBc/s1600/IMG_3985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9CmYsTrE4mHVXI4f6kby_OHh_obnv9m8QVkmrv_iRMepChry3V889TDhU9k374o-bM_jlTd9CWK_RDSrrUH05Whsk5ntM60Y4yNNhljW6Y6P0mbtMk98Vu_ugIPQdVW4dZ8VoMM4UrEBc/s320/IMG_3985.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
All right, on to the more clumsily designed part of Westerly. The way into town is marked by a large intersection under a railroad bridge with no traffic signals and several nearby side streets, so it often gets pretty badly clogged up. It's not very kind to bicyclists or pedestrians, either, but I managed to get across to Mechanic Street and head on to Cottrell.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7fY78_0nnGAU2NNumcxnX6fltJOSe3ridPOg5YD_NfGYHxP8yYJNnet30gyOCXbXt6bc6FnBc9gJ4YBYQajSOey4H2PA40cRD8ZeGt5_bZhZ0S5F17a_5aWP2ddScTAq4KST7DA48f3E/s1600/IMG_3986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7fY78_0nnGAU2NNumcxnX6fltJOSe3ridPOg5YD_NfGYHxP8yYJNnet30gyOCXbXt6bc6FnBc9gJ4YBYQajSOey4H2PA40cRD8ZeGt5_bZhZ0S5F17a_5aWP2ddScTAq4KST7DA48f3E/s320/IMG_3986.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Cottrell Brewing Company is one the oldest surviving craft breweries in Connecticut, dating back to the mid-90s beer renaissance that predated the more recent upsurge in small brewing enterprises. The Pawcatuck brewery debuted in 1997 and has maintained a steady presence at local bars and restaurants even as competition has ramped up in recent years.</div>
<br />
I also appreciate that the owner, Charlie Buffum is a bit of a history buff. My favorite Cottrell beer, Perry's Revenge, was brewed in recognition of his <a href="https://www.theday.com/article/20110108/NWS01/301089887">discovery of the wreck of a ship commanded by Oliver Hazard Perry</a> off nearby Watch Hill.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2VOiB76Mi-eftY-D9PpfYkAkGiqPp52pNBbXKDXoOW5T7ROLp00ZNJWcRxh-0OM8s_XSZdEbRWMldvyri48yFNtABtMg3Hu7-IeJTh6opV_e3WN9qOahc5hsGFt9bixCOQfaHtLvNNhn/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2VOiB76Mi-eftY-D9PpfYkAkGiqPp52pNBbXKDXoOW5T7ROLp00ZNJWcRxh-0OM8s_XSZdEbRWMldvyri48yFNtABtMg3Hu7-IeJTh6opV_e3WN9qOahc5hsGFt9bixCOQfaHtLvNNhn/s320/IMG_3988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdmLIsNJ4yjStiUJMB6uCw-8TyM_S_7GHlxW5wYkN-v-rxgPCDTLFjPgsviWViKck-pGCd1O9V2fgYGKakIXOoa8nK6zs3aPZbKvMp8wodZzRsfFoEZZlZTvLK6juhIgyyYq85xMg8tDr/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdmLIsNJ4yjStiUJMB6uCw-8TyM_S_7GHlxW5wYkN-v-rxgPCDTLFjPgsviWViKck-pGCd1O9V2fgYGKakIXOoa8nK6zs3aPZbKvMp8wodZzRsfFoEZZlZTvLK6juhIgyyYq85xMg8tDr/s320/IMG_3987.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Cottrell is based in a heavily industrial part of Pawcatuck, and the interior decor is pretty sparse compared to most other breweries these days. That said, they've carved out a nice social area with some tables, games, an amusing mural of the brewery employees, and even a small library for visitors to take or leave books. The bartender greeted me with a free sample of the pilsner Stonington Glory, which was another plus.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXPZ_xSHp3yaiTqaWJ8PMsvincMuwmHNGng5BWqZ_1pv1R8ESsAcc1sjJnPm6-ST-qsOr1fCHyfzwIO866vohSNzgyXhZw-TLusjMesz1dPyWiEyllaizap_CGHTX6X-OQvllLvr0jtO_/s1600/IMG_3995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXPZ_xSHp3yaiTqaWJ8PMsvincMuwmHNGng5BWqZ_1pv1R8ESsAcc1sjJnPm6-ST-qsOr1fCHyfzwIO866vohSNzgyXhZw-TLusjMesz1dPyWiEyllaizap_CGHTX6X-OQvllLvr0jtO_/s320/IMG_3995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
I headed back along Route 1, which hugged the shore and offered a beautiful view of some of the seaside coves. I was also briefly lured onto a side street by the sounds of music.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ni-IXJb80o0fzbFThj5i5o-_g6C0-fLHpfDUlPKtyD6NRZWEaBPMdZWtH6y3XJznlg1SuqzvOXBBIE_M_ZdimTE2y2Y-E2okwNhHZ0iIo7F15ZZO9hxP596GTaHUz5kOGifax9Z_EzIW/s1600/IMG_3994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ni-IXJb80o0fzbFThj5i5o-_g6C0-fLHpfDUlPKtyD6NRZWEaBPMdZWtH6y3XJznlg1SuqzvOXBBIE_M_ZdimTE2y2Y-E2okwNhHZ0iIo7F15ZZO9hxP596GTaHUz5kOGifax9Z_EzIW/s320/IMG_3994.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IbBm9fUV_HaO8eq4DV6drJJSyxF4qSHLmQ9NJR9w7WSUFlp4_prGEIJRTcmlE-b0VmLR53FFG5DhFxkRct4zHKUQN9bIBMh-B9CXHmDv3QhF5ieSn41VbJaZ-4TEAFSXdjRzDU7KAVke/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IbBm9fUV_HaO8eq4DV6drJJSyxF4qSHLmQ9NJR9w7WSUFlp4_prGEIJRTcmlE-b0VmLR53FFG5DhFxkRct4zHKUQN9bIBMh-B9CXHmDv3QhF5ieSn41VbJaZ-4TEAFSXdjRzDU7KAVke/s320/IMG_3992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4i3vhxV6UTrRjAohUrGFSytCXye2O1sL79yOa1EJnvc4bzTlTgANXWrAagYTknBsJZ0AT52To_aaiyiMu4LgvMNK8fn54J5EHtvSu9dmErEFe_qGSrVuAaKLORlCOo-ZpA5Eoq6_2NKPG/s1600/IMG_3993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4i3vhxV6UTrRjAohUrGFSytCXye2O1sL79yOa1EJnvc4bzTlTgANXWrAagYTknBsJZ0AT52To_aaiyiMu4LgvMNK8fn54J5EHtvSu9dmErEFe_qGSrVuAaKLORlCOo-ZpA5Eoq6_2NKPG/s320/IMG_3993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Stone Acres Farm has been in Stonington since 1765. It's still a working farm, and also offers educational events as well as regular outdoor dinners. I apparently stumbled upon one of the latter occasions. Or at least I <i>hope </i>I didn't crash a wedding...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWyFjEXjzJxRXMteQCxsaxKwH5rBWAYkiKFWh9xk6BF6JLBeLS3JprG6fumR30R-oLoQtbzHXDBmOqPVUHtdxcFxQCT3SiGAj7CHL_6n6X5hqJjgJElBQjvN-1W0bN5Ql9-R6oyDztacD/s1600/IMG_3996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1516" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWyFjEXjzJxRXMteQCxsaxKwH5rBWAYkiKFWh9xk6BF6JLBeLS3JprG6fumR30R-oLoQtbzHXDBmOqPVUHtdxcFxQCT3SiGAj7CHL_6n6X5hqJjgJElBQjvN-1W0bN5Ql9-R6oyDztacD/s320/IMG_3996.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I expected a pretty arduous return ride, but it actually felt much easier than the trip out. I did run out of water and have to stop at a convenience store for some Gatorade, though.<br />
<br />
The above shot is of Hodges Square, as seen from the Gold Star Bridge overpass. The bridge was plopped down on top of the neighborhood, though there's been an active effort to revitalize the square. Bike New London, an organization dedicated to bike sharing and providing a place for cyclists to tinker, recently set up shop there.<br />
<br />
And then it was a brief ride home to rest my saddle-sore butt and celebrate the longest Bike and Brew to date.<br />
<br />
Total mileage: 40.34 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/12/bike-and-brew-these-guys-brewing.html">These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/10/bike-and-brew-mohegan-cafe-and-brewery.html">Mohegan Cafe and Brewery</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/04/bike-and-brew-noble-jay-brewing-company.html">Noble Jay Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/06/once-explosion-of-craft-breweries-in.html">Tox Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/08/bike-and-brew-niantic-public-house-and.html">Niantic Public House and Brewery</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-19358898080200235872019-10-06T19:17:00.001-07:002019-10-06T19:17:37.261-07:00Whatever Happened To: The Cast of The GooniesPeople around my age have a strong affection for certain pieces of pop culture. It's not just that we associate them with the simpler charms of childhood; movies like <i>Back to the Future </i>and <i>Jurassic Park</i> are genuinely good, TV shows like <i>Dinosaurs </i>work on a completely different level when you watch them as an adult, and music from the 80s and 90s has held up quite well.<br />
<br />
<i>The Goonies </i>ranks pretty high among the childhood movies beloved by this generation. It's a fairly straightforward adventure film, combined with a dash of the "scrappy bunch of misfits" trope, as a group of youngsters stumbles across a treasure map that gives them a last-ditch chance to save their neighborhood from developers. It helps that Steven Spielberg came up with the concept, and the story and characters easily remain memorable several years later.<br />
<br />
So what happened to the kids of the Goon Docks? Well, it turns out quite a few of them stayed in acting, with several of them easily recognizable today.<br />
<br />
<b>Sean Astin (Mikey Walsh)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCsv_u9oNDwvFabI0FjPiqb82SflMNZ-rr5BraQ1PBvmSEB8tAAjRZLMV11c9dPV4Q-aG0Yi1jvkhW9-nnhjYxybm2FZLc35mi6eS-Gb8bWudX5sEnIRC14GTVg3r7KmwohKH9zaNQiWu/s1600/sa+goonies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="758" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCsv_u9oNDwvFabI0FjPiqb82SflMNZ-rr5BraQ1PBvmSEB8tAAjRZLMV11c9dPV4Q-aG0Yi1jvkhW9-nnhjYxybm2FZLc35mi6eS-Gb8bWudX5sEnIRC14GTVg3r7KmwohKH9zaNQiWu/s320/sa+goonies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://hotcorn.com/en/movies/news/goonies-stranger-things-long-strange-journey-sean-astin/">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Goonies might be seen as a disorganized group, but Mikey Walsh quickly provides leadership and inspiration during the adventure. In one of the more memorable scenes, he encourages the group to take a risk and keep searching for the treasure instead of returning to safety, declaring, "Goonies never say die!" Although he's a bit meek at first and relies on an inhaler, he's grown considerably braver by the end of the film.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HyyGRDZucLWcFtNgP7f0niOuZz-De-vNGoZbeEysGDVoRDLuSixdsM6-JJwHTdAFiVPAUwc8aOUVLSnTIYn1RYPhIq6BUJSB4xk0ibaVSgav5KrcE93g7BclKHqUrH5fXHbI_xEf12bT/s1600/sean+2019.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="680" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HyyGRDZucLWcFtNgP7f0niOuZz-De-vNGoZbeEysGDVoRDLuSixdsM6-JJwHTdAFiVPAUwc8aOUVLSnTIYn1RYPhIq6BUJSB4xk0ibaVSgav5KrcE93g7BclKHqUrH5fXHbI_xEf12bT/s320/sean+2019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2019/08/sean-astin-appreciation-day-viral-otter-photo">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Sean Astin, now 48, was just a few years into a lengthy acting career when <i>The Goonies </i>came out. Mikey may be considered his breakout role, but he also earned plaudits for playing the title character in 1993's football biopic <i>Rudy </i>as well as Samwise Gamgee in the <i>Lord of the Rings </i>trilogy. Recently he has voiced Raphael in the more recent <i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</i> series and Chester in <i>Bunnicula</i>, and played Bob Newby in the second season of <i>Stranger Things</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Josh Brolin (Brandon "Brand" Walsh)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lVT2_Td-WsOlfUPU6Z_a-D2sf2E1AuCHa83qn5f9JocTirBfVEo9OI-WQ39iIpz_dPnM6nFonrsqWxcedkempLQNdwX3C4QRS-GFwBgjlEOhle8joRduAW_rMo77PypI3hAxoBm1lr2z/s1600/brand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="637" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lVT2_Td-WsOlfUPU6Z_a-D2sf2E1AuCHa83qn5f9JocTirBfVEo9OI-WQ39iIpz_dPnM6nFonrsqWxcedkempLQNdwX3C4QRS-GFwBgjlEOhle8joRduAW_rMo77PypI3hAxoBm1lr2z/s320/brand.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://goonies.fandom.com/wiki/Brandon_Walsh">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Mikey's older brother, Brand was somewhat annoyed by the Goonies and their antics, although he was just as outraged by the local country club's efforts to destroy his neighborhood. He reluctantly joins the group on their adventure after first trying to keep them out of trouble. Brand was also shown to have a softer side, comforting Mikey when he got distressed over the impending loss of their home and being a little more nervous around Andy due to his attraction to her.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_kgtBkv8hifDLtOzAeHMAC8GTcZuQoYc-NKdNSDfqqp65kEdrqLq-FChGBAOl_4dFSMd2IjZQRhLpKNZaWbKhEG0xrKU32B-WE2tSHydPjqQG-6envOUdZNBrzpimcLflyDuf0904Uky/s1600/brolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_kgtBkv8hifDLtOzAeHMAC8GTcZuQoYc-NKdNSDfqqp65kEdrqLq-FChGBAOl_4dFSMd2IjZQRhLpKNZaWbKhEG0xrKU32B-WE2tSHydPjqQG-6envOUdZNBrzpimcLflyDuf0904Uky/s320/brolin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.mensjournal.com/features/josh-brolin-might-be-the-realest-guy-in-hollywood/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
<i>The Goonies </i>launched the acting career of Josh Brolin, who has since had a rather prolific career. After focusing primarily on TV early on, including as Wild Bill Hickok in the Western series <i>Young Riders</i>, he began to appear more frequently in film roles. Some of his more notable credits include <i>No Country For Old Men</i>, <i>W.</i>, and <i>Milk</i>. Now 51, he's most recently been known for playing the supervillain Thanos in the <i>Avengers </i>franchise.<br />
<br />
<b>Jeff Cohen (Lawrence "Chunk" Cohen)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uyws6sTnAwgbF7Ac841FPRbGU-SizVGCb2aIGHdQ0vVTiFZ3qwbhQMlG0bxB2xvLyagUSsp9sVFJV4z_4HntvlHUDfI8Sb8mbmtyTXDRC1EwAmPeXSUDKi9yxvReDk5f9q3cfwlm4Jpd/s1600/chunk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="940" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uyws6sTnAwgbF7Ac841FPRbGU-SizVGCb2aIGHdQ0vVTiFZ3qwbhQMlG0bxB2xvLyagUSsp9sVFJV4z_4HntvlHUDfI8Sb8mbmtyTXDRC1EwAmPeXSUDKi9yxvReDk5f9q3cfwlm4Jpd/s320/chunk.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/how-the-truffle-shuffle-helped-turn-the-goonies-chunk-into-a-star-athlete">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
An overweight and excitable member of the Goonies, Chunk is prone to clumsy mishaps, exaggeration, and making up stories. In his confession to the Fratellis, Chunk admits that he has a fondness for pranks (although he feels guilty about the results of some of them). Though he lacks courage at first, he overcomes his fear of Sloth to befriend him and come to his friends' rescue. Chunk is also known for the "Truffle Shuffle," an embarrassing dance his friends sometimes force him to do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdfQenvpVCLi05mPkxdv2gnPBjgRsFnk7JLJ_VNrhnAAxQxqNIfxZG6A6bS2wAn-q2JpIy0oyoNRHEU6RaU4qmA5Ehw5frszfCXUg5J1qQBWT_jiFPE-e86DUNlA6FDwqDZRcaVDBGU2u/s1600/jeffcohen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdfQenvpVCLi05mPkxdv2gnPBjgRsFnk7JLJ_VNrhnAAxQxqNIfxZG6A6bS2wAn-q2JpIy0oyoNRHEU6RaU4qmA5Ehw5frszfCXUg5J1qQBWT_jiFPE-e86DUNlA6FDwqDZRcaVDBGU2u/s1600/jeffcohen.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://cohengardnerlaw.com/jeff-b-cohen-esq">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Jeff Cohen had a few small roles before <i>The Goonies</i>, including roles on <i>Webster </i>and <i>The Facts of Life</i>, and appeared in a number of TV shows and movies before his acting career ended in 1991. Cohen lost a good deal of weight after hitting puberty and taking up football, though he said his improved health also helped terminate his acting career since he could no longer go after "fat kid" roles. He attended business school at the University of California at Berkeley and earned a law degree from UCLA. Now 45, Cohen is working as an entertainment lawyer at a Beverly Hills law firm he co-founded in 2002.<br />
<br />
<b>Corey Feldman (Clarke "Mouth" Devereaux)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlUIdiSLq7ZbuKQE20yj_1_sbRi0k7Wfg65zTJXfom6Zy7i1l2cT4i75hi7mWxTYUHx5MYm4-sqAZ3rlUY3bjDTgRZdIfYMkIfe-pal8rOfYnGjPjnj43-LfIfbhaucDhvloaYYrOCTvH/s1600/mouth.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1121" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHlUIdiSLq7ZbuKQE20yj_1_sbRi0k7Wfg65zTJXfom6Zy7i1l2cT4i75hi7mWxTYUHx5MYm4-sqAZ3rlUY3bjDTgRZdIfYMkIfe-pal8rOfYnGjPjnj43-LfIfbhaucDhvloaYYrOCTvH/s320/mouth.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://goonies.fandom.com/wiki/Clarke_Devereaux">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Mouth earns his nickname from being, well, a little mouthy. He is fond of lobbing jokes and insults, many of them aimed at Chunk. His nickname may also have refer at least in part to the fact that he was fluent in Spanish (misusing his bilingual abilities to terrify the Walshes' maid) or the fact that he tends to prattle on. Despite projecting a sense of bravery, Mouth is often spooked or terrified by the things the Goonies encounter along their journey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnOai-vuq5NYrJByIyoZZjpviFcM0nQs8H4OuLteIOAJhJ6r_dpToX5GzIjPFzChSuXdJeG5pT-F5kqN34lwOoYSi8k__9a0ujVLPOZ4wOYQNUAd09fzOfv8i0i7c6LR9k31hyym6GgNt/s1600/feldman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnOai-vuq5NYrJByIyoZZjpviFcM0nQs8H4OuLteIOAJhJ6r_dpToX5GzIjPFzChSuXdJeG5pT-F5kqN34lwOoYSi8k__9a0ujVLPOZ4wOYQNUAd09fzOfv8i0i7c6LR9k31hyym6GgNt/s320/feldman.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://variety.com/2019/music/news/michael-jackson-never-touched-me-inappropriately-corey-feldman-1203154745/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Corey Feldman had been a child actor for a few years prior to <i>The Goonies</i>, landing parts on the TV series <i>The Bad News Bears </i>and the film <i>Gremlins</i>. One year after <i>The Goonies</i>, he played Teddy Duchamp in <i>Stand By Me</i>. He has continued to act into adulthood, though in less prominent roles. Feldman, now 48, has been outspoken on the issue of child sexual abuse, saying he was molested during his early career in Hollywood.<br />
<br />
<b>Kerri Green (Andrea "Andy" Carmichael)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CFgS_LwPE9DSMPSqNiQmXhdG5D71d5A_wJaUuWF54Eh8Ki9tUqjSo_ksWKj671PjIvsQrLhRasZ5ygDXgCZoX9bA4J0ZcSizAQ3lfyRTkQXZGwql55D_pALgcBriIma_VuleO5q2T2yY/s1600/andy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CFgS_LwPE9DSMPSqNiQmXhdG5D71d5A_wJaUuWF54Eh8Ki9tUqjSo_ksWKj671PjIvsQrLhRasZ5ygDXgCZoX9bA4J0ZcSizAQ3lfyRTkQXZGwql55D_pALgcBriIma_VuleO5q2T2yY/s1600/andy.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.thegoondocks.org/30th-anniversary-20151.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Though she lives in the wealthier Hillside section of town, Andy doesn't look down on those in the Goon Docks. In fact, she has a close friendship with Stef, is attracted in Brand, and elbows fellow Hillside resident Troy in the mouth after he runs Brand off the road. Andy's decision to join the Goonies on their adventure seems to be motivated partly by Mikey's speech and partly by a desire to get close to Brand. Her piano skills also prove useful for disabling one booby trap.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpoiIu2m3TmEtKQcvIf8oOCTTKBq6Z6jIMVNnIU4hJDXHH2VFPefuFu_3BSSezbQ9cJHEsRrboVKHkKoR3pRq-pt6sx2cUc_c36zM8467twwSomRQtXyE2RSVdoPQtzmchWsVNjyXzooc/s1600/goonies-reunion-kerri-green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="700" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicpoiIu2m3TmEtKQcvIf8oOCTTKBq6Z6jIMVNnIU4hJDXHH2VFPefuFu_3BSSezbQ9cJHEsRrboVKHkKoR3pRq-pt6sx2cUc_c36zM8467twwSomRQtXyE2RSVdoPQtzmchWsVNjyXzooc/s320/goonies-reunion-kerri-green.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/empire-classic-feature-goonies-reunion/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Although she appeared in a few movies in the mid-80s, including <i>Summer Rental </i>and <i>Lucas</i>, Kerri Green took a break from acting to attend Vassar College. Her acting career briefly resumed in the early 90s but soon became fairly sporadic. She wrote and directed the 1999 film <i>Bellyfruit</i>, and her last credited role was in the 2012 film <i>Complacent</i>. Now 52, she has kept a fairly low profile, though she reportedly lives in Los Angeles with her family and dabbles in screenwriting and other behind the scenes work.<br />
<br />
<b>Martha Plimpton (Stef Steinbrenner)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQiY9rBTM7X03COK-RVHDDWVEHdmYnErRkNUscQPdIwSBT5Hvs33xy0E2WjzSOv-rQMe6Vqc_KLEM3A_E087uICcnFH4NP6idiOAYopsXVh8Rmgp71nRJJ-48R5Fd9o-5YT8bh3_Bnqo8/s1600/Stef_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQiY9rBTM7X03COK-RVHDDWVEHdmYnErRkNUscQPdIwSBT5Hvs33xy0E2WjzSOv-rQMe6Vqc_KLEM3A_E087uICcnFH4NP6idiOAYopsXVh8Rmgp71nRJJ-48R5Fd9o-5YT8bh3_Bnqo8/s320/Stef_2.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://goonies.fandom.com/wiki/Stephanie_Steinbrenner">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
A friend of Andy, Stef isn't too happy to find herself on the Goonies' expedition and frequently expresses her displeasure. She is particularly annoyed by Mouth and trades barbs with him at several points, although the two develop a grudging respect for each other by the end of the film.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3y_qsIbDWloKKGscWDJnyV1HyoEIdVU_N6E99T0TUsVezdhF0yAbVZ3V3TNivGatgTzKOOQU-w9-GmZtCuEZQK6tmtRuRaxiIQBgA8HVMLdz8Dg-2ajX8-qrB7yN9uLZgnvLBjW5OI54/s1600/plimpton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3y_qsIbDWloKKGscWDJnyV1HyoEIdVU_N6E99T0TUsVezdhF0yAbVZ3V3TNivGatgTzKOOQU-w9-GmZtCuEZQK6tmtRuRaxiIQBgA8HVMLdz8Dg-2ajX8-qrB7yN9uLZgnvLBjW5OI54/s320/plimpton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/jun/01/martha-plimpton-interview-sweat-gielgud-theatre">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Martha Plimpton, now 48, continued her acting career with a number of bit parts on TV and in film. More recently, she played the regular character of Virginia Chance in the series <i>Raising Hope</i> and has also appeared in several theatrical productions.<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan Ke Huy Quan (Data Wang)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFa4kuvb9jQSFp4VCrjjw4ajtfgutI8bOpAed4i7Eo8n6DP3Zsm6pQn5fB27bMmDUsnS2FlUrbr_HL7GweVpUaswjq_nTZrt_jKdpvjeif3bPSfIwEJPUaEj-6QrGSODSm7Oz5ayf1_W-/s1600/data.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1552" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFa4kuvb9jQSFp4VCrjjw4ajtfgutI8bOpAed4i7Eo8n6DP3Zsm6pQn5fB27bMmDUsnS2FlUrbr_HL7GweVpUaswjq_nTZrt_jKdpvjeif3bPSfIwEJPUaEj-6QrGSODSm7Oz5ayf1_W-/s320/data.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/02/the-goonies-gadgets/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
An extremely inventive kid, Data carries around several of his devices at any given time. His intelligence and ingenuity come in handy at a few different points during the adventure - including successfully confronting the Fratellis at several points. Data is of Chinese ancestry, speaking heavily accented English; his family is preparing to move to Detroit due to the pending demolition of the Goon Docks, and he is dismayed by the possibility that he'll have to leave his friends behind.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnNbGKZxXXGNv6-MJTiyi9D4WpMK8HJEsGR6VnyGgBGDwjr7DE0OGKUkQ8KlKJg6bKkSW-wjugodoO6c0HLdz2R6pEERS8Pb18f0oePw1SdmXZf6HIg5-fo7Pz9mfP6E7nGK9r8lVHkDH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-10-06+at+9.54.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="586" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnNbGKZxXXGNv6-MJTiyi9D4WpMK8HJEsGR6VnyGgBGDwjr7DE0OGKUkQ8KlKJg6bKkSW-wjugodoO6c0HLdz2R6pEERS8Pb18f0oePw1SdmXZf6HIg5-fo7Pz9mfP6E7nGK9r8lVHkDH/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-10-06+at+9.54.37+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/empire-classic-feature-goonies-reunion/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Coming to the United States with his family after the fall of Saigon, Jonathan Ke Huy Quan started his film career with <i>Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom</i>, where he played Indy's sidekick Short Round McFly. Quan's acting career petered out in the early 90s, although his last credited role was in the 2002 film <i>Second Time Around</i>. Although he has kept a low profile online, Quan has worked as a stunt choreographer and can often be seen at sci-fi conventions.<br />
<br />
<b>John Matuszak (Sloth Fratelli)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWtzCkclmnU2b-dIobvGkRCp49V1oBaAj2w5kd3fZ8DWg-tedQgk4QzTPPjjqtYIisbPBBXUlhsjqCCYe21nNhjHnwiyQTvfLkaRHNQzwhN2hfwHhAsm4cFTPgi_a7Ww5Rj3Vjb0iLTTc/s1600/sloth.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWtzCkclmnU2b-dIobvGkRCp49V1oBaAj2w5kd3fZ8DWg-tedQgk4QzTPPjjqtYIisbPBBXUlhsjqCCYe21nNhjHnwiyQTvfLkaRHNQzwhN2hfwHhAsm4cFTPgi_a7Ww5Rj3Vjb0iLTTc/s320/sloth.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.ladbible.com/entertainment/celebrity-film-and-tv-the-tragic-story-of-the-guy-who-played-sloth-in-the-goonies-20180210">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The deformed youngest brother of the Fratellis, Sloth has been ostracized and kept chained up by the family. He has limited speech, and his appearance and mannerisms terrify Chunk when the two are locked up together. However, Sloth is shown to be good-hearted and he happily helps out the Goonies after Chunk bonds with him. He's perhaps best remembered for the catchphrase "<i>Hey you guuuuyyys!!</i>"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLi1rR7j5SpJVEKIRAMq4Zfn9zzPEoRg1Hhix2W0jC2LhO_jbZ3VkMNhlMX95xnoJJ-K0MQndzan0w-dapwsZXVXpjDhG5rmgs-IF0B8Smuujv0pqXr6kVS49EMH1eRI-hf_ZUz3JbcYg/s1600/slothgrave.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLi1rR7j5SpJVEKIRAMq4Zfn9zzPEoRg1Hhix2W0jC2LhO_jbZ3VkMNhlMX95xnoJJ-K0MQndzan0w-dapwsZXVXpjDhG5rmgs-IF0B8Smuujv0pqXr6kVS49EMH1eRI-hf_ZUz3JbcYg/s320/slothgrave.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6599424/john-daniel-matuszak">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
John Matuszak was a professional football player, but dabbled in acting as well with his first credited role in 1979's <i>North Dallas Forty</i>. Although Sloth was arguably his most memorable role, he made guest appearances on shows such as <i>Cheers</i>, <i>M*A*S*H</i>, and <i>The Dukes of Hazzard</i>. Matsuszak spent most of his football career on the Oakland Raiders, but retired due to persistent back pain after the team won the 1981 Super Bowl. Unfortunately, he also struggled with substance abuse and died in 1989 at the age of 38 after an accidental overdose of the prescription drug propoxyphene.<br />
<br />
<b>Anne Ramsey (Mama Fratelli)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRhBv3Lx3pBsU7DKGr7jIukdt2s6H-arixsK0iqxkQ7uxbTZG8WoADuyPF5sSYjryx-AhO1l1v86hkKKHio01u0Z112YGqfSfPJVCygMuVCT-mK1oUJRjXcPZxbLOD9HjyO-9I3k6vLo-/s1600/mama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="321" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRhBv3Lx3pBsU7DKGr7jIukdt2s6H-arixsK0iqxkQ7uxbTZG8WoADuyPF5sSYjryx-AhO1l1v86hkKKHio01u0Z112YGqfSfPJVCygMuVCT-mK1oUJRjXcPZxbLOD9HjyO-9I3k6vLo-/s320/mama.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://thepearlgirls.com/the-goonies-pearls/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The matriarch of the Fratelli family, Mama Fratelli is the ruthless leader of their small criminal enterprise. She has a rather pronounced violent streak, likely being responsible for the death of at least one FBI agent to come to the Fratelli hideout; among other things, she also tries to shove Chunk's hand into a blender and forces Andy to walk the plank of One-Eyed Willie's ship. Her one display of empathy comes when she tries to calm Sloth down with a lullaby, though he quickly realizes that it's a means to an end.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SwTaBDOzQ2F5T38GN8BMkiHyJn6VXcgplFRTqpxk0AUkRNK0M0fYPDiQN1v59pqhh7lnT9KWbxIJrHwJIH4_Lk2PiW02X9RnlH8U1iefQcYdgSXzYy15ddWT9xtFCJ60VTWUrph9258s/s1600/annegrave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1152" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SwTaBDOzQ2F5T38GN8BMkiHyJn6VXcgplFRTqpxk0AUkRNK0M0fYPDiQN1v59pqhh7lnT9KWbxIJrHwJIH4_Lk2PiW02X9RnlH8U1iefQcYdgSXzYy15ddWT9xtFCJ60VTWUrph9258s/s320/annegrave.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://thepearlgirls.com/the-goonies-pearls/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Anne Ramsey was active in theater before starting a film career in the 1970s. <i>The Goonies </i>helped win her several roles as gruff, intimidating women, most notably as Momma in 1987's <i>Throw Mama From the Train</i>, which earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Unfortunately, Ramsey also suffered from throat cancer and ultimately succumbed to the disease in 1988 at the age of 59.<br />
<br />
<b>Robert Davi (Jake Fratelli)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcob32X2cSLOvLG4BrldBRvPf5S8Tpo60Vf3owCg-L0ZRpn4ZYCc6lfzKc6cnT7s-nTe4lBHkMAeNQ-0CVI-GxjK4TOAs7wzwZwI_pv7n4mg0Cj_SRqv-v4xgmbnYXcSYRzUpFUHm-RYh/s1600/Jake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="1146" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDcob32X2cSLOvLG4BrldBRvPf5S8Tpo60Vf3owCg-L0ZRpn4ZYCc6lfzKc6cnT7s-nTe4lBHkMAeNQ-0CVI-GxjK4TOAs7wzwZwI_pv7n4mg0Cj_SRqv-v4xgmbnYXcSYRzUpFUHm-RYh/s320/Jake.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://goonies.fandom.com/wiki/Jake_Fratelli">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Jake Fratelli is serving a prison sentence early in the film when he is freed by his family. He is prone to outbursts of Italian singing, as well as arguments with his brother Francis. Jake exhibits some cruelty, such as taunting Sloth, though he also takes a liking to Chunk after he rattles off a list of the worst things he's ever done.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNF3FTYoPCBHoeFgqCZA9G05hF2O6ezi2K_0CrFjQ5bbpZVx94onxFb4_VAuNZmPoUO8bOh4Ea5yRbZ77GTSOgplmOOtGnqUKnRR5ltMFInlMvB82iaCz0zKR4Y6i_DKsAamgD6rPjKe8/s1600/davi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="299" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUNF3FTYoPCBHoeFgqCZA9G05hF2O6ezi2K_0CrFjQ5bbpZVx94onxFb4_VAuNZmPoUO8bOh4Ea5yRbZ77GTSOgplmOOtGnqUKnRR5ltMFInlMvB82iaCz0zKR4Y6i_DKsAamgD6rPjKe8/s320/davi.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://davisingssinatra.com/bio/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Jake's propensity for singing hints at Robert Davi's own talents. He actually intended to pursue a career in singing but wound up stumbling into a prolific film career after Frank Sinatra chose him to play Mickey Sinardos in the NBC movie <i>Contract on Cherry Street</i>. Davi, now 68, has been acting ever since with roles in films such as <i>Die Hard</i>, <i>Licence to Kill</i>, and <i>Showgirls</i>. He's also been able to realize his dream of a singing career, frequently giving live performances and releasing a popular album entitled <i>Davi Sings Sinatra</i>.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Joe Pantoliano (Francis Fratelli)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82EDMHEABiLXdaZnqDJXeVQYk2-j1cj6yokyG2slLPgjXLYk-SI4eVrXllMzOX7fDVzPztq4wN8I9S9Cnbr36I1HhhgHY3UUL62f5JRvaoD-v1njs4K0h93WxgSQ6qr_y5K8NciNeh26I/s1600/francis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="796" data-original-width="777" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82EDMHEABiLXdaZnqDJXeVQYk2-j1cj6yokyG2slLPgjXLYk-SI4eVrXllMzOX7fDVzPztq4wN8I9S9Cnbr36I1HhhgHY3UUL62f5JRvaoD-v1njs4K0h93WxgSQ6qr_y5K8NciNeh26I/s320/francis.png" width="312" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://goonies.fandom.com/wiki/Francis_Fratelli">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
His appearance might sometimes suggest a gentler personality, but Francis is just as hardened a criminal as his brother and mother. He assists with all of the family's misdeeds, including the interrogation of Chunk and disposing of the body of a dead FBI agent. According to Jake, Francis is Mama Fratelli's favorite child and this leads to frequent squabbles between the brothers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh8kc0QRSPFRsolI2Wkrv5LreuLEpEyABTFdBij5zclcsgSlkrMbQUyeSJqSXKBakJq3QYhPSOfUK42L7iWSAQObPUjHH82_o99RLpZpZINV-gkViKYgGgZM1UKI-_M2xaOe7VF2Bf56o/s1600/joep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1160" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh8kc0QRSPFRsolI2Wkrv5LreuLEpEyABTFdBij5zclcsgSlkrMbQUyeSJqSXKBakJq3QYhPSOfUK42L7iWSAQObPUjHH82_o99RLpZpZINV-gkViKYgGgZM1UKI-_M2xaOe7VF2Bf56o/s320/joep.jpg" width="231" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://deadline.com/2018/12/joe-pantoliano-sony-bad-boys-for-life-sequel-1202514784/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Joe Pantoliano has racked up quite a few movie credits over the years, with roles such as Cosmo Renfro in <i>The Fugitive</i>, Cypher in <i>The Matrix</i>, Teddy in <i>Memento</i>, and Ralph Cifaretto in <i>The Sopranos</i>. Pantoliano, now 68, has also been <a href="https://brainworldmagazine.com/fighting-the-stigma-of-mental-illness-an-interview-with-joe-pantoliano/">outspoken on mental health issues</a> after being diagnosed with clinical depression; among other things, he's founded a nonprofit organization called No Kidding, Me Too! to help fight stigmas associated with brain disease.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-50242195088150646722019-08-06T06:43:00.000-07:002019-09-30T08:47:48.523-07:00Bike and Brew: Niantic Public House and Brewery<div class="body" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6UHnvmLipwMoRKHo8xS9Vywykk-MHGbqOdGGli8eAZk6xbs_KTG3l9sMVAYwMUpr1G-sx0GfpYCFBKkpUQxvH3bMBNkv8YoNWzVANWaKdCKvJUYrRvw3WGJ5qzSqWENdrkhlAN6uMtUe/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6UHnvmLipwMoRKHo8xS9Vywykk-MHGbqOdGGli8eAZk6xbs_KTG3l9sMVAYwMUpr1G-sx0GfpYCFBKkpUQxvH3bMBNkv8YoNWzVANWaKdCKvJUYrRvw3WGJ5qzSqWENdrkhlAN6uMtUe/s320/IMG_3658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Let's start by saying this wasn't the most aggravating Bike and Brew I've done because of the Niantic Public House and Brewery, which was a charming place with tasty beer. It was just the most aggravating Bike and Brew I've done so far, and this brewery just happened to be the one I was visiting at the time.<br />
<br />
I previously sent a bit of criticism the way of the Niantic Public House and Brewery, expressing dismay that they were closed on Sundays. This meant that I wasn't able to pair a visit there with my ride to the <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/04/bike-and-brew-noble-jay-brewing-company.html">Noble Jay Brewing Company</a>, but it also seemed like shutting down for half the weekend wasn't the best business model. I mean, plenty of breweries aren't open <i>except </i>on the weekends.<br />
<br />
The brewery has updated its hours since that initial ride, and now welcomes visitors from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. So I opted to enjoy a nice ride on a sunny Sunday and check them out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoPDlh-mvkuGMnoAi29eEWDM661-5tNRcJsA39i13eLTPsWbYn9EyQHvuQcXFGrjIlacsJw8Ir7r6VGp6p9F3ALEt9eCHqxKrgeXVc0R3by-Z3vqu52Fe2G6GGZWRe7-9kM7nxJ5zJFAS/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYoPDlh-mvkuGMnoAi29eEWDM661-5tNRcJsA39i13eLTPsWbYn9EyQHvuQcXFGrjIlacsJw8Ir7r6VGp6p9F3ALEt9eCHqxKrgeXVc0R3by-Z3vqu52Fe2G6GGZWRe7-9kM7nxJ5zJFAS/s320/IMG_3644.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The initial plan was for a rendezvous similar to what we did at Noble Jay. I would head out via bike, my wife would meet me at the brewery with our daughter, and we would enjoy a day out before we separately headed home.</div>
<br />
The first part of this plan went well. Instead of retracing the same route I took to Niantic last time, I followed Route 1 to the Niantic River. This route is fairly bike friendly with minimal attractions along the way, although there's a farm stand if you're in need of some fresh fruits or vegetables.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMzgEyHz79R25QQ6DaWv6tVQ4Pfi4PsbYkCuRdrAZhslSqE4e_oR-PH7BEXw_a46VuaJDZJOWh6DgIjBHx3_ImyF4OiCda261Bii_bq9SRDGlKsys8mFv1Y2pdzZ5OP96jdT7e2tanAGH/s1600/IMG_3645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMzgEyHz79R25QQ6DaWv6tVQ4Pfi4PsbYkCuRdrAZhslSqE4e_oR-PH7BEXw_a46VuaJDZJOWh6DgIjBHx3_ImyF4OiCda261Bii_bq9SRDGlKsys8mFv1Y2pdzZ5OP96jdT7e2tanAGH/s320/IMG_3645.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Niantic River Road offers a straight shot south with beautiful views of the river as it flows into Long Island Sound. There's also a small public put-in, Kiddie Beach, which wasn't looking too photogenic on my visit but is a good place to launch a canoe or kayak.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_OY6FMToFfUqSjuspLID9yVRmI7W0sgGOGABpHBKddyA5mfpeOKaCGuQ2iJlQeDsyFUZUV-hKykjBFyvGiW97i5eOAOzJwPW65UWQ10NQppNuozd_qw_4AwfgkdI3ATFS9VcP38hQSuF/s1600/IMG_3646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_OY6FMToFfUqSjuspLID9yVRmI7W0sgGOGABpHBKddyA5mfpeOKaCGuQ2iJlQeDsyFUZUV-hKykjBFyvGiW97i5eOAOzJwPW65UWQ10NQppNuozd_qw_4AwfgkdI3ATFS9VcP38hQSuF/s320/IMG_3646.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My previous ride to Niantic was on a slate gray day that didn't really showcase how beautiful this shoreline community is. I think this shot, taken from the bridge over the river on a warm sunny summer day, does a better job.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOLTWL88n8h77N1peCACqp8No6rE6ixS1b7rKmFexVrdHRwoKraNy69appOsH2aVAQRcT2ONaE9s5vmTO_mgpZJRAhyxUSdSYCFShhM5nJgENiqesP9FtvdQqw2TcX5sJzjXE-OyLCDtY/s1600/IMG_3663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOLTWL88n8h77N1peCACqp8No6rE6ixS1b7rKmFexVrdHRwoKraNy69appOsH2aVAQRcT2ONaE9s5vmTO_mgpZJRAhyxUSdSYCFShhM5nJgENiqesP9FtvdQqw2TcX5sJzjXE-OyLCDtY/s320/IMG_3663.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbnTVFv4bI49jQTaOPEbLlpC_utAPF_6kKtY7EoHIzhZIrKx-dDNUlyZTQcfukSTmngvljvtF-rJ5br6XHFNSZS7RKuEFJl5lUIDnLlPnb7FNmkfwI0a1wJ4p-ws8osTj5D3Y6CrmrhrP/s1600/IMG_3664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbnTVFv4bI49jQTaOPEbLlpC_utAPF_6kKtY7EoHIzhZIrKx-dDNUlyZTQcfukSTmngvljvtF-rJ5br6XHFNSZS7RKuEFJl5lUIDnLlPnb7FNmkfwI0a1wJ4p-ws8osTj5D3Y6CrmrhrP/s320/IMG_3664.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Downtown Niantic is a bucolic little streetscape with a bunch of restaurants, antique stores, an independent cinema, and other attractions. It's also one of the few places where people actually stop for pedestrians, since enough people are strolling around that people know to watch out for folks on the sidewalk.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwr_2LQ77-B0YbwmskCKxbBFxl-ZFmdzKxHo39zcC4LWo6CSRAchrY8GmuUzlHO19RJUQt_U473BW9qaSw8GHr2iiL2Ka6bgkjF-Y_4jRd18HE0Ft-bChA8gA2QHOZSsgI2YmDBLR_DaV/s1600/IMG_3647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwr_2LQ77-B0YbwmskCKxbBFxl-ZFmdzKxHo39zcC4LWo6CSRAchrY8GmuUzlHO19RJUQt_U473BW9qaSw8GHr2iiL2Ka6bgkjF-Y_4jRd18HE0Ft-bChA8gA2QHOZSsgI2YmDBLR_DaV/s320/IMG_3647.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO99dFgaA9aTuPhCwv5ftYcIcGkYsanDcWBzkwAPDZ5Q7ZW5WRKOPx56jGSU3cT03RikGsOoEc2kxTo0CKVtiKfURwHWS1oiT25te0HuMHB15bF4I0QyRSMAcbZFagg3ksdAa_CNDW009R/s1600/IMG_3648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO99dFgaA9aTuPhCwv5ftYcIcGkYsanDcWBzkwAPDZ5Q7ZW5WRKOPx56jGSU3cT03RikGsOoEc2kxTo0CKVtiKfURwHWS1oiT25te0HuMHB15bF4I0QyRSMAcbZFagg3ksdAa_CNDW009R/s320/IMG_3648.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQxhhdvq_VhD73pIzMjT6H7Way_YgYcYCLiJXFo4XE9Ba1-I6IGJo_JfxGf3F9NZDWnvsmzWSNLkLcKFSvI9xYOf7g_pSw-yYJIFEIE6RMKf1XhjqdE_U32hSbej2H3_iRJLBUfoas4ii/s1600/IMG_3649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQxhhdvq_VhD73pIzMjT6H7Way_YgYcYCLiJXFo4XE9Ba1-I6IGJo_JfxGf3F9NZDWnvsmzWSNLkLcKFSvI9xYOf7g_pSw-yYJIFEIE6RMKf1XhjqdE_U32hSbej2H3_iRJLBUfoas4ii/s320/IMG_3649.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Just about every time I ride into Niantic, I make a stop at the Book Barn. This is a fantastic used bookstore, with its main collection in the titular barn but many more volumes housed in other outbuildings throughout the property. The store claims to have some 350,000 books available, at the main site and a few other satellite locations in town.<br />
<br />
It would be easy to spend a whole day here. The grounds are beautifully landscaped, with Adirondack chairs and other seating areas to sit down with a newly purchased book. They have games and places for kids to play. Best of all, they provide coffee and have a family of friendly cats roaming the grounds.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this beloved site is also where the outing started to go a bit sour.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq9p-jA44W08uH_UqnwDFILzyjwrXbB7m6fgiIwv4jRATpXR_Z-vxJYYqXCfaAw8f-kUElEHFi4tfKBP-hsPa8ok1xWZOLD7U2rlUCDBieT-FeFTpeVAy0RE4e1tuD5PCOTs8honJ5BcB/s1600/IMG_3650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibq9p-jA44W08uH_UqnwDFILzyjwrXbB7m6fgiIwv4jRATpXR_Z-vxJYYqXCfaAw8f-kUElEHFi4tfKBP-hsPa8ok1xWZOLD7U2rlUCDBieT-FeFTpeVAy0RE4e1tuD5PCOTs8honJ5BcB/s320/IMG_3650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
That would once again be a flat tire. I had a good year or two of riding in southeastern Connecticut, and now the back tire seems to go out every other ride. I suppose it could be a pinch flat or some such thing, but I'm starting to suspect that the sides of the street are just covered in a fine coating of ground-up glass.<br />
<br />
No problem, I thought, I'll just patch it and use my portable pump to refill the tube. Except my patch kit was empty and I'd accidentally left the pump in another bag. The folks at the Book Barn suggested that I walk my bike over to Hole-in-the-Wall Beach, since there was a newly installed bike repair station there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_rFEa8mzW5gNQYKH0evt2zkVkTfoVzgYgldK-Mkd18QVyR-vdL2GpwC2zoR-NbIEyWZ0Y12MZzw1qu3-LJvcVPan9S0nWFPrjutd0gWP8DR94sn9Q3ouKHL8r6eZrT0id_ed6q9IHSUj/s1600/IMG_3651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_rFEa8mzW5gNQYKH0evt2zkVkTfoVzgYgldK-Mkd18QVyR-vdL2GpwC2zoR-NbIEyWZ0Y12MZzw1qu3-LJvcVPan9S0nWFPrjutd0gWP8DR94sn9Q3ouKHL8r6eZrT0id_ed6q9IHSUj/s320/IMG_3651.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It was a fairly brief walk downtown, and I eventually saw the sign for the repair station. At about the same time, my wife texted to let me know that she wasn't going to make the rendezvous; our daughter was having a meltdown and refusing to get into the car. So much for Plan B of stuffing the bike in the back of her car and catching a ride.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vHBRYuu_h-cb9DVSiUUZdwuoC7r_NuJupfayfukAgYpjW1HJrKBe-IViFzkWM_P8iyft53NvL3hH0bUcBFTB12GwxJuiSPHGwVlZVSr74mGo7M4cGfzUWzI-9c9YJvjU56ClWrqQpe7a/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vHBRYuu_h-cb9DVSiUUZdwuoC7r_NuJupfayfukAgYpjW1HJrKBe-IViFzkWM_P8iyft53NvL3hH0bUcBFTB12GwxJuiSPHGwVlZVSr74mGo7M4cGfzUWzI-9c9YJvjU56ClWrqQpe7a/s320/IMG_3652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLnZMNTZA2rOjg3HA2zSg09qEgiVt8cvClYFfvnLm5Co5UN1K95LXSwOSIu6MDu2ThlziLfodaFdyYiTzwuIacMnQXSa4HhPL6kBSf8G1Xt0caUyELsCuTA3w-x-1hFiAve3ouIGHqe57/s1600/IMG_3653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLnZMNTZA2rOjg3HA2zSg09qEgiVt8cvClYFfvnLm5Co5UN1K95LXSwOSIu6MDu2ThlziLfodaFdyYiTzwuIacMnQXSa4HhPL6kBSf8G1Xt0caUyELsCuTA3w-x-1hFiAve3ouIGHqe57/s320/IMG_3653.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The beach is certainly a nice destination for bicyclists. There's a small stretch of white sand on a cove, separated from another beach by a hilly park with bluffs offering beautiful views over the water. There's also a lengthy boardwalk running along the railroad tracks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiiBo6ihbDhOXr0RZm1MfjNVt0c01eo25AkZA5aSN1chRI4EdPpnVuvcE3WPeeH_wxRDIdmuupcrb6lyUp_qjjfvQ68XFbgin_vjF3enYCIrf8sAZnA2kKzypnQBk9fbc4hbS6hlp2bHf/s1600/IMG_3654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiiBo6ihbDhOXr0RZm1MfjNVt0c01eo25AkZA5aSN1chRI4EdPpnVuvcE3WPeeH_wxRDIdmuupcrb6lyUp_qjjfvQ68XFbgin_vjF3enYCIrf8sAZnA2kKzypnQBk9fbc4hbS6hlp2bHf/s320/IMG_3654.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The bike repair station was located just off the parking lot for Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. Armed with a newly purchased patch kit, I got to work. The station only had one tire lever, but a wrench proved a suitable substitute. With the tube out, I planned to inflate it and identify the puncture.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-iPAqDjT7jnOWkBdJNdStK1azuiODI_AtmYAxMeNQuPZcYeoPpS9Bhi-L10L5F2tS7HQz37oX-lDd2eN3d_jNuaZoNcnTF8bAwtpp3nBsZPnr2be-DsuiRV2maRNRzOb45rKXM0V67jp/s1600/IMG_3655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr-iPAqDjT7jnOWkBdJNdStK1azuiODI_AtmYAxMeNQuPZcYeoPpS9Bhi-L10L5F2tS7HQz37oX-lDd2eN3d_jNuaZoNcnTF8bAwtpp3nBsZPnr2be-DsuiRV2maRNRzOb45rKXM0V67jp/s320/IMG_3655.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Except that the Presta valve pump was absolute garbage. This may have been the point where I started saying some words that weren't suitable for small children.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2IXyiuwFu2sdxPke3sTIv3mYxB_6U0XRLEa8otD2IUd4K1-75aQtuF5LvGABsUODzai8ZOgWZBxeiNyks0aL4Z20auDMNZdDFErHtuIgz9tlie_6pvhjXlGiBCbJY4uLhJp-RGtod6fP/s1600/IMG_3662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2IXyiuwFu2sdxPke3sTIv3mYxB_6U0XRLEa8otD2IUd4K1-75aQtuF5LvGABsUODzai8ZOgWZBxeiNyks0aL4Z20auDMNZdDFErHtuIgz9tlie_6pvhjXlGiBCbJY4uLhJp-RGtod6fP/s320/IMG_3662.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So I trudged back into town with the various parts of my bike to ask Niantic Bay Bicycles to rescue me once again. And then I told them that it was one of those days where you really need a beer and walked the short distance to the brewery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCckj8LgNZNiShn_6p_WoFHqZpi-eOfa36raItO0D-U76q2hEGV3Mcn5fJzirp9qkkz4UbGQv9ed_2BhEk5L0pWuqrkxaF0dkFMFPcfFxpJ566r_sUQ2Hr00WbM6qPiiY-HbN2_ihGYZZi/s1600/IMG_3657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCckj8LgNZNiShn_6p_WoFHqZpi-eOfa36raItO0D-U76q2hEGV3Mcn5fJzirp9qkkz4UbGQv9ed_2BhEk5L0pWuqrkxaF0dkFMFPcfFxpJ566r_sUQ2Hr00WbM6qPiiY-HbN2_ihGYZZi/s320/IMG_3657.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Niantic Public House and Brewery had been in planning for quite some time before it opened in November 2018. I'd visited once before, but it still seemed to be a bit of a work in progress. The space was sparsely furnished, and the bartender apologetically said she wasn't able to fill a growler because my preferred variety was down to its last keg. On this visit, they'd made a few improvements, including a popcorn machine that allowed them to serve a snack with each beer order.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6UHnvmLipwMoRKHo8xS9Vywykk-MHGbqOdGGli8eAZk6xbs_KTG3l9sMVAYwMUpr1G-sx0GfpYCFBKkpUQxvH3bMBNkv8YoNWzVANWaKdCKvJUYrRvw3WGJ5qzSqWENdrkhlAN6uMtUe/s1600/IMG_3658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6UHnvmLipwMoRKHo8xS9Vywykk-MHGbqOdGGli8eAZk6xbs_KTG3l9sMVAYwMUpr1G-sx0GfpYCFBKkpUQxvH3bMBNkv8YoNWzVANWaKdCKvJUYrRvw3WGJ5qzSqWENdrkhlAN6uMtUe/s320/IMG_3658.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I had to get home to relieve my wife of angry toddler duty, so I limited myself to one full pour. I got the Penguins Are Cute Porter, which was quite a tasty dark beer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wmWQ0Jv02_kaEJFrxyMrITdPQYXBgnIpfSXNdRMKXjN0nMxvATTGAEJ8Bmwzt5e7xjGyAOrMbSF9pKHQt_w5NZjXZXVZOx8lqfFmyC2Oo5WknQ7oSmlWE4ALI2L9ps_-briKjwAPEcdy/s1600/IMG_3661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4wmWQ0Jv02_kaEJFrxyMrITdPQYXBgnIpfSXNdRMKXjN0nMxvATTGAEJ8Bmwzt5e7xjGyAOrMbSF9pKHQt_w5NZjXZXVZOx8lqfFmyC2Oo5WknQ7oSmlWE4ALI2L9ps_-briKjwAPEcdy/s320/IMG_3661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5x9vPWo8_eZRwwfNjtxnRdJIrBTKxedXKup5UFJRgefUxXVCyMcw9viEvHc95BSNyEc5BcQ1WPohWvYI9uFh_U9MoKfwl6NVAeIJihgE9Y0c65kXRYmwpnfGGV0GF5WmGOSufK5JBsiY/s1600/IMG_3660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5x9vPWo8_eZRwwfNjtxnRdJIrBTKxedXKup5UFJRgefUxXVCyMcw9viEvHc95BSNyEc5BcQ1WPohWvYI9uFh_U9MoKfwl6NVAeIJihgE9Y0c65kXRYmwpnfGGV0GF5WmGOSufK5JBsiY/s320/IMG_3660.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One stunning change since my first visit to the Niantic Public House and Brewery were a series of murals added throughout. Sea turtles, a key part of the business's theme, swam across the main part of the brewery, while beer-drinking dinosaurs lurked in the men's room.<br />
<br />
And then it was back to Niantic Bay Bicycles to pick up my repaired bike and head back home. I mostly retracted my route, though I did decide to swing by nearby Williams Park to showcase this nicely landscaped New London venue with a statue of local hero Nathan Hale.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PI-e81BIPAM8hRg2sK2dXw6AHLfFkMr54CyXtMGUuCjSqIuQxCv7MOCtAOoI3UVJPZVdZ-uFwXrtq6kaJkoGfZ2S3EZFlck7W1BoXuBCPqtfqGxGNjVN4HiguRT6P5rrJeWIHHtGyJAM/s1600/IMG_3665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PI-e81BIPAM8hRg2sK2dXw6AHLfFkMr54CyXtMGUuCjSqIuQxCv7MOCtAOoI3UVJPZVdZ-uFwXrtq6kaJkoGfZ2S3EZFlck7W1BoXuBCPqtfqGxGNjVN4HiguRT6P5rrJeWIHHtGyJAM/s320/IMG_3665.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Also, my back tire got another puncture a few weeks later. I really hate these roads sometimes.<br />
<br />
Total mileage: 16.14 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/12/bike-and-brew-these-guys-brewing.html">These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/10/bike-and-brew-mohegan-cafe-and-brewery.html">Mohegan Cafe and Brewery</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/04/bike-and-brew-noble-jay-brewing-company.html">Noble Jay Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/06/once-explosion-of-craft-breweries-in.html">Tox Brewing Company</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-43745125483110444742019-07-08T11:37:00.002-07:002019-07-08T14:02:28.751-07:002020 Democratic Candidates by Anticipated Shenanigans at Trump Rallies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXJDQ2YYVaZAG19Yr9E1FsccJjcxENcT-8uzw-Amhil3cPxmJhs7fnmuTl9cNG_Ncyx6Qpp4b_E8CLRHwUXKNRxwRsal5w0aly1OrkRy9dr420Htu4BuSOt2Vvwjwz7KB_ywc0k3T5Hzp/s1600/rallydipshits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQXJDQ2YYVaZAG19Yr9E1FsccJjcxENcT-8uzw-Amhil3cPxmJhs7fnmuTl9cNG_Ncyx6Qpp4b_E8CLRHwUXKNRxwRsal5w0aly1OrkRy9dr420Htu4BuSOt2Vvwjwz7KB_ywc0k3T5Hzp/s320/rallydipshits.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/2016-election-donald-trump-press-freedom-first-amendment-520389">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Trump rallies are ridiculous.<br />
<br />
Look, I know people who are supporters of President Trump for one reason or another. They think other countries have been taking advantage of the United States and he's pushing back against that, or that he's trying to improve federal spending, or whatever. Most of them acknowledge Trump's less than affable public personality, but usually say something along the lines of "Yeah, he's kind of an asshole but I think he's done a good job with XYZ."<br />
<br />
I don't really agree with these sentiments, but I try my best to listen to opposing viewpoints. Given that conservatives were frothing at the mouth to attack President Obama for any possible misstep ("He asked for <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/barack-obama-donald-trump-russia-investigation-dijon-mustard-scandal-fox-fake-623643"><i>Dijon mustard </i>on his burger</a>, like a <i>Frenchman?!?</i>"), it's not really a good look to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2017/11/06/cnn-others-hyperventilate-over-president-trumps-perfectly-fine-fish-feeding/">go after Trump for his fish feeding abilities</a>...especially when there's plenty of personal quirks and policy to criticize. And I think most if not all of the more levelheaded folks who voted for Trump do the same thing; they may be rooted pretty strongly in an ideology, but are willing to consider opposing viewpoints.<br />
<br />
But the people who attend Trump rallies? Yeah, I don't think they fall into this category. Because these rallies just seem to attract some pretty awful people.<br />
<br />
I mean, what else would you expect when you give a blatantly obvious narcissist in perpetual need of self-reassurance a lectern and a microphone, and invite a crowd to indulge him in the idea that he's the greatest human to walk the earth? And hey, why not have said narcissist rail on about how people who criticize him are enemies of the country, since the impressionable people at the rally will lap it up and go into a proud, frenzied, public demonstration of the worst aspects of their personality? So the shining examples of humanity these rallies feature front and center include <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/qanon-conspiracy-theory-attend-trump-michigan-rally-deep-state-2019-3">QAnon morons</a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/19/us/confederate-flag-trump.html">neo-Confederates</a>, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/12/media/bbc-camera-man-attack-trump-rally-scli/index.html">people who harass reporters</a>, and other very fine people who get offended when they're called deplorable.<br />
<br />
Given that Trump <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_post-election_Donald_Trump_rallies">never actually stopped holding these horrible events</a>, and that he's officially declared his re-election bid for 2020, we're obviously going to see more of them in the next 16 months. In the meantime, the Democrats have 25 possible candidates to run against him, and the one they settle on will inevitably be subject to whatever jibes and effigies and other nonsense at the Trump rallies.<br />
<br />
And since people have been having fun creating lists of <a href="https://www.popdust.com/democrat-candidates-as-characters-2639016800.html">"Democratic Candidates as...,"</a> I thought I'd make one about how you could identify the likely candidate based on the reaction at one of Trump's ego boosters in the midsummer of 2020:<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Joe Biden</b><br />
<br />
Seeking to capitalize on Trump's "Sleepy Joe" nickname, the rallies hand out free nightcaps for attendees. The crowd of angry people wearing white caps ends up looking like something else.<br />
<br />
<b>Bernie Sanders</b><br />
<br />
After Trump denounces Bernie's "socialized socialist socialism," rally attendees are inspired to torch their Social Security cards, driver's licenses, library cards, Medicare cards, and any other forms issued by a local, state, or federal government. Fire departments supported by local taxes respond to a burning arena after the flaming ID cards inadvertently ignite a Confederate flag someone has proudly displayed at the rally.<br />
<br />
<b>Elizabeth Warren</b><br />
<br />
Rally attendees pretending to be offended by Warren's dubious claims of Native American ancestry respond to every single one of Trump's "Pocahontas" remarks by erupting into tomahawk chops and war whoops.<br />
<br />
<b>Cory Booker, Julian Castro, Kamala Harris, or Wayne Messam</b><br />
<br />
Pretty much just blatant racism.<br />
<br />
<b>Pete Buttigieg</b><br />
<br />
Pretty much just blatant homophobia.<br />
<br />
<b>Kirsten Gillibrand</b><br />
<br />
Confused by Gillibrand's vague resemblance to a younger Hillary Clinton, Trump frequently slips up and yells about e-mails and crookedness. The crowd doesn't bother to correct him and obediently erupts into cheers of "Lock her up!"<br />
<br />
<b>Andrew Yang</b><br />
<br />
In order to criticize Yang's proposal of a universal basic income, rally organizer hand out "cash guns" to make it rain with fake money. Trump officials collect the counterfeit bills at the end of each rally and try to use them to pay off subcontractors jilted by Trump.<br />
<br />
<b>Beto O'Rourke</b><br />
<br />
Having already tested out his flailing arm mockery, Trump thrashes his arms around in an exaggerated imitation of O'Rourke's mannerisms; it's the most exercise he's gotten in years.<br />
<br />
<b>Jay Inslee</b><br />
<br />
Rally that would have made fun of Inslee for making climate change his central issue when it's still kind of cold in winter in some places is canceled after Florida is obliterated by Superstorm Geoffrey.<br />
<br />
<b>Amy Klobuchar</b><br />
<br />
As a gimmick to highlight accusations that Klobuchar is a mean boss, rally organizers hand out binders and other office supplies to throw whenever Trump references these allegations. Many are injured.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>John Hickenlooper</b><br />
<br />
Trump takes the lazy route and nicknames his opponent "Loopy Hickenlooper." He also decides to contest Hickenlooper's record on brewing beer by founding the Trump Brewing Company and inviting rally attendees to find it at the cash bar or their local package store to outsell Hickenlooper's Wynkoop Brewing products. Attendees happily answer the call but give up after one six-pack after realizing that the beer is absolute crap; Trump Brewing fails within a month.<br />
<br />
<b>Tim Ryan</b><br />
<br />
Trump goes on at length about how stupid Ohio voters must be to choose someone like Tim Ryan as their representative while his handlers desperately try to signal him to stop.<br />
<br />
<b>Tulsi Gabbard</b><br />
<br />
Attendees start coming to rallies dressed up like Moana and Maui, and burst into impromptu renditions of "You're Welcome" whenever Trump brags about his purported accomplishments. Disney brings the legal hammer down on each and every person who does this with a lawsuit for unlicensed use of copyrighted material.<br />
<br />
<b>Steve Bullock</b><br />
<br />
Trump mocks Bullock by making some remark about how Montana is the site of Little Bighorn, site of a notorious defeat of American armed forces by Native Americans. Rally attendees immediately accept his claim that he would have won the battle and Bullock would have rolled over for the Sioux.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Bill de Blasio</b><br />
<br />
A vehemently anti-New York City theme builds from rally to rally, with attendees' insults toward the metropolis and its residents growing more and more intense. Trump, a lifelong New Yorker, finally snaps somewhere in the Midwest and calls the crowd a "bunch of losers meting out a sad existence in some meth-encrusted flyover shithole." Trump rally attendees are finally shocked by something Trump says.<br />
<br />
<b>Seth Moulton</b><br />
<br />
As a rebuttal to Moulton's military service, Trump brags about how great a soldier he would have been in Vietnam if he had actually gone there. The crowd starts dressing like the cast of <i>Hocus Pocus </i>after realizing that Moulton represents Salem, Massachusetts.<br />
<br />
<b>Eric Swalwell</b><br />
<br />
As a dig at Swalwell's central issue of addressing gun violence, Trump rallies begin inviting people to bring their firearms to the rallies and show that they can handle them responsibly. The rallies average 26 people accidentally shot per event as well as approximately 863 bullets shot into arena ceilings during the celebratory gunfire that follows a Trump insult.<br />
<br />
[Posted just hours before learning that <a href="https://www.vox.com/2019/7/8/20686166/eric-swalwell-dropping-out-president-2020">this scenario will not happen</a>]<br />
<br />
<b>Joe Sestak</b><br />
<br />
If Sestak gets the nomination, Trump would be going up against a likable former Navy admiral with a solid record but little name recognition as of yet. Trump rallies will feature the President completely ignoring Sestak in favor of yelling about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.<br />
<br />
<b>Michael Bennett</b><br />
<br />
Born in New Delhi, India, Michael Bennett is the only Democratic candidate who could maybe merit a "birther" scandal. But he doesn't <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/trump-in-1993-they-don-t-look-indian-716425283908">"look Indian"</a> and he's a senator from Colorado, so Trump instead spends most of the rally making bad jokes about marijuana.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Mike Gravel</b><br />
<br />
Trump mocks Mike Gravel's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rZdAB4V_j8">bizarre 2008 presidential campaign ad</a> where he stares at the camera for awhile and then throws a rock into a pond. Rally attendees start to respond by bringing in their own large stones and chucking them whenever he makes this reference. Many are injured.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Marianne Williamson</b><br />
<br />
Trump settles on "Moonbeam Marianne" for his nickname, though most Democrats are using this as well. Rally attendees buy crystals and dreamcatchers, both to make fun of them and because their horoscope told them they would try a new experience today.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-26377640925701188542019-06-03T12:06:00.002-07:002019-09-30T08:52:37.677-07:00Bike and Brew: Tox Brewing Company<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizGUGgb3yg7fPTF2HKJx6h71HNH7fnRhBBzDQ0j_hBHMg973lTZzCvvw43IkjY7dYKK3okfyl9wl6YAAZcbbwY4uY3WQ-fdVEYigwDtwQszPsP31-cYOhfkAaVkS9PwLpy5DVfxZEiVy4/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizGUGgb3yg7fPTF2HKJx6h71HNH7fnRhBBzDQ0j_hBHMg973lTZzCvvw43IkjY7dYKK3okfyl9wl6YAAZcbbwY4uY3WQ-fdVEYigwDtwQszPsP31-cYOhfkAaVkS9PwLpy5DVfxZEiVy4/s320/IMG_3441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Once the explosion of craft breweries in Connecticut began to hit a fever pitch, I wondered how long it would be before one was established in New London. Even with the popular <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a> located just across the river in Groton, eastern Connecticut still has a pretty low number of breweries per capita and a brewery would certainly bolster New London's efforts to be a "hip little city."<br />
<br />
New London finally got its own brewery this spring when Tox Brewing Company opened its doors. Heading directly there would make for a pretty lame Bike and Brew; after all, the place is about half a mile from my house with hardly anything along the way other than an intersection stuffed with car dealerships.<br />
<br />
So I figured a ramble along the coast before hitting the brewery would be a better outing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubIR-0ZQDPMwplrNArfWVseh-URdNG71IonTIP74Y7QtaMZ19tjwahTbxW1eQHCVRT5963X89MtvWX8gASy0Eeo95ZjLc6gbTee6tAigrctb9IEm_g-rYjcwjsPv5oLVDKwHttJWZW6tX/s1600/IMG_3415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubIR-0ZQDPMwplrNArfWVseh-URdNG71IonTIP74Y7QtaMZ19tjwahTbxW1eQHCVRT5963X89MtvWX8gASy0Eeo95ZjLc6gbTee6tAigrctb9IEm_g-rYjcwjsPv5oLVDKwHttJWZW6tX/s320/IMG_3415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLREHYQ05V3G8MSnMltlLunf_dAzRaxI5rQ_-dqssXgdQAkuLTFFmfWJvaBy7AFyGKPUlypR1lRTdPqYjyU1KYz5mJpZrwE51abtyIQZHsKj7CiriafwN6Ai1hf7LPgWWevcF1-UUBGSyA/s1600/IMG_3414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLREHYQ05V3G8MSnMltlLunf_dAzRaxI5rQ_-dqssXgdQAkuLTFFmfWJvaBy7AFyGKPUlypR1lRTdPqYjyU1KYz5mJpZrwE51abtyIQZHsKj7CiriafwN6Ai1hf7LPgWWevcF1-UUBGSyA/s320/IMG_3414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
New London faces a lot of challenges: it's a tiny city, measuring about six square miles. Its downtown has quite a few vacant storefronts, and many properties are tax-exempt (including a hospital, three colleges, and a plethora of churches).<br />
<br />
Still, quite a few people are upbeat about New London's present and future. I took the photos above from a single spot, showcasing the "Whale Oil Row" of Greek Revival buildings and the Garde Arts Center, a beloved local theater.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD7mnLx05vRnn3Jr1gA3QRobqWwqHGZmn9rCpQo3v-CsMahaGs0Uo67Ys0HYXZp_0oC74HFolJbzSPMbXVLIGDhlU0M3-TSeNFZeTAEisVBOfxW55bxwo9tgYw2Y1ofrpfe9GGBQRmvda/s1600/IMG_3416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifD7mnLx05vRnn3Jr1gA3QRobqWwqHGZmn9rCpQo3v-CsMahaGs0Uo67Ys0HYXZp_0oC74HFolJbzSPMbXVLIGDhlU0M3-TSeNFZeTAEisVBOfxW55bxwo9tgYw2Y1ofrpfe9GGBQRmvda/s320/IMG_3416.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Biking in the city is a bit of a challenge, but drivers are usually pretty accommodating of cyclists. After making my way through the center of the city, I paid a visit to the Fort Trumbull peninsula. There's an impressive fort preserved on the waterfront here, and it has some fascinating history to it. Late in the Revolutionary War, a British force led by Benedict Arnold attacked the fort as well as another one across the river in Groton. Fort Trumbull was later used as a Navy research center, and has only been a state park for about two decades.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzUGNk-bnziv_s-OZ1SaaIoOiG2_TmznVsYZB2J5yVZnxI7iY7DMWXQWND0lcGLvRjU7yH4Q0D0r_CmsY7OzBQvgUXobz9h1TIFZYTmH-SuHtHDwZY5qGh5k7JaetMZbOpj-Y_Nrp-qJ3/s1600/IMG_3419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="1600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzUGNk-bnziv_s-OZ1SaaIoOiG2_TmznVsYZB2J5yVZnxI7iY7DMWXQWND0lcGLvRjU7yH4Q0D0r_CmsY7OzBQvgUXobz9h1TIFZYTmH-SuHtHDwZY5qGh5k7JaetMZbOpj-Y_Nrp-qJ3/s320/IMG_3419.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Unfortunately, people probably know Fort Trumbull more for its association with the infamous Kelo v. New London case. The Supreme Court narrowly decided that pharmaceutical giant Pfizer could use eminent domain to take over property on the peninsula for a development to support the nearby headquarters it had built in New London.<br />
<br />
Then they never actually carried through on the development, and abandoned the headquarters as soon as their tax incentives ran out. So there you have it: the company that makes Viagra is run by a bunch of dicks.<br />
<br />
I should point out that the empty parcels are clear and ready for development, though. Some armchair activists out there have screamed that the site is now being used as a garbage dump, probably because it was briefly a staging ground to take care of fallen trees and other debris after Hurricane Irene.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAim8dE43kxMn_CFlZbVwrG9SjXTvDzsUnKrozlICSIBMEUGkfprxkf6cu5lNh7JlUZ6paKTIT-K-_w8dZPZK3IEjQuhfl7CKA32APLBnM6-hVJuLyDxrYj0gIpc-np-YJupNb5Vd87LYk/s1600/IMG_3420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAim8dE43kxMn_CFlZbVwrG9SjXTvDzsUnKrozlICSIBMEUGkfprxkf6cu5lNh7JlUZ6paKTIT-K-_w8dZPZK3IEjQuhfl7CKA32APLBnM6-hVJuLyDxrYj0gIpc-np-YJupNb5Vd87LYk/s320/IMG_3420.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_4LyM4ygx5Q1DwfLmhX39CRhYnvLrf3Gzukyp5ODFJkNErH6cIxNcvknTOUReQu1lZfVMuIL3zjYtciCWpMc494dAtc85ChByc7A2G_jlnoOAy3fKoaAXXzGOda7TeVqWdyTPLKUSg2n/s1600/IMG_3421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_4LyM4ygx5Q1DwfLmhX39CRhYnvLrf3Gzukyp5ODFJkNErH6cIxNcvknTOUReQu1lZfVMuIL3zjYtciCWpMc494dAtc85ChByc7A2G_jlnoOAy3fKoaAXXzGOda7TeVqWdyTPLKUSg2n/s320/IMG_3421.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsG4xeMAT0HV_YYhTLtUJDui8Y7NlJxwgzU6ZvRWnZ_pj-POwBGNmQIG1FnWhL4lyIE8Dfm4BORMaX_777Q-UTQjoXAsrsmR9CxMsVZlByWpqv3odVeVk7IG8_tWp5QxQAwzIS4VyL1bm/s1600/IMG_3422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsG4xeMAT0HV_YYhTLtUJDui8Y7NlJxwgzU6ZvRWnZ_pj-POwBGNmQIG1FnWhL4lyIE8Dfm4BORMaX_777Q-UTQjoXAsrsmR9CxMsVZlByWpqv3odVeVk7IG8_tWp5QxQAwzIS4VyL1bm/s320/IMG_3422.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-PuqCfu1ewCDavKvCXRRiDLzS9q_Z8m2Cwo4bxjZFEulrYiOPgCRBhxFuWPLAxAH11wBd0WrppckXtMTcK5RQVXuOOz7Xw0SpbZsxQ6mPxmKNsNJvUC449ChhNVjFVPt6OYGELM2PDqz/s1600/IMG_3423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-PuqCfu1ewCDavKvCXRRiDLzS9q_Z8m2Cwo4bxjZFEulrYiOPgCRBhxFuWPLAxAH11wBd0WrppckXtMTcK5RQVXuOOz7Xw0SpbZsxQ6mPxmKNsNJvUC449ChhNVjFVPt6OYGELM2PDqz/s320/IMG_3423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
From Fort Trumbull, Pequot Avenue allows a lovely route along the Thames River where it empties into Long Island Sound. It terminates near Ocean Beach Park, a popular white sand beach with a half-mile boardwalk and plenty of summer amusements.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYks8pMs31TIg7k19ezx4WqZBlR5CTKfjx-vtzXWqs6GQTVDqrMamP71wHk4vMv8Zgf7u5ATNzSH09AJC1WK9u8u9C488uCevJmhQJ3nbzh2ujkXgZ0v9m1Qm5ZKNz3SISWZYQy2YUUwq/s1600/IMG_3424.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrYks8pMs31TIg7k19ezx4WqZBlR5CTKfjx-vtzXWqs6GQTVDqrMamP71wHk4vMv8Zgf7u5ATNzSH09AJC1WK9u8u9C488uCevJmhQJ3nbzh2ujkXgZ0v9m1Qm5ZKNz3SISWZYQy2YUUwq/s320/IMG_3424.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4zBi3zFAcWjnhV8CN_kAkL5CtFjZHOBoVDh2_EK9DhURxwkyP0ZeyHcILreJ3Rx8UwZQs2rVpS35Ej2IxoJ26c2xjb7X7NVIJYu9WwcYUAazRUULLD8xBpXI8Aqa3B4NujZFg_7pokkJ/s1600/IMG_3425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil4zBi3zFAcWjnhV8CN_kAkL5CtFjZHOBoVDh2_EK9DhURxwkyP0ZeyHcILreJ3Rx8UwZQs2rVpS35Ej2IxoJ26c2xjb7X7NVIJYu9WwcYUAazRUULLD8xBpXI8Aqa3B4NujZFg_7pokkJ/s320/IMG_3425.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Continuing along the coast, you soon cross into Waterford and find yourself at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. This campus-style environment has several different performing stages, plus a collection of cottages for actors and other residents to stay. It also has a nice-looking little pub on the premises, but unfortunately that was <a href="https://www.theday.com/article/20190205/NWS01/190209740">heavily damaged by a burst pipe</a> and is currently under repair.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-JR0RvdsJTFZ-nI29AyA19KNAxk2yc1FU74sv_dWlPAdZUH_JkPeCNvMzjlcuPtCWJRRGDacNEodvXV5FanLkKQLllrNEPgLFJepdbInDTuKh69_vXC5IXu-B-EUFr86DjLBfeEgkaTv/s1600/IMG_3426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-JR0RvdsJTFZ-nI29AyA19KNAxk2yc1FU74sv_dWlPAdZUH_JkPeCNvMzjlcuPtCWJRRGDacNEodvXV5FanLkKQLllrNEPgLFJepdbInDTuKh69_vXC5IXu-B-EUFr86DjLBfeEgkaTv/s320/IMG_3426.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Just below the theater center is Waterford Beach, which has the same white sand as Ocean Beach but none of the development.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9duYMuvQnCT2rnsBVfh3YtmIPvm6FB16BY3JTUld0KizhIw0vkVP_ySeYlpW2ViqeU6ur8XZTf8unyR8cQrEfZokVlqTsh2F7vfs4-xfuef9gEg3Bwk6PDZL_PGDvkfXGk36DAk4lzS7/s1600/IMG_3430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9duYMuvQnCT2rnsBVfh3YtmIPvm6FB16BY3JTUld0KizhIw0vkVP_ySeYlpW2ViqeU6ur8XZTf8unyR8cQrEfZokVlqTsh2F7vfs4-xfuef9gEg3Bwk6PDZL_PGDvkfXGk36DAk4lzS7/s320/IMG_3430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQu1NbQARvf_D5NnTFFPHLEd7axm_0ArqWTEDb0o2Ut65lGQN9IKL5PfkUvFCkV025ior7t3htMg-uoD7PvHLAm4V_9MxYfjlmGPM3RDtsdSnSIRUjpQxS2lKEEB_JOmzRqfzt4ZSnOzo/s1600/IMG_3432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQu1NbQARvf_D5NnTFFPHLEd7axm_0ArqWTEDb0o2Ut65lGQN9IKL5PfkUvFCkV025ior7t3htMg-uoD7PvHLAm4V_9MxYfjlmGPM3RDtsdSnSIRUjpQxS2lKEEB_JOmzRqfzt4ZSnOzo/s320/IMG_3432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Much the the coastline in this area is preserved, with Harkness Memorial State Park being the next site you come across. The park is the former homestead of a family who made a bundle of money on Standard Oil and later invested it into several philanthropic causes. They left the property to be used as a state park, and tours of the Harkness mansion are available in summer. The home also has stunning gardens, which were already coming into bloom during the early spring ride.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzD0yDJTL6_aFghSdsufiUVAqg_FnlTVBdCia-DD10caUfZ7pRjtEtZSvTHg3KN4o8qzfP80JxAsIjuEqAbGc3TTjjrHDqY6eu4-Lg7YCMJhJvLaVGyOn61eP_Z8CeDebQm4cKRwJHCUy/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzD0yDJTL6_aFghSdsufiUVAqg_FnlTVBdCia-DD10caUfZ7pRjtEtZSvTHg3KN4o8qzfP80JxAsIjuEqAbGc3TTjjrHDqY6eu4-Lg7YCMJhJvLaVGyOn61eP_Z8CeDebQm4cKRwJHCUy/s320/IMG_3433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJSNeYv5TiVZcqk12t7tMXV9lwYxRi4kgyiR5ZIm2VMLyD_nZcEZG1_l_PjN7qX77yNpZetLLjBvsEFJBpOnaxme7Wf_fuzKTVapEl8_cBkUP2kiq3UkkxkG9hVlpJMdaD4dKJKS9EwVo/s1600/IMG_3434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1600" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJSNeYv5TiVZcqk12t7tMXV9lwYxRi4kgyiR5ZIm2VMLyD_nZcEZG1_l_PjN7qX77yNpZetLLjBvsEFJBpOnaxme7Wf_fuzKTVapEl8_cBkUP2kiq3UkkxkG9hVlpJMdaD4dKJKS9EwVo/s320/IMG_3434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0qQ3Gd9zoXN4mjYy56QDk1LnvWtzB-uwCdiJOHbqblbOQz6vW5yL2Dn0sAmRc-VJ7bcAg_ObreuWwprPDvxdqpYXz4HwbQApfgPsG4uHBOB2dmU6fHRFo-c_Up_w1ys07r70Z6tO9hPW/s1600/IMG_3435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0qQ3Gd9zoXN4mjYy56QDk1LnvWtzB-uwCdiJOHbqblbOQz6vW5yL2Dn0sAmRc-VJ7bcAg_ObreuWwprPDvxdqpYXz4HwbQApfgPsG4uHBOB2dmU6fHRFo-c_Up_w1ys07r70Z6tO9hPW/s320/IMG_3435.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Farther along down the coast is Seaside, which recently <a href="https://www.theday.com/article/20190423/NWS05/190429795">became a state park under more controversial circumstances</a>. A former tuberculosis sanatorium, and later a mental health facility, the site was popular with urban explorers before being fenced off by the state. It's still a nice secluded place to take in a view of the water.<br />
<br />
Continuing along Shore Road brings you along an inlet with several palatial houses and a place called Pleasure Beach. This beach is a bit of an odd one: it's divided into thirds, with one part open to the public, another open to nearby residents, and another open to members.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_QAN08t-32TbmOV3hW6Tnu89yjM06xfwaNVX14giCWfw_BysHJ9Qr-oq0BJnmhGQKHJYqBAKGJcmJCNO5L_SRJXyuggLOSDpwwYr-wEIEN7imSW4_4WnSgSjMZHsFBjK5bfQOtNeGv3l/s1600/IMG_3437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_QAN08t-32TbmOV3hW6Tnu89yjM06xfwaNVX14giCWfw_BysHJ9Qr-oq0BJnmhGQKHJYqBAKGJcmJCNO5L_SRJXyuggLOSDpwwYr-wEIEN7imSW4_4WnSgSjMZHsFBjK5bfQOtNeGv3l/s320/IMG_3437.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We New Londoners sometimes see the Waterford crowd as a bit high-and-mighty, especially those who turn their noses up at the city rabble, and this sign might be the best illustration of that. This is just one of several signs set up along the area bordering the public part of Pleasure Beach, angrily warning off potential trespassers and demanding that qualified beachgoers wear their identification badges to show that they belong.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShB8n-gLF4_OtSFivBExJAuJhLTvWFed0j9gi7VkUoY_lbisdmSlqbkmeJwLVPCwE5fSvAMXJXqMjZpTbDseGGDBUGAL4v1I0RCPZTWvmdD3vxCWyebYphNWhRBws_xXkqFbJlH1xwk7s/s1600/IMG_3438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShB8n-gLF4_OtSFivBExJAuJhLTvWFed0j9gi7VkUoY_lbisdmSlqbkmeJwLVPCwE5fSvAMXJXqMjZpTbDseGGDBUGAL4v1I0RCPZTWvmdD3vxCWyebYphNWhRBws_xXkqFbJlH1xwk7s/s320/IMG_3438.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
All for a tiny beach with a view of a nuclear power plant. Whatever floats your boat, exclusive Waterford crowd.<br />
<br />
That about covered the interesting things to see along the coast, so I made a straight shot back to New London to stop in at Tox.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAE909DQcjtxiuua0Gs2sIG89l988GIpB4qfs-uCcrsxia11GylOCWhak0pUH0a1enLS0ARjjlLMfhHzEto2INI1yKPoP53DgXLMbgJn55lU6Q3C-Cpt-3Ktfx2fygWqCwn5QLkUijBj0/s1600/IMG_3440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpAE909DQcjtxiuua0Gs2sIG89l988GIpB4qfs-uCcrsxia11GylOCWhak0pUH0a1enLS0ARjjlLMfhHzEto2INI1yKPoP53DgXLMbgJn55lU6Q3C-Cpt-3Ktfx2fygWqCwn5QLkUijBj0/s320/IMG_3440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Tox Brewing Company is set up in a former fruit market. The name refers to one of the founders' background in toxicology, which also explains the poison dart frog logo. I'm still hoping they'll figure out a way to slap some glow-in-the-dark paint on that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizGUGgb3yg7fPTF2HKJx6h71HNH7fnRhBBzDQ0j_hBHMg973lTZzCvvw43IkjY7dYKK3okfyl9wl6YAAZcbbwY4uY3WQ-fdVEYigwDtwQszPsP31-cYOhfkAaVkS9PwLpy5DVfxZEiVy4/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjizGUGgb3yg7fPTF2HKJx6h71HNH7fnRhBBzDQ0j_hBHMg973lTZzCvvw43IkjY7dYKK3okfyl9wl6YAAZcbbwY4uY3WQ-fdVEYigwDtwQszPsP31-cYOhfkAaVkS9PwLpy5DVfxZEiVy4/s320/IMG_3441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTqd9QgB8sOV6IzBhyphenhyphenIsYZrN8-hwJbG-HFGal1XoOU03nFPTy_cln7dr5f9Q3CXBpYwGk5hmYaG5KSJWCqjBX2PzZnth-jGwQgtlorWmK_BWNMij-GUoCcBARtNT5_rH1mn2afjxdW-I1/s1600/IMG_3442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTqd9QgB8sOV6IzBhyphenhyphenIsYZrN8-hwJbG-HFGal1XoOU03nFPTy_cln7dr5f9Q3CXBpYwGk5hmYaG5KSJWCqjBX2PzZnth-jGwQgtlorWmK_BWNMij-GUoCcBARtNT5_rH1mn2afjxdW-I1/s320/IMG_3442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7f8h4TwBYcCXWcjV1CcpRyvxWBLo5trYFrHWIegJHkU9shxCOzNoBl5OK9dZprvyG6H_mmd7DExRw3WOYqmmXuIYmWLLXhoPTo60tLcHSF3qSX_hBq_1rN3E-GSMQkc7FuLaeyUK4jq5t/s1600/IMG_3443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7f8h4TwBYcCXWcjV1CcpRyvxWBLo5trYFrHWIegJHkU9shxCOzNoBl5OK9dZprvyG6H_mmd7DExRw3WOYqmmXuIYmWLLXhoPTo60tLcHSF3qSX_hBq_1rN3E-GSMQkc7FuLaeyUK4jq5t/s320/IMG_3443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This was pretty close to the opening weekend of the brewery, so there was a rather large crowd. Still, I was able to get a seat at a comfortable lounge area set up in one half of the space. The brewery has done a great job with the interior; the toxicology theme is carried on with a wall display of old pharmacy bottles (and beers from other local breweries), and the taps are shaped like mushrooms. Just for fun, they've also housed the iPad used for transactions in an old Macintosh.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4fCGugs4vAaBHrrou_2SpQnVK6XVt3dxkPhKoYJesI_kcqFuaIYiWFgJ4s_9-TGWDbV6x9txJBBXdSBXxY8a5lKqd8CVE2GN8okMkNK6RgjY2ZMUJ33IqRbSGEUYyudmvr25KiDMtpzb/s1600/IMG_3444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4fCGugs4vAaBHrrou_2SpQnVK6XVt3dxkPhKoYJesI_kcqFuaIYiWFgJ4s_9-TGWDbV6x9txJBBXdSBXxY8a5lKqd8CVE2GN8okMkNK6RgjY2ZMUJ33IqRbSGEUYyudmvr25KiDMtpzb/s320/IMG_3444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As a new brewery promotion, Tox was offering a deal where for $10 you got a keepsake tasting beaker and four pours to be tracked with wooden nickels. I was also happy to see them support the local paper (which happens to be my employer) and that they had a robust game collection.<br />
<br />
I sampled some of their IPAs and darker beers, and was impressed by both. In particular, the Deadly Nightshade coffee milk stout was excellent.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0f-NSIzR9yMN5QCBqWZYHK551C-eLHkCmuODEucnT0AuqDktkNFA1d-wRdlych4MIyLw4j-2ovvVex4gU5CrAvsvMIo01vK_wsagQbSwAgVGopOWxdcrdoSkL7TFXd4bt50jmtaVfzwq/s1600/IMG_3445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0f-NSIzR9yMN5QCBqWZYHK551C-eLHkCmuODEucnT0AuqDktkNFA1d-wRdlych4MIyLw4j-2ovvVex4gU5CrAvsvMIo01vK_wsagQbSwAgVGopOWxdcrdoSkL7TFXd4bt50jmtaVfzwq/s320/IMG_3445.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So much, in fact, that I opted to get a growler of it. That's certainly a benefit of ending a Bike and Brew just a few minutes' ride from home.<br />
<br />
Total mileage: 18.97 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/12/bike-and-brew-these-guys-brewing.html">These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/10/bike-and-brew-mohegan-cafe-and-brewery.html">Mohegan Cafe and Brewery</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2019/04/bike-and-brew-noble-jay-brewing-company.html">Noble Jay Brewing Company</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-51019176743925971042019-05-14T11:26:00.000-07:002019-05-14T13:51:12.658-07:00I Make Fun of State Quarters: Indiana<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i>Parks and Recreation</i> has ruined Indiana.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QDIxi99xbOg" width="560"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The sitcom, which ran on NBC from 2009 to 2015, is based in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Early episodes did more to lampoon the ridiculousness of small town politics and town meeting grandstanding, and Pawnee and its residents maintain a certain degree of insanity throughout the series. But the show quickly became more character-driven, dominated in particular by two leads: Leslie Knope, who is fiercely devoted to her community and tirelessly seeks to use her position in town government to improve the city, and Ron Swanson, a libertarian pillar of non-toxic masculinity.</div>
<br />
So why would the portrayal of such likable characters and a quirky but pleasant town be a bad thing for Indiana? Well, because the show was filmed in California. So while Indiana does have some <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoosier_National_Forest">impressive forests</a>, the towering peaks that appear in a few episodes put something of a grandiose spin on the state's natural areas. Especially when its tallest point, Hoosier Hill, tops out at a measly 1,257 feet.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="240" src="https://assets.atlasobscura.com/media/W1siZiIsInVwbG9hZHMvcGxhY2VfaW1hZ2VzLzI2NjliZjc2ZTJhMjVjOTI5N181MzQyOTYwOF8wOGY3ZmQwZGI4X28uanBnIl0sWyJwIiwidGh1bWIiLCJ4MzkwPiJdLFsicCIsImNvbnZlcnQiLCItcXVhbGl0eSA4MSAtYXV0by1vcmllbnQiXV0" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The mighty heights of Hoosier Hill </i>(<a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/hoosier-hill">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And while I'm sure Indiana has its dedicated and likable civil servants, Knope and Swanson set a pretty high bar. It's a bit tough to imagine anyone with political persuasions as different as theirs having their respectable and productive relationship in this era.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the most aggravating thing for the purposes of this blog is that <i>Parks and Recreation</i> is the first thing I thought of when doing my usual association game with the state. It was a fictional city, followed by Mike Pence, Indianapolis (showing up in my head as an indistinct collection of blocky skyscrapers), Mayor Pete (rising in the polls as he is), a city full of oil tanks that Stephen King had Trashcan Man burn down in <i>The Stand</i>, and that crummy Indianapolis mayor I wrote about once who promised he would <a href="https://downfalldictionary.blogspot.com/2009/03/john-l-duvall-black-boxed-in.html">run all of his public works appointments by a Ku Klux Klan grand dragon first</a>.<br />
<br />
It's kind of a desultory selection, with the exception of Mayor Pete (who was still in college at the time the Indiana quarter was selected, and has actually been <a href="http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/04/pete-buttigieg-ben-wyatt-parks-and-rec.html">compared to lovable <i>Parks and Recreation </i>nerd/policy wonk Ben Wyat</a>t). Maybe Indiana's quarter should just make their quarter mimic a basketball and be done with it. Is that what they did?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image result for indiana state quarter" src="http://www.theus50.com/images/state-quarters/indiana-quarter.jpg" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.theus50.com/indiana/quarter.php">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Oh right, that car race where drivers go around in circles for 500 miles. That somehow slipped my mind.<br />
<br />
The Indy 500 is probably the best the state could have done in terms of quarter design, to be honest. I perused the Wikipedia page for Indiana to see what sort of interesting attractions and history and whatnot that I might be overlooking. And the resounding response was, "Really not that much."<br />
<br />
Now I know that might seem a little mean, but let's review some of the other finalists for the state quarter:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/indiana/03big.gif" height="317" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/indiana.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
"Indiana: Trains and boats pass us by."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/indiana/14big.gif" height="313" width="320" /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/indiana.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
"Indiana: Iowa's not the only state with corn."<br />
<br />
To be fair, the same argument could probably be applied to most states. I live in Connecticut, which <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-make-fun-of-state-quarters-connecticut_22.html">wound up going with the storied history of the Charter Oak</a>; of course Nutmeggers probably know what this is while everyone else sees the message as "Connecticut: We have trees."<br />
<br />
Which, incidentally, is similar to another suggestion that was included among the Indiana finalists.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/indiana/13big.gif" height="319" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/indiana.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
"Indiana: We have rocks."<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-29069330268478909112019-04-18T12:24:00.004-07:002019-04-24T13:51:56.044-07:00Bike and Brew: Noble Jay Brewing Company<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR4wA0ajZ2RWGw2eDvuXCQrGzLoGfEvC1p8u8VTwmMZQ4RQ1QCfHR6qmE6ZcTOKDRPmVBDFaNqXiA9uXobLo-Ra9r5Agjg9p9kipzDe8ZUWFLagFv8gUXjq5FQUj_881Rxf_7qUctsUX4/s320/IMG_3373.JPG" /></div>
<br />
This past winter marked the first time I used a bike trainer over the winter. I mentioned to a friend that I had been looking into trainers as a way to stay in shape during the colder months, and he happened to have one he wasn't using. It was a fairly simple setup, allowing me to mount my bike and conveniently do some mild resistance training whenever the spirit moved me.<br />
<br />
But after a long winter, the first warm day of the season immediately beckoned me to get the bike out on the road. My wife and I were already planning to meet with some friends to check out the <a href="http://www.noblejaybrew.com/">Noble Jay Brewing Company</a>, which had opened in the late summer of 2018. It was simple enough for me to leave early by two wheels, with my wife following by car a couple of hours later.<br />
<br />
Within a few pedal strokes of setting out, I was reminded how different it is to ride outside. For one thing, the wind can be pretty fierce and chilly - especially in March. And it's easy to forget how bumpy the roads are when you've had a smooth ride all winter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ5nAmPQ7a0-AEweUwGu0uSpCq-Gy3GXTck7jP8MF4Y3NlgkLHZloYXRUSgMsaUGz-6QCSB_kiVr_BAy5tD7-0lauOoQ121cqnEVmmkfy7J9X6aABKpBv6YGUOpmwgqKTTL76VpO_HqZX/s1600/IMG_3364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJ5nAmPQ7a0-AEweUwGu0uSpCq-Gy3GXTck7jP8MF4Y3NlgkLHZloYXRUSgMsaUGz-6QCSB_kiVr_BAy5tD7-0lauOoQ121cqnEVmmkfy7J9X6aABKpBv6YGUOpmwgqKTTL76VpO_HqZX/s320/IMG_3364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I struck out for East Lyme along Broad Street, which happens to pass by the first brewery scheduled to open in New London in ages. It was just about ready to open when I did this ride, and has since entered Connecticut's ever-growing craft beer scene. More on them in a post in the hopefully near future.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRicWOrfKIdiDLyaNsw_NGu5JPuMVzn76qGvz2A2djwZFexBfg9Thkp_c7Y8RMY38w4ms584x2odC432f8zPdDMpTna_D2WAiDxQFNtSb4hjmoZtIBX8fOb-Ul6PGoj9ocGW4A0sZzKmgs/s1600/IMG_3365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRicWOrfKIdiDLyaNsw_NGu5JPuMVzn76qGvz2A2djwZFexBfg9Thkp_c7Y8RMY38w4ms584x2odC432f8zPdDMpTna_D2WAiDxQFNtSb4hjmoZtIBX8fOb-Ul6PGoj9ocGW4A0sZzKmgs/s320/IMG_3365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
East Lyme is just two towns away, with the community of Waterford in between. The easiest bike route there, in my opinion, is a pair of back roads that bypasses a small glut of supermarkets and other heavy development and traffic. It brings you out just beyond Jordan Village, one of Waterford's many little neighborhoods. It's characterized mainly by a terrific little restaurant, When Pigs Fly, that inadvertently annoys its neighbors by bringing in so many visitors that it stresses the available parking.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakxIKFbfuQJiHQVLRas3_9L1GMEIbZhoNrCwArmCtjs37u2xPoFbuKtLwt-_Jy-9XlDW8Fx0IhSJOO2fL57bLYdDwRhpqN7A5v7i8akCyvdtqx9zsEPwoyEZN15M5S7hakN0ll4lL-tki/s1600/IMG_3366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakxIKFbfuQJiHQVLRas3_9L1GMEIbZhoNrCwArmCtjs37u2xPoFbuKtLwt-_Jy-9XlDW8Fx0IhSJOO2fL57bLYdDwRhpqN7A5v7i8akCyvdtqx9zsEPwoyEZN15M5S7hakN0ll4lL-tki/s320/IMG_3366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This way into East Lyme proceeds along a pleasant route known as Rope Ferry Road, with a few rolling hills along the way. A particularly grueling one is just beyond Jordan Village, but thankfully didn't present too much of a challenge. Winter training pays off!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo0uUpn7WwViNIp5PFpIAi9YCkyZ4xFb22exlgd9FgATXMTyQvwx0cYr6dZoaW3Yo5cHkUo6MPd1Tb-L1-uFcuqUa705ikA-m9azJ2KUQiauNaCpK0ZkfCvEP8VvcvKaD4y_zVwwXHW2p/s1600/IMG_3367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdo0uUpn7WwViNIp5PFpIAi9YCkyZ4xFb22exlgd9FgATXMTyQvwx0cYr6dZoaW3Yo5cHkUo6MPd1Tb-L1-uFcuqUa705ikA-m9azJ2KUQiauNaCpK0ZkfCvEP8VvcvKaD4y_zVwwXHW2p/s320/IMG_3367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I went biking on a fairly cloudy day, so these pictures unfortunately don't do much justice to what a beautiful place the Niantic village of East Lyme is. You approach this neighborhood on a drawbridge over the Niantic River. On a warm and sunny day, the river and its nearby cove are full of boaters and the wide expanse of Long Island Sound glitters off to the left.<br />
<br />
I'll get a second chance to get a photo of this view, though, because I'll need to head back to check out a second brewery in town. Normally I would have just included it with this ride, but this second business (The Niantic Public House and Brewery) was closed - on Sunday of all days.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLYdE_lxpP01HmXCNVBbf1fwI2FyRlI8pKfKzrjCcnGOazn5Q93X8ynKxdodlavqTYp44yKetirTuf01HlclRjjvVsehyX9d5ctXm0BneUfrf4nnL-1E_LzVvqXPJW-6Ee8cTg4-yEzV7/s1600/IMG_3382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmLYdE_lxpP01HmXCNVBbf1fwI2FyRlI8pKfKzrjCcnGOazn5Q93X8ynKxdodlavqTYp44yKetirTuf01HlclRjjvVsehyX9d5ctXm0BneUfrf4nnL-1E_LzVvqXPJW-6Ee8cTg4-yEzV7/s320/IMG_3382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQXQgPan_lLMejgk9tntCmRNvzImaMt4fLYBEUBeHPfwiRhog92ZJQknXsCCUOTS6I5sWtndrBwUM5gaLbw1WhlURVDV3_oo1Y7twoz40O20gseuNIqBSu0Ock4s_Gr52OdzhntnP_XTh/s1600/IMG_3368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQXQgPan_lLMejgk9tntCmRNvzImaMt4fLYBEUBeHPfwiRhog92ZJQknXsCCUOTS6I5sWtndrBwUM5gaLbw1WhlURVDV3_oo1Y7twoz40O20gseuNIqBSu0Ock4s_Gr52OdzhntnP_XTh/s320/IMG_3368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Speaking of the bridge, that's where I ran into another aspect of outdoor cycling that you don't experience on a trainer: flat tires. I've probably had more flats in Connecticut than anywhere else I've ridden a bike. I'm starting to suspect that the drivers in the state (who, to be fair, include a surprisingly large amount of New Yorkers and New Jerseyites) are just a neverending stream of assholes chucking bottles out their car windows.</div>
<br />
Luckily, this was just about the best possible ride and place to have this issue. The village has a nice bike shop, Niantic Bay Bicycles, which keeps Sunday hours. One quick repair and I was good to go, with the determination that I'll finally start carrying a spare tube and tire levers to go with my portable pump and patch kit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMgIN9Dik4wdWnD572zeGmTaH6Z1onnzFZHjp3br8wkBnyBS6tAfhECqFHeqjNzwzb6PnO4JC0j8iNryKZLk8GAXmuXWtVACC41k3Z836hQgW1CVfS9e99bE1f6GKbw-TbFIcxuMOyaVv/s1600/IMG_3371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMgIN9Dik4wdWnD572zeGmTaH6Z1onnzFZHjp3br8wkBnyBS6tAfhECqFHeqjNzwzb6PnO4JC0j8iNryKZLk8GAXmuXWtVACC41k3Z836hQgW1CVfS9e99bE1f6GKbw-TbFIcxuMOyaVv/s320/IMG_3371.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NKww6fIlp2LaAuDn4HPPplQVLmYlFsCgRq4QzrcNAlkwXgBtsyNHsQDHIgJA9KHWbQJICSFsa8tZDnOyXhxFv3yeGb3UZmn5CQxh1Y1uifD05_kamC7pdnbSoZ2ibieNWdAwRl3GBH_d/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NKww6fIlp2LaAuDn4HPPplQVLmYlFsCgRq4QzrcNAlkwXgBtsyNHsQDHIgJA9KHWbQJICSFsa8tZDnOyXhxFv3yeGb3UZmn5CQxh1Y1uifD05_kamC7pdnbSoZ2ibieNWdAwRl3GBH_d/s320/IMG_3372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Noble Jay isn't far from Rocky Neck State Park, one of East Lyme's premiere attractions. The park is quite extensive, with hiking trails and campsites filling in the space between the highway and the shore. Once you get there, you're rewarded by a beautiful, expansive beach. Even on a gray chilly day, people were out enjoying the scenery.<br />
<br />
Rocky Neck also has an impressive stone pavilion overlooking the water. This was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and is still periodically used for weddings and such.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR4wA0ajZ2RWGw2eDvuXCQrGzLoGfEvC1p8u8VTwmMZQ4RQ1QCfHR6qmE6ZcTOKDRPmVBDFaNqXiA9uXobLo-Ra9r5Agjg9p9kipzDe8ZUWFLagFv8gUXjq5FQUj_881Rxf_7qUctsUX4/s1600/IMG_3373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgR4wA0ajZ2RWGw2eDvuXCQrGzLoGfEvC1p8u8VTwmMZQ4RQ1QCfHR6qmE6ZcTOKDRPmVBDFaNqXiA9uXobLo-Ra9r5Agjg9p9kipzDe8ZUWFLagFv8gUXjq5FQUj_881Rxf_7qUctsUX4/s320/IMG_3373.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rQrNlA9JKrJWfJHAu1wyeeiZ_SoGrHEfvWI4dQgLC7BK2nr2jYAW_Nv2S-mWSy3rprf6nGuNdtnGwatvHRh-i0AF_d7zjBfm-hH2amOtKO381O7V7OOw57jei9gP4i6jfxZ1w_iMKCwl/s1600/IMG_3376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rQrNlA9JKrJWfJHAu1wyeeiZ_SoGrHEfvWI4dQgLC7BK2nr2jYAW_Nv2S-mWSy3rprf6nGuNdtnGwatvHRh-i0AF_d7zjBfm-hH2amOtKO381O7V7OOw57jei9gP4i6jfxZ1w_iMKCwl/s320/IMG_3376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Plenty of breweries are located off the beaten path, and this is particularly true of the Noble Jay Brewing Company. There's a small industrial park near Rocky Neck, butting up against the access to the interstate, with an odd mix of businesses. These include an insurance company, gym, and wholesale bakery. The brewery has taken over a space in one of a group of four small buildings that are home to everything from welders to tiny gyms.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Noble Jay focuses primarily on craft lagers, but they do other styles as well. I'd been to the brewery once before and tried a flight, and didn't want to imbibe too much beer before the ride home, so I limited myself to one beer: a nice, smooth Irish stout made for the St. Patrick's Day holiday.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMvcPYYI0ngbhPOf8iUu-a9wkfOXE7aMNzGTPgdWNDWMgN887DNKbKsoDBuOYWbOc4mS58PDMlXuUGUKOsMz2h04jgEYRShGGEzZ9_BSs3WseOqN6mzCmWxVO7SWk1oZlJ-wZ0GMTD0Iq/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMvcPYYI0ngbhPOf8iUu-a9wkfOXE7aMNzGTPgdWNDWMgN887DNKbKsoDBuOYWbOc4mS58PDMlXuUGUKOsMz2h04jgEYRShGGEzZ9_BSs3WseOqN6mzCmWxVO7SWk1oZlJ-wZ0GMTD0Iq/s320/IMG_3375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9tTNXb8RjeJlHWClfBgd-kXckvXx12W4mdGHqINv2L-YDWMvcB-GYjFsQpTvlN6I58hfIsdPY0bWcNH3Of6ZbI6kziChEZ1CS1ZTe0_jtRyGOAIGdmCkyC6xgKl1AseUesKzVSpAeS9i/s1600/IMG_3380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-9tTNXb8RjeJlHWClfBgd-kXckvXx12W4mdGHqINv2L-YDWMvcB-GYjFsQpTvlN6I58hfIsdPY0bWcNH3Of6ZbI6kziChEZ1CS1ZTe0_jtRyGOAIGdmCkyC6xgKl1AseUesKzVSpAeS9i/s320/IMG_3380.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Bike and Brew has changed a bit since my daughter was born late in 2017, as evidenced by the snacks and milk my wife brought to the brewery along with a growler. Newborn responsibilities made these rides all but impossible last year, but now she's flexible enough that I'm hoping to do at least a few journeys in 2019, most likely similar trips where I rendezvous with my wife at the destination.<br />
<br />
Millennials with young children are becoming a pretty common sight at breweries, and <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm</a> merits special credit for a) having a children's play area and b) putting changing tables in the men's room. Noble Jay is much more of a bare bones setup, but my little girl still had a ball exploring the space.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_HkDVmJ3w3E8BeUZcDE93cMeSNtpfQGGN0MXsU0je4tcnvbM9u53ZQ5VCQV0h21Lo7YvGgxuJIhsryATOAJWgDh1aaQRP0ZAM5fQmtmoulHNsun0w8LulyjPZXv2g1FbrUQFzyDwBOtB/s1600/IMG_3381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP_HkDVmJ3w3E8BeUZcDE93cMeSNtpfQGGN0MXsU0je4tcnvbM9u53ZQ5VCQV0h21Lo7YvGgxuJIhsryATOAJWgDh1aaQRP0ZAM5fQmtmoulHNsun0w8LulyjPZXv2g1FbrUQFzyDwBOtB/s320/IMG_3381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Niantic is a terrific little village, very friendly and walkable with a lot of great shops and restaurants; again, this photo doesn't really do it justice. There's also a nice boardwalk that runs along the sea, along with some pleasant beaches and parks on the shore.<br />
<br />
I'll save a more in-depth dive into Niantic for my next visit to the town, whenever I get around to seeing the Niantic Public House and Brewery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDPRQdlYwx6oSLU_bWXkIEeySQ73EFXgFAfZexjIBzA_yY9G36emvSmhvUnEX2dyINIUobGHcoGFiXoRWI-xwmrWhuQEHHlj6sJaDnmrtUysCV6EGSZP2ji6qlOtS9GAP58J3kWYwtLpn/s1600/IMG_3383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDPRQdlYwx6oSLU_bWXkIEeySQ73EFXgFAfZexjIBzA_yY9G36emvSmhvUnEX2dyINIUobGHcoGFiXoRWI-xwmrWhuQEHHlj6sJaDnmrtUysCV6EGSZP2ji6qlOtS9GAP58J3kWYwtLpn/s320/IMG_3383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The ride back introduced me to another aspect of outdoor riding that I'd forgotten about: it's a lot more tiring to do a lengthy ride than it is to hop on the trainer for half an hour and hop off whenever you feel like it. I was feeling wiped out well before I arrived back home.<br />
<br />
The return journey pretty much retraced my steps, although I decided to switch it up enough to swing by Stenger Farm Park. This town park on a former farm has pleasant, easy trails running through it; it also has a dog park, which probably attracts the lion's share of visitors.<br />
<br />
And that's the Noble Jay trip! Stay tuned for a journey to Tox Brewing.<br />
<br />
<b>Total mileage: </b>23.9 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/12/bike-and-brew-these-guys-brewing.html">These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing</a><br />
<a href="https://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/10/bike-and-brew-mohegan-cafe-and-brewery.html">Mohegan Cafe and Brewery</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-26385776179807943052019-03-26T18:28:00.002-07:002019-07-31T13:16:31.046-07:00Trailer Play by Play: Stranger Things Season ThreeThe second season finale of <i>Stranger Things </i>could have served as a concise end to the series, if they had wanted to give it a British-style wrap-up after a limited number of episodes. Everything's wrapped up in a nice package: the portal to the Upside Down is closed, the sinister Hawkins National Laboratory is shuttered, Sheriff Hopper has taken guardianship of Eleven, there's been #JusticeForBarb, and our heroes all seem to be having a pretty good time at a 1984 school dance.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
But they also teased a shot of the formidable Mind Flayer in the other dimension, hinting that all is not well in fictional Indiana. And thus the story continues with the third season of the series, set to debut on July 4, and a trailer recently dropped.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YEG3bmU_WaI" width="480"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Well this seems like a fun candidate for a play-by-play. Let's see what's in store:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6z0Urb4OgcY2hOclJ9-vuPoJ3d7IDMyLn2VPt-y-AYcfz81QRraU_JBIREcmrckqQqMe8uXvDaDvEuMOVQRmNEFdhcLJZzFq6S1hUjCq49POvKvJarbpnOz4mueZGw3T1l91GvzqpuoN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.27.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="1322" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6z0Urb4OgcY2hOclJ9-vuPoJ3d7IDMyLn2VPt-y-AYcfz81QRraU_JBIREcmrckqQqMe8uXvDaDvEuMOVQRmNEFdhcLJZzFq6S1hUjCq49POvKvJarbpnOz4mueZGw3T1l91GvzqpuoN/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.27.03+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqNUiDEN1xs-7zP4gT1JkulhzynDXFG0aESU4J-phbSwaWPg5BKP_FxyXfHFAFEuKyjDkRLp6XIGi6VysOX3TB_NpU1c20WXxGRtPOGaqTpek2ppBgIFOebSOjxnRNeRBq1ZAwQgYs2Jq/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.27.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1332" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqNUiDEN1xs-7zP4gT1JkulhzynDXFG0aESU4J-phbSwaWPg5BKP_FxyXfHFAFEuKyjDkRLp6XIGi6VysOX3TB_NpU1c20WXxGRtPOGaqTpek2ppBgIFOebSOjxnRNeRBq1ZAwQgYs2Jq/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.27.50+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In an opening vignette, Dustin returns home from camp feeling depressed that no one is around to give him a welcome except his turtle. Takeaway #1: Yertle managed to survive <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-top-10-villains-of-stranger-things.html">Dart's ravages</a>. Takeaway #2: Tews does not care that Dustin is home, because he is a cat.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HcTsLeNVGkArFqlzClIfjjCvFiO0OsJEMr1C8jAkg_wFDD_tUaSdaKFajk4dmb6PSgQiLby6tA7Q8Nwm3icN5ArwiTtNC0JZkLsj6z6A547yPvHpHksW90lVK93t9QLqPo8ob9iOIxN9/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.28.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1278" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HcTsLeNVGkArFqlzClIfjjCvFiO0OsJEMr1C8jAkg_wFDD_tUaSdaKFajk4dmb6PSgQiLby6tA7Q8Nwm3icN5ArwiTtNC0JZkLsj6z6A547yPvHpHksW90lVK93t9QLqPo8ob9iOIxN9/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.28.41+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZQGvMPukoVmSfvqEv9a5OrLVN9R3BPkfMPZLz6oG6cGIWcgC0NXbjQecM_hbUUOnXbK0XNRNKqQ-9HYt_S_pMbCJUj1OU9i2IbswlkLCI8wYq617C1xunz5aXQ1uMmgZkmdnBtjRA-tb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.30.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="1306" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZQGvMPukoVmSfvqEv9a5OrLVN9R3BPkfMPZLz6oG6cGIWcgC0NXbjQecM_hbUUOnXbK0XNRNKqQ-9HYt_S_pMbCJUj1OU9i2IbswlkLCI8wYq617C1xunz5aXQ1uMmgZkmdnBtjRA-tb/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.30.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Dustin is lured into his living room after his electronic R2-D2 and companions come to life and shuffle away. Like all good pals, his friends have broken into his house and are planning a surprise "welcome back" using telepathy. The last part is Eleven's doing, naturally. She's apparently a bit out of practice, given that she was throwing boxcars around last season and now she's getting a nosebleed from piloting half a dozen toys roughly 50 feet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhySvfc4G8YCyJxDagKPFxyGh3N37GolkcMmA1rohIjQv37DNLYAuSW4DKcmDk2U5nz8s539oD64mcOOiRlnvUBk3OQsCvQTpoG9dfASKbltdxA1GF15D8DTVFlegvGczp1OJjIXof1ibE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.31.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1326" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhySvfc4G8YCyJxDagKPFxyGh3N37GolkcMmA1rohIjQv37DNLYAuSW4DKcmDk2U5nz8s539oD64mcOOiRlnvUBk3OQsCvQTpoG9dfASKbltdxA1GF15D8DTVFlegvGczp1OJjIXof1ibE/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.31.39+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAsqDSEYfJHoi9ur7PmTtBuFv9TMf8sWecLJtY9TOtOQRfuNXNbmOW-_mC0SXYuMnGk29stNFOQU8HgcNpcZCCtsocFGkwFFcfEIQ3I69YMU_CwLl8Z8wKlfUgz7f_-58v4ZMOtlmMlGP/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.32.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1308" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAsqDSEYfJHoi9ur7PmTtBuFv9TMf8sWecLJtY9TOtOQRfuNXNbmOW-_mC0SXYuMnGk29stNFOQU8HgcNpcZCCtsocFGkwFFcfEIQ3I69YMU_CwLl8Z8wKlfUgz7f_-58v4ZMOtlmMlGP/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.32.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfGWy1xSUy1it3nZuE4Q3nkhjkrGzo2RdtyzzuDOcGb4wYrG5h8rQdxaWeOunpuKxfloGoSCCpP1wn_s7wIGwuc1o5MoqXbvtKEzV-IkrAXfN1SuCQluM9sQWDor7KdnFRpB9jOTj023l/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.33.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1320" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfGWy1xSUy1it3nZuE4Q3nkhjkrGzo2RdtyzzuDOcGb4wYrG5h8rQdxaWeOunpuKxfloGoSCCpP1wn_s7wIGwuc1o5MoqXbvtKEzV-IkrAXfN1SuCQluM9sQWDor7KdnFRpB9jOTj023l/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.33.12+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's all part of a sweet attempt by Dustin's friends to give him a surprise, though maybe they should have realized that it isn't the best idea to surprise someone who's had to fight hellbeasts for the past couple of years. Lucas gets some Farrah Fawcett hairspray in his eyes for his trouble. Also, Dustin apparently lost his front teeth again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg-QRUwZ8cClIfj6YkPu7dnDVFTP5kcoeJFgckmbYdHkEJ-k5a6jEjtA_DPDnvef_jOY-GC07E6oybCLqukt6UXvxyC2TqhkmmzRdXXUsGCJGFnGt3PZTqDBbG4e5dQQpTHwnn4lHjX1e/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.34.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1348" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg-QRUwZ8cClIfj6YkPu7dnDVFTP5kcoeJFgckmbYdHkEJ-k5a6jEjtA_DPDnvef_jOY-GC07E6oybCLqukt6UXvxyC2TqhkmmzRdXXUsGCJGFnGt3PZTqDBbG4e5dQQpTHwnn4lHjX1e/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.34.30+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmJsgCvWzu_lhxf51z8WZVtk-C53AXNZK2H1WXgr6vKWC49aLfuZt3BIGVrAQENOfwW2-JhW_HViURo_Ey3VHY1sx01ppjVobbZ5P0KC8SqGWNN_7eu6Ch_Ju6mNrvboj6iBmbxN2VN8M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.35.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1358" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmJsgCvWzu_lhxf51z8WZVtk-C53AXNZK2H1WXgr6vKWC49aLfuZt3BIGVrAQENOfwW2-JhW_HViURo_Ey3VHY1sx01ppjVobbZ5P0KC8SqGWNN_7eu6Ch_Ju6mNrvboj6iBmbxN2VN8M/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.35.49+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The trailer fades to a rendition of "Baba O'Riley," which is a bit on the nose since it literally shows the gang out there in the field. They're erecting some sort of antenna, which I'm sure is going to lead to all sorts of speculation about what it's for. Given how casual they're all being, and a later shot where Dustin glumly watches a couple of girls traipsing away from the site at nighttime, I'm guessing it's some sort of nerdy AV club thing and not anything related to the Upside Down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFYvLlcS5hjdJPUsvLHW_xx9BV-qNa4xAJZUkBUNUQO-n_uCQpZiA-mhdqkKFH4y6gJ8XWH4jxay2ajLrjkceox8NJse7UOITks8KjM1WdqwzmSNS3MurfLlsgL7YQF1rW6117q3Kodn0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.37.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1348" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuFYvLlcS5hjdJPUsvLHW_xx9BV-qNa4xAJZUkBUNUQO-n_uCQpZiA-mhdqkKFH4y6gJ8XWH4jxay2ajLrjkceox8NJse7UOITks8KjM1WdqwzmSNS3MurfLlsgL7YQF1rW6117q3Kodn0/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.37.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpBP4Ke-HGQ1taUFvpzrrXM1g7wC5gXb8zh1Ro6J0Dc7GnAL6Wt9viezH8yQQbhrB5FDy1dv_OMNWfekhREts4LHeJSrQs4PHmgMQ47n6yDEzmRrahb5mZAoGKZPJ8khhg7zGUmbf8okx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.38.17+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="1338" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpBP4Ke-HGQ1taUFvpzrrXM1g7wC5gXb8zh1Ro6J0Dc7GnAL6Wt9viezH8yQQbhrB5FDy1dv_OMNWfekhREts4LHeJSrQs4PHmgMQ47n6yDEzmRrahb5mZAoGKZPJ8khhg7zGUmbf8okx/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.38.17+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
On to the hometown newspaper, where Jonathan and Nancy are pensively waiting in the hall. Are they interviewing for a job? Do they have another shadowy government agency to take down? Speaking of which, I sure hope they included the hometown paper in last season's media blast that shuttered the Hawkins National Laboratory.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi6bwsEWQ0L271TeXUcaSRDAfIJ159BCByAL4CzsdUf29yxArgtmedPiHBYhyphenhyphenFAXMX1t3rb-Y9DEm76pLErPlJtI_8pPnZk3JwNw4mnNglhm7868HPYYRvouLWEeBq7MYjgr8qllL7hZG/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.39.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1354" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi6bwsEWQ0L271TeXUcaSRDAfIJ159BCByAL4CzsdUf29yxArgtmedPiHBYhyphenhyphenFAXMX1t3rb-Y9DEm76pLErPlJtI_8pPnZk3JwNw4mnNglhm7868HPYYRvouLWEeBq7MYjgr8qllL7hZG/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.39.01+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Sam's near-homicidal brother is working as a lifeguard, which doesn't really seem like a good fit for him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NpWYeDvOaLNT-XIqH21Ske2f8vv7H9YSJIfJDREFQt7qjS7YjN7r73SoD6wCAP5wdSPGXenFBjF7oUeSFlDkMto6203BIqNG28jBMOfX7L63kCcU747eCPn5AslGCDdpSg_5lpSmdPxl/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.40.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1340" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NpWYeDvOaLNT-XIqH21Ske2f8vv7H9YSJIfJDREFQt7qjS7YjN7r73SoD6wCAP5wdSPGXenFBjF7oUeSFlDkMto6203BIqNG28jBMOfX7L63kCcU747eCPn5AslGCDdpSg_5lpSmdPxl/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.40.04+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHheWECWuT6Z_i9_pj29dTnwoZgZweFMVMG39yIMRXzlBQ7ViZJflzvgbN-hITjbx0kgq9ZXYzGTkTEfu74dwc3zzU56xAFVRhRlFgH6MgldVAhTHRkkN3OHY7WS7hoAVWI-ASX6hxEjZ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.40.52+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1330" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHheWECWuT6Z_i9_pj29dTnwoZgZweFMVMG39yIMRXzlBQ7ViZJflzvgbN-hITjbx0kgq9ZXYzGTkTEfu74dwc3zzU56xAFVRhRlFgH6MgldVAhTHRkkN3OHY7WS7hoAVWI-ASX6hxEjZ/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.40.52+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Sheriff Hopper is in a restaurant, where he's able to light up a cigarette because it's 1985. Joyce is dining alone with a glass of wine, looking sad. There's a lot of people looking sad in this trailer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLV64vNCaho564csaaAfquTj4qab0kl7NA_wGlYiBMn-18x6VErQyJyX_pU-POoDz3EY-2WRUh1YPSG4jDjpCxqnflzP4iEgrs4qLCFwBB_I94LoCZSqT9DQPSd2jsMune03Kii4ntqa0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.41.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1324" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLV64vNCaho564csaaAfquTj4qab0kl7NA_wGlYiBMn-18x6VErQyJyX_pU-POoDz3EY-2WRUh1YPSG4jDjpCxqnflzP4iEgrs4qLCFwBB_I94LoCZSqT9DQPSd2jsMune03Kii4ntqa0/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.41.57+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
But at least Eleven and Sam are having fun, and have apparently become closer friends as evidenced by a brief shot of them bopping along to some music. I'm going to guess it's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAD6Obi7Cag">Dire Straits' "Money For Nothing."</a> <i>We gotta install microwave ovens...</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND6eTwC5YEoDalda3SHmCBMkjUVIcZdPfOT7jhqhgxEzJ0wtuD0QLLmU5XJNF-12VODRarhbtVhK1uMUhWQgGbV0LuE44F-SBYmixO2bULDZ-7MMBqyO_7z9yM_4YWLXqRf-nF9r7e6Y7/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.43.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1330" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND6eTwC5YEoDalda3SHmCBMkjUVIcZdPfOT7jhqhgxEzJ0wtuD0QLLmU5XJNF-12VODRarhbtVhK1uMUhWQgGbV0LuE44F-SBYmixO2bULDZ-7MMBqyO_7z9yM_4YWLXqRf-nF9r7e6Y7/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.43.47+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriUYy_B3Ey7UICmFulrKwQw8apgiBBCMNqQDbgRy8h2m9MCBoDlRT3uVRVVsJQQK_qswsZYAub2lGFPw3Tf9mMNbfZyHQNHSBQfsSmYY4D1dZrTLkxvudJ0f8dnzm4L9sR8vVlMiGGm7u/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.44.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1362" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriUYy_B3Ey7UICmFulrKwQw8apgiBBCMNqQDbgRy8h2m9MCBoDlRT3uVRVVsJQQK_qswsZYAub2lGFPw3Tf9mMNbfZyHQNHSBQfsSmYY4D1dZrTLkxvudJ0f8dnzm4L9sR8vVlMiGGm7u/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.44.31+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In a voice-over, Mike says they're not kids anymore and asking if they thought they'd be playing games in his basement for the rest of their lives. I'm kind of sad that Mike et. al. are about a quarter-century away from being able to do just that with Settlers of Catan and Terra Mystica.<br />
<br />
This voice-over is also accompanied by a drenched and mournful Will looking at a photo of the group dressed as the Ghostbusters from the previous Halloween. I'd scoff at Will getting teary-eyed over something that happened eight months earlier, but I seem to remember fifteen being an age where you realized that you were going to look back wistfully on your high school years, so I'll cut him some slack.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD9zCui-uwZmGZMtc82bLNDXxnCBN4pmpGE-eWyZx03BaN1xF5Xz3uqgMqAlSmRyDkWpMemuipct0-ey8-VVOcVhKD5Xdu4GO1jqWYgk5qOT8tmBI3lzTl3xJ2ClfCMz3qUJW4eMs5njK/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.47.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="636" data-original-width="1322" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD9zCui-uwZmGZMtc82bLNDXxnCBN4pmpGE-eWyZx03BaN1xF5Xz3uqgMqAlSmRyDkWpMemuipct0-ey8-VVOcVhKD5Xdu4GO1jqWYgk5qOT8tmBI3lzTl3xJ2ClfCMz3qUJW4eMs5njK/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.47.57+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTxy7dDRaEuTK3rRQ5VrwZNb-mXFSUHZo4AF32K09fr_5IvGPCaYBfrf_p4XuPwhNgriU0OdocjQjpnOdXFL_I1goYgyDK5S9KWJhXGaQJvVqoUocsw0f7j3Y52I0XNVbByTBktiVwAut/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.48.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1350" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTxy7dDRaEuTK3rRQ5VrwZNb-mXFSUHZo4AF32K09fr_5IvGPCaYBfrf_p4XuPwhNgriU0OdocjQjpnOdXFL_I1goYgyDK5S9KWJhXGaQJvVqoUocsw0f7j3Y52I0XNVbByTBktiVwAut/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.48.50+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0gwWVjpxNQ7IBMODZsLZ8-M49PnTNyNZ3oshXaqSNzh4JTI7Mq7C4C7YZeiNE5YoRGlPSxUqi0YjuoDT5uiqv-yrgND-yZthaaSacibMCD_E_QtpKooh03_WL8tNi2KHiocU8-PteOIQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.50.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1354" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0gwWVjpxNQ7IBMODZsLZ8-M49PnTNyNZ3oshXaqSNzh4JTI7Mq7C4C7YZeiNE5YoRGlPSxUqi0YjuoDT5uiqv-yrgND-yZthaaSacibMCD_E_QtpKooh03_WL8tNi2KHiocU8-PteOIQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.50.07+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Eleven and Sam hit the mall, with Eleven being particularly awed by the spectacle of modern commercialism. Elsewhere, a group of protesters decries Hawkins' mayor and the mall, expressing its love for downtown. I'm also guessing the department store Joyce works at isn't competing too well against mall discounts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSvJk1MDlbzOvpGpkBBCkeYrNHaLyhKrdxCUFCCJgsD_WTCxncmutBDZh4BhuFXcryP-X3rAMxyhJEUj7vySRQMH6HP51h4Wi-61LljB4kcFoRzNeQTiXOsX5RFfzgxkvTtX3LqrYJ0KV/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.51.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="1338" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSvJk1MDlbzOvpGpkBBCkeYrNHaLyhKrdxCUFCCJgsD_WTCxncmutBDZh4BhuFXcryP-X3rAMxyhJEUj7vySRQMH6HP51h4Wi-61LljB4kcFoRzNeQTiXOsX5RFfzgxkvTtX3LqrYJ0KV/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.51.04+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIxZxDFc7WjmMkJDZYUxtFbuk3CoZwVH-nDdzEpvSfPsNPiQbnNKAASzn3PKU698vm0vDGPUlbDjiJIL8Vmzkj1PpN0-_gcdWIkUdPjNDsmTcCR-7Nt9EIA0XVKvZZeF4qHamDbFdPOP7/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.52.20+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1348" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIxZxDFc7WjmMkJDZYUxtFbuk3CoZwVH-nDdzEpvSfPsNPiQbnNKAASzn3PKU698vm0vDGPUlbDjiJIL8Vmzkj1PpN0-_gcdWIkUdPjNDsmTcCR-7Nt9EIA0XVKvZZeF4qHamDbFdPOP7/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.52.20+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Said mayor is probably going to be a bit of an antagonist this season, given that he's enough of a narcissistic ass to add a "Mayor Kline Presents" sign to the Fourth of July fair. In the midst of Hopper telling someone, probably Joyce or Eleven, that he wants the town to be a place they feel safe in, we see that he's apparently going to do battle with a gun-wielding hitman in a house of mirrors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBLwyn08uK8nn90osdxxGo4ejZxBzT_JtBimlbtC6mzKpqXbyBpInvrCQMAR-DzMxDejF5DRGCutSxr1r5_dKNqDWxXhvlhZTuSq4QsVHt_X2XykvfwGQu5fAkujPih1V2SACKosRrtJJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.53.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1346" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBLwyn08uK8nn90osdxxGo4ejZxBzT_JtBimlbtC6mzKpqXbyBpInvrCQMAR-DzMxDejF5DRGCutSxr1r5_dKNqDWxXhvlhZTuSq4QsVHt_X2XykvfwGQu5fAkujPih1V2SACKosRrtJJ/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.53.33+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Eleven is going to find herself back in the creepy zone, with some crimson lightning reminiscent of what we saw last season. Better get those telepathic powers back up to speed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ05i-QSyf1dciOWxjGV50MQQvns7vhJDldj2EWA4w3WoP2oF6i2213vWVr20dNwmQOJyBLDpycXwrA-iGIH4swJZinRgWvKigl-ZCEeCqkjj-2LZiCtLLj4Oy_RmZ-G-KbuZgzTPXIFh3/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.54.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1346" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ05i-QSyf1dciOWxjGV50MQQvns7vhJDldj2EWA4w3WoP2oF6i2213vWVr20dNwmQOJyBLDpycXwrA-iGIH4swJZinRgWvKigl-ZCEeCqkjj-2LZiCtLLj4Oy_RmZ-G-KbuZgzTPXIFh3/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.54.22+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDpjik-Hxdzi0FEDLsItjO0DiU6UR0uK5J6ss52Y414FZiTIfoq50Mu6jIjEPu_b_KGT2Hi3mCisclepoPyHZhRbTSFK3lgZrDsvDqwX9aU_09b0ptb1V3a4kOIO_mWKxRUvQF6EyoTfG/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.55.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="1322" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDpjik-Hxdzi0FEDLsItjO0DiU6UR0uK5J6ss52Y414FZiTIfoq50Mu6jIjEPu_b_KGT2Hi3mCisclepoPyHZhRbTSFK3lgZrDsvDqwX9aU_09b0ptb1V3a4kOIO_mWKxRUvQF6EyoTfG/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.55.14+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I mentioned in a previous post that maybe Billy would be humbled enough to do a Steve-like transition out of douchebaggery. He's apparently going to be possessed by some sort of demonic creature instead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUdEiaf6P24xPZ7g9wlbwfo7-_I9IPnA9k8rhNnKu3M32pe2_Yy4vbktn1WydcVT2hyphenhyphenVBtmkXbK_kkN_ThntTDP1pziHKLsgvRpxCkuGHoxFRKOJKcLqn_526_pCpYCXVbD5jTi1jdRj5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.56.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1360" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUdEiaf6P24xPZ7g9wlbwfo7-_I9IPnA9k8rhNnKu3M32pe2_Yy4vbktn1WydcVT2hyphenhyphenVBtmkXbK_kkN_ThntTDP1pziHKLsgvRpxCkuGHoxFRKOJKcLqn_526_pCpYCXVbD5jTi1jdRj5/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.56.14+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Star-Lord is going to show up to lend a hand. That's nice of him.<br />
<br />
And then we get quite a few rapid shots, including:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV1GfheB2Cln0X-nXjaNCmJiYQzUfZ2woSTw99prPpeXphu4qnTtli1dCNW49eK1cF1guBMAeRVnMt0QG2w2XN4ik5WRwgqgQIS0znbK1wa0Wgwnx8saUn7hqPbhnxvIExQmVh0-IaTbB/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.57.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1354" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV1GfheB2Cln0X-nXjaNCmJiYQzUfZ2woSTw99prPpeXphu4qnTtli1dCNW49eK1cF1guBMAeRVnMt0QG2w2XN4ik5WRwgqgQIS0znbK1wa0Wgwnx8saUn7hqPbhnxvIExQmVh0-IaTbB/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.57.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Eighties Mike Pence welcoming everyone to the Fourth of July fair.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tkC8KbeOcQASDQPuRxlkiGnhH7gwbi9u3EtJHYSO5Nf4xm_1MikK1O8UdEkMtzAsAMf0q8zlY03oFpv3RE9VGBSRr2GGA4XuoYhIliDlwYfkqa0ukxiJdJsj_4qk3FONk2CZ-pwQnJjr/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.59.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1354" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tkC8KbeOcQASDQPuRxlkiGnhH7gwbi9u3EtJHYSO5Nf4xm_1MikK1O8UdEkMtzAsAMf0q8zlY03oFpv3RE9VGBSRr2GGA4XuoYhIliDlwYfkqa0ukxiJdJsj_4qk3FONk2CZ-pwQnJjr/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+8.59.29+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Lucas again fighting evil with a slingshot, a full year before Stephen King made it common practice with <i>It</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA_6J3MDUyGE2pX4xLrZD3I1ZDbG0hFjATOJHp0J6J1t0L8baVhKhzctUDLRiuJ5qqcmJIKYp394WLQmeQtkO_l5Q83R-JlLeQW5lSO_lw7C8IRnB4uR7PcJTsVlAtjlaCwkeynFnErOT/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.00.51+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="1356" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKA_6J3MDUyGE2pX4xLrZD3I1ZDbG0hFjATOJHp0J6J1t0L8baVhKhzctUDLRiuJ5qqcmJIKYp394WLQmeQtkO_l5Q83R-JlLeQW5lSO_lw7C8IRnB4uR7PcJTsVlAtjlaCwkeynFnErOT/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.00.51+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
BUTTS!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QtBz_5pGv-O0aqu_5VWEIopaMBN_e55Xvr1gSx12UpPdONcrUSoHMi0ucJTH-4INXowATXpSXjC-2z5aMbAqz8EBLG3MsB7N0jMamKLgHsjZsdO6vmkfAVmlTlN4wZRbCKlnMTqHo8_0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.02.27+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1330" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QtBz_5pGv-O0aqu_5VWEIopaMBN_e55Xvr1gSx12UpPdONcrUSoHMi0ucJTH-4INXowATXpSXjC-2z5aMbAqz8EBLG3MsB7N0jMamKLgHsjZsdO6vmkfAVmlTlN4wZRbCKlnMTqHo8_0/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.02.27+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The continuing proud tradition of Steve getting the shit kicked out of him. Can he finally get the chance to turn the tables this season and give someone else a well-deserved beatdown? Or at least get a girlfriend?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX1hfbweepS6xe9Hod5Q3mHwnXBfkn94bkPrQ3Pc6IPMsFmgzsvO_m8ZR1H96g2YZ_FOuJszQ_8P848CU1oxlnL21GJeCLlhyhyLiELU4V9VYr4itzwELt4A6MOVgwxubRVrxmpoEecfS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.03.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1356" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWX1hfbweepS6xe9Hod5Q3mHwnXBfkn94bkPrQ3Pc6IPMsFmgzsvO_m8ZR1H96g2YZ_FOuJszQ_8P848CU1oxlnL21GJeCLlhyhyLiELU4V9VYr4itzwELt4A6MOVgwxubRVrxmpoEecfS/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.03.53+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And this season's horrific creature from another realm, chilling out in the administrative offices of the mall, maybe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjV2Sa9_ZuK2boRK87vxjU6rwIG45I9ZT6Q45UVzvwwWVOqn4YVFk_1j7A9e-FZJIOc5pF167fZMHm3huyzEKPxjOYLjW2bpJu6086Eky5dUuZard5jZx2gDS8290qQU6zXAbhNjDRCFC/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.08.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1352" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjV2Sa9_ZuK2boRK87vxjU6rwIG45I9ZT6Q45UVzvwwWVOqn4YVFk_1j7A9e-FZJIOc5pF167fZMHm3huyzEKPxjOYLjW2bpJu6086Eky5dUuZard5jZx2gDS8290qQU6zXAbhNjDRCFC/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.08.37+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYPPGXa1srhcPmmsd7dk-Qj-mDDgpCgqtxPztli1GxfMRXGN2_oEzJjMpX4y5cw5OxjqzWRcHDo4Cf3_MfP8uS6p_js3MOWPyf2QNlqaTdNzkCfyVHFMUduoinklYPc95BLcxKvYsm8sD/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.09.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1358" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYPPGXa1srhcPmmsd7dk-Qj-mDDgpCgqtxPztli1GxfMRXGN2_oEzJjMpX4y5cw5OxjqzWRcHDo4Cf3_MfP8uS6p_js3MOWPyf2QNlqaTdNzkCfyVHFMUduoinklYPc95BLcxKvYsm8sD/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.09.32+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflJVfY303VBvuBk9yJNr5IXqh0Hu8wTDWC1PIWhESZ0QQCmC1KQaQVixKUUiHMDh7hMSgtaUTCwlQwJzsI2O-M4QQTXrTXa1M2cG7XTX41Y5UDh3RpfgoXEte3S5iJzuXEYOF4uiO46up/s1600/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.10.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="1352" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflJVfY303VBvuBk9yJNr5IXqh0Hu8wTDWC1PIWhESZ0QQCmC1KQaQVixKUUiHMDh7hMSgtaUTCwlQwJzsI2O-M4QQTXrTXa1M2cG7XTX41Y5UDh3RpfgoXEte3S5iJzuXEYOF4uiO46up/s320/Screen+Shot+2019-03-26+at+9.10.37+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And as a palate cleanser, Steve and Dustin are even better friends now and have an adorable imaginary sword fight at the nautically themed ice cream shop where Steve works and is contractually required to wear an embarrassing uniform. There's a maybe love interest for Steve working behind the counter, but she's currently more concerned about how many children he's friends with.<br />
<br />
Best of luck, Steve. We're all pulling for you.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-3637549622467536902018-10-22T13:57:00.000-07:002018-10-23T14:07:58.650-07:00Bike and Brew: Mohegan Cafe and Brewery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J0dGQCA-0TGMOkqg4wsKSKCLJCNELsDQ_L_QirnksmYmPccwlzFrwEGlEJSs9lNmM9nWeDcRV4Oke9nRtbsMPhRGcyhV4V-FjPZmU30PXf-xEXiI4yhs2nL-AHPiGLC4OSNKU1G7ix26/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3J0dGQCA-0TGMOkqg4wsKSKCLJCNELsDQ_L_QirnksmYmPccwlzFrwEGlEJSs9lNmM9nWeDcRV4Oke9nRtbsMPhRGcyhV4V-FjPZmU30PXf-xEXiI4yhs2nL-AHPiGLC4OSNKU1G7ix26/s320/IMG_2683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Back when I first realized I could hop a ferry from New London and expand the reach of the Bike and Brew series, I didn't expect to go beyond Long Island. The city has another ferry going to Fishers Island, but there aren't any breweries there (plus the island is <a href="http://beatbikeblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/open-letter-to-fishers-island-ferry.html">apparently hostile to cyclists</a>). I also discounted the idea of hopping the Block Island ferry; although there's a brewpub there, my wife and I found the beers to be watery and underwhelming on our last visit.<br />
<br />
We weren't just being picky. Many of the Mohegan Cafe and Brewery's beers have gotten fairly brutal reviews on sites like Untappd and BeerAdvocate. <a href="https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1163/60246/">One review</a> on the latter site described a stout as smelling "like a terrible homebrew that isn't ready to drink yet."<br />
<br />
But my company took a recreational outing to the island this summer, and the more recent reviews of the brewpub were significantly better. So I decided to give it a shot.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnl8ip71xS5JLD8sjmR0-obQrTV2CV7z8whnM310ptmH7_ZH9VObtZpd9MTmpMjOimyB9MVEIMdCYdrA7f70ocnhLzLhuZiE7w-ZC3NiDZj2xAzQTlKiBYxxOjxnlW4RfmV-sIFqBA-vI/s1600/IMG_2696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYnl8ip71xS5JLD8sjmR0-obQrTV2CV7z8whnM310ptmH7_ZH9VObtZpd9MTmpMjOimyB9MVEIMdCYdrA7f70ocnhLzLhuZiE7w-ZC3NiDZj2xAzQTlKiBYxxOjxnlW4RfmV-sIFqBA-vI/s320/IMG_2696.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Before this trip, I hadn't gotten a chance to do too much biking. For one thing, time is at a bit more of a premium when you have a newborn daughter. Also, I wasn't able to bring my bike in for a tune-up and tube repair until a few weeks ago, and it had been ridiculously hot and humid out.<br />
<br />
About a week before this trip, I hit a nail during a ride and my back tire went flat in about 10 seconds. Amazingly enough, I was able to put a couple of patches on the through-and-through wound to the tube, and it's been holding up ever since.<br />
<br />
First stop: a quick ride to the Block Island Express, a high-speed ferry. It long advertised that it could complete the trip in just over an hour, but they've since given the more realistic estimate of an hour and 20 minutes, varying based on sea and weather conditions.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYj4x_LDv3draajJF6bVgx4SUTLABwPCryojXUiV5rwTHFVFVxpiUwHC1Aa9fuYq-i6Yknn3yaAbF9NN-SdKP6FvfgvkvZIY6q0y1xVZhOeVYlVsgUYwrAwgGPmWQBmdgGYbuHq9XOSJA/s1600/IMG_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYj4x_LDv3draajJF6bVgx4SUTLABwPCryojXUiV5rwTHFVFVxpiUwHC1Aa9fuYq-i6Yknn3yaAbF9NN-SdKP6FvfgvkvZIY6q0y1xVZhOeVYlVsgUYwrAwgGPmWQBmdgGYbuHq9XOSJA/s320/IMG_2682.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Block Island is located about 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island and encompasses just under 10 square miles. It manages to be popular as both a vacation getaway and as an easy day trip for people living nearby; several ferry lines serve the island, and it has quite a few shops, restaurants, public beaches, and other attractions. Roughly 1,000 people live here year-round, helping to support a historical society, newspaper, school, hospital, and other services.<br />
<br />
Most visitors come into Old Harbor, which has the densest cluster of buildings. It's also where visitors are most likely to find bike and moped rentals; both are extremely common on the island, to the point where they control the roads much more than the vehicles do.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEZtRezIjAiNf7MLsfHk9n1EP78vKB6lKPdjlvdYPM44pF3bpQFcKfW31_2jJk6U7j-f_D4eB9J84MzUO5AJTnsbDuD5zhkAF5f96LEjB0Kjt9h8jaXCnuJByOwdry97FRhdQfvUJ1YtZ/s1600/IMG_2665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvEZtRezIjAiNf7MLsfHk9n1EP78vKB6lKPdjlvdYPM44pF3bpQFcKfW31_2jJk6U7j-f_D4eB9J84MzUO5AJTnsbDuD5zhkAF5f96LEjB0Kjt9h8jaXCnuJByOwdry97FRhdQfvUJ1YtZ/s320/IMG_2665.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's pretty easy to do a circuit of Block Island by bike, and I started by heading west along the south shore. It was a very windy day, so I was getting buffeted the whole time while enjoying the ocean views. Before too long, I came to my first destination: the Southeast Light.<br />
<br />
One of two lighthouses on the island, the Southeast Light is a brick structure with an impressive keeper's house attached to the beacon. It dates back to 1874, and there's an ongoing effort to restore the lighthouse or at least keep it in decent shape. It's not quite in its original location, having been moved back from an eroding cliff in 1993.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjounV4b9QOK8tpG3xaIPb4m3cmV85jcsrAli10ynv_ebGN-lXQ_DxtoVv1Hq2wf2v37LVLJ7JyTs31AuMSspITHLh_m3InP2krIfn0D-zdWpq3itn1T-dLIx3X92x1tkQwda5CBJkBjfVw/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjounV4b9QOK8tpG3xaIPb4m3cmV85jcsrAli10ynv_ebGN-lXQ_DxtoVv1Hq2wf2v37LVLJ7JyTs31AuMSspITHLh_m3InP2krIfn0D-zdWpq3itn1T-dLIx3X92x1tkQwda5CBJkBjfVw/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Visitors can enjoy a sweeping view of the sea from the lighthouse property. Recently this view has included the five turbines of what is, somewhat surprisingly, the first offshore wind farm in the United States. On the day of my visit, they were mostly obscured by the mist. Reaction to the wind farm seems to have been mostly positive (among other things, the Block Island's power grid is now connected to the mainland and doesn't need to use costly diesel generators for its power), and has also helped inspire talk of further wind operations in my neck of the woods.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnPAn-sSLuEKW3FHocSzT0V03cjG7QRhv05zcs9Z83mrmP7CU5wgGzJO_UMvM8idjYgeMHy2C4-2jDcwf79x60KI4swkgdhyoe3mvCXxznDd27ZgMwryki3TlZ-mVXNjUm1xIDqcXtuEU/s1600/IMG_2671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnPAn-sSLuEKW3FHocSzT0V03cjG7QRhv05zcs9Z83mrmP7CU5wgGzJO_UMvM8idjYgeMHy2C4-2jDcwf79x60KI4swkgdhyoe3mvCXxznDd27ZgMwryki3TlZ-mVXNjUm1xIDqcXtuEU/s320/IMG_2671.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Within walking distance from the South Lighthouse are the Mohegan Bluffs, a towering set of clay cliffs. Apparently they got their name from a 1590 Native American battle in which a group of Mohegan raiders were driven off the precipice by the Manisseans. Bicycles easily outnumber cars at this stop, and plenty of people make the trip down the daunting staircase to check out the isolated beach below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka06EkC5hbc761vW_AUyhNmwP68SF-hSAz1OIvkvg7ow2NNNFmYSdBEZz1KRLoZIMy3syojkC_F_VNRh4dTi64VhOM8UUr5nPpW23TuWxbFkpqS7cPD2xVFAQf6fT9G9wobJwhC4f8nEp/s1600/IMG_2673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhka06EkC5hbc761vW_AUyhNmwP68SF-hSAz1OIvkvg7ow2NNNFmYSdBEZz1KRLoZIMy3syojkC_F_VNRh4dTi64VhOM8UUr5nPpW23TuWxbFkpqS7cPD2xVFAQf6fT9G9wobJwhC4f8nEp/s320/IMG_2673.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One unexpected feature of the bluffs was a new overlook, looking out to the lighthouse and wind farm. Most people were happily ignoring the barriers set up to keep them away from the drop-offs, including this group of en plein air painters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZOpHoFPjWWyQ6aVUVaC-r2fWX4veuLZZpwJDBN9MLfms-7yGhnx0PgS5wcg9UV5rHWJ_j_612DjVoix2rYKGFLzAszhN2hpbd2YFlRL17R2Froav3M8MBamo-CfDzNfQcgMuxNHG1qUY/s1600/IMG_2675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZOpHoFPjWWyQ6aVUVaC-r2fWX4veuLZZpwJDBN9MLfms-7yGhnx0PgS5wcg9UV5rHWJ_j_612DjVoix2rYKGFLzAszhN2hpbd2YFlRL17R2Froav3M8MBamo-CfDzNfQcgMuxNHG1qUY/s320/IMG_2675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For a small island, Block Island has plenty of parks and natural sites to visit. Perhaps the most impressive is Rodman's Hollow, a 230-acre nature preserve with 28 miles of hiking trails. I've visited this site on previous trips and enjoyed walks out to more secluded ocean overlooks, but on this particular expedition I decided to make Rodman's Hollow my turnaround point instead of continuing around the western bulb of the island. The wind was getting quite ferocious, and I felt like having it at my back for awhile.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZDiDPZpFxrgzi0rMZTnPuTgf8yL4Z0awMvOpMt7Y5xmCGKWLwXIDhKadX07V_CYjGsOiV0iBR20mz8lzWgQGFnqaousNycZNKLZMT18Jyi4tCs-vx1KfqumzHTOFHqf2IbabYkgrbdcy/s1600/IMG_2680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZDiDPZpFxrgzi0rMZTnPuTgf8yL4Z0awMvOpMt7Y5xmCGKWLwXIDhKadX07V_CYjGsOiV0iBR20mz8lzWgQGFnqaousNycZNKLZMT18Jyi4tCs-vx1KfqumzHTOFHqf2IbabYkgrbdcy/s320/IMG_2680.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A narrow, hook-like peninsula constitutes most of Block Island's northern end. This partially encompasses the Great Salt Pond, a mix of freshwater and saltwater. The saltwater part has only been around for a century and change, after a channel was cut to connect to the sea. There's plenty out there about the ecology of this pond, but for the most part it just seems to be clogged with small boats.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0vaYjNOwfLtLDzsLbH_F5ov7TXSgBd_qsEW-tzvmh2TMNyKAcbVSmUSwrQrwyzixARa359zAt6BP0bDH8skjKH0NUaD9uFnTr23cnUT3yMwW9kF_Zs8mk_zTgOUj3Eo5xqz0738SNrts/s1600/IMG_2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0vaYjNOwfLtLDzsLbH_F5ov7TXSgBd_qsEW-tzvmh2TMNyKAcbVSmUSwrQrwyzixARa359zAt6BP0bDH8skjKH0NUaD9uFnTr23cnUT3yMwW9kF_Zs8mk_zTgOUj3Eo5xqz0738SNrts/s320/IMG_2677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Another lighthouse stands at the northern tip of Block Island. Anyone wishing to visit this one has to make a long scramble over a rocky beach, and then might be dismayed to discover that the lighthouse is only open for tours for four days of the week. Still, this site offers yet another beautiful vista and is always popular with visitors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuHBSSjWjUccpwEkAzv-PL_Dl5raproT6XvZyHL2mSPn8ly5GkjwQ2QT9d_3L5ee-yPkLjUz_DBbtbDm-byY6pi6xYfcidSSmGGSST5eOJDrAUaOV1ET9B1JLwPoozTRmhr7yRQQ9tFzV/s1600/IMG_2676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuHBSSjWjUccpwEkAzv-PL_Dl5raproT6XvZyHL2mSPn8ly5GkjwQ2QT9d_3L5ee-yPkLjUz_DBbtbDm-byY6pi6xYfcidSSmGGSST5eOJDrAUaOV1ET9B1JLwPoozTRmhr7yRQQ9tFzV/s320/IMG_2676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Those heading back to New Shoreham from the North Light have a steep hill to traverse. Some residents at the top of the incline were kind enough to put out an honor system lemonade stand catering to the many thirsty bicyclists passing by.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfalpzBLWkZrU9f-tFrNCznHldUhegf9W721hvDd8xYtIsJXbgYlG1o4PhdkmX2_3nzjF3PxN78-j0Q23E2TcNOvAAdmNEXCulPQfTaBNd-3u8RlucAdKeYwNldBtyTSEWZRK3x0fiSd8r/s1600/IMG_2678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfalpzBLWkZrU9f-tFrNCznHldUhegf9W721hvDd8xYtIsJXbgYlG1o4PhdkmX2_3nzjF3PxN78-j0Q23E2TcNOvAAdmNEXCulPQfTaBNd-3u8RlucAdKeYwNldBtyTSEWZRK3x0fiSd8r/s320/IMG_2678.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D64C-wyYHzO5o0bVyxAEthfvPdFIQ9VAP6egPY-Pv7crPQL-lOjeq5TLxYVtTbEONIXEIMokTHUkVtGk48CD-uKpJ3IdYdJLu7Q-GUgAxNyyIFER6HUhwjtCHXJuZUAQkahXLG3aNOAh/s1600/IMG_2679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D64C-wyYHzO5o0bVyxAEthfvPdFIQ9VAP6egPY-Pv7crPQL-lOjeq5TLxYVtTbEONIXEIMokTHUkVtGk48CD-uKpJ3IdYdJLu7Q-GUgAxNyyIFER6HUhwjtCHXJuZUAQkahXLG3aNOAh/s320/IMG_2679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
There's a brief, sharp hill from the northern peninsula back to Old Harbor, and I opted to stop midway up to check out a few public trails. Both had these steep staircases to traverse stone walls, and the trail to the Atwood Overlook led to the top of a short hill which offered a view stretching from the Great Salt Pond to the North Light.<br />
<br />
The "Sacred Labyrinth," built out of stones, invites people to walk its winding route and take some time for quiet contemplation. It's on public property, but the landowners have welcomed the public since the labyrinth was <a href="https://www.blockislandtimes.com/article/labyrinth-planned-north-end/13703">established in 2001</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHngESocI_Rb7aLJdl2eijrPapfwiF1W9EFjyMwEIba84xH96jfzdZ27TglbLhlVXVwicuDDnPTHU35xrQr7jsyBIVKIlXpumLDhvu1FcigcKjobM9ijBGYx_XA_wN4Jc7iCCxJYLj1xuJ/s1600/IMG_2681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHngESocI_Rb7aLJdl2eijrPapfwiF1W9EFjyMwEIba84xH96jfzdZ27TglbLhlVXVwicuDDnPTHU35xrQr7jsyBIVKIlXpumLDhvu1FcigcKjobM9ijBGYx_XA_wN4Jc7iCCxJYLj1xuJ/s320/IMG_2681.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Block Island is packed with trails that cut through woodlands, along cliffs, and over seaside dunes. I really should visit more of them. But on this day, I needed to get back to town and made haste to pedal back to town. Mohegan Cafe and Brewery is located on Water Street, in a busy stretch of restaurants and shops not far from the ferry landing, and this area of town is absolutely packed with visitors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx50sEXShd2euEUizzvVnHYhpUNzvUzaWpac5gFN1IyUGVIslBn8J_OZLFCeFngiFC2FljdOzdgxrV3m8jEn2sPxGYLFJpmQGxhGF8fPy-dC4wLbD3HGdAVx_ndPBmV0lgEBkh7JSV5FB5/s1600/IMG_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx50sEXShd2euEUizzvVnHYhpUNzvUzaWpac5gFN1IyUGVIslBn8J_OZLFCeFngiFC2FljdOzdgxrV3m8jEn2sPxGYLFJpmQGxhGF8fPy-dC4wLbD3HGdAVx_ndPBmV0lgEBkh7JSV5FB5/s320/IMG_2683.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Mohegan Cafe and Brewery dates back to 1990, but didn't begin serving as a brewpub until the late 90s when head chef Dave Sniffen brewing up small batches of home-brewed beer to serve at the restaurant. Ownership of the business <a href="https://www.blockislandtimes.com/article/mohegan-caf%C3%A9-and-harbor-grill-change-hands/35405">changed back in 2014</a>, but Sniffen still reportedly helms the brewing operations.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDwXRCsZlOEC8cxCfyrkmSvjMrGg5On4T3DzwV4HYqi4aZXHZu_HoRdlfuUNirV3O8n0Xogr3jtBpONRqqP_rFVc1LSKitLTealGFR1ZxOsp9_FKj0tYHiNQd35YYzQQv41cHiogTow6M/s1600/IMG_2685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDwXRCsZlOEC8cxCfyrkmSvjMrGg5On4T3DzwV4HYqi4aZXHZu_HoRdlfuUNirV3O8n0Xogr3jtBpONRqqP_rFVc1LSKitLTealGFR1ZxOsp9_FKj0tYHiNQd35YYzQQv41cHiogTow6M/s320/IMG_2685.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Block Island apparently faces a <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=I-PNBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA60&dq=%22mohegan+cafe%22+water&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi9ocy5u6ndAhUGk1kKHbhHCScQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=%22mohegan%20cafe%22%20water&f=false">unique dilemma when it comes to hosting brewers</a>, since there's a limited supply of freshwater available and it's only replenished by rainfall. And since the island is a major tourist destination during the summer, there's a high demand on available water supplies during that time. So Mohegan Cafe and Brewery's operations rely on extract brewing, which allows them to skip the mashing and sparging process and thus save a good deal of water.<br />
<br />
I ordered a pint of the cafe's booziest option, the Joe's "How I Got Fired" High Octane Ale. The story goes that Joe enjoyed a few too many of these 9% ABV scotch ales, showed up hung over to his place of employment the next day, and promptly got the boot.<br />
<br />
While the <a href="https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1163/31492/">reviews on BeerAdvocate</a> are none too charitable ("one of the worst commercial beers I've ever had," one complains), the recipe has apparently been re-tuned in recent years. On <a href="https://untappd.com/b/mohegan-cafe-and-brewery-joes-high-octane-ale/167948">Untappd</a>, its approaching the standard 3.5 average that most decent beers seem to enjoy. I found it to be delicious and not overly strong, a welcome change from my last experience with Mohegan Cafe's beers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBR3hODN5xW1uYkiSrh4Zjpds4-Sa93b0kS-qicUTv3zakg8i7YoeodJSp-Y4GKQb6I0rRakhoCuSx536aixaa6CMC4ATjaAb0ukwkP_2Vi8xccZ6lTLiSh7j1zZr7SRz-LquFfZ-oXWcn/s1600/IMG_2686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBR3hODN5xW1uYkiSrh4Zjpds4-Sa93b0kS-qicUTv3zakg8i7YoeodJSp-Y4GKQb6I0rRakhoCuSx536aixaa6CMC4ATjaAb0ukwkP_2Vi8xccZ6lTLiSh7j1zZr7SRz-LquFfZ-oXWcn/s320/IMG_2686.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The company get-together included lunch, but I couldn't help but get an order of chowder fries. This tasty appetizer involves clam chowder poured over an order of French fries, with a healthy amount of melted cheese on top. It would have been suicide to get this mid-ride, but since I'd finished up for the day I decided to treat myself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gNhe5POcXuQ_vpUA8wMTz5s4ghlwecWLPFXm-RDhslol6IDgcu6o-ye1Y6njUGUW6i2_-qAuZgdX_xbTI0UIFtNezemglQENaCpjTQljdfs_hSbs55Qrr3qn59Kgjx93Yj1suT2vq4RH/s1600/IMG_2689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7gNhe5POcXuQ_vpUA8wMTz5s4ghlwecWLPFXm-RDhslol6IDgcu6o-ye1Y6njUGUW6i2_-qAuZgdX_xbTI0UIFtNezemglQENaCpjTQljdfs_hSbs55Qrr3qn59Kgjx93Yj1suT2vq4RH/s320/IMG_2689.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Mohegan Cafe and Brewery also makes their own ginger beer. I ordered a "Mohegan Mule" as my second drink and also found it to be quite tasty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKh0p3FHpaU_deeSt9S6I6-CByHKcuFJym5CDPo7pTmiA-gMKJTNx3pLe3V4eJqaja8E95m9cAdvlnx-wpAtEVmfNqGXZ9CfBmU7d0dWZej4SsjkVSi2zA3mZyZ9hHZ5MtWa0UpRpvVYI/s1600/IMG_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKh0p3FHpaU_deeSt9S6I6-CByHKcuFJym5CDPo7pTmiA-gMKJTNx3pLe3V4eJqaja8E95m9cAdvlnx-wpAtEVmfNqGXZ9CfBmU7d0dWZej4SsjkVSi2zA3mZyZ9hHZ5MtWa0UpRpvVYI/s320/IMG_2690.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
And why not, one more. It's a party, and you have to get a Mudslide if you go to Block Island and are of drinking age. It's a tasty (if hideously overpriced) frozen concoction of vodka, Irish cream, and Kahlua all blended together. This has sort of become the official drink of the island, with ongoing debates over which venue has the best one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZjopWnIA7cu3K7N6QwwmE8d-BOHOhqLHwPp7yTxLmkNTdYIaYPMI7ioRK-kFpG7sIVaYdmR0jJuK-NfZmobC67vacNA-WHYklE4MyTNDwgjDYa08ObWGcvblyhh0UkyzuF6DGZSYajV/s1600/IMG_2694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1XZjopWnIA7cu3K7N6QwwmE8d-BOHOhqLHwPp7yTxLmkNTdYIaYPMI7ioRK-kFpG7sIVaYdmR0jJuK-NfZmobC67vacNA-WHYklE4MyTNDwgjDYa08ObWGcvblyhh0UkyzuF6DGZSYajV/s320/IMG_2694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcow7VhYkP2T_hlc7mMNHnABa-AWBYKzZKlggU6SsKIwkyyjPj4sVUgoOUWxDGnedm5U3zu3Jo0k-n2tyRWpzS7iaNVVQN6oByBusYLX0seFVP29emcjw4hIpAEFrbTkIwcsMyOE6_NKg/s1600/IMG_2695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcow7VhYkP2T_hlc7mMNHnABa-AWBYKzZKlggU6SsKIwkyyjPj4sVUgoOUWxDGnedm5U3zu3Jo0k-n2tyRWpzS7iaNVVQN6oByBusYLX0seFVP29emcjw4hIpAEFrbTkIwcsMyOE6_NKg/s320/IMG_2695.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After a relaxing beach afternoon, it was back to New London. And so ends another Bike and Brew milestone: the first expedition to Rhode Island, even if a high speed ferry got me across the state line.<br />
<br />
<b>Total mileage: </b>15 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/12/bike-and-brew-these-guys-brewing.html">These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-50091047982517257192018-09-07T19:39:00.002-07:002018-09-07T19:39:38.747-07:00Whatever Happened To: The Cast of Hey DudeMost of my "Whatever Happened To" ideas stem from TV shows I watched growing up, and I was recently thinking that there probably aren't too many left to cover. As I was contemplating what might be a good candidate, a friend happened to post on Facebook how it was the 29th anniversary of the debut of <i>Hey Dude</i>. The show premiered in 1989 and ran for five seasons, a total of 65 episodes.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9AaiQVAG0gQ" style="text-align: start;" width="480"></iframe></div>
<br />
This show was a bit of an outlier for Nickelodeon, marking only its second live-action series (a format which would prove successful for other shows, including <i>Clarissa Explains It All</i>). It followed the misadventures of the staff at the Bar None Dude Ranch near Tucson, Arizona. Fittingly enough, the show was also filmed near Tucson, and the <a href="https://news.avclub.com/the-ranch-from-hey-dude-is-still-out-in-the-desert-gat-1798267824">ruins of the set</a> can still be visited today.<br />
<br />
I remember being somewhat underwhelmed by <i>Hey Dude</i>, maybe because it was geared toward more of an older audience. The comments on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AaiQVAG0gQ">YouTube video for the theme song</a> suggest that this is a pretty common occurrence. The humor was fairly tame ("Ha ha, that guy got pushed into a trough!"), its characters and plot lines weren't too memorable, and the theme song was probably the best thing about it.<br />
<br />
But it was still entertaining enough for a kid to while away a half-hour on a lazy summer day. And a <a href="http://heydudereviewed.wordpress.com/">surprisingly thorough recap site</a> often has good things to say about the actors and episodes.<br />
<br />
So what happened to these folks?<br />
<br />
<b>David Brisbin (Benjamin Ernst)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lNjbU8spWSaGnHz29vhAZ0HinAgQbFDYnis-VAiprZ8ReXMFU1ES6r_IHIiHh3L8yAKtQ5DavTTmY3HvvZd3UO4kFVbHaV3lrAk-mymOI6CS4ToS-0rjOcjTO2uPOSs5F8EHS4lBffWu/s1600/ernst.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1lNjbU8spWSaGnHz29vhAZ0HinAgQbFDYnis-VAiprZ8ReXMFU1ES6r_IHIiHh3L8yAKtQ5DavTTmY3HvvZd3UO4kFVbHaV3lrAk-mymOI6CS4ToS-0rjOcjTO2uPOSs5F8EHS4lBffWu/s320/ernst.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://heydudereviewed.wordpress.com/2015/08/05/season-2-episode-04-bunkmate-battle/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Mr. Ernst was always a bit of a bumbling fool, so I was a bit surprised to read his origin story on Wikipedia. Apparently he was a high-powered New York City accountant who decided to change gears in middle age and buy a dude ranch in the West, supposedly to have a more relaxing profession. He was a divorcee whose son came to live on the ranch at the beginning of the series. Despite being a bit out of his element in running the ranch, he still cared about his workers and did his best to support them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97juWJKe14CAml_HLx0lhamVJ9wv2lro1AYlOU51tck4jik8l9gXUOpFBkKjHy_PSmDkMTfgmutQJiCo2LH0_ziPv-9ccQQTFS15DBd6N6dnY7udBNcMHHqTlaFYv0NTB3tvi7OrKkSli/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-16+at+9.21.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="196" data-original-width="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97juWJKe14CAml_HLx0lhamVJ9wv2lro1AYlOU51tck4jik8l9gXUOpFBkKjHy_PSmDkMTfgmutQJiCo2LH0_ziPv-9ccQQTFS15DBd6N6dnY7udBNcMHHqTlaFYv0NTB3tvi7OrKkSli/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-16+at+9.21.59+PM.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.tvguide.com/news/hey-dude-reunion-atx-festival-1082788/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
David Brisbin, now 66, has continued to act since <i>Hey Dude</i>. He's had small roles in a number of popular TV shows, including <i>Seinfeld</i>, <i>Home Improvement</i>, <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>, and <i>The X-Files</i>, as well as a recurring role as Dr. Alexander Babcock on <i>ER</i>. Brisbin has also scored credits on movies such as <i>Forrest Gump </i>and <i>Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas</i>, and acted extensively in theatrical productions.<br />
<br />
<b>Kelly Brown (Brad Taylor)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTg5g-NIyapBqOzdC1cibtzv6PW6lODklbzXW_GMnFa0rDuK0ON2mxENB5MRR973i715-3_Vx5t7hSoBr765JhqWrlo_bjZMGuKn_Gc4s4tS4t2zOrBBCE4_MjAaZ5D1_Vmx2whakYuk4/s1600/brad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="317" data-original-width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTg5g-NIyapBqOzdC1cibtzv6PW6lODklbzXW_GMnFa0rDuK0ON2mxENB5MRR973i715-3_Vx5t7hSoBr765JhqWrlo_bjZMGuKn_Gc4s4tS4t2zOrBBCE4_MjAaZ5D1_Vmx2whakYuk4/s1600/brad.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0113993/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Hailing from a wealthy family in Michigan, Bradley was a riding instructor at the Bar None Ranch. The show moved away from the "snobby rich girl" persona by portraying her as competent and hardworking, even a little tomboyish (her nickname being short for Bradley), although she sometimes let a bit of haughtiness slip through. Brad was often at odds with Ted, though there was also a bit of romantic tension between the two.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGp9nkSt-9r331sFppM6rMEH_8yMpQw0sIT1JmT6g4_giqeOA3f9gAC4zaJorWSudlTzCR-hl1QZdwJtXLMBO5V1AEnBm9eeUrdOj_ucTc0x5ob3aZr-z_T1QrnVUmFDvcpoMSujs6SBS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-06+at+9.36.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGp9nkSt-9r331sFppM6rMEH_8yMpQw0sIT1JmT6g4_giqeOA3f9gAC4zaJorWSudlTzCR-hl1QZdwJtXLMBO5V1AEnBm9eeUrdOj_ucTc0x5ob3aZr-z_T1QrnVUmFDvcpoMSujs6SBS/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-09-06+at+9.36.11+PM.png" width="187" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Hey-Dude-Interview-David-Lascher-Kelly-Brown-43624357">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
<i>Hey Dude </i>was Kelly Brown's only acting credit, although she worked in modeling before the show. She went on to marry her childhood sweetheart and have four kids. Brown now lives in Montauk, New York, and owns the clothing boutique store <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/kellybmtk/about/?ref=page_internal">Kelly B</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>David Lascher (Ted McGriff)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJKRAwpqeiInI2OelYXQ_MjKfEsSYWYJX2RUvG0PnXTph1g_Ot7-xAcBvoXKRBdgjxM6uwOXWaMiuVIyvKubHj4dpfPP-S0wmxLiANyzyakKN20n8Pj2Dfdmi95eta_8QK8EeqU00vi4N/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-06+at+9.25.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="710" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJKRAwpqeiInI2OelYXQ_MjKfEsSYWYJX2RUvG0PnXTph1g_Ot7-xAcBvoXKRBdgjxM6uwOXWaMiuVIyvKubHj4dpfPP-S0wmxLiANyzyakKN20n8Pj2Dfdmi95eta_8QK8EeqU00vi4N/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-09-06+at+9.25.02+PM.png" width="305" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://heydudereviewed.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/season-2-episode-01-loose-lips/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
A senior staffer at the ranch, Ted was usually hatching some scheme or another which usually wound up getting him and his fellow ranchers in trouble. He had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Brad which, if I remember correctly, leaned pretty heavy toward the "hate" end of the spectrum; still, Ted was a good-hearted fellow who earned a kiss from his rival after a surprisingly good date with her. Ted took a brief hiatus from the show when his character was required to attend summer school, but later returned to the ranch.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aKbGYjHi6o75_Q79H-WZH649VgaVILGsILxw5NbfAFaM-3U9rzLsqTzzqa3vu5ISOQhKcEAMRwNwkbrJyOXd0S1PBRorJQRClvunU4HY1dRDMmlSvlyhOiNtMQ341tNHXzW3HJvrNLaa/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-06+at+9.27.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="852" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9aKbGYjHi6o75_Q79H-WZH649VgaVILGsILxw5NbfAFaM-3U9rzLsqTzzqa3vu5ISOQhKcEAMRwNwkbrJyOXd0S1PBRorJQRClvunU4HY1dRDMmlSvlyhOiNtMQ341tNHXzW3HJvrNLaa/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-09-06+at+9.27.32+PM.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidlascher/?hl=en">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
David Lascher, now 46, had a successful career as a young actor in the 90s, including as the romantic interest of the title characters of both <i>Blossom </i>and <i>Sabrina the Teenage Witch</i>. He's been less active as an actor since then, having only a handful of credits in the 21st century, but also tried his hand at other roles by writing, directing, and producing the 2014 film <i>Sister</i>. He's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidlascher/?hl=en">active on Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/davidlascher?lang=en">Twitter</a>, where he describes himself as an actor/writer/director, but at this point he seems to be simply enjoying time with his family.<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan Galkin (Jake Decker)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL4Dk4TC8cQmRCMZhcszZd7J2LMeJtXmKTYpCwGWVMW6Q4wmjeHrAl7RuKyZFh3A1Jo6qhuM30ZebAUpNzWF_6qCXtG0Oq5ET_d0us0EJEABftU0NtK-I8DRuGW8rn2G8dxjPfyqjj8c5/s1600/jake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxL4Dk4TC8cQmRCMZhcszZd7J2LMeJtXmKTYpCwGWVMW6Q4wmjeHrAl7RuKyZFh3A1Jo6qhuM30ZebAUpNzWF_6qCXtG0Oq5ET_d0us0EJEABftU0NtK-I8DRuGW8rn2G8dxjPfyqjj8c5/s320/jake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://heydudereviewed.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/season-3-episode-04-new-kid-on-the-block/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Mr. Ernst's nephew, Jake Decker was introduced in the third season as a sarcastic surfer slacker who enjoyed playing the drums. He was portrayed as being fairly smart despite his spaced out persona, and aspired to be a writer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyUgqsL-DZ6bQVlNbrKaPa_Ncy1aZ7LL42LLTfKePBhg7GrqO2lQ8rWCe1T9xhFN7LylWQXmCK8jPTCLZOLy6gR9R0Wr7fxl1Bsz4MGQdF2aQte3xQR3gZUl-NMjPFKRDhUHKZ5jjxxOq/s1600/jgalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="560" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyUgqsL-DZ6bQVlNbrKaPa_Ncy1aZ7LL42LLTfKePBhg7GrqO2lQ8rWCe1T9xhFN7LylWQXmCK8jPTCLZOLy6gR9R0Wr7fxl1Bsz4MGQdF2aQte3xQR3gZUl-NMjPFKRDhUHKZ5jjxxOq/s320/jgalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://pulseradio.net/articles/2013/05/rbma-releases-12-years-of-dfa">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Aside from <i>Hey Dude</i>, Jonathan Galkin's only acting role was on another Nickelodeon show, <i>Way Cool</i>. After attending New York University, Galkin entered the business of music production. Now 46, he co-founded the label DFA Records in 2001 (originally entitled Death From Above before the 9/11 attacks quickly resulted in an abbreviated name) and continues to work there today. While the label represents a number of artists, LCD Soundsystem is arguably their biggest client.<br />
<br />
<b>Geoffrey Koy (Kyle)</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTNNdgz7B5nkUvIwPUtjiXP11bwJfmbQ0qOyEpiqGQGVsTrMAj3VazFE0qLDLz1C2ihRoqK6F5tubJvsvqV2hpWV1z9ArpsXeVHYuvkFBrolYCl41lipfpZIkfV3qFG2oY9fDGPg3Jlg5/s1600/kyle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTNNdgz7B5nkUvIwPUtjiXP11bwJfmbQ0qOyEpiqGQGVsTrMAj3VazFE0qLDLz1C2ihRoqK6F5tubJvsvqV2hpWV1z9ArpsXeVHYuvkFBrolYCl41lipfpZIkfV3qFG2oY9fDGPg3Jlg5/s320/kyle.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/11/showbiz/hey-dude-reunion-25th-anniversary/index.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Introduced at the end of the third season, Kyle was the handsome if somewhat dimwitted son of Lucy's ex-boyfriend. He proved useful around the ranch and also wound up finding himself attracted to Brad, setting up a bit of a romantic rivalry with Ted once he returned. The good folks over at <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Series/HeyDude">TV Tropes</a> posit that Kyle was brought in for this reason after there wasn't too much chemistry between Brad and Jake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekhgdfr0bEqlNNiPVDpj7vQlrysj02cbLiqFrbO0ErY25IX9rJuoUbHwYzjmFFRq2qEzKbC8Lyc0QYzP_FY4pkWxFvOf6noF78aX9tibSKMKReYCmV_gFy4zYXxh8OO3VCDWnpc-sSAB6/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-03+at+9.56.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekhgdfr0bEqlNNiPVDpj7vQlrysj02cbLiqFrbO0ErY25IX9rJuoUbHwYzjmFFRq2qEzKbC8Lyc0QYzP_FY4pkWxFvOf6noF78aX9tibSKMKReYCmV_gFy4zYXxh8OO3VCDWnpc-sSAB6/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-08-03+at+9.56.31+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006832335597&lst=19401481%3A100006832335597%3A1533347680">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Geoffrey Coy was another cast member who opted out of acting after the show concluded. He attended business school at Baylor University and began a career in the medical and biopharmaceutical industry. According to his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-coy-043b0b3/">LinkedIn page</a>, he has been working at the pharmaceutical company BTG International for the past five years and is the company's vice president of sales and marketing.<br />
<br />
<b>Debrah Kalman (Lucy)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAYIsTqz6-Vy7dDLyQ1rd9Ky7ORZnwpNxYmBDza-ae0SS2p5c05SZGGT2aSBm4P55WrvfugAauP8ShgflQtuYh2XwAJOJ1F_t0j8XRN-ccdpsS-EWiBBsbu7NI2W7PDh8AhV4dr8Vo-1_/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-08-03+at+10.03.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="470" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiAYIsTqz6-Vy7dDLyQ1rd9Ky7ORZnwpNxYmBDza-ae0SS2p5c05SZGGT2aSBm4P55WrvfugAauP8ShgflQtuYh2XwAJOJ1F_t0j8XRN-ccdpsS-EWiBBsbu7NI2W7PDh8AhV4dr8Vo-1_/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-08-03+at+10.03.54+PM.png" width="249" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://heydudereviewed.wordpress.com/2015/08/19/season-2-episode-06-ghost-stories/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The only adult staffer seen at the Bar None Ranch other than Mr. Ernst, Lucy was portrayed as being much more knowledgeable about ranching and vastly more competent. She was something of a background character, though; in the episode guide, she's the main focus of only one plot (in which she's thinking about getting married).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7yoGKUbWUEmpwWRER9VXPs9q_7I0Eyh4JgzPE6BCbY3CTQSMr7MQ9gFN1gTbsPFvfXDBj4gh7iukuHiwZQLpky2mFCcbnAiDgwuyyvkSVTg15jyz8DGU1xEIZ6ruOawPtSick_sMFDX-/s1600/debi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="492" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7yoGKUbWUEmpwWRER9VXPs9q_7I0Eyh4JgzPE6BCbY3CTQSMr7MQ9gFN1gTbsPFvfXDBj4gh7iukuHiwZQLpky2mFCcbnAiDgwuyyvkSVTg15jyz8DGU1xEIZ6ruOawPtSick_sMFDX-/s320/debi.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.andimathenyactingstudios.com/single-post/2017/01/15/Its-a-new-Day-for-Debi-Kalman">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
According to Debrah Kalman's <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0436078/">IMDB page</a>, she now goes by the name Debi and has branched out from acting a fair amount. In addition to opening a few restaurants with her husband, she became a teacher at age 53 and continued this career for eight years. Now living in Florida, she has started acting and modeling again. She most recently starred in the film <i>At the End of the Day</i> and will appear in the upcoming picture <i>#Snapped</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Christine Taylor (Melody Hanson)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG2r-SJcQMkNLDw0oaUdQbdssksnAkpYSPx9pesr2J19EdKufvyxyzwfb_uRZJGuIQnuz5s0LCMBMm7mjx-Y97kTGChvA1hCk6S64LQHHB55qsw4Tt9C5T9klnIIFQsPHE3vDevNHrVfk/s1600/Melody-s1-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRG2r-SJcQMkNLDw0oaUdQbdssksnAkpYSPx9pesr2J19EdKufvyxyzwfb_uRZJGuIQnuz5s0LCMBMm7mjx-Y97kTGChvA1hCk6S64LQHHB55qsw4Tt9C5T9klnIIFQsPHE3vDevNHrVfk/s320/Melody-s1-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://heydude.wikia.com/wiki/File:Melody-s1-01.jpg">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Melody was the ranch's lifeguard and had a notably sunny personality. A few episode subplots even revolved around whether she'd be able to keep up this friendliness in the face of certain annoyances, or if people were taking advantage of her kindness. Despite this character trait, Melody and Brad often had a more contentious relationship and sparred over various issues.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLltH-PyHxzyJ-uNTKroR6_I1TqSV0Awi0sHKZdnlovkLJ1CedT4uIxNf3Ea-PJ1_5CLWDtHPMC_tULjONJX3PQiOQVWexKd8RUyBOe2ij96OAA0fuZdm08dRDvHL8MClynppqoJXhjHO/s1600/taylor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1600" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLltH-PyHxzyJ-uNTKroR6_I1TqSV0Awi0sHKZdnlovkLJ1CedT4uIxNf3Ea-PJ1_5CLWDtHPMC_tULjONJX3PQiOQVWexKd8RUyBOe2ij96OAA0fuZdm08dRDvHL8MClynppqoJXhjHO/s320/taylor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/ben-stiller-and-christine-taylor-split-after-17-years-of-marriage_us_59299b26e4b0df57cbfbf434">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Perhaps the most well-known of all the <i>Hey Dude </i>alumni, Christine Taylor is still acting. She might be best known as the wife of Ben Stiller, having appeared with him in comedies such as <i>Zoolander </i>and <i>Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story</i>, although the couple separated in 2017 after 17 years of marriage. Taylor's other roles include Marcia Brady in the <i>Brady Bunch </i>movies and Sally Sitwell in <i>Arrested Development</i>. Now 47, she'll be appearing in the upcoming film <i>Friendsgiving</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Joe Torres (Danny Lightfoot)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqRFRlf90ZJjwv6C_MxSjY6cVVdmmH5MRKlWHalLHtZqfy6gYNJ0IXN6bBq_SP5U4h5YbSksgMqR2vZETKbBa0vk_dClv0tZQOgnyz3cfg-Vcj46zQMJqR46qWmkpunxvO6_E0s-KMxIb/s1600/danny.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqRFRlf90ZJjwv6C_MxSjY6cVVdmmH5MRKlWHalLHtZqfy6gYNJ0IXN6bBq_SP5U4h5YbSksgMqR2vZETKbBa0vk_dClv0tZQOgnyz3cfg-Vcj46zQMJqR46qWmkpunxvO6_E0s-KMxIb/s320/danny.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.tv.com/news/the-10-most-important-things-we-learned-at-hey-dudes-25th-anniversary-reunion-140234589636/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Danny generally acted as the voice of reason in the series, frequently trying to warn Ted, Mr. Ernst, and others away from unsound ideas. He was also portrayed as a talented artist, and a few episodes involved his Hopi Indian heritage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50JmG1vjMpEX2GMeBl58COQr4m6skK7CxUEek3o_zaN4zV6yvu2zhkCtuJzNb9CRO8-0rKb1K2G9wf1BCJghWRcUgxr4jz_IW9xHW_E1Pll_zus_3R-ntkaZCp6OEHSmKVg3ouGM-5O0Z/s1600/missing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="561" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50JmG1vjMpEX2GMeBl58COQr4m6skK7CxUEek3o_zaN4zV6yvu2zhkCtuJzNb9CRO8-0rKb1K2G9wf1BCJghWRcUgxr4jz_IW9xHW_E1Pll_zus_3R-ntkaZCp6OEHSmKVg3ouGM-5O0Z/s320/missing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://asimoulaw.com/missing-persons-legal-help/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Joe Torres stayed off the grid after <i>Hey Dude </i>(his only acting credit), which may have helped fuel rumors that he drank himself into an early grave. He failed to show at a reunion in 2014, where series writer Alan Goodman acknowledged that his <a href="https://www.tvguide.com/news/hey-dude-reunion-atx-festival-1082788/">whereabouts are pretty much unknown</a> despite some casual efforts by the cast to stay in touch with each other. Other rumors suggest that he became a pool shark in the Tuscon area or a used car salesman in New Jersey. A <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DannyLightfootHeyDude/">Facebook page</a> purportedly run by Torres seems to back up the former theory, although its origin seems pretty dubious.<br />
<br />
<b>Josh Tygiel (Buddy Ernst)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O09TudPmd9pxDkGYF48hcHId-kjreJcYWvZ9tPBPK4VuZr9Bw9S_zuyI4lVEtGwSITzFKet1YpG0TRdWrfoumvOPdqdZ-o0QmsYyNHnT-nGwyrjQoUeXhlYH0IRJf23sO7AA-2OWcje1/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-09-07+at+10.16.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9O09TudPmd9pxDkGYF48hcHId-kjreJcYWvZ9tPBPK4VuZr9Bw9S_zuyI4lVEtGwSITzFKet1YpG0TRdWrfoumvOPdqdZ-o0QmsYyNHnT-nGwyrjQoUeXhlYH0IRJf23sO7AA-2OWcje1/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-09-07+at+10.16.54+PM.png" width="285" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AaiQVAG0gQ">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The title screen for Buddy is all you really need to know how much of a fish out of water he is. After all, he's at a dude ranch with some colorful 90s duds, a skateboard, and a Mets cap. Buddy generally eschews the ranch activities in favor of things like comic books and magic tricks, and wasn't too happy to be at the Bar None. However, some episodes showed him finding aspects of ranch life to enjoy, becoming attached to a horse in one storyline and falling for Melody in another.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-6INbfKfo5kohIXGynfqeNqPGO7pe8b9mysozc6zD97hwlu5lwyYOV_bVrCamN2knLXRIwYe_zF7W2qNucHfCqDFORLo4b6kHL5FfUDc6T5qZeD7YwgKY-zEr0lfRyYe53mFjG50bOt5/s1600/josh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-6INbfKfo5kohIXGynfqeNqPGO7pe8b9mysozc6zD97hwlu5lwyYOV_bVrCamN2knLXRIwYe_zF7W2qNucHfCqDFORLo4b6kHL5FfUDc6T5qZeD7YwgKY-zEr0lfRyYe53mFjG50bOt5/s320/josh.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/joshua.tygiel?ref=br_rs">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
I kind of love that Josh Tygiel's <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-tygiel-4b8170140/">LinkedIn page</a> matter-of-factly includes his time on <i>Hey Dude </i>("Actor - Nickelodeon"). The show proved to be his only acting credit, although he included drama in his college studies. After completing his education, Tygiel started working as an investigator and writer/editor of due diligence and business history reports for hedge funds and private equity industries. He's been in this line of work for close to 20 years, and lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and children.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-14522937268323904022018-04-27T10:50:00.003-07:002018-04-27T10:50:40.225-07:00The Top 10 Villains of "Stranger Things"It's been awhile since I posted an entry in this blog, and I wanted to do something relatively short and sweet. Somehow the idea of a villain ranking for the Netflix sci-fi series <i>Stranger Things </i>popped into my mind, and here we are.<br />
<br />
<i>Stranger Things</i> has done a great job of developing its characters, and quite a few of them are portrayed as having a mix of good and bad qualities. Dustin's a lovable goofball, but he's not above covering up for an otherworldly pet who turns out to be more hostile than he expects. And who doesn't love Season 2 Steve, now that he's matured from the complete douchebag he was at the start of the series?<br />
<br />
So these are the characters that seem to have more bad than good in them. Let's see how they rank (spoilers ahead):<br />
<br />
<b>10. The Demogorgon</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AwU5N9In20ahjJqX-3CFBPXekm-wTbi1x1ax2biTlQCI8wIVNWk-TJS7hF1qK8CTrnOM6JLua5tG_pYh8URdfwBJSJQhor9y2wTBuSoN6PULmpOVaqHtlDPgg13o3238eN9jq3tTcJqW/s1600/demog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="960" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AwU5N9In20ahjJqX-3CFBPXekm-wTbi1x1ax2biTlQCI8wIVNWk-TJS7hF1qK8CTrnOM6JLua5tG_pYh8URdfwBJSJQhor9y2wTBuSoN6PULmpOVaqHtlDPgg13o3238eN9jq3tTcJqW/s320/demog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/stranger-things-season-two-monsters/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Yes, the rampaging monster from the first season is barely on the list, even though it probably killed Nancy's best friend and sparked all those #JusticeForBarb posts. Because when it comes down to it, the Demogorgon is just some creature from an alternate dimension who wound up doing what it always does, just in our world. There was recently a giant uproar in my city because a coyote wandered out of the woods and snacked on a few small dogs; no one really blamed the coyote for doing this, everyone was just advised to not let their highly edible toy dogs run free. I kind of see the Demogorgon as having a similar nature.<br />
<br />
<b>9. Dart</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cebXCJB4DF2zgy8jynhAlgLiV6QdgPi87UBOuQZU5ztqaxbkxWwTs-vkHKl3tf90O73QLZYgnB_QW7ZmubPoCroUEYgnDoXJHyJQ58OEoJp8EItoGrWM3Vksq27IPomzAf1RpSyNbUZi/s1600/dart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="771" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cebXCJB4DF2zgy8jynhAlgLiV6QdgPi87UBOuQZU5ztqaxbkxWwTs-vkHKl3tf90O73QLZYgnB_QW7ZmubPoCroUEYgnDoXJHyJQ58OEoJp8EItoGrWM3Vksq27IPomzAf1RpSyNbUZi/s320/dart.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.elitedaily.com/p/what-are-demodogs-on-stranger-things-heres-everything-to-know-about-season-2s-new-creatures-3192550">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Dart is kind of a similar case. You could even argue that he's not as bad as the Demogorgon. After all, he's fairly harmless when he's a tadpole, and Dustin managed to tame him enough that he opts not to harm him and the others later in the film. You may even feel a little sorry for him when he dies.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, I'm a cat person and Dart rather brutally kills Mews, Dustin's cat. Not cool, Dart.<br />
<br />
<b>8. Troy's weasel friend</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZO8z8KPYX1FsPwh3AmhtTGnDxLZjrPsFmsvoJ_Nw8iXv3DZeBbzPjc0_2GRAFilqTvhjPbRSCDkFAlPQ-JjDA3fY1SX3h9vOe5OFjZ-fFawHzYJed1GAK8PmVzKXjkI1YWBU5SFPSB9w/s1600/james.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="789" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZO8z8KPYX1FsPwh3AmhtTGnDxLZjrPsFmsvoJ_Nw8iXv3DZeBbzPjc0_2GRAFilqTvhjPbRSCDkFAlPQ-JjDA3fY1SX3h9vOe5OFjZ-fFawHzYJed1GAK8PmVzKXjkI1YWBU5SFPSB9w/s320/james.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://medium.com/@tole_cover/stranger-things-characters-ranked-74d363d0b44f">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
He has a name? Fine. <i>James</i>.<br />
<br />
James is your typical middle school jerk who likes to pick on others, which in <i>Stranger Things</i> includes Mike, Dustin, Will, and Lucas. He basically serves as the backup and reinforcement for Troy's nastier brand of bullying, but shows at least some moral compass when he protests Troy's demand that Mike jump off a cliff. He's perfectly fine with Troy threatening to carve Dustin's teeth out of his head, though. Reign in those boundaries a little more, James.<br />
<br />
<b>7. Billy Hargrove</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML6KiOSzu81XBGFo1Lhm7gUtO9yY-YydiYPGz4BEUk_VTgFYGYeHg5AUfR2m023RolT8kMFKp3MiMpGC4SVmHmJM1R8quBFozotjqTBgLXrFvfrxCvAU9XAj9RI24GZmUmTCOdQDqCTrU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+11.20.33+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1486" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhML6KiOSzu81XBGFo1Lhm7gUtO9yY-YydiYPGz4BEUk_VTgFYGYeHg5AUfR2m023RolT8kMFKp3MiMpGC4SVmHmJM1R8quBFozotjqTBgLXrFvfrxCvAU9XAj9RI24GZmUmTCOdQDqCTrU/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+11.20.33+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://comicbook.com/horror/2017/11/06/strangers-things-2-billy-dacre-montgomery-audition-tape/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
I originally had Billy, Max's jerkwad stepbrother, set much higher on the list. His character acts like someone turned his persona to "Asshole" and then broke the dial off. He's cocky, domineering, and abusive. There are times when he's disturbingly violent, such as when he nearly runs down Mike and friends with his car and when he gleefully beats Steve unconscious.<br />
<br />
I'm cutting him a bit of slack, though, since one scene suggests that some of his personality stems from his father's mistreatment. There's also the possibility that nearly getting castrated by a nail-studded baseball bat will humble him a bit in the third season.<br />
<br />
<b>6. Troy's mom</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJjqOHZtgKrbNsHLytbzxeWwL6ejfDwwlZTMoYcwwt3OObkSbOn2OIxtpdx3DxbqwUKCQSQl8hM9Ew9B5cMWs303MP_bfjXo1BxbDXd-9EJ5WT-iCQzW5FJo6iMHPk9vG56c7p8pqWK33/s1600/troymom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="583" data-original-width="1075" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJjqOHZtgKrbNsHLytbzxeWwL6ejfDwwlZTMoYcwwt3OObkSbOn2OIxtpdx3DxbqwUKCQSQl8hM9Ew9B5cMWs303MP_bfjXo1BxbDXd-9EJ5WT-iCQzW5FJo6iMHPk9vG56c7p8pqWK33/s320/troymom.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://medium.com/@tole_cover/stranger-things-characters-ranked-74d363d0b44f">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
We only see Troy's mother once, when she makes a ruckus at the Hawkins Police Department about how they need to find the girl who broke her son's arm. Troy probably changed the story from "This girl attacked me with her mind when I tried to murder a kid" to some blubbering lie that bullies like to tell when their victims fight back, but her demeanor suggests that she's been taken in by the misconception that her jerk son is a perfect angel for way too long. Stop your enabling, Mom.<br />
<br />
<b>5. Dr. Martin Brenner</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEeWxepbrAJkiVs8aDT0BP9xPjzZYFBOVfNa2hjkpQUpitYC8LU39bcBe_Nkj5M3gO6peMGRQh9FfGP2qa9FXfynOvm2YXvwsdlQ4phVmAP33Wzx7C1JETwEo19HjhBPP86XACNerKo6w/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+11.27.35+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1192" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvEeWxepbrAJkiVs8aDT0BP9xPjzZYFBOVfNa2hjkpQUpitYC8LU39bcBe_Nkj5M3gO6peMGRQh9FfGP2qa9FXfynOvm2YXvwsdlQ4phVmAP33Wzx7C1JETwEo19HjhBPP86XACNerKo6w/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+11.27.35+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/1627619/is-stranger-things-season-2-bringing-dr-brenner-back">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
On the one hand, he's an evil mad scientist whose crimes have included abducting and experimenting on a child, unleashing hellish creatures from an alternate dimension on an unsuspecting small town, and generally being a pretty unscrupulous and shady guy.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, he managed to give Eleven telekinetic powers and she seems perfectly happy with those. Wouldn't <i>you </i>want telekinetic powers?<br />
<br />
<b>4. Troy</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyF68hD2wMFeIVNuppnyx4stxjwSHaFrLv96VwLlFMyoCfypHLkeWPeoJ2BCJG6vD6c7vPuHyJn551gVmMPdw2qSyESDJx7eXPTVXW4PUr-TiA1HF22QzBbd13EdM8i49BNzfyvb2Pn48/s1600/Troy-0.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="619" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyF68hD2wMFeIVNuppnyx4stxjwSHaFrLv96VwLlFMyoCfypHLkeWPeoJ2BCJG6vD6c7vPuHyJn551gVmMPdw2qSyESDJx7eXPTVXW4PUr-TiA1HF22QzBbd13EdM8i49BNzfyvb2Pn48/s320/Troy-0.png" width="314" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.cinemablend.com/television/1627619/is-stranger-things-season-2-bringing-dr-brenner-back">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Why is Troy ranked higher than the mad doctor and a couple of literal monsters? Because screw bullies, that's why. He starts off as the kind of jerk who throws a few insults and taunts around, which is shitty but something bullies tend to grow out of once they get a little more mature.<br />
<br />
But when you ruthlessly mock a classmate after he's been declared dead, threaten in all seriousness to remove someone's teeth with a knife, and demand that one of your bullying victims take a suicidal leap into a quarry, you're firmly in sociopath territory. Troy doesn't show up in Season 2, probably because his parents finally found his collection of tortured squirrels and sent him off to get electroshock therapy.<br />
<br />
<b>3. Connie Frazier</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrj5Iui0QYZ_avPN4H4olJ7XeG7FJ5wrIglFp6Cu30BmrOahxfd4zw9x-N7_PXG2PD5spSk3ndhOiwZFarVXpwUKTLITgSgvAvL-46eCS9QXini8uO8nfGZbHtw6Bz-dJ8pqFuR6n8_2M/s1600/Frazier2-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="303" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZrj5Iui0QYZ_avPN4H4olJ7XeG7FJ5wrIglFp6Cu30BmrOahxfd4zw9x-N7_PXG2PD5spSk3ndhOiwZFarVXpwUKTLITgSgvAvL-46eCS9QXini8uO8nfGZbHtw6Bz-dJ8pqFuR6n8_2M/s320/Frazier2-0.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Connie_Frazier">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Benny, the owner of a Hawkins diner, is an instantly likable character. He's angered when he sees Eleven sneaking some food out of his kitchen, but immediately grows kinder when he realizes that she's apparently escaped from a bad situation.<br />
<br />
So it's pretty shocking and saddening when Benny's attempt to get Eleven help ends up getting him murdered by Connie Frazier, who poses as a social services worker and before abruptly shooting him. She later manages to manipulate the boys' biology teacher in her hunt for Eleven, and you're left worrying that the teacher won't make it out alive, either. Frazier is cold, manipulative, and dangerous, so it's pretty satisfying when Eleven telekinetically takes her out.<br />
<br />
<b>2. The Mind Flayer</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB086xe2rYBqnNdZE-J4jVAOia059Q9I87dR-ZH7GNcCdJzZdNGvhFVcf8WUxV1oIen7tnoL6QLMRshXWRmPgvm7gUB5R57hLL7RPiKhsIA2CLfbvjyihhY8EVCLJbNixDcFD6US_lYlef/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+1.47.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1500" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB086xe2rYBqnNdZE-J4jVAOia059Q9I87dR-ZH7GNcCdJzZdNGvhFVcf8WUxV1oIen7tnoL6QLMRshXWRmPgvm7gUB5R57hLL7RPiKhsIA2CLfbvjyihhY8EVCLJbNixDcFD6US_lYlef/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+1.47.41+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://nerdist.com/stranger-things-season-3-dungeons-dragons-mind-flayer-eleven-theory/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
I've given the other creatures from the Upside Down a bit of a pass, since they kind of come off as dumb animals. The Mind Flayer is something else entirely, acting as a sort of hive mind who can control the other creatures and infect people to use for its own purposes, which would seem to entail taking over our world. Yeah, the giant smoke spider is pretty bad. But it's still outdone by...<br />
<br />
<b>1. Stacey</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NcOdfiX-f-tTk-sUHE2jL35SyKJS_lnAz8E7eJXRhCqaPAkkz65xPSBDqwlCKRlPfmUYRA3894NLi1doj477pRh1DuztoODuHNHl0jFSW_JpLFUiYKI9Sex5v-bPkfD007M1yhXou65H/s1600/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+1.47.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8NcOdfiX-f-tTk-sUHE2jL35SyKJS_lnAz8E7eJXRhCqaPAkkz65xPSBDqwlCKRlPfmUYRA3894NLi1doj477pRh1DuztoODuHNHl0jFSW_JpLFUiYKI9Sex5v-bPkfD007M1yhXou65H/s320/Screen+Shot+2018-04-27+at+1.47.49+PM.png" width="229" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/StrangerThings/comments/7et9zv/fuck_stacey_for_rejecting_those_pearls/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
We see Stacey in one scene, at the very end of the second season, in which she rudely turns down Dustin's request to dance. Everyone loves Dustin, so I don't have much patience for someone whose actions (combined with some similarly hostile girls, admittedly) leave him fighting back tears on the bleachers. Especially when that person is so very full of herself.<br />
<br />
Stacey, you're worse than the bullies, evil government agents, and monsters from another realm we meet in the show. Think about that while you're on the long, steady downward slope from your peak in middle school.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-89808808945971809932017-12-03T18:50:00.000-08:002019-02-13T12:57:12.127-08:00Bike and Brew: These Guys Brewing Company and Epicure Brewing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLR0YNBaQ1oCD259yMyb9MfxtEPiX4meJwmsDEknYC61u8iGgoO9DWJLJNEQoLqpC4ixdNWi3uK4Vb0tz1W9TVFsRCgmY56Qmkwv5BlqyvwJ_VBTaDLc552IYQFUCyZbYWcS0hhmjXPN-/s1600/DSCN0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLR0YNBaQ1oCD259yMyb9MfxtEPiX4meJwmsDEknYC61u8iGgoO9DWJLJNEQoLqpC4ixdNWi3uK4Vb0tz1W9TVFsRCgmY56Qmkwv5BlqyvwJ_VBTaDLc552IYQFUCyZbYWcS0hhmjXPN-/s320/DSCN0379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For the first time, we're heading north.<br />
<br />
I don't even mean for the first time in this Bike and Brew series, although that's also true. Since I've started biking in the region, I've found plenty of interesting routes to the west and east of New London as well as a beautiful ride to the south after hopping a ferry. But I've never made a straight shot north from the city.<br />
<br />
Why not?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoLgllf2_oyt2QjiZMeZvmnbyQj3_chhqTKMTQ05WxSyTiPLPylCOCmIM1vfwyy77_w2NQ_y1Pit9SU6X4vCGzvF9UQJuVy-gYI8yPfS2h1ja-2Pq5dsCGzN8fTSjrMilIf6xibHHtSgN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-12-03+at+9.24.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1154" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoLgllf2_oyt2QjiZMeZvmnbyQj3_chhqTKMTQ05WxSyTiPLPylCOCmIM1vfwyy77_w2NQ_y1Pit9SU6X4vCGzvF9UQJuVy-gYI8yPfS2h1ja-2Pq5dsCGzN8fTSjrMilIf6xibHHtSgN/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-12-03+at+9.24.13+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
That's why not.<br />
<br />
This is a look at where I-95 passes through the northern part of New London and vomits out a bunch of frontage roads and off-ramps and such. There's not really an easy way to get through this whole mess on two wheels. But I wanted to pay a visit to two breweries in Norwich, so I would have to find a way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7i14guCRYRhz7GDgXY53UxDRs_EJVz9lUnWv9tNocpRFxiMMkrRcy4mcj6-xEVjFrINfTe_fWuKY6YjUj1oz_VNjnRny83BOc57do49rcDju7UbVHbSKqbM6iS0ZX4nzK_yxuP7caqao/s1600/DSCN0356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7i14guCRYRhz7GDgXY53UxDRs_EJVz9lUnWv9tNocpRFxiMMkrRcy4mcj6-xEVjFrINfTe_fWuKY6YjUj1oz_VNjnRny83BOc57do49rcDju7UbVHbSKqbM6iS0ZX4nzK_yxuP7caqao/s320/DSCN0356.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tkrcf0Y1gryHj5Aw7NmhM8hQ8aOcJuCJ9YaTP12zX3p-F9WqohJQEy1GL0D5yeCF5uBmCrJRmOQgDes8zVmAvRDnPWh4YVveQb7WZm2j9yL1JyUjHc712e81mQZ2cZW5cHKtzPKkaoz7/s1600/DSCN0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tkrcf0Y1gryHj5Aw7NmhM8hQ8aOcJuCJ9YaTP12zX3p-F9WqohJQEy1GL0D5yeCF5uBmCrJRmOQgDes8zVmAvRDnPWh4YVveQb7WZm2j9yL1JyUjHc712e81mQZ2cZW5cHKtzPKkaoz7/s320/DSCN0357.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
At first, the route to the north is quite pleasant. A quick detour off the Old Norwich Road brings you to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum, a gorgeous building with plenty of rotating exhibits and free admission for New London residents. This is located a stone's throw from Connecticut College, one of three college campuses in the city.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, the former New London to Norwich road rather quickly merges with Route 32. This provides a straight shot up to the latter city, and it has a decent breakdown lane, but it also serves as something of an impromptu highway. It's two lanes with a speed limit of 55; people are more likely to cruise along at 70, right on each other's bumpers. I preferred to stay away from this type of traffic and meet up with Route 32 later.<br />
<br />
That meant taking some back roads through the town of Montville and, well, it wasn't the most scenic of routes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUalUIrwtvju6ScMxSq2mxh2IQirtciSBsb_ZZwRKBAW7UUlm_6MLdoiLuyj_Hlz6R82IGMoIlG7atCDIYl93Fcl7WoF4jKuESIUS0UkyDkfFyu0sw4lrUopQvNuqEaa6p97KNFhwllwE/s1600/DSCN0360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUalUIrwtvju6ScMxSq2mxh2IQirtciSBsb_ZZwRKBAW7UUlm_6MLdoiLuyj_Hlz6R82IGMoIlG7atCDIYl93Fcl7WoF4jKuESIUS0UkyDkfFyu0sw4lrUopQvNuqEaa6p97KNFhwllwE/s320/DSCN0360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I mentioned Montville in my <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">ride to the Fox Farm Brewery</a>, noting how it's made up of a lot of little villages and no easy way to get from Point A to Point B within the town. That was the case here, as I wound up doglegging over several secluded roads and drifting westward as I pedaled my way north.<br />
<br />
Montville has a fair amount of industrial sites. One road that served as a bit of a shortcut essentially carved its way through a massive scrapyard. The photo above is of Rand Whitney Containerboard, a factory which makes packaging materials.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YVyzxvC4ubdo51qrCZ3yTrTbEiMHKSjthZM7mkdP8q_rCOnAiV33f8UjnSRB_iDn5Vy3_nbtFktPx314dUwQPKBGXQ2wuzENWbM3Er07zMr5lenbSzZ9dYSx8G2S6-ozUU-i2IT8cOkR/s1600/DSCN0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YVyzxvC4ubdo51qrCZ3yTrTbEiMHKSjthZM7mkdP8q_rCOnAiV33f8UjnSRB_iDn5Vy3_nbtFktPx314dUwQPKBGXQ2wuzENWbM3Er07zMr5lenbSzZ9dYSx8G2S6-ozUU-i2IT8cOkR/s320/DSCN0361.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I was a bit worried when the suggested route went over three roads with "hill" in their name. Lynch Hill Road did indeed prove a bit too steep for my leg muscles and limited gears, forcing me to walk for a bit. But Raymond Hill Road was flatter and offered this pleasant view of the emerging fall foliage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhq-3XnLDN5ZzbPX04qFkyJxymXmEwUMZPDYCrUU8gf0pPD3vqe8YZw6z3f5I97jCoiGTjOBZcB_5RE91luGUgK8TgnkEWhWeJ3zZ7Sfl0rKTGN7jf_swkL3S8zJzw8Rx7EzI3uerIb3E/s1600/DSCN0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhq-3XnLDN5ZzbPX04qFkyJxymXmEwUMZPDYCrUU8gf0pPD3vqe8YZw6z3f5I97jCoiGTjOBZcB_5RE91luGUgK8TgnkEWhWeJ3zZ7Sfl0rKTGN7jf_swkL3S8zJzw8Rx7EzI3uerIb3E/s320/DSCN0362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Unfortunately, this area was also a dumping ground for passing rednecks, good ol' boys, frat bros, or what-have-you to toss out their Fireball nips and cans of crappy beer. I know, I shouldn't judge people for drinking the cheaper domestic stuff. But it can be a little hard when Coors and Bud and Busch cans contribute so much to roadside litter. Say what you will about hipster craft beer drinkers, but they're not going to pitch their growlers and mug club vessels out the side of a moving vehicle.<br />
<br />
The hill on Fitch Hill Road worked in my favor, giving me an easy downhill coast back to an intersection with a quieter section of Route 32.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wTEXuqY9qePkyeHO5jeDb9lGWSSHRcXs9obtBz64C5lqe3ePGIEzWgDhopVlsIr3255_YH9JJIme0jnLkSY38F4GVRHuBOQIPqMnG85kBe2ngUVH2UURWYQSTlPTz1Vlrc2k5feGZw6W/s1600/DSCN0363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wTEXuqY9qePkyeHO5jeDb9lGWSSHRcXs9obtBz64C5lqe3ePGIEzWgDhopVlsIr3255_YH9JJIme0jnLkSY38F4GVRHuBOQIPqMnG85kBe2ngUVH2UURWYQSTlPTz1Vlrc2k5feGZw6W/s320/DSCN0363.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ah, it seems the <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2011/02/top-10-half-life-loose-ends.html">Combine have established one of their Citadels</a> in Montville.<br />
<br />
No, that's actually the Mohegan Sun resort casino, run by the Mohegan tribe. In plotting out this route, I considered it the last bad intersection I wanted to avoid before hopping onto Route 32. Once I was past the flow of motorized gamblers, it was a fairly short trip into Norwich.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40e6otD5KduinTIlabxBeAevnhzzFcCjoy9d1saM-RHZft8ac0qHeqNZI4L3xBC0FtdgnxUn2L53r-bZ1dU6tBN8_GMz0PSf89G48zhZg86SZqYDtOACmaFO8_3boUnBZOIRDr8a3TLoD/s1600/DSCN0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi40e6otD5KduinTIlabxBeAevnhzzFcCjoy9d1saM-RHZft8ac0qHeqNZI4L3xBC0FtdgnxUn2L53r-bZ1dU6tBN8_GMz0PSf89G48zhZg86SZqYDtOACmaFO8_3boUnBZOIRDr8a3TLoD/s320/DSCN0364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Norwich and New London share a few similarities. They're both larger cities in the more rural environs of eastern Connecticut; Norwich is considerably bigger in area and population, with more than four times as much land area and about 13,000 more people than New London. They've both seen better days and are trying to revitalize their downtown areas. Both tend to be looked down on by their whiter, richer suburban neighbors. Both have made some steps toward bringing in some interesting attractions and making the city an interesting place to visit.<br />
<br />
New London and Norwich also sometimes seem like they're fighting each other a bit. My wife, who had been living in one of Norwich's outlying villages when we first met, had a date with me in New London a few months after we met to check out its downtown food stroll. When she mentioned this to a friend, she was surprised that they gave her a dire warning about going to New London at night. She'd formerly lived in downtown Norwich and known it was fighting the misconception that it was a seedy and dangerous place, so she was surprised that Norwich folks would be casting the same aspersions on New London.<br />
<br />
Maybe it has something to do with the two cities having the same goal of bringing more businesses and attractions to their downtown areas, so some people might think denigrating the other city will help their own. Or maybe it's because Norwich and New London have the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Norwich-Academy-London-Football-Rivalry/dp/160949542X">oldest high school football rivalry in the United States</a>. Or because New London is never going to let Norwich forget that Benedict Arnold is one of their native sons, and that he led the British in a raid that burned down New London during the Revolutionary War.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag_kqFBfr9uCUAgN9bgnmYl83t-UVkKqttvR5SQeIF9zxB3qnywCwMJUoEhlXZPRB_LsgO6mgfBNT5E16lNU_fadezgi7sUWMrwmw-tZWWULgRN-aqPNdmm6dDBRZNQuvAoFusHVO8pz0/s1600/DSCN0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhag_kqFBfr9uCUAgN9bgnmYl83t-UVkKqttvR5SQeIF9zxB3qnywCwMJUoEhlXZPRB_LsgO6mgfBNT5E16lNU_fadezgi7sUWMrwmw-tZWWULgRN-aqPNdmm6dDBRZNQuvAoFusHVO8pz0/s320/DSCN0385.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One of the big draws of Norwich is its architecture. There are a lot of attractive structures around downtown, including this giant brick and granite pile of a city hall. This was completed in 1873, back in the more industrial days of the city, and continues to be the most prominent building in downtown.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdAZGMkujv1zr1iSD7wH4dTjydrSOHrzsy77q56OruGQSOPPJX8IuhUOcLqr2gRS_FWUXIqLwtlJeypbNGYC_5o2tA252sjYaWLBeOvtOgXxRQfQK5A0DzMP_Se_j-WazfB7lPHBATEXH/s1600/DSCN0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGdAZGMkujv1zr1iSD7wH4dTjydrSOHrzsy77q56OruGQSOPPJX8IuhUOcLqr2gRS_FWUXIqLwtlJeypbNGYC_5o2tA252sjYaWLBeOvtOgXxRQfQK5A0DzMP_Se_j-WazfB7lPHBATEXH/s320/DSCN0368.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I extended my ride to circle around the outskirts of Norwich and visit a few notable sites in the city. Another good example of the impressive architecture in the city is Norwich Free Academy, a public high school serving Norwich and the surrounding area. It's a campus style museum, and an expansive art museum is included in the turreted Slater Building.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t6y3cZxXMPiv5aLnGa6gjCbK_iNXJ0eHmCUCz5_hDZQIdji4JDZsueCI5Q0OKKuygu4dHxRadWuTtqq5SMtG50rOli0Lt3ObUl7Ky5jq045V8lhWJV_m4gitGJImmAxmSA0CYOoIc0oZ/s1600/DSCN0367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t6y3cZxXMPiv5aLnGa6gjCbK_iNXJ0eHmCUCz5_hDZQIdji4JDZsueCI5Q0OKKuygu4dHxRadWuTtqq5SMtG50rOli0Lt3ObUl7Ky5jq045V8lhWJV_m4gitGJImmAxmSA0CYOoIc0oZ/s320/DSCN0367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The suggested route to get to NFA took me past a small park I was unaware existed in Norwich. This shows up on the map as simply "Native American Monuments," and it's a small memorial set up on a former Mohegan burial ground. I didn't realize until later that there's a larger monument to the first Mohegan sachem, Uncas, located around the corner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KX_pIAg7Mv2lkXUqMXDPZJjCzX_ffRoO95jbTaB1AcS00oSG_gS6hLphAIy30Zs9cBxiMASyIAh07QaTVCPHK2uxPDQ_OT414JnJNOUz_9ZTLEg1KLR-NCguy5ZAJkma7GTTUeoSNZuf/s1600/DSCN0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KX_pIAg7Mv2lkXUqMXDPZJjCzX_ffRoO95jbTaB1AcS00oSG_gS6hLphAIy30Zs9cBxiMASyIAh07QaTVCPHK2uxPDQ_OT414JnJNOUz_9ZTLEg1KLR-NCguy5ZAJkma7GTTUeoSNZuf/s320/DSCN0370.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z-5QMaPb63o1ku22NnqK6ZCMvTgU3ZoC8uXjN3cFDTsDyjKgEqNtRqIGo2hX4RMxFfR7pXA4Cg-wVMyVqcREi80gYHzbFZFuROj791tLWM3BW70cF7yQFMYZu09VcfUhltdj3j3DsDCK/s1600/DSCN0372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Z-5QMaPb63o1ku22NnqK6ZCMvTgU3ZoC8uXjN3cFDTsDyjKgEqNtRqIGo2hX4RMxFfR7pXA4Cg-wVMyVqcREi80gYHzbFZFuROj791tLWM3BW70cF7yQFMYZu09VcfUhltdj3j3DsDCK/s320/DSCN0372.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3lB3U0eLWBBaiou0Oo9A4JNQ0ZoyJYaDwCZX5uJqgvVcVPNPw7wCQyGs_YSGi71-4uNU5CSkIdvqYj7KqZRJGo-sByYXm7328y7v1SdyIOd5Cw3qbxXwrt2C_rFKZpLdNdBw6ZxpFmKX/s1600/DSCN0375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx3lB3U0eLWBBaiou0Oo9A4JNQ0ZoyJYaDwCZX5uJqgvVcVPNPw7wCQyGs_YSGi71-4uNU5CSkIdvqYj7KqZRJGo-sByYXm7328y7v1SdyIOd5Cw3qbxXwrt2C_rFKZpLdNdBw6ZxpFmKX/s320/DSCN0375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Norwich is also the home to Mohegan Park. This is a rather vast park for a small city, encompassing 360 acres with the <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20161004/NWS01/161009692">recent addition of 85 more</a>. There are several miles of trails through wooded areas, a pleasant pond, a pavilion, gazebo, playgrounds, the works.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpsqRsUl4cMBLis4T4y6A41R4lN-azPd82li0kuH36A0dg4mR-mpgX5Tl_6Um0hXA7C8c-f9rk4J0v2QE4cU4RnlFlEX27uefxwWqw5fusggBeLJbDussh5Cjzzo75cBFnwZmczS21sP1/s1600/DSCN0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpsqRsUl4cMBLis4T4y6A41R4lN-azPd82li0kuH36A0dg4mR-mpgX5Tl_6Um0hXA7C8c-f9rk4J0v2QE4cU4RnlFlEX27uefxwWqw5fusggBeLJbDussh5Cjzzo75cBFnwZmczS21sP1/s320/DSCN0374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJWVPlW9sTQBV457B5kweVr0WbQPUUSnuVzlqjebg8GSZzOWgqOBdKathsxKzFmJuVRA1HWXcNMfQ8TL7yd74d1sdmKjX5VrLveembZ5RZapcDU7BWcz_cL_UvZ5lvm0R-bueTgCu_sLz/s1600/DSCN0373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJWVPlW9sTQBV457B5kweVr0WbQPUUSnuVzlqjebg8GSZzOWgqOBdKathsxKzFmJuVRA1HWXcNMfQ8TL7yd74d1sdmKjX5VrLveembZ5RZapcDU7BWcz_cL_UvZ5lvm0R-bueTgCu_sLz/s320/DSCN0373.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The pond in the park also contributed to a major disaster, unfortunately. In 1963, the earthen pond holding back Spaulding Pond collapsed after a few days of steady rain. Millions of gallons of water rushed into downtown, killing five people. A small memorial at the dam commemorates the tragedy and lists the names of those who lost their lives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33oCPrn8VMwT1zDpM6UY4rxqN8uOIgT-j6m7TXuvAwx1eh5G-u4MwpaQ5az-oyAR1epnBZrl44-UZTteP0-SgVCnhmDXc6T-3lxGRUAy3iavFXQhnWIRoKACcME-25xdv668TileBmfd-/s1600/DSCN0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33oCPrn8VMwT1zDpM6UY4rxqN8uOIgT-j6m7TXuvAwx1eh5G-u4MwpaQ5az-oyAR1epnBZrl44-UZTteP0-SgVCnhmDXc6T-3lxGRUAy3iavFXQhnWIRoKACcME-25xdv668TileBmfd-/s320/DSCN0366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1Th3ENUPAaSXVvjF28u0iv57PGMtbke76r4KkJbDKB1PUmQRiCOn1A0rdE9pGGPT3oKAW2n8f1Z5ZRWMZ22zqIkSCNQdFtrXfhAVF6jyLIS_NOPB1-7YZ5dHn-9pQYU9ybT2GyY_sNGx/s1600/DSCN0383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU1Th3ENUPAaSXVvjF28u0iv57PGMtbke76r4KkJbDKB1PUmQRiCOn1A0rdE9pGGPT3oKAW2n8f1Z5ZRWMZ22zqIkSCNQdFtrXfhAVF6jyLIS_NOPB1-7YZ5dHn-9pQYU9ybT2GyY_sNGx/s320/DSCN0383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uo6SAqpx-_0zqwM7uFeHN4plFZAvomg8CxdLkoq4H3XaNn1E6kYpnUQona-IstkA2rny6CdqGY1GwZQUNEpirQQv4PSgLz3sfjBmJnczhdfZJPX7q0YYa1bz6mdSi4zNItbp77MUfIE_/s1600/DSCN0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uo6SAqpx-_0zqwM7uFeHN4plFZAvomg8CxdLkoq4H3XaNn1E6kYpnUQona-IstkA2rny6CdqGY1GwZQUNEpirQQv4PSgLz3sfjBmJnczhdfZJPX7q0YYa1bz6mdSi4zNItbp77MUfIE_/s320/DSCN0384.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
From Mohegan Park, it's an easy downhill ride back into downtown Norwich. There are several examples of beautiful architecture here, but unfortunately many of these buildings are vacant or derelict. Main Street is fairly short and largely empty, aside from a few restaurants which have managed to carve a foothold. A Social Security office takes up quite a bit of space as well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p48wF5V89-D_we3QRn03tUkO-wjUsVNNTz4JiQnC0T3K-BlhO9Nvj4S4x9mgky1hIzUMGLGBY-fa2LfkuISHcXJCm_35yHK0pwhWeN8FUN_xyKeUiLtbPs6B2vk6ofazuY8IgSnstW_C/s1600/DSCN0378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p48wF5V89-D_we3QRn03tUkO-wjUsVNNTz4JiQnC0T3K-BlhO9Nvj4S4x9mgky1hIzUMGLGBY-fa2LfkuISHcXJCm_35yHK0pwhWeN8FUN_xyKeUiLtbPs6B2vk6ofazuY8IgSnstW_C/s320/DSCN0378.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
There's a massive abandoned textile mill in the downtown area within sight of City Hall. Across the street, four barber shops and hair salons are somehow surviving right next door to each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLR0YNBaQ1oCD259yMyb9MfxtEPiX4meJwmsDEknYC61u8iGgoO9DWJLJNEQoLqpC4ixdNWi3uK4Vb0tz1W9TVFsRCgmY56Qmkwv5BlqyvwJ_VBTaDLc552IYQFUCyZbYWcS0hhmjXPN-/s1600/DSCN0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLR0YNBaQ1oCD259yMyb9MfxtEPiX4meJwmsDEknYC61u8iGgoO9DWJLJNEQoLqpC4ixdNWi3uK4Vb0tz1W9TVFsRCgmY56Qmkwv5BlqyvwJ_VBTaDLc552IYQFUCyZbYWcS0hhmjXPN-/s320/DSCN0379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
But from this area, you can also spot a building that's been converted into artists' apartments as well as a performance space called the Chestnut Street Playhouse. And you just need to turn around when standing in front of the old mill to see a miniature millennial district: two breweries and a co-working space called Foundry 66.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KExXKGzTxjsgJsX5bWXzyUf3bv41S7l6XU4UBUKCpNGfHRAemrQ3TvZDtc4Ws7q2Kdm75jY9TAFr4tb-2dVmOaVNF3a6AXuCYwQ_BcjWsbZAzzFHrg1yRlbpzUJ2iLGIzqjPo-ArLGNx/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7KExXKGzTxjsgJsX5bWXzyUf3bv41S7l6XU4UBUKCpNGfHRAemrQ3TvZDtc4Ws7q2Kdm75jY9TAFr4tb-2dVmOaVNF3a6AXuCYwQ_BcjWsbZAzzFHrg1yRlbpzUJ2iLGIzqjPo-ArLGNx/s320/IMG_1849.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CBgRH83YvesAIYS_By0ZecsG6zr82rkuXgywKCvm_2NaZGgGtdmdfPHC2eyyEWk5VLn2cro4axcLYVReK8cPlvUMXyLPMCwEf9BgBJc0hoh7kjMcFkrYiJxThXAcCvgFqgWZLHJcg7f7/s1600/IMG_1842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7CBgRH83YvesAIYS_By0ZecsG6zr82rkuXgywKCvm_2NaZGgGtdmdfPHC2eyyEWk5VLn2cro4axcLYVReK8cPlvUMXyLPMCwEf9BgBJc0hoh7kjMcFkrYiJxThXAcCvgFqgWZLHJcg7f7/s320/IMG_1842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After chaining up my bike, I paid a visit to the first brewery. These Guys Brewing opened in 2015, replacing a bar that <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20150115/BIZ02/301159601">abruptly closed after the owners divorced</a>. The brewery did a complete renovation of the interior, creating a beautiful rustic mixture of wood, brick, and copper. The owners say the spot has been used as a saloon since 1883, and they revel in the fact that it apparently saw no slowdown in business during Prohibition and kept going as a bootlegging venue.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQjO20cw8rkOkY9lR13kNFG4pZVRt5t7f3D6a_ZoIn2JDLs2MzLr7s0drjWUWkw3CvaOBkvbYb8W8I2VsmslPusWtgc22sHQlCpvnYr0txQe3jqrXaZa0NABBBtbrO6HZ-CerhksvYZKv/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQjO20cw8rkOkY9lR13kNFG4pZVRt5t7f3D6a_ZoIn2JDLs2MzLr7s0drjWUWkw3CvaOBkvbYb8W8I2VsmslPusWtgc22sHQlCpvnYr0txQe3jqrXaZa0NABBBtbrO6HZ-CerhksvYZKv/s320/IMG_1845.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHECiREIfqrk1GaYPJ_0GLImYabx8y6ZDfjQRtno1wkrXlBqHZyoLefndXzCiIDfE_EBCChB__Pzf2R84Fuj7qLcM3y26aDQ0q-RMcNrduoZ7Z-Hf9LV7m_CsdxTANC4ewA429yeNIr6R/s1600/IMG_1844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHECiREIfqrk1GaYPJ_0GLImYabx8y6ZDfjQRtno1wkrXlBqHZyoLefndXzCiIDfE_EBCChB__Pzf2R84Fuj7qLcM3y26aDQ0q-RMcNrduoZ7Z-Hf9LV7m_CsdxTANC4ewA429yeNIr6R/s320/IMG_1844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
These Guys might qualify more as a brewpub, in that they have an extensive food menu to go with their beers. It was around lunchtime when I stopped in, so I ordered a bowl of corn and clam chowder - my two favorite chowders together in one bowl, with slab bacon to boot! About halfway through I realized that a thick milky chowder might not be the best thing to go with a long bike ride, but thankfully it didn't end up producing any ill effects.<br />
<br />
I wound up getting a flight of four beers from These Guys. I gave the best marks to the NarWitch, a tasty pumpkin brew with a high ABV. I also liked the flavor on the Thames River Red, complemented the balance of The 1942 (although it wasn't as hoppy as I expected for an IPA) and thought the White Anniversary Ale was a decent light beer with a nice crisp finish.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQCTpUCd879CBBqzcW0fH6TgO-1JQzNSxPvPT3d7-iLqzsCsrmCumcUcpO_809IH6GDMKBNLK5_VFEXLWckkKcOrknQcFaU0zbnd_bMp560QHsRrp8orzQzqOEMdq3Dqdky4j-4WXCl_W/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQCTpUCd879CBBqzcW0fH6TgO-1JQzNSxPvPT3d7-iLqzsCsrmCumcUcpO_809IH6GDMKBNLK5_VFEXLWckkKcOrknQcFaU0zbnd_bMp560QHsRrp8orzQzqOEMdq3Dqdky4j-4WXCl_W/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEKTbjwh93jsxkoSYMPbpVk3Dhm7ZyQuV8RC8b54attcCWsYgYYOq138jWpTrcIWLAeS68BCALxtRLUVy5Y5Yeg7Jynl2-q2dTPjhJpo-U0knqmnIJ36yqTuLu6idcnoa_aF_u6V4tdu-/s1600/IMG_1853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEKTbjwh93jsxkoSYMPbpVk3Dhm7ZyQuV8RC8b54attcCWsYgYYOq138jWpTrcIWLAeS68BCALxtRLUVy5Y5Yeg7Jynl2-q2dTPjhJpo-U0knqmnIJ36yqTuLu6idcnoa_aF_u6V4tdu-/s320/IMG_1853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A brief walk down the street took me to Epicure Brewing. It's one of the newest breweries in Connecticut, opening in June as a collaboration of six owners. It's located within the old press room of the <i>Norwich Bulletin</i> which, like many newspapers these days, has outsourced its daily printing operations and moved to smaller quarters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXrppmKrbYX1GSvFN7lbKunq2Rpzes10ghq2qvURaCbyoZ-_XFy5csMEjkRvasUC11M6WJ98vA0eBBmIa-k9z5dh_vR5apTgg7ruDJHtmLpiJ2hZvFgC8lf0Up2OTs1AVlKJXbBF_s7x9/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXrppmKrbYX1GSvFN7lbKunq2Rpzes10ghq2qvURaCbyoZ-_XFy5csMEjkRvasUC11M6WJ98vA0eBBmIa-k9z5dh_vR5apTgg7ruDJHtmLpiJ2hZvFgC8lf0Up2OTs1AVlKJXbBF_s7x9/s320/IMG_1854.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Epicure makes good use of the lofty space, bringing in large paintings and other artwork to decorate the walls. One of the most striking features is a charred homebrewing system suspended over the main entrance and bathed in fuchsia light. The tanks were pulled from the ruins of the home of head brewer Ken Thiffeault and his wife Kerrie after a lightning strike burned it down.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS6X-9y0fqrOCPgfFO-GZycLSikR44DfiLJEnOllrjPHdpAt_bpdUwhi8F0E4x732eb2pOuNtY8H20Pz20hnqNyv2o6voFgz7L6uBXfkboWM4lwy5-K9rXj1R8usZPcjXXz6eW9LAJHGV/s1600/IMG_1850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS6X-9y0fqrOCPgfFO-GZycLSikR44DfiLJEnOllrjPHdpAt_bpdUwhi8F0E4x732eb2pOuNtY8H20Pz20hnqNyv2o6voFgz7L6uBXfkboWM4lwy5-K9rXj1R8usZPcjXXz6eW9LAJHGV/s320/IMG_1850.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The brewery's logo and table are hexagon-shaped in recognition of the six-owner dynamic, and this dynamic seems to extend to the beer offerings as well. A pint goes for $6, and flights are particularly generous: six beers (served in a muffin tin) for $12. I didn't think it was a good idea to have a second flight before the ride home, so I went with a pint of Lightning Strikes Twice.<br />
<br />
This oatmeal stout is named for the incident described above, since the Thiffeault's home has already been struck by lightning once before it was destroyed. It's a good solid dark beer, one I'd highly recommend to anyone who stops by Epicure.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtLjjs6bvfHddT5Wbm28PUxIAzlY7s16uBwIaz8YI4aIcwwcSJaqzW0Z6KwK7921_1P5Hv1eo8c-zr1zR2ydJOOR7gip046zoDTx6gjIq-_ECRY_vd1ezUVNg1toHhyZ2ptZRWxpWyLVH/s1600/DSCN0388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtLjjs6bvfHddT5Wbm28PUxIAzlY7s16uBwIaz8YI4aIcwwcSJaqzW0Z6KwK7921_1P5Hv1eo8c-zr1zR2ydJOOR7gip046zoDTx6gjIq-_ECRY_vd1ezUVNg1toHhyZ2ptZRWxpWyLVH/s320/DSCN0388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For the return journey, I opted to take the straight shot back down Route 32. It was the fastest way home, and it seemed like the southern route would avoid the dangerous intersections a bicyclist would encounter going north.<br />
<br />
As happens on these trips, unfortunately, I soon found myself fatigued by the rolling hills, opposing winds, and fairly full stomach. Route 32 also had some dicey spots. I was particularly annoyed to find that there was practically no shoulder in the area around Mohegan Sun; many of the casino's employees walk to work, so it seemed pretty unconscionable that the road layout there would make virtually no concessions to pedestrians or bicyclists.<br />
<br />
Route 32 isn't the most scenic of roads. It's basically one long commercial corridor, jammed full of small business parks, retailers, restaurants, and strip malls. Thankfully, it usually had a pretty generous shoulder.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgv8ovM_aEPdBb3N0-jqTrQU2sX218j9vpsEfYO8-x7JG9WDdCb_jO4hBD7BJiH5rFckhPxOGic2O8YAkW7Wh2MrLsDe32ZpBa3I5w7hBpStTzJpztu1A6BwjhQym8S1mGGRFfeQqXPEK/s1600/DSCN0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgv8ovM_aEPdBb3N0-jqTrQU2sX218j9vpsEfYO8-x7JG9WDdCb_jO4hBD7BJiH5rFckhPxOGic2O8YAkW7Wh2MrLsDe32ZpBa3I5w7hBpStTzJpztu1A6BwjhQym8S1mGGRFfeQqXPEK/s320/DSCN0389.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Just before I got back into New London, I remembered that there was one extremely dangerous intersection that I had forgotten about. An exit from I-395 directs traffic onto a two-lane portion of Route 32, which means that cars shoot into this merge at freeway speeds and don't slow down unless they hit a traffic light. Thankfully, there was enough room to check for oncoming traffic, get to the shoulder, and get off on a more sedate road for the last mile or so home.<br />
<br />
Edging out the distance on the <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company trip</a> by about half a mile, this proved to be my longest Bike and Brew yet.<br />
<br />
<b>Total mileage:</b> 31.81 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/10/bike-and-brew-barley-head-brewery.html">Barley Head Brewery</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-21066590956514373532017-11-03T08:38:00.000-07:002018-01-30T11:51:19.683-08:00I Make Fun of State Quarters: IllinoisAll right, Illinois, do your worst. What have you got? Is it the oh-so-original approach of combining the state motto with the state bird, and maybe adding the state bird if there's room? Is it a vista of Lake Michigan and the phrase, "We have waves, too, when it's not frozen"? Let's see it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ea0Nj8MXrmfxIZVLF7RvBxIHqPN3PFBzGVRU3T6NDYJ42VhSvg3aLCk_yE4MRXI7XIgn-wxd7gCjXmkyy8SJ88WNsXc0NR3NN610jBaKf2fZ9-Y41-umypYHMDZMwsuXDkJ1ZhqQ04yR/s1600/illinois.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="956" data-original-width="956" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Ea0Nj8MXrmfxIZVLF7RvBxIHqPN3PFBzGVRU3T6NDYJ42VhSvg3aLCk_yE4MRXI7XIgn-wxd7gCjXmkyy8SJ88WNsXc0NR3NN610jBaKf2fZ9-Y41-umypYHMDZMwsuXDkJ1ZhqQ04yR/s320/illinois.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/50-state-quarters/illinois">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Words. Should have brought...a poet.<br />
<br />
All right, it's not perfect. There's that awkward phrasing where they say they're the 21st state in the 21st century, but it looks more like "century" has been left over as a Mint typo. There's that weird little dribble at the bottom of the Illinois outline, as if the state is trying to claim a few beachheads in Kentucky.<br />
<br />
But still, after scrutinizing quarters whose designs range from <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-make-fun-of-state-quarters-alabama.html">Deep South states celebrating Socialist icons</a> to <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/07/i-make-fun-of-state-quarters-idaho.html">giant birds that will kill us all</a>, it kind of floors you to see a quarter that condenses all of its key identities into an inch-wide piece of currency, and does it <i>right</i>.<br />
<br />
What comes to mind when you think of Illinois? Odds are it's Chicago and Abraham Lincoln. The city is one of the most populous in the country, and Lincoln is widely considered one of the best Presidents, if not <i>the </i>best.<br />
<br />
Chicago is, of course, represented by the Sears Tower. Yes, I know it's supposed to be the Willis Tower now. But for one thing, it was still the Sears Tower when this quarter debuted. Also, no one wants to call the iconic building by the name slapped onto it by an insurance broker that <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090419220724/http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2009/mar/12/business/chi-biz-sears-tower-name-change-willis-march12">bought office space for a song during the Great Recession and picked up the naming rights for free</a>. Chicagoans responded with a rousing, "Yeah sure, we'll call it that when the Cubbies win the friggin' World Series," and then <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri-willis-tower-0313-mar13-story.html">kept calling it the Sears Tower anyway</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItW_Ne0CBAfcmOLYZyzQemvDFd62wJAVn7GbHC-ZLEOPa_xXtA_MoLvxD-cGKmkx7egTY8NsncoTLdnETg_6agVxGDbLaL0yGh0cIQ3s5Y5DnGXGjgTRPHrilvmqBftlgEpsndqR0xPie/s1600/coleman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="993" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItW_Ne0CBAfcmOLYZyzQemvDFd62wJAVn7GbHC-ZLEOPa_xXtA_MoLvxD-cGKmkx7egTY8NsncoTLdnETg_6agVxGDbLaL0yGh0cIQ3s5Y5DnGXGjgTRPHrilvmqBftlgEpsndqR0xPie/s320/coleman.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The Coleman Tower in New York keeps annoying the Willis Tower by demanding to know what it's talking about</i>. (<a href="https://www.apartments.com/coleman-tower-new-york-ny/j7j5n46/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
It's always a little annoying to see companies buy the naming rights for something because they think it will improve their brand. In some cases, it can lead to outright loathing of the company. Around the same time the Willis Group was picking up the naming rights for the Sears Tower, the new stadium for the New York Mets was being renamed from Shea Stadium to Citi Field, after Citigroup. It was subsequently <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/30/markets/thebuzz/">nicknamed "Sorry We Screwed The Entire Economy But Still Got A Bailout" Ballpark</a>.<br />
<br />
To be fair, though, the Sears Tower name <i>is </i>an early example of this trend. There's also the fact that the retailer <a href="http://www.willistower.com/history-and-facts">left the building way back in 1988</a>, although it kept the naming rights for awhile. The Willis Group has since sold the skyscraper, but is shelling out <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-willis-tower-skydeck-expansion-0323-biz-20170322-story.html">$1 million a year</a> for the right to retain the name and have everyone ignore it and call the building the Sears Tower. But a new name could come when the rights expire in 2025.<br />
<br />
On to young strapping Abe Lincoln.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY-buoEZzL5W__MRvGAmRkXLZz38vg9XymUqbwUfhmnluus6RCn5GHkvUgW7bkSESraNKb3u6MsNM_ghG_b2RShnVyVis3yLWVsP-rV8HynnpU7zZXf6q3vOceR76-2YGXoBmVBXHhtNs/s1600/lincoln.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXY-buoEZzL5W__MRvGAmRkXLZz38vg9XymUqbwUfhmnluus6RCn5GHkvUgW7bkSESraNKb3u6MsNM_ghG_b2RShnVyVis3yLWVsP-rV8HynnpU7zZXf6q3vOceR76-2YGXoBmVBXHhtNs/s320/lincoln.jpg" width="190" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Honest Abe was born in Kentucky, but spent the formative years of his legal and political career in Illinois before he was elected President. And besides, Kentucky had probably already ceded any claim on a Lincoln quarter in favor of portraying a famous horsey race.<br />
<br />
So this would be the third piece of currency to feature Lincoln, after the penny and the five dollar bill. I could have sworn that the update to the U.S. currency designs included upgrading the handsomeness of the presidents, but the only thing searches on this topic revealed was a disturbing amount of sites ranking the commanders-in-chief by hotness.<br />
<br />
That said, the Lincoln on this quarter is pretty damn good looking. Kudos to the design for making him rather muscular, which is historically accurate considering that Lincoln the rail-splitter was <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bp/abraham-lincoln-surprising-strength-220542759.html">incredibly strong</a>. His feat of holding an axe at arm's length between a thumb and forefinger seems mundane until you try it at Home Depot and have to give up before a sales associate can even yell at you. He also wrestled for sport, and responded to a brawl at one political rally by giving an agitator who was about to attack a friend the old heave-ho.<br />
<br />
Kudos also for the face not only being recognizable as Lincoln, but also as a Lincoln who is striding toward his future with an expression of complete badassery. He's like some kind of 19th century John McClane.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw6ZY5U6L1FKJlWVeP3droT1MQDTH8rG9iRqJhRtBh93XlrlenurPohXzyc6xXzrWDBfoqrVYGI78EdJtFSykPjDM7mX5NX8EmgdACCQlPTn9d2NKusN8R7e4Jj1D7A95tAJOTZQSyhNk/s1600/lincoln+face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="192" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidw6ZY5U6L1FKJlWVeP3droT1MQDTH8rG9iRqJhRtBh93XlrlenurPohXzyc6xXzrWDBfoqrVYGI78EdJtFSykPjDM7mX5NX8EmgdACCQlPTn9d2NKusN8R7e4Jj1D7A95tAJOTZQSyhNk/s1600/lincoln+face.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
You know all those lame Chuck Norris jokes that have faded away as Chuck Norris closes in on 80? I think we can safely reassign them to Illinois State Quarter Lincoln. This guy sees the rabble-rousing of a bunch of slave-owning plantation masters in the South, and with a single look he says, "<i>Bring it on.</i>"<br />
<br />
So we've got two decent state symbols in a row. It's like two bars on the slot machine. Come on, one more and we get the jackpot!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5MTSYcXZu4bgJcJ2OxmHnh3m_FwRGk6p_X172cflvA7g1LHVCXQ68UgcteaQzgz-ytbKZqq_YHJhK-Uar2QvepM6_xAxfOZ_knA0Exna9pYaFcbxDTNR1xEtqSojLSxupLtRnAQ4Kpe7/s1600/illinois+farm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="137" data-original-width="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5MTSYcXZu4bgJcJ2OxmHnh3m_FwRGk6p_X172cflvA7g1LHVCXQ68UgcteaQzgz-ytbKZqq_YHJhK-Uar2QvepM6_xAxfOZ_knA0Exna9pYaFcbxDTNR1xEtqSojLSxupLtRnAQ4Kpe7/s1600/illinois+farm.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
FREAKIN' CHERRY.<br />
<br />
All right, fine. This is actually a decent way to encapsulate another aspect of the Illinois identity. Illinois ranks right smack in the middle in the ranking of states by land area, and Chicago is the only city in the state with more than a million people. The rest of the state is crammed full of farms.<br />
<br />
According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, the state is the nation's top producer of pumpkins. It's also a leading producer of corn, pigs, and soybeans, with significant production of wheat and hay and...<br />
<br />
You know, let's just cut it off there. Forgive me for not finding the Illinois sorghum crop as interesting as one of the world's tallest skyscrapers and Sexy Abe Lincoln.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-53343677027396759742017-10-03T19:31:00.001-07:002017-10-03T19:31:31.419-07:00Bike and Brew: Barley Head Brewery<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn-5ox1Am9Grgx_1lqV2nRDDqKvRgcCz4mu8ZOMgvUiOQ3bND1uIS8ZE3xFSFNJxtpudjVDOSqcYCtiOTk_RAwuQGNLjzWjK5TSJIU0-wPsbjpInuCxNFQCGDspfYyCPSr79QbWpOqPeK/s320/DSCN0303.JPG" /></div>
<br />
I knew I was taking a few risks with this particular Bike and Brew.<br />
<br />
The main concern was that my back tire had been having persistent flats, with each repair revealing a new puncture in the tube. There were three patches on it for this particular journey, but the tire had held air for a few days before I set out. Nevertheless, I was crossing my fingers that I wouldn't find myself marooned far from home in a touristy town that somehow doesn't have a bike shop.<br />
<br />
I was also taking a new route into Mystic, and realized that Google Maps could potentially be sending me on an inaccessible route. The app's warning that bike routes are still in beta did little to assuage my worries. But more on that later.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
My destination was the Barley Head Brewery, and once again that meant a trip across the horrid Gold Star Bridge. But instead of retracing the recommended route I took to get to <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a>, I opted to do a bit more of a coastal route. So I've been over the bridge plenty of times, but this might be the first time I rode under it as well.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivacEmEkAosgqPos7x4Al_cc2EwQv6HShiUSgyw-Z5XZPXfHivbXb1XfCkb_17g-bbKfRQm54ppe1LoDddJD6QWnFhFMIp0VG-GIPylMAt5T0k2ordeBarn2mMgSiuUbDaBVw3Sdb620XQ/s1600/DSCN0282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivacEmEkAosgqPos7x4Al_cc2EwQv6HShiUSgyw-Z5XZPXfHivbXb1XfCkb_17g-bbKfRQm54ppe1LoDddJD6QWnFhFMIp0VG-GIPylMAt5T0k2ordeBarn2mMgSiuUbDaBVw3Sdb620XQ/s320/DSCN0282.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGpf9fk5nGXgRA8SZKlgODy6mNLHek7E4wSw1ZrDNPLnzQwrOLSdC32szJhaZKcTZ89R6UIRApKS9zmwznUyaQmxi2XTLA_cSAGQSJZshnTVCDJH6GMDQtIT5a4pP_dmIx88-hTUc-GCm/s1600/DSCN0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgGpf9fk5nGXgRA8SZKlgODy6mNLHek7E4wSw1ZrDNPLnzQwrOLSdC32szJhaZKcTZ89R6UIRApKS9zmwznUyaQmxi2XTLA_cSAGQSJZshnTVCDJH6GMDQtIT5a4pP_dmIx88-hTUc-GCm/s320/DSCN0283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The bridge has a narrow bike route, but the token friendliness to cyclists ends pretty quickly. The sidewalk brings you to a neighborhood near <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a> and rather unceremoniously dumps you into an off-ramp from I-95.<br />
<br />
The streets are a little kinder after that point, at least until you get to Route 1. There's an option to avoid this road, by taking a longer route that swings past the Groton-New London Airport, but I decided to grit my teeth and hope for the best.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNL6gsaPutwumDWCaDJJoWkmUjrcg7ANMi1s5zVFZt005jknEAcUhP_TMZVpRz0khognBHT5oD3rUVQ7UWuY314lskSs3rj1Uu1gWurl8JvhF6SEwJvD0gXNYpNMtx-Ckmhm-muflvMEK/s1600/DSCN0284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNL6gsaPutwumDWCaDJJoWkmUjrcg7ANMi1s5zVFZt005jknEAcUhP_TMZVpRz0khognBHT5oD3rUVQ7UWuY314lskSs3rj1Uu1gWurl8JvhF6SEwJvD0gXNYpNMtx-Ckmhm-muflvMEK/s320/DSCN0284.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Route 1 has a ridiculously narrow shoulder, at least two lanes of traffic at any time, and far too many curb cuts for smoke shops and shopping plazas and all manner of consumerism. In short, plenty of opportunities to get sideswiped by an inattentive driver or cut off by a some jerk pulling halfway into the road before even looking while leaving McDonald's. It's not a nice road at all for bikers, but thankfully I managed to get to the quieter end of it unharmed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpkAme_OgI6bIAu-JgmVA9eaAyPmzRZ7AQo1g6kOhtiRWGs6S8rdtw5rarq9EDB4uwwTInZ5Zof10g1Sg2VDEnLn-1VD1umWs5gl8Yk40_t1bGSsecfYdeTItCYeggG6yRALxsNnpKQSt/s1600/DSCN0285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpkAme_OgI6bIAu-JgmVA9eaAyPmzRZ7AQo1g6kOhtiRWGs6S8rdtw5rarq9EDB4uwwTInZ5Zof10g1Sg2VDEnLn-1VD1umWs5gl8Yk40_t1bGSsecfYdeTItCYeggG6yRALxsNnpKQSt/s320/DSCN0285.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmLaIH75wqtRKHesvUa5Z8p1egGPDgxc-EhS_BOh-JiglQ_V2aGoWOoYzkak3bHGUGJ3plhfx9guaG7k7XBRLcHPJquVyDaGGdDiA1lamhxaKPEW5E-UW85hGQm8A_sHKkjaJImI-vMMg/s1600/DSCN0286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmLaIH75wqtRKHesvUa5Z8p1egGPDgxc-EhS_BOh-JiglQ_V2aGoWOoYzkak3bHGUGJ3plhfx9guaG7k7XBRLcHPJquVyDaGGdDiA1lamhxaKPEW5E-UW85hGQm8A_sHKkjaJImI-vMMg/s320/DSCN0286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One odd direction given to bicyclists heading south in this area is to take the Poquonnock Bridge boardwalk. I'm guessing there's been at least one hapless rider who has done so and been chewed out by some angry person who tells them it's a board<i>walk</i>, not a board<i>ride</i>.<br />
<br />
I was not to be that rider. In fact, I was the only person on this rather lovely route. I slowed down to enjoy the views of the Poquonnock River and the odd rumble of my tires rolling over the boards.<br />
<br />
After leaving the boardwalk, one option involved taking the G&S Trolley Trail toward my destination. This is a short rail trail, following a former Groton to Stonington trolley line and ending up near Haley Farm State Park. Instead, I continued to follow the outlined route to Bluff Point State Park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfiO61vkw8H_tbIKLXKh5vGjO3zKXAMa2uvO_nz0oQBMDzDhvQ07f_bU0tf6SKVXnlyKD3lowzVH2j3iEmiMk1TvqSGQJ1FsCNoNZA0EZdVyVPqmw6KW6vGXkj5MU7N1WvdM8KPS7cXJJ/s1600/DSCN0287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfiO61vkw8H_tbIKLXKh5vGjO3zKXAMa2uvO_nz0oQBMDzDhvQ07f_bU0tf6SKVXnlyKD3lowzVH2j3iEmiMk1TvqSGQJ1FsCNoNZA0EZdVyVPqmw6KW6vGXkj5MU7N1WvdM8KPS7cXJJ/s320/DSCN0287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid5EHehkgzAnGoMC1QRUNl2LGUzOITjoPS_l1q-UcEe5Xx7tLnrLHDCU48_ZusDeN_380Pm7rHz2ysiv-MrIvOZmB0Pdf8-uN6stWnKs9nHvvdhO3l0T5ec5DeAP9fFyF7UlS45S9J1A3/s1600/DSCN0288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgid5EHehkgzAnGoMC1QRUNl2LGUzOITjoPS_l1q-UcEe5Xx7tLnrLHDCU48_ZusDeN_380Pm7rHz2ysiv-MrIvOZmB0Pdf8-uN6stWnKs9nHvvdhO3l0T5ec5DeAP9fFyF7UlS45S9J1A3/s320/DSCN0288.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Bluff Point is an absolutely beautiful state park. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection describes it as "the last remaining significant piece of undeveloped land along the Connecticut coastline." I guess that means the state has at least some insignificant undeveloped lands on the shore.<br />
<br />
Coastal real estate has always been in high demand in Connecticut, and Bluff Point wasn't always undeveloped. There was a collection of shorefront cottages there until the Hurricane of 1938 obliterated them, and the peninsula was eventually given over to conservation. Bluff Point is nestled in between two other promontories: Groton Long Point, where million dollar houses are crammed together like sardines, and Mumford Cove, which I'll get to shortly.<br />
<br />
It seems like there's always a pretty good crowd at Bluff Point. The state park has good boat access for canoes and kayaks, is popular with mountain bikers, and is a vigorous but not overwhelming walk to the namesake cliffs and a sweeping of Long Island Sound.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0ikdemjJfN7eB4ZwPCRGc3fBz12xDxxeyRiEvMN20CzYYfpYD-3ReZwKLQINCAuX6agmPqX0yuVN63donL4AzEKb9DsettDb5cnreTR-Zwb3LhZK0d9Ii_Im2wxV8T-F2nFG9GonweoB/s1600/DSCN0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0ikdemjJfN7eB4ZwPCRGc3fBz12xDxxeyRiEvMN20CzYYfpYD-3ReZwKLQINCAuX6agmPqX0yuVN63donL4AzEKb9DsettDb5cnreTR-Zwb3LhZK0d9Ii_Im2wxV8T-F2nFG9GonweoB/s320/DSCN0289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_HbpG0feRmhaUXaAC5kfZ1Vzfqa0_CVmoSq7FZkdBryPy2Yvig0cYk0j7KL9irVzPwSfZBrKu254GXngsbBIqFPOOJPvfdE5xRMZrenWwu2kR0HAYX7AZhsQXDALSpN4J5zpk-0AUAkE/s1600/DSCN0290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_HbpG0feRmhaUXaAC5kfZ1Vzfqa0_CVmoSq7FZkdBryPy2Yvig0cYk0j7KL9irVzPwSfZBrKu254GXngsbBIqFPOOJPvfdE5xRMZrenWwu2kR0HAYX7AZhsQXDALSpN4J5zpk-0AUAkE/s320/DSCN0290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This is another place where the Google Maps instructions got a little wonky. Instead of sticking to the roads, it sent me along the unimproved trail that runs along the railroad track and connects Bluff Point with Haley Farm State Park. It was manageable for most of the way, but it does get a little rough. Once it hit a particularly rocky section, I decided it was better to walk the bike to avoid chancing yet another puncture.<br />
<br />
And then it came time to see whether the first risk was going to pay off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0XJp-cZEoGNw64Vrl15b-9zPCHKw-VX5VizdcWmqIunrHY-Q3UO1g8ytR5j6Pl8STkn_2b6U2zgLCxXqk2Kf3cPTMxCJqw5s9yvN13x6jdjh8md6JqPQt3RNwACnQjlLi5-Orfqn95Dg/s1600/DSCN0291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0XJp-cZEoGNw64Vrl15b-9zPCHKw-VX5VizdcWmqIunrHY-Q3UO1g8ytR5j6Pl8STkn_2b6U2zgLCxXqk2Kf3cPTMxCJqw5s9yvN13x6jdjh8md6JqPQt3RNwACnQjlLi5-Orfqn95Dg/s320/DSCN0291.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Hey, it did!<br />
<br />
That's the newly installed security measure at Mumford Cove to separate the subdivision from us dirty plebs who want to quietly walk, run, or bike there. Granted, it's a private neighborhood, and they apparently had to scold people every now and then for parking at the cul-de-sac near this area to access the state parks. Some of the comments on <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20150413/OP01/150419906">this critical editorial</a> suggest that the barrier was mainly an effort to deter the gangs of idiots who recklessly ride dirt bikes and ATVs. Not that there's anything to stop said idiot gangs from coming into Mumford Cove from its main road, easily bypassing this monstrosity of "No Trespassing" signs and warnings about security cameras.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, I'd recently learned that some people in Mumford Cove are just as likely to be opposed to the gate. One even <a href="ttps://www.facebook.com/pages/Haley-Farm-State-Park/425753157510438">posted the passcode on a Facebook page for Haley Farm State Park</a>, and some residents leave the gate open whenever they walk out to the trails.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx6uDut075U6GB8p4L6rHjVI3ypWjce5Hn_K58X3Rz5hacs8N0a9RUDnw8d8Afk5M-ustxx2hzBW8BCvhxliUfcOTxn6CF081gNBgPtV0l6r7ysdYDH8IGBkRBHDRz08J8Kt1RfSlXbjw/s1600/DSCN0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx6uDut075U6GB8p4L6rHjVI3ypWjce5Hn_K58X3Rz5hacs8N0a9RUDnw8d8Afk5M-ustxx2hzBW8BCvhxliUfcOTxn6CF081gNBgPtV0l6r7ysdYDH8IGBkRBHDRz08J8Kt1RfSlXbjw/s320/DSCN0292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_2016921247"></span><span id="goog_2016921248"></span><br /></div>
<br />
The exit from Mumford Cove passes the road into Groton Long Point and crosses an inlet near Esker Point Beach, offering a nice view from a small bridge. From there, it was just a short ride to my first destination: the village of Noank.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt6iObAsHdiY772TIABb97A5sSyGmjDru2b_Veq4zq-0kp-myD0BJc32dtq5j-6xguer4Mi3VyH6uCk2Gc9g_nvpai1cAX24hJLd3rU83txxPhl7RYUAp1MLhZmDPLVV6F2Uwd4GXmIiT/s1600/DSCN0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRt6iObAsHdiY772TIABb97A5sSyGmjDru2b_Veq4zq-0kp-myD0BJc32dtq5j-6xguer4Mi3VyH6uCk2Gc9g_nvpai1cAX24hJLd3rU83txxPhl7RYUAp1MLhZmDPLVV6F2Uwd4GXmIiT/s320/DSCN0294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Groton is sometimes criticized for its bureaucracy. The city is carved up into a number of distinct communities, some with their own governments and police departments. Noank occupies yet another Groton peninsula, although its services are all part of Groton proper. The area has a rich maritime history, having hosted shipbuilding enterprises and fishermen on the hunt for the village's namesake oyster. It's still a popular place for boaters, with plenty of marinas on the coast.<br />
<br />
Today, Noank is a pleasant seaside retreat. It's not as well-known as Mystic, but the village has plenty of historic churches, a few shops, and some popular lobster shacks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL_KtCMfOTvsgn8x9JukXRMj2Mzyoa42SbC4B7arFuLOqHeWm1Awa_RrPtxiNrSV34N4UNky4m1Fzn_qUBD2Pi06eQa4NKliRwjXQ6tNF_pbeYw0peLjzjppIII6wsk-gvL8ijiz3R9ze/s1600/DSCN0295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVL_KtCMfOTvsgn8x9JukXRMj2Mzyoa42SbC4B7arFuLOqHeWm1Awa_RrPtxiNrSV34N4UNky4m1Fzn_qUBD2Pi06eQa4NKliRwjXQ6tNF_pbeYw0peLjzjppIII6wsk-gvL8ijiz3R9ze/s320/DSCN0295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
If you head down to the beach off Main Street, you'll spot this modest marker on a former store maintained by the Noank Historical Society. This commemorates the quick, secret wedding ceremony that <a href="http://www.connecticutmag.com/history/amelia-earhart-s-secret-connecticut-wedding/article_52d1c5f0-f0dc-5092-adc4-b43126617559.html">married famous aviatrix Amelia Earhart to the publisher George P. Putnam</a>. The marker is correct in that they got married in Noank, although not in this exact spot; the ceremony actually took place in Putnam's mother's house, which still stands as a private residence.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_silKol9EfIhPOJz9j6avM25IkJ_1Iryo8hfJ5xy_Cw-hqIkDwNRHUw3rgbCO4heobOQKFbReGaE2XzgQPWcaRgdpVFktfWKKazdd4dJ3dOuA9_qr-0az6xJhJ62FG1Tv98AEuZ1FpM5/s1600/DSCN0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_silKol9EfIhPOJz9j6avM25IkJ_1Iryo8hfJ5xy_Cw-hqIkDwNRHUw3rgbCO4heobOQKFbReGaE2XzgQPWcaRgdpVFktfWKKazdd4dJ3dOuA9_qr-0az6xJhJ62FG1Tv98AEuZ1FpM5/s320/DSCN0296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And then on into the soft underbelly of Mystic via Route 215, a different approach from what I took during the swing through the town on the way to the Beer'd Brewing Company. Although located a bit outside the main downtown area, the southern part of Mystic is packed with several popular restaurants. Barley Head Brewery is located here as well. But before I stopped in there, I locked up my bike and wandered off to visit the Mystic Sidewalk Art Festival.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkuemzPu5EC6dXpvhkeh9Cu2PyYs2uECm0uzl3hqsu9Pw7nOlAYdtaZmQWKxsZN4YoTvmVVJiiJkYxfCp1GBlYWCdnp9aUeR18MLd6g221LoDHJW4T31TqpQ2C7dp5Zk5H_kmYgMIxZU2/s1600/DSCN0297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkuemzPu5EC6dXpvhkeh9Cu2PyYs2uECm0uzl3hqsu9Pw7nOlAYdtaZmQWKxsZN4YoTvmVVJiiJkYxfCp1GBlYWCdnp9aUeR18MLd6g221LoDHJW4T31TqpQ2C7dp5Zk5H_kmYgMIxZU2/s320/DSCN0297.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj43ZPU5LxiPZRKeqI8iOdpoMSZt4qYKHW-Mz-eUteZtgOXEUxbS09qt2-Hy12fFG94LUKQfVNCgzWOgxLvd00eEjbFrcjEH9cM1CJiYdwvum46a8XuGEweU11e1J-FRKHqSxMDyVFBoHi/s1600/DSCN0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj43ZPU5LxiPZRKeqI8iOdpoMSZt4qYKHW-Mz-eUteZtgOXEUxbS09qt2-Hy12fFG94LUKQfVNCgzWOgxLvd00eEjbFrcjEH9cM1CJiYdwvum46a8XuGEweU11e1J-FRKHqSxMDyVFBoHi/s320/DSCN0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The festival is billed as the "oldest of its kind in the Northeast," celebrating 70 years in 2017. Artists reserve booths throughout Mystic, offering paintings, sculptures, artisan's goods, and so on. Main Street gets a little crowded, since vendors are limited to the sidewalks, but a few side roads are completely shut off from traffic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniyp7p9B1aKangYFOzoPoMpqhce_EKMnwudPHpJNtDUz_FeHdeFgv2WWmtjPGeSMveWzplHEuEa7AHQMKRsNPmbtrMQMVFEed8ke1P0wLZanVLe-euMdxytOFHYroG_JgMty27q8cKSma/s1600/DSCN0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniyp7p9B1aKangYFOzoPoMpqhce_EKMnwudPHpJNtDUz_FeHdeFgv2WWmtjPGeSMveWzplHEuEa7AHQMKRsNPmbtrMQMVFEed8ke1P0wLZanVLe-euMdxytOFHYroG_JgMty27q8cKSma/s320/DSCN0302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9QV2tDSBosEa8pWUJebaCrM3yWXwF0AGqoKraFZLKifrKHN_qOVw5WVYcPdEVx9l8o8vPLG_oDshtPn6Kv0rMrBptxSCUMdQuwSMnn2JhwROY78QVcLHlwjmna2j9Q0-rMBaydQ0vbiU/s1600/DSCN0300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9QV2tDSBosEa8pWUJebaCrM3yWXwF0AGqoKraFZLKifrKHN_qOVw5WVYcPdEVx9l8o8vPLG_oDshtPn6Kv0rMrBptxSCUMdQuwSMnn2JhwROY78QVcLHlwjmna2j9Q0-rMBaydQ0vbiU/s320/DSCN0300.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I'd been meaning to get to the Sidewalk Art Festival for several years, but for one reason or another hadn't been able to do so. I was happy to see that Carrie Jacobson was still coming to this event each year. We were co-workers at the hyperlocal news site Patch, back before it was bought out by one of those "efficiency expert" type of firms whose efficiency expertise boils down to, "Duh, people cost money, let's fire people and save money." Carrie is now a full-time artist, and you can follow her artwork, travels, and dog sightings at her blog <a href="http://carriejacobson.blogspot.com/">"The Accidental Artist."</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn-5ox1Am9Grgx_1lqV2nRDDqKvRgcCz4mu8ZOMgvUiOQ3bND1uIS8ZE3xFSFNJxtpudjVDOSqcYCtiOTk_RAwuQGNLjzWjK5TSJIU0-wPsbjpInuCxNFQCGDspfYyCPSr79QbWpOqPeK/s1600/DSCN0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifn-5ox1Am9Grgx_1lqV2nRDDqKvRgcCz4mu8ZOMgvUiOQ3bND1uIS8ZE3xFSFNJxtpudjVDOSqcYCtiOTk_RAwuQGNLjzWjK5TSJIU0-wPsbjpInuCxNFQCGDspfYyCPSr79QbWpOqPeK/s320/DSCN0303.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Before getting to the brewery, I wound up browsing the works of several artists, buying an amusing collection of watercolor <i>Star Wars </i>themed comics from <a href="https://the-zombie-penguin.myshopify.com/">Rhode Island artist Greg Stones</a> and a copy of a <a href="https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781467125956">Mystic postcard pictorial history</a> co-authored by a friend of mine, and getting some lunch. The Barley Head Brewery wasn't too hard to find, although it was a bit tucked away. You access it by going down a short set of stairs off Water Street, making it seem like a bit of a <i>Cheers</i>-like venue.<br />
<br />
The Barley Head Brewery had to get past a few hurdles before it opened up. The owner, Drew Rodgers, <a href="http://www.thewesterlysun.com/home/10161818-154/new-mystic-brewery-delayed-by-new-arrival-during-snowstorm.html">tried to open a brewery in Mystic way back in 2015</a> but was rejected by zoning officials. He also found that his preferred name had a copyright on it, and had to push back the opening day a little further due to the birth of his son.<br />
<br />
The venue still seemed a little sparse, although there was comfortable bench seating along one wall. And my past experience with a hangout spot opening with accommodations that were a little sparse was <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonStreetCoffeeHouse/">Washington Street Coffee House</a>, which debuted when its tables still smelled like sawdust but has become one of the most popular places in New London, so a modest start isn't really a disadvantage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsYWiQ5Kzf8_TcwpMryAFozg7TqSf3HKzM80rIY9xXptVNbZX6QccF5zEwPxlLrKZ2DsOWOJJ_HQT7fcUrd4IiqdU3C9dAZeiRcfTiWmC0ZF4lNJyIzKPB9LBS4bdndnTJrLXl3gXxJ7H/s1600/IMG_1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsYWiQ5Kzf8_TcwpMryAFozg7TqSf3HKzM80rIY9xXptVNbZX6QccF5zEwPxlLrKZ2DsOWOJJ_HQT7fcUrd4IiqdU3C9dAZeiRcfTiWmC0ZF4lNJyIzKPB9LBS4bdndnTJrLXl3gXxJ7H/s320/IMG_1708.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUHn5EkZFjA8aTGNTgIolzUTYVUZsaKOo-AlhgLlnnnIHYH9O6rGOP9J1oVJBOeCnegUjvEWIa0xooF1usP6UDbJeRUmNY62pRNqsapesxDd0YvPi1Lyns3pwcDLRAtKGd0itUWzyzPvW/s1600/IMG_1707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUHn5EkZFjA8aTGNTgIolzUTYVUZsaKOo-AlhgLlnnnIHYH9O6rGOP9J1oVJBOeCnegUjvEWIa0xooF1usP6UDbJeRUmNY62pRNqsapesxDd0YvPi1Lyns3pwcDLRAtKGd0itUWzyzPvW/s320/IMG_1707.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Although there are flights available, the brewery was unfortunately down to only one option for pours. I went with it, making my first introduction to Barley Head Brewery their "Saison Du Maison." It's a combination saison and IPA, and it manages to balance the two styles fairly well.<br />
<br />
My bike was parked not too far away, and I was happy to find that the back tire still seemed firm. I then headed out for the return journey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8iYgBq_ShzMf33sMGpsCokpltgKy1GBkkkcPLBu9Aosn5tsV21w2tSVVeIewJLE11KEpucHYiWq7Z2AJc1QP6H8xJEOzi_x188esrHIp3n9tQz4w9tbxVaiTl7pI-PqMFL_MyQVM5K05/s1600/DSCN0306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8iYgBq_ShzMf33sMGpsCokpltgKy1GBkkkcPLBu9Aosn5tsV21w2tSVVeIewJLE11KEpucHYiWq7Z2AJc1QP6H8xJEOzi_x188esrHIp3n9tQz4w9tbxVaiTl7pI-PqMFL_MyQVM5K05/s320/DSCN0306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I headed out on Route 1, intending to eventually take a side road to link up with Route 184 and hop back on the Gold Star Bridge. I was soon defeated by this rather persistent hill, having to get off and walk for awhile.<br />
<br />
But even after the road flattened out, the journey seemed a little more taxing than expected. I initially chalked it up to the effect of having a beer and meal before this ride, but eventually began to suspect the bike. By the time I got back onto the Gold Star Bridge, I was feeling the bumps in the road far more than I should have. I still managed to complete the journey home, at which point I checked to see just how much air the tire had lost.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb-KYbVYYhS5dOtdDwz-5F8Gc8taEyDry9DxZPNBcV9pOJpIO1rf5pLSgnXNMrPeJpaO1WDhuu-bmMffNwMrWhOiCF_32ZSQsSXzQAXr1OO7ooHBo1965kmFSj9pAWkBpPJwc5HdDWscm/s1600/DSCN0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb-KYbVYYhS5dOtdDwz-5F8Gc8taEyDry9DxZPNBcV9pOJpIO1rf5pLSgnXNMrPeJpaO1WDhuu-bmMffNwMrWhOiCF_32ZSQsSXzQAXr1OO7ooHBo1965kmFSj9pAWkBpPJwc5HdDWscm/s320/DSCN0307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Oh that's not good.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAI2S-jK7c_WeJewF1l0sCKZ067J7Pq3AJS2YcMZv4_Ec01Q33ZETQgJNbtGBA4zgmcSV2uMq5PJOegJHRbjNpeY7ePwHdX5LwZckvLrUkGGx528Bt86PQlWbC5WD99_0Mo_m-ugxTPvV/s1600/DSCN0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAI2S-jK7c_WeJewF1l0sCKZ067J7Pq3AJS2YcMZv4_Ec01Q33ZETQgJNbtGBA4zgmcSV2uMq5PJOegJHRbjNpeY7ePwHdX5LwZckvLrUkGGx528Bt86PQlWbC5WD99_0Mo_m-ugxTPvV/s320/DSCN0308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Yeah, that's not good at all.<br />
<br />
I scheduled a trip to Wayfarer Bicycle, one of New London's bike shops, not too long after this. They informed me that three pieces of glass had managed to worm their way inside the tire at some point, and these were no doubt to blame for the recurring flats. They set me up with a new tube as well as a portable pump for emergencies, so hopefully I won't run into any problems on my next Bike and Brew.<br />
<br />
Mileage total: 22.8 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/08/bike-and-brew-shelter-island-craft_69.html">Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-50781400800531405392017-09-21T18:43:00.002-07:002017-09-21T18:45:01.472-07:00Whatever Happened To: The Cast of "Malcolm in the Middle"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Before it turned into an "Animation Domination" block, Sunday nights on Fox were more open to variety and experimentation. For a long time, the network seemed to be trying to find a good fit for the 8:30 time slot to bridge the gap between <i>The Simpsons </i>and <i>The X-Files</i>. I seem to remember that a good handful of shows tried to accomplish this, only to be quickly canceled or shuffled to some other night.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>Malcolm in the Middle</i> debuted in this spot in 2000, right around the time that the network's Sunday formula was readjusting itself. The quality of <i>The Simpsons </i>was starting to plummet, and <i>The X-Files</i> was about to conclude. In the midst of this, a witty show about an incredibly intelligent kid trying to deal with his dysfunctional family and bizarre school was a welcome addition. It ran for seven seasons between 2000 and 2006, and is still a popular choice for syndication.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQg7jZJWpKF7YNUt6erj7ZzBljZXhJgMsV1h8LZc527cwpx7hKlewUPwrgoX2urFrRaj2XcTbgzPkAPSslurW4rTGkj07QRBXaV7JhMsih3VZqpNapj5xEtdOU2vZx9hDVhL67lcfeONk/s1600/malcolm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="665" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQg7jZJWpKF7YNUt6erj7ZzBljZXhJgMsV1h8LZc527cwpx7hKlewUPwrgoX2urFrRaj2XcTbgzPkAPSslurW4rTGkj07QRBXaV7JhMsih3VZqpNapj5xEtdOU2vZx9hDVhL67lcfeONk/s320/malcolm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.playbuzz.com/yxojkt10/which-malcolm-in-the-middle-character-are-you-most-like">Source</a>)</div>
<b><br /></b>
So what became of the people who were part of this show? Or at least the main characters and select recurring characters I ended up choosing?<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Frankie Muniz (Malcolm Wilkerson)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-grjkh1doJRB63M8w-EbXDuBh4yNpUHHDtzs2gF__vD6Xw3k6te-AQbXABJcIcyaBSDVKWhs4_FZysXeWpCBxwRjHpVbRYWerUeVJQOo60RwABqITx4kjkLJLF-AB86ZKDMna8jK8m4_t/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-20+at+9.00.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="678" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-grjkh1doJRB63M8w-EbXDuBh4yNpUHHDtzs2gF__vD6Xw3k6te-AQbXABJcIcyaBSDVKWhs4_FZysXeWpCBxwRjHpVbRYWerUeVJQOo60RwABqITx4kjkLJLF-AB86ZKDMna8jK8m4_t/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-20+at+9.00.07+PM.png" width="199" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://studybreaks.com/2016/06/01/malcolm-in-the-middle/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The titular character wasn't quite in the middle until the birth of Hal and Lois' youngest son later in the season, but he was, of course, the main protagonist in the series. Malcolm was something of a straight man throughout the series, having more common sense than his brothers, friends, and often his parents and teachers. The early episodes establish how he is intellectually gifted and follow his reluctant transfer to the brainy "Krelboyne" classes, where he becomes something of a leader. Malcolm also strives to maintain a normal social life, but alienates most of his peers through his condescending and snarky attitude. Although he receives a lucrative job offer to work at a computer software company out of high school, his parents force him to go to college after revealing that they've already plotted a course for him to become President of the United States.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZfTOz6l-i5SzfXkvYCpUTBKW62wP8eK58HPr14Da4uTKN438lrSJieED4s677Ri-dDcZso8xqR2YF5YqHWoQyj8Z-f9guhsL7xB4OR9Gwmwmigr3G4vcoFjYGIaluUWGOt21AOml6tzA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-20+at+8.57.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="628" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZfTOz6l-i5SzfXkvYCpUTBKW62wP8eK58HPr14Da4uTKN438lrSJieED4s677Ri-dDcZso8xqR2YF5YqHWoQyj8Z-f9guhsL7xB4OR9Gwmwmigr3G4vcoFjYGIaluUWGOt21AOml6tzA/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-20+at+8.57.35+PM.png" width="227" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/frankiemuniz">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
After coming to prominence with <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, Frankie Muniz was able to get a few young adult film roles, namely a pair of movies as the young secret agent Cody Banks. He also played Chester Oddbat on <i>The Fairly OddParents</i>, and has since had guest roles on <i>Criminal Minds</i>, <i>Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23</i>, and two <i>Sharknado </i>sequels. He is one of the celebrities set to appear on the next season of<i> Dancing With the Stars</i>. Muniz, now 31, has continued to act but also explore a few other interests, including auto racing and drumming in a few different bands; he now manages a band called Astro Lasso. He was also hospitalized briefly in 2012 after suffering a "mini-stroke," but says he has since recovered.<br />
<br />
<b>Jane Kaczmarek (Lois </b><b>Wilkerson</b><b>)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEVKFW8zf5btmX-gA8t5x1iTxw25xbfGk9PYr44G12oHoY-LsMXl6HbxSrgDyyuco7Aq1-Jck58ntmIntspdbtnwf1uSL89F2hPAriVgh07rYIZo506cHge6GchGT0ygGKPYnn7lfpOcF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.27.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1326" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEVKFW8zf5btmX-gA8t5x1iTxw25xbfGk9PYr44G12oHoY-LsMXl6HbxSrgDyyuco7Aq1-Jck58ntmIntspdbtnwf1uSL89F2hPAriVgh07rYIZo506cHge6GchGT0ygGKPYnn7lfpOcF/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.27.04+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://theredlist.com/wiki-2-17-1483-1484-1490-view-2000s-6-profile-malcolm-in-the-middle-1.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Lois had little patience for her sons' shenanigans, could typically see through their schemes and efforts at misdirection, was usually the main source of discipline in the household. She was also something of an overbearing control freak and loath to admit to being wrong, qualities which generally caused the boys to rebel rather than behave. However, she still offers some more heartfelt guidance at times and has a fairly healthy, loving relationship with her husband. Lois works as a cashier at the drugstore Lucky Aide.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNP0M5Gd6ZYF-fsXnyDbyvXMlsVjptljMO3PY3y-0ynPT8JzY2a2z-eQDcf2b-ADxcIX7Oo1Mtg56BTyFdMTNbX5GvZcbeUUQfi0s3TNdEYUspK-BzpohQn0pOF4J32Si9-OzB4zEGT9_/s1600/lois.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNP0M5Gd6ZYF-fsXnyDbyvXMlsVjptljMO3PY3y-0ynPT8JzY2a2z-eQDcf2b-ADxcIX7Oo1Mtg56BTyFdMTNbX5GvZcbeUUQfi0s3TNdEYUspK-BzpohQn0pOF4J32Si9-OzB4zEGT9_/s320/lois.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-jane-kaczmarek-20170207-story.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Kaczmarek, now 61, had been acting for about 18 years before <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, appearing in TV shows such as <i>Frasier</i>, <i>St. Elsewhere</i>, <i>Party of Five</i>, and <i>Felicity</i>. After the show ended, she was the star of a short-living series called <i>Raising the Bar</i> and has since continued to do TV work, including appearance on <i>The Simpsons</i>, <i>The Big Bang Theory</i>, and <i>The Middle</i>. She has also done some theatrical work, including a role in <i>Long Day's Journey Into Night.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Bryan Cranston (Hal </b><b>Wilkerson</b><b>)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgwEW7uXqflCcYEjflEAsUbRRFGnWqMZoJRHLjFNIa-we-2Kaj0jL5HSCXoowxaV-1AQ2OLHtA9OsbknGH4AoLXN8e2-Rx2QIvZ4SyCoMYb0djV6gL5KpY1yrjmKkHE20i4ulwFpFQTOx/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.40.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgwEW7uXqflCcYEjflEAsUbRRFGnWqMZoJRHLjFNIa-we-2Kaj0jL5HSCXoowxaV-1AQ2OLHtA9OsbknGH4AoLXN8e2-Rx2QIvZ4SyCoMYb0djV6gL5KpY1yrjmKkHE20i4ulwFpFQTOx/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.40.10+PM.png" width="102" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://theredlist.com/wiki-2-17-1483-1484-1490-view-2000s-6-profile-malcolm-in-the-middle-1.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Hal was a timid, flighty father figure who could sometimes be a bit of a disciplinarian but was far more likely to seek enjoyment in life and try to have fun with his boys. He was frequently becoming obsessed with new interests such as speed walking and Dance Dance Revolution, inevitably finding himself to be quite talented at these hobbies. Despite being something of a bumbling father figure, he was actually pretty handy (as seen in <a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gp98t">this clip</a> where changing a light bulb ultimately leads to major auto repair). Though his job is never specified, Hal is occasionally shown as a generic office drone; in one story arc, he works at a corrupt corporation which unsuccessfully tries to set him up as the fall guy for their malfeasance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoC-t0JEzXOCV7Yh60G9sNX7TFfOTglYF0t1_W_M4acvuDyNGEEKRGrWunGKqWM504lZSzA8LMjPR9bWPoMI_d5KFvM5yQnMujlKF6J4Ev-DvlAqVR6caZrEn2A8EHVO4Ql_Zvad6eTl0F/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.42.23+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="652" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoC-t0JEzXOCV7Yh60G9sNX7TFfOTglYF0t1_W_M4acvuDyNGEEKRGrWunGKqWM504lZSzA8LMjPR9bWPoMI_d5KFvM5yQnMujlKF6J4Ev-DvlAqVR6caZrEn2A8EHVO4Ql_Zvad6eTl0F/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.42.23+PM.png" width="215" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/BryanCranston">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Cranston had his first credited role in 1968. He had a number of roles on TV shows, including a demented dentist on <i>Seinfeld </i>and Buzz Aldrin in the miniseries <i>From the Earth to the Moon</i>, and he appeared in a single scene in <i>Saving Private Ryan</i>. The cast of <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i> sometimes commented that they didn't think Bryan Cranston got enough recognition; he was nominated for several awards, including the Golden Globe and Emmy, but never got a win. However, the experience did earn him plenty of offers for similar "dopey dad" roles in other TV shows.<br />
<br />
Wanting to try something different, Cranston gladly accepted the part of antihero Walter White in the critically acclaimed drama <i>Breaking Bad</i>. His performance earned him four Emmys for best lead actor in a drama and made him more of a household name. It also brought about a few callbacks to <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, including jokes that <i>Breaking Bad</i> was a prequel to the show and a DVD bonus feature showing that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8p3q0e49tg">Walter White was just a bad dream of Hal's</a>. Since starting on <i>Breaking Bad</i>, Cranston (now 61) has appeared in films such as <i>Argo</i>, <i>Drive</i>, and <i>Trumbo</i>. He also won a Tony Award for his Broadway performance of LBJ in <i>All the Way</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Christopher Masterson (Francis </b><b>Wilkerson</b><b>)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsPhEplElIbX0mEkN78nyle2TPwov2DuO7agtdC6A-3agcB5_jhHXDTxErSjsyFSngXmw6y1A55H2-lJP2tQoKHFcRvI7nfXZLKYvve0q61rNOHnNr6FjpKoTYInKREkjKnKmknymcR-S/s1600/Francis-malcolm-in-the-middle-275421_400_263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="400" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsPhEplElIbX0mEkN78nyle2TPwov2DuO7agtdC6A-3agcB5_jhHXDTxErSjsyFSngXmw6y1A55H2-lJP2tQoKHFcRvI7nfXZLKYvve0q61rNOHnNr6FjpKoTYInKREkjKnKmknymcR-S/s320/Francis-malcolm-in-the-middle-275421_400_263.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/malcolm-in-the-middle/images/275421/title/francis-photo">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The oldest son of Hal and Reese, Francis had a history of mischief and getting into trouble. Although he is something of a hero to his younger brothers, his parents finally got fed up enough to send Francis to Marlin Academy, a military school, where he remains at the start of the series. Francis continues to rebel against the school's commandant as well as Lois, but also starts to show more signs of work ethic and responsibility. After emancipating himself in order to leave Marlin Academy and work as a lumberjack in Alaska, he lives something of a nomadic life. He gets married, works on the Mannkusser's dude ranch, and ultimately moves closer to home to start working in a data entry job. However, Francis maintains a facade of living a shiftless life so he can continue to irritate Lois.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY5UwY4u0V5wexGQVSDOKqAQvA7FhSSHNvf6j70hyphenhyphenkbRnkSqjLtRDfo-Pfw9MuBQB-phdV9ilnuUq78uOGReS3Dorz2EJ5Y50Tcyy2D4maLjadKmdC-3h_Me4MjJYY0nHqCNRkFNiJgaA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.57.16+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1304" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFY5UwY4u0V5wexGQVSDOKqAQvA7FhSSHNvf6j70hyphenhyphenkbRnkSqjLtRDfo-Pfw9MuBQB-phdV9ilnuUq78uOGReS3Dorz2EJ5Y50Tcyy2D4maLjadKmdC-3h_Me4MjJYY0nHqCNRkFNiJgaA/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.57.16+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://adrinkwith.com/chris-masterson/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Christopher Masterson is part of the rather prolific Masterson acting family which includes Danny (Hyde on <i>The 70s Show</i>), Alanna (Tara on <i>The Walking Dead</i>), and Jordan (Ryan on <i>Last Man Standing</i>). Christopher started acting as a child, and some notable early parts included appearances in <i>Touched by an Angel</i> and <i>Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman</i> as well as a role in <i>American History X</i>. He continues to do some sporadic acting, but focuses more on <a href="http://adrinkwith.com/chris-masterson/">deejaying in clubs around Los Angeles</a> under the handle DJ Chris Kennedy.<br />
<br />
<b>Justin Berfield (Reese </b><b>Wilkerson</b><b>)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0-snmO5_scdY-gqHKWDAWbF72fBUWlb9f6j8aaz4JZIdu7HO9x4-UpinCKYMrRV4_Atz3cFeKgXcI0R_M6krWr3vRVKyjcqlQcd3__BOJUGTgkff8w0uylsIy2_Hk59blxfzVs0m01sF/s1600/berfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH0-snmO5_scdY-gqHKWDAWbF72fBUWlb9f6j8aaz4JZIdu7HO9x4-UpinCKYMrRV4_Atz3cFeKgXcI0R_M6krWr3vRVKyjcqlQcd3__BOJUGTgkff8w0uylsIy2_Hk59blxfzVs0m01sF/s320/berfield.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.clickhole.com/article/enough-enough-we-wont-show-you-what-reese-malcolm--5287">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The second oldest child of Hal and Lois, Reese is unabashedly happy with being a feared bully at school. He accepts the fact that he's a bit dumb, and figures that he's unlikely to amount to much in life. Reese has enough of a moral core to declare some kids off limits to bullying (namely his brothers and Stevie), and occasionally shows brief flashes of kindness, empathy, or even clever thinking. Later episodes show that Reese has a talent for cooking, although he ultimately starts working as a janitor at the end of the series.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fsuC_EEIalNrJT-2SxtyITUZg_rYxQaE2GZtMAi2MiQ9O4Y024SQPagqJ_6MWX2RcypF6hZZoCgurJFJHpOOVzGf5jgbOBv3vqT_uAyoZiif3fBZaDsbTuEPOp8_L6e6nTMx0ywpdXyg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+9.06.13+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4fsuC_EEIalNrJT-2SxtyITUZg_rYxQaE2GZtMAi2MiQ9O4Y024SQPagqJ_6MWX2RcypF6hZZoCgurJFJHpOOVzGf5jgbOBv3vqT_uAyoZiif3fBZaDsbTuEPOp8_L6e6nTMx0ywpdXyg/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+9.06.13+PM.png" width="318" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/justinberfield">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Justin Berfield got an early start in acting, appearing in several commercials and as the regular character of Ross Malloy on the series <i>Unhappily Ever After</i>. However, he quickly fell out of acting after <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, having only one more credit (on a 2010 episode of <i>Sons of Tucson</i>) since the show concluded. He has since gravitated toward production work and is now the chief creative officer at Virgin Produced, which has backed films such as <i>Limitless </i>and <i>Bad Moms</i>. Now 31, Berfield is also active in charitable work and, according to his <a href="https://twitter.com/justinberfield?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter page</a>, very much enjoys fishing.<br />
<br />
<b>Erik Per Sullivan (Dewey </b><b>Wilkerson</b><b>)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauZPcpgc3YZonQjlOHoybiuNUyETc3q9dnx0dQFt5qkaSwmmIj_Us3vGZDdpTyHKdpqTcPRyjEKNea7ED2PBiJ27l7bc9zkyCsY9EHF4jRaBYbpFwTagqvoJz8SnQ-UdWX-DqSbDGeo5k/s1600/dewey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhauZPcpgc3YZonQjlOHoybiuNUyETc3q9dnx0dQFt5qkaSwmmIj_Us3vGZDdpTyHKdpqTcPRyjEKNea7ED2PBiJ27l7bc9zkyCsY9EHF4jRaBYbpFwTagqvoJz8SnQ-UdWX-DqSbDGeo5k/s320/dewey.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://malcolminthemiddle.wikia.com/wiki/Dewey_Wilkerson">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The youngest son in the family (until Hal and Lois had a fourth child later in the series), Dewey was sweet and innocent on the surface but also quite calculating and manipulative. He was often able to come up with schemes to fleece unsuspecting people or cause havoc in general. Later in the season, it was found that Dewey was also preternaturally smart like Malcolm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp-pNeZKkT_efZBHnkRGNO0DX0dgDxRF-1UrAEa_42qR-wWPDrdmagAm5sgVsdq4wWG-r5hn0GMHRU5Iz_d3C3Q0lJoI5t0jSVzTLe3IMxmfpWwZQYfw8QUlW0bdCiTpA2_38CxsYHsAJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+9.09.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="894" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmp-pNeZKkT_efZBHnkRGNO0DX0dgDxRF-1UrAEa_42qR-wWPDrdmagAm5sgVsdq4wWG-r5hn0GMHRU5Iz_d3C3Q0lJoI5t0jSVzTLe3IMxmfpWwZQYfw8QUlW0bdCiTpA2_38CxsYHsAJ/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+9.09.06+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/erikpsul/?hl=en">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Dewey's character was a nice subversion of the "cute little kid" trope that constantly shows up in family-themed sitcoms, and Erik Per Sullivan did quite well in the role. He had a few notable film roles as a child, namely Fuzzy in <i>The Cider House Rules</i>, Charlie Sumner in <i>Unfaithful</i>, and the minor voice role of Sheldon in <i>Finding Nemo</i>.<br />
<br />
It's a little unclear what Sullivan is up to these days. He continued his education after the show, attending Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of Southern California, and had one last role as Timmy in the 2010 film <i>Twelve</i>. Sullivan, now 26, isn't too active on social media, but has been keeping up an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/erikpsul/?hl=en">Instagram account</a>, recently posting an appeal to help keep <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i> available on Netflix.<br />
<br />
<b>Craig Lamar Traylor (Stevie Kenarban)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgSuTVVJhOdafB_XjSwliU0JVTRf0fcWeR3Agd9AooFptyjiTjAWgEypwDvjno6Q36CNeuD7ydDsc2WufPh456BISrkVFlNFPzRr3fi40xq7CHIjDit4vqE48u1x4qBI03cqLPgGxOUno/s1600/stevie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="419" data-original-width="590" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCgSuTVVJhOdafB_XjSwliU0JVTRf0fcWeR3Agd9AooFptyjiTjAWgEypwDvjno6Q36CNeuD7ydDsc2WufPh456BISrkVFlNFPzRr3fi40xq7CHIjDit4vqE48u1x4qBI03cqLPgGxOUno/s320/stevie.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://jasongilbert20.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/top-10-malcolm-in-the-middle-characters/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Stevie is Malcolm's best friend, with the two of them first bonding over a shared love of comic books. He is wheelchair-bound and has only one lung, forcing him to take a few deep breaths for every handful of words he says. Stevie is an academically gifted Krelboyne, and occasionally uses his disability to manipulate his parents or get the drop on people who underestimate him. He gets the same offer as Malcolm to get a job right out of high school in computer software, and presumably takes it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTCTpxJGrw2QYAdHJOcHtrbKKXHck4ejcxOsif46lJEs-eL7cPo5TQNcBoE_Q-4RMAE1pk4zYytl7qakZTYM866QDxcVEi-yWr5RI8fjZHsgPUcsR9pC0f7h5dcGyb6A19Zox4ca5rwtb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.59.03+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="1048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTCTpxJGrw2QYAdHJOcHtrbKKXHck4ejcxOsif46lJEs-eL7cPo5TQNcBoE_Q-4RMAE1pk4zYytl7qakZTYM866QDxcVEi-yWr5RI8fjZHsgPUcsR9pC0f7h5dcGyb6A19Zox4ca5rwtb/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.59.03+PM.png" width="319" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=12&ved=0ahUKEwjkgsyky7fWAhUGPiYKHTXhDgkQFghbMAs&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2Fcraigltraylor%3Flang%3Den&usg=AFQjCNFL8HK8bDkC3M3YFwGG1zVPWrD_4w">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Craig Lamar Traylor, now 28, had a few scattered acting roles before <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, namely on an episode of <i>ER </i>and as a kid in a classroom in <i>Matilda</i>. According to his <a href="https://twitter.com/craigltraylor?lang=en">Twitter page</a>, he now focuses mostly on designing jewelry. However, he also gets the occasional acting gig, having appeared in three films since the conclusion of the show. He'll appear as "Wiseguy" in the forthcoming film <i>Forgiven This Gun4hire</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>David Anthony Higgins (Craig Feldspar)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMd2LlLkOceZsuisdlLX4FHkQoa9f1MB5lMwsa557pGIURLvAaUVAEPzVOtqiluw4GrLyOGgqkQth9JKxGKGOiYywAIOCyovGGmMrU-cj9hwcxXQpR-6-rQpdfHkB8fg5-kt2Dzy2nD-8/s1600/craig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikMd2LlLkOceZsuisdlLX4FHkQoa9f1MB5lMwsa557pGIURLvAaUVAEPzVOtqiluw4GrLyOGgqkQth9JKxGKGOiYywAIOCyovGGmMrU-cj9hwcxXQpR-6-rQpdfHkB8fg5-kt2Dzy2nD-8/s1600/craig.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://jasongilbert20.wordpress.com/2014/01/27/top-10-malcolm-in-the-middle-characters/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
One of Lois's co-workers at Lucky Aide, Craig was a kind and affable fellow if a bit of a sad sack. A training video from the store suggests that he was an up-and-coming district manager before somehow getting demoted to cashier. Malcolm and his family generally found him to be a little irritating, although he considered them to be close friends and was surprisingly forgiving after they accidentally burned out his apartment. He was hopelessly infatuated with Lois, who calmly promised to destroy any feelings he had for her after he told he loved her during a robbery where both of them were taken hostage.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtAKM2CIw6L6nUQLb8t689RGbANoNAed0iptFT_09oSZSchQyDv4eLURwC4M1d1lBuI6md0dL3LiboWOty34X51bze3y241J-53vyBBKQAc7p8mvzYaffvRQWTt6mRWGna4hyqLPdf6xz/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.52.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtAKM2CIw6L6nUQLb8t689RGbANoNAed0iptFT_09oSZSchQyDv4eLURwC4M1d1lBuI6md0dL3LiboWOty34X51bze3y241J-53vyBBKQAc7p8mvzYaffvRQWTt6mRWGna4hyqLPdf6xz/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.52.33+PM.png" width="299" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/DAnthonyHiggins">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Prior to appearing on <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, David Anthony Higgins was a regular on <i>Ellen</i>, playing a barista named Joe Farrell in the coffee shop in the title character's bookstore. Higgins, now 55, continues to act and has appeared in a number of TV shows and movies, most notably <i>Big Time Rush </i>and <i>Mike and Molly</i>. He also co-created the paranormal parody TV show <i>International Ghost Investigators: Hollywood Edition</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Emy Coligado (Piama Tananahaakna)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLcJoqJMcTF_NjYJtglQnbPZlNYueF2oNSjr_wyUSdjf0Viby6UXq7KrlAgQ5aCqjqeN-aqwN5AD9o5uFygQ7_BoHmnpJicdqVKJxVaAfS5ZZP8qcxe_9FYFtUtX5WZPqLpMj6hPsdUu5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.32.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="568" data-original-width="458" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLcJoqJMcTF_NjYJtglQnbPZlNYueF2oNSjr_wyUSdjf0Viby6UXq7KrlAgQ5aCqjqeN-aqwN5AD9o5uFygQ7_BoHmnpJicdqVKJxVaAfS5ZZP8qcxe_9FYFtUtX5WZPqLpMj6hPsdUu5/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.32.11+PM.png" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0019547/mediaviewer/rm3905864448">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Piama was introduced midway through the show's first season, when Francis introduced her as his wife whom he married in Alaska. Although Piama and Lois despise each other after this first meeting, they eventually grow closer and better acquainted. A woman of Native American descent, she occasionally faces bigotry and also had a difficult childhood; however, she is also shown to be particularly strong-willed, with some hints that Francis has married a woman who shares some aspects of Lois' personality.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmYxooAHwcDp7pID6cTw8UKCofZo4S5WnWWjx5jIU0iHf6gaJy8J0aulGjOzTLsoPH3mzbXC0juyZedI69hDSEEglRrvBXJ43k9G8ihiG-XhpXyUZlt-1TscHgMxOAXASrzirUranltVk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.35.24+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="464" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmYxooAHwcDp7pID6cTw8UKCofZo4S5WnWWjx5jIU0iHf6gaJy8J0aulGjOzTLsoPH3mzbXC0juyZedI69hDSEEglRrvBXJ43k9G8ihiG-XhpXyUZlt-1TscHgMxOAXASrzirUranltVk/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-21+at+8.35.24+PM.png" width="201" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/emy.coligado">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
By the time she appeared on <i>Malcolm in the Middle</i>, Emy Coligado had already started to appear in a recurring role as a medical examiner named Emmy on <i>Crossing Jordan</i>. She also occasionally appears as a guest star, showing up in TV shows such as <i>Shameless</i> and <i>Fresh Off the Boat</i>. According to her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/emy.coligado">Facebook page</a>, Coligado (who is now 46) spends time between roles working at a casting agency and volunteering with animal shelters.<br />
<br />
<b>Gary Anthony Williams (Abe Kenarban)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVyh8InhbW6qBWSAQN-c5f5czjrrrmEf8uszGDcgnevlZF4LSwYbkM9jgh-37Uy-FL_xE046Y2QE_M3FoEnOhPxAbb5OumjGKC7ZMCGGcdbCQfbxnkIItAblgk0IdiBqK2Rd7ipyPoHuQ/s1600/abe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVyh8InhbW6qBWSAQN-c5f5czjrrrmEf8uszGDcgnevlZF4LSwYbkM9jgh-37Uy-FL_xE046Y2QE_M3FoEnOhPxAbb5OumjGKC7ZMCGGcdbCQfbxnkIItAblgk0IdiBqK2Rd7ipyPoHuQ/s1600/abe.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://sharetv.com/shows/malcolm_in_the_middle/cast/abraham_abe_kenarban">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Stevie's father was upbeat and gregarious, but was also somewhat weak-willed and henpecked. His profession is never named, although in on episode Hal accuses Abe of ganging up on him with his buddies during poker nights because he's not like them; not because he's the only white guy at the table, but because he's the only one without a successful white-collar career. Abe still becomes close friends with Hal, with the two joining the rest of the poker group to form a bluegrass band called The Gentlemen Callers.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Aj_eUOqr6pePGTP1niVzQjFQ-Nb_P3cW7P1d0pyuK_rxKr27aL7fKfRgemsDn_AXZ7oIo-iWNGyTlZ-CAu00h4A3Fd6v-hatzRt6zUhcGu4W18M6GbKLzwjzUjV4uPBbDUqBGOLd-eJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-09-20+at+8.54.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="974" data-original-width="518" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf8Aj_eUOqr6pePGTP1niVzQjFQ-Nb_P3cW7P1d0pyuK_rxKr27aL7fKfRgemsDn_AXZ7oIo-iWNGyTlZ-CAu00h4A3Fd6v-hatzRt6zUhcGu4W18M6GbKLzwjzUjV4uPBbDUqBGOLd-eJ/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-09-20+at+8.54.39+PM.png" width="170" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/GaryAWilliams">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Gary Anthony Williams continues to be an active actor and has appeared in TV shows and films such as <i>Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, Weeds</i>, and <i>Boston Legal. </i>He has also<i> </i>done a considerable range of voice work, playing roles not only on children's shows such as <i>Doc McStuffins </i>but also adult fare like <i>Rick and Morty</i>; perhaps most notably, he voiced Uncle Ruckus on <i>The Boondocks</i>. Now 51, Williams also appears regularly on <i>Whose Line Is It Anyway?</i><br />
<br />
<b>Kenneth Mars (Otto Mannkusser)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAHUOga4v3AE77TYU67QFy3LjSMo3OhHxpmVJ22aBD52stCLkYlMRcD3H08dU71fjghXTTjMcBrYviWcoB6opAe9cR5SvPr6awjaCwNh1QP7dRDHewUkJq_20mJdPOSFlCow35OSQuPEU/s1600/otto1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="400" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAHUOga4v3AE77TYU67QFy3LjSMo3OhHxpmVJ22aBD52stCLkYlMRcD3H08dU71fjghXTTjMcBrYviWcoB6opAe9cR5SvPr6awjaCwNh1QP7dRDHewUkJq_20mJdPOSFlCow35OSQuPEU/s320/otto1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/el_viejopaulino/status/783533236106436608">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Along with his wife Gretchen, Otto Mannkusser owned a dude ranch called The Grotto (a portmanteau of the couple's first names). He offers Francis and Piama jobs when their car breaks down nearby following their departure from Alaska. Otto is generally portrayed as being extremely friendly, to the point where his employees take advantage of him and he is willing to forgive any faults or incompetence. Nevertheless, a later episode mentions that he fires Francis after learning that he has been depositing the ranch's checks into a phony ATM.<br />
<br />
Otto's thick German accent may have made some viewers recognize Kenneth Mars from his role as the Nazi-loving playwright Franz Liebkind in <i>The Producers</i>. His acting credits also included <i>Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid</i> and <i>Young Frankenstein</i>. He later transitioned to voice acting roles, most notably Triton in <i>The Little Mermaid</i>. Although he continued to act through 2008, he retired after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Mars died in 2011 at the age of 75.<br />
<br />
<b>Daniel von Bargen (Commandant Edwin Spangler)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqb_0fB4BlvtoD7bQZwZXLfcqzjDYf2_Wm3zU6490dFR7TcOF1fLHRh-AVmnM4UPQgHhBqb1-0VVNSrFNLBALIi26qBuA1oxWZgE7v6kb-iAnM20NAOM0YsAv-ofvJKOpVCp3rq1c47c40/s1600/spangler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqb_0fB4BlvtoD7bQZwZXLfcqzjDYf2_Wm3zU6490dFR7TcOF1fLHRh-AVmnM4UPQgHhBqb1-0VVNSrFNLBALIi26qBuA1oxWZgE7v6kb-iAnM20NAOM0YsAv-ofvJKOpVCp3rq1c47c40/s320/spangler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.nohomers.net/showthread.php?107548-RIP-Daniel-von-Bargen-Mr-Kruger-Commandant-Spangler">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Commandant Spangler was the strict leader of Marlin Academy. He was missing a number of body parts (most notably an eye and a hand), although these disabilities apparently came about by unfortunate accidents since he never actually served in combat. Spangler seemed to have a certain begrudging respect for Francis, although he later comes to resent him as the one student he wasn't able to reform. After tracking down Francis in Alaska, Francis helps him get a job as a ruthless overseer of activities at a retirement home.<br />
<br />
The IMDB page for Daniel von Bargen describes him as showing up in a number of roles as a "cop, military officer and/or tough guy." His credits include film such as <i>Basic Instinct</i>, <i>RoboCop 3</i>, <i>O Brother Where Art Thou?</i>, and <i>Super Troopers</i>. He also played Mr. Kruger in four episodes of <i>Seinfeld</i> and an Air Force general in two episodes of <i>The West Wing</i>.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, von Bargen also suffered quite a bit from diabetes. He hadn't had an acting credit for three years and had already lost a leg to the disease in 2012 when he learned that some of the toes of his remaining foot would need to be taken off. In despair, he shot himself in the head. Though von Bargen survived this suicide attempt, he died of complications from diabetes three years later at the age of 64.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-42938967114560048272017-09-03T10:44:00.000-07:002017-10-09T06:40:30.608-07:00The Historical Stories Behind the Set Pieces in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihotKzATM0m6YjP4-On01yMTyoR0Yhr__OyGl8hOp_zpBPiJPT9mmeHkXFZiOR1aK-15ui1jAVjM-6cw7bbxi7qtkwh-7_sgMmnrlBM3o63wn40lfXnnx-_SDuLYeQD_LavyH2WGgyRGpb/s1600/dunkirkfilm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1600" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihotKzATM0m6YjP4-On01yMTyoR0Yhr__OyGl8hOp_zpBPiJPT9mmeHkXFZiOR1aK-15ui1jAVjM-6cw7bbxi7qtkwh-7_sgMmnrlBM3o63wn40lfXnnx-_SDuLYeQD_LavyH2WGgyRGpb/s320/dunkirkfilm.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.indiewire.com/2017/06/dunkirk-christopher-nolan-facts-need-to-know-tom-hardy-harry-styles-1201845964/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
When I was about 15 years old, I wrote a screenplay about the Dunkirk evacuation.<br />
<br />
I'd first learned about this incident in my ninth grade world history class, and it was essentially my first introduction to how so much history has been a result of pivotal points which easily could have produced a drastically different outcome. Instead of being a humiliating defeat where the bulk of Britain's army was captured on the shores of France, the successful evacuation of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Dunkirk provided a surprising boost of morale and resolve even as it represented a low point for the Allies in World War II.<br />
<br />
I wrote the script because I was surprised to find that there were practically no films that addressed this episode from the war. I haven't looked at this work in years, although I seem to remember that it's packed with cheesy war movie tropes and cliches. At the same time, I tried my best to do a historically accurate portrayal of the evacuation, referencing several major events from the multi-day process.<br />
<br />
When I found out Christopher Nolan was directing a movie on the Dunkirk evacuation, I was thrilled. I saw it on opening weekend, and believe it was done exceptionally well. It's been received pretty well by critics and audiences as well, although the Internet age also brings hordes of people who pick apart movies and shout their flaws to the heavens.<br />
<br />
Personally, I thought the main drawback to <i>Dunkirk</i> was that it didn't exactly show the scope of the evacuation. Nolan is famously adverse to CGI, so the film is largely reliant on real fighter planes, ships, and thousands of extras. It looks amazing, but it also looks like the British are desperately trying to evacuate a few thousand people with a handful of boats instead of hundreds of thousands with substantially larger flotillas.<br />
<br />
Having researched the evacuation and tried my hand at writing a screenplay on this topic, I know it's a really tall order to try to put the incident in its proper context, show the variety of different events occurring at the same time, discuss how the evacuation was organized and carried out, and portray some of the most important events that took place while the Dunkirk beachhead was open. Still, there have already been some other <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2017/07/20/what_s_fact_and_what_s_fiction_in_dunkirk.html">analyses of the historical accuracy of <i>Dunkirk</i></a>, and it gets pretty good marks.<br />
<br />
<i>The Miracle of Dunkirk </i>by Walter Lord and <i>The Sands of Dunkirk</i> by Richard Collier give a good overview of the evacuation, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were some of Nolan's reference material. A few scenes in <i>Dunkirk </i>hint at the larger story, or at individual incidents that actually happened:<br />
<br />
<b>Leaflets make good toilet paper</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bCRH0QTOgPJHYPkv8gEwnfIn3sz6vodxYqe_9yKGaHsbfRCrwzJPOmLpZKUaMClDQ0zRiopH3KytZhJHfSh4Y1hTQtF8Ef8oVkKXkMelSiKXytG1w7Ek7Pzt-4jPpY1HYS0WjAizE23J/s1600/dunkirk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1170" data-original-width="850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3bCRH0QTOgPJHYPkv8gEwnfIn3sz6vodxYqe_9yKGaHsbfRCrwzJPOmLpZKUaMClDQ0zRiopH3KytZhJHfSh4Y1hTQtF8Ef8oVkKXkMelSiKXytG1w7Ek7Pzt-4jPpY1HYS0WjAizE23J/s320/dunkirk1.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/mullocks-specialist-auctioneers-and-valuers/catalogue-id-srmu10026/lot-90d6f7bb-36b1-42a8-bd3e-a444003d62fd">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The first scene of <i>Dunkirk</i> shows a group of British soldiers walking through a deserted village as German leaflets demanding surrender drift down. One of the soldiers, Tommy, collects a few of them. We later see him go over to a secluded part of the beach, pull his pants down, and abandon this would-be toilet after noticing another soldier nearby.<br />
<br />
The soldiers at Dunkirk faced a number of critical supply shortages, including water and food. Toilet paper was also in scarce supply, so the leaflets were greeted with something less than dread. Lord writes, "In the 58th Field Regiment, most men treated the leaflets as a joke and a useful supply of toilet paper."<br />
<br />
<b>The death glare of the French</b><br />
<br />
Under fire from advancing German troops, Tommy is nearly killed by his own allies when he comes upon a defensive line around Dunkirk. The French soldiers at the barricade wave Tommy through, but give him a few withering looks as he enters the beachhead.<br />
<br />
One criticism of <i>Dunkirk </i>is that it doesn't show enough of the French actions at the evacuation, but this scene sums it up pretty nicely. The French were instrumental in holding the line around Dunkirk to buy the British enough time to evacuate, but weren't exactly pleased that their allies were leaving the European continent. By the end of May, Lord writes, "Paris was full of rumors and recriminations...mostly to the effect that the British were running home, leaving the French holding the bag."<br />
<br />
Thousands of British troops were also involved in the rearguard at Dunkirk, and the evacuation effort also rescued more than 100,000 French soldiers (many of whom weren't able to be redeployed on the Continent before the fall of France). But some 40,000 French troops were captured after the Germans finally took Dunkirk, compared to a relative handful of British soldiers. The evacuation that inspired the "Spirit of Dunkirk" in England also caused some resentment among the French, who had made considerable sacrifices to help the British get home. It didn't help that the British <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Mers-el-K%C3%A9bir">bombarded a French fleet in Algeria</a> about a month after the evacuation in order to prevent the ships from falling into enemy hands.<br />
<br />
<b>The "Jericho trumpet"</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHSnTTjMNKmgTCe8SvGWveeXRNhhXRnnw0TCaBoHnsimr53lYGurBzLjgJSEhL3_58-HzZLJm3srdonT9AgKhOdMFhdn467fZIEoF6f8Zq6F_9X2RKNe7SJsAA6_76gsZvUsUBidDXxxX/s1600/bomber.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="504" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHSnTTjMNKmgTCe8SvGWveeXRNhhXRnnw0TCaBoHnsimr53lYGurBzLjgJSEhL3_58-HzZLJm3srdonT9AgKhOdMFhdn467fZIEoF6f8Zq6F_9X2RKNe7SJsAA6_76gsZvUsUBidDXxxX/s320/bomber.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.quora.com/What-was-the-real-use-of-the-Jericho-Trumpet-in-the-Ju-87-Stuka-dive-bomber">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Soon after Tommy arrives at Dunkirk, a squadron of Stuka dive bombers attacks the men on the beach. There's a standard <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZZ504TGDpE">dive bomber sound effect</a> that's been used in plenty of films, and it was apparently derived from a recording of the Stuka. But instead of using a common sound effect which is also used for falling anvils in cartoons, this scene in <i>Dunkirk</i> is accompanied by a nightmarish shriek as the planes hurtle toward the ground and unleash their bombs.<br />
<br />
The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka was able to plunge in a near-vertical dive, allowing the pilot to drop bombs with deadly accuracy. During one upgrade of the bomber's design, someone came up with the idea of incorporating a psychological warfare element into the Stuka. The plane had sirens, driven by propellers, which produced a distinctive terrifying sound during a dive. The demoralizing effect was further enhanced by the simple addition of toy whistles to the bombs, which gave off their own piercing noise as they plummeted toward the earth.<br />
<br />
The sirens were nicknamed "Jericho trumpets," and helped ensure that the Stukas were a much-feared aircraft during the early part of the war. However, the sirens also had the effect of reducing the bomber's airspeed, and they became less effective psychologically as soldiers became more accustomed to the sound. It also helped that the Stukas were less suited for the aerial combat of the Battle of Britain; the same plane that had menaced the British at Dunkirk was soon being knocked out of the skies with relative ease. <br />
<br />
<b>Not taking it lying down</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcBkzBSRGMHxUmSDwctEdUcelBg3HQ5uhc4oONkg9v0frD2401k9o382yFBg5FKfZ4_l6enO6ufGVyrQHh4z9xnXB9IR3pVRyGPVuQjd1GasVaQZ5ldz2-IZ6sfw_jA6003ztz8Ivvcw8/s1600/dunkirk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="484" data-original-width="620" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcBkzBSRGMHxUmSDwctEdUcelBg3HQ5uhc4oONkg9v0frD2401k9o382yFBg5FKfZ4_l6enO6ufGVyrQHh4z9xnXB9IR3pVRyGPVuQjd1GasVaQZ5ldz2-IZ6sfw_jA6003ztz8Ivvcw8/s320/dunkirk2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbZWtQAjpJhHe_XgA_0216yCOzdpIrQwMqsd4ZET_Dzu9FR0KWeDyo3eAEDf4FINE9DNjbzYTdMOII9dBzpRMtJC21nAePxfNUMGCHgZygIOLW-ZlWQiG9ctIyW3W2SKg9jnvIfdusioG/s1600/dunkirk3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="650" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbZWtQAjpJhHe_XgA_0216yCOzdpIrQwMqsd4ZET_Dzu9FR0KWeDyo3eAEDf4FINE9DNjbzYTdMOII9dBzpRMtJC21nAePxfNUMGCHgZygIOLW-ZlWQiG9ctIyW3W2SKg9jnvIfdusioG/s320/dunkirk3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/halwasec/dunkirk-calais-boulogne-dieppe-and-other-evacuatio/?lp=true">Source</a>) (<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/539165386618372961/?lp=true">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
During the Stuka attack scene, a few soldiers start taking potshots at the dive bombers with their rifles. One soldier shows a bit of stiff upper lip by simply lying on his back and blazing away. The photo above shows how this was a fairly common practice; the troops on the beach had little to attack the Luftwaffe with, but that didn't stop them from shooting back with small arms fire. There were at least some claims by soldiers that they had managed to down a German plane with a lucky rifle or machine gun shot.<br />
<br />
In some scenes in <i>Dunkirk</i>, suspiciously silent antiaircraft guns are visible. According to Lord, an order was sent to have the AA gunners and batteries active throughout the evacuation efforts while any wounded were to be sent off. The instructions were muddled, with an officer mistakenly believing that the gunners were to evacuate; rather than leaving the guns to be captured by the enemy, he reasoned, it was better to destroy them. The AA guns joined an enormous collection of abandoned and destroyed Allied war materiel on the beach.<br />
<br />
<b>Attack on the mole</b><br />
<br />
Early in <i>Dunkirk</i>, an officer named Commander Bolton desperately tries to keep a hospital ship from sinking next to the harbor's mole. The effort isn't quite successful, and the funnel and masts of the ship are visible poking out of the water in a few subsequent scenes.<br />
<br />
First, a quick word on what a mole is. This refers to a pier or causeway used to protect a harbor. Since the harbor at Dunkirk had been rendered useless by enemy bombing, the mole was left as the most useful pier from which troops could embark on larger ships.<br />
<br />
It's not to say the mole didn't endure significant attacks during the course of the evacuation. The worst one occurred on May 29, 1940, when German bombers found several ships clustered at the mole and managed to destroy or damage several of them. The destroyer <i>Grenade </i>had to be towed clear before she exploded, and hundreds of soldiers died when the paddle steamer <i>Crested Eagle</i> was set ablaze.<br />
<br />
Two ships, the packet steamer <i>Fenella</i> and trawler <i>Calvi</i>, were sunk at their berths. Collier's description of the <i>Calvi</i> sounds similar to the image of the sunken hospital ship: "Still above the water, her masts and funnel protruding, <i>Calvi's</i> white ensign of battle streamed, a last gesture of defiance." Another packet steamer, the <i>King Orry,</i> sank not far from the mole after being critically damaged by near misses, leaving the following scene:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg140HZjSbJtJDeIna0Ic8WkHy3B5S7bo855SH_wVcgAK44_FfbBDiFsV6gPu0VFkG-67lIBOQ-J5BVGShyphenhyphene24JFXSMH7xB7_WBrxBaVj-9Nqug9x-40x0kCqq9JfU2gbB9JTOKZ7fEQ9i/s1600/dunkirk4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg140HZjSbJtJDeIna0Ic8WkHy3B5S7bo855SH_wVcgAK44_FfbBDiFsV6gPu0VFkG-67lIBOQ-J5BVGShyphenhyphene24JFXSMH7xB7_WBrxBaVj-9Nqug9x-40x0kCqq9JfU2gbB9JTOKZ7fEQ9i/s320/dunkirk4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_King_Orry_(1913)">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The "little ships" of Dunkirk have rightfully been praised for their bravery and usefulness in ferrying troops off the beaches, but in truth most of the soldiers were evacuated from the mole. Of the nearly 340,000 who made it to England, some 240,000 boarded ships at the East Mole, which extends about a mile out to sea. Although the May 29 attack caused serious damage and the sunken ships made the mole more difficult to use, soldiers continued to use it until the bitter end; according to Lord, a lifeboat carrying 30 men managed to escape from the end of the mole even as German soldiers began rounding up prisoners from the landward side.<br />
<br />
<b>"Torpedo!"</b><br />
<br />
Tommy, along with fellow soldiers Alex and Gibson, have plenty of bad luck in their efforts to get onto an evacuation ship that actually floats long enough to bring them to England. In one of the more harrowing scenes, their destroyer rapidly fills with water after it is torpedoed. Tommy and Alex only survive because Gibson has managed to stay on deck and opens a hatch, allowing some of the men inside the doomed vessel to escape.<br />
<br />
This scene seems to reference one of the more disastrous episodes of the entire Dunkirk evacuation. The destroyer <i>Wakeful</i> was returning to England on May 29, 1940, with a full load of troops when she was torpedoed by the <i>S-30</i>, a German torpedo boat. The torpedo blew up the ship's boiler, causing her to break in half and sink within 15 seconds. Only one soldier survived, since he was on deck sneaking a cigarette, while another 639 died.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChJrsuVSnse8xPip9n6qg17LYiDNZwMu2osfsP30ucLFeIBo8SYUc_usvUcXLBVHmXzx3qT137yUiEdvZFyQKnE0iKMNOYHE-k8WupHWC3z5L52rZZkV9NR4U7RcUYYrJ-PEhxFqsAkmA/s1600/wakeful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="620" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiChJrsuVSnse8xPip9n6qg17LYiDNZwMu2osfsP30ucLFeIBo8SYUc_usvUcXLBVHmXzx3qT137yUiEdvZFyQKnE0iKMNOYHE-k8WupHWC3z5L52rZZkV9NR4U7RcUYYrJ-PEhxFqsAkmA/s320/wakeful.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20160626/life-features/The-Maltese-sailor-who-died-on-HMS-Grafton.616837">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Unfortunately, the sinking of the <i>Wakeful </i>was only the start of a calamitous evening. Other British vessels came to the site to lend assistance. A German submarine, the <i>U-62</i>, also happened to be in the area and put a torpedo into the destroyer <i>Grafton</i>. After spotting a small boat in the darkness, the British vessels thought the torpedo boat had lingered at the scene and began opening fire on it. The minesweeper <i>Lydd</i>, eager for revenge, bore down on the boat and cut it in half.<br />
<br />
It turned out that she had destroyed the <i>Comfort</i>, a friendly vessel which had managed to rescue 16 survivors from the <i>Wakeful</i>. Only five of those on board, including four <i>Wakeful</i> survivors, came out of this ordeal alive. The <i>Grafton</i>, meanwhile, had been damaged badly enough that she was scuttled the next morning.<br />
<br />
In response to the heavy losses that accompanied the efforts to rescue those from the <i>Wakeful</i>, a new order was issued by the Royal Navy: ships taking part in the evacuation of Dunkirk were no longer allowed to stop if they encountered other ships in distress.<br />
<br />
<b>Piers of trucks</b><br />
<br />
The British arrived at Dunkirk in a variety of tanks, trucks, and other vehicles, and virtually all of this heavy equipment was abandoned on the beaches. Christopher Nolan's film gives some attention to one ingenious method employed to make the junked vehicles useful again: turning them into makeshift jetties.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P82ZfDTrwkTbKjo0Gc-Tz4uf0hmoCF9e83KzhW3VvrxJ8rXFszlsnFeSNOyXZ89avCAGS491Clj0tMQlNL4bocrwrwdEO6YQVGZljcxZZ2jjvST4mm_Emn5xXC8p64t04hTWGwHdQGHU/s1600/La-Panne-improvised-pier-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="800" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7P82ZfDTrwkTbKjo0Gc-Tz4uf0hmoCF9e83KzhW3VvrxJ8rXFszlsnFeSNOyXZ89avCAGS491Clj0tMQlNL4bocrwrwdEO6YQVGZljcxZZ2jjvST4mm_Emn5xXC8p64t04hTWGwHdQGHU/s320/La-Panne-improvised-pier-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2015/05/a-pier-at-la-panne/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
When the "lorry jetties" first showed up in a scene, I figured it would be an interesting piece in the background. However, this mechanism is actually explained, and the scene showing the arrival of the small ships includes a brief shot of troops being offloaded from the trucks.<br />
<br />
These piers were quite an undertaking. The trucks were weighted down with sandbags and had their tires shot out to prevent movement. The trucks were topped with timbers and planking from wrecked ships to create a more walkable surface. Lord credits the lorry jetties with helping to swell the numbers of men offloaded from the beaches, since they allowed the small vessels to directly take on soldiers.<br />
<br />
<b>The <i>Clan Macalister</i></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
Perhaps this is just a coincidence, but when I saw a large smoldering ship on the beach in the background of one scene later in the movie, my mind immediately went to a brief paragraph in Lord's account. One large vessel, he says, proved useful even after being knocked out of the fight. "She sank upright in the shallow water off the beach, and for the next several days the Luftwaffe would waste tons of bombs on her deserted hulk."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ0kqnLdy9DNJBGyC7fSuuYWy5GbfTTeTEOSijpN2HqumD2dLb1crZpLux-i8hLgtpZFzji2Nm24gXvPYptaN0SM-dY8iykByo1h2H2Jk0KmUWCX_Z5DptWRSV6udab0JBAYLjJz1MG2E/s1600/clanm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="380" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmQ0kqnLdy9DNJBGyC7fSuuYWy5GbfTTeTEOSijpN2HqumD2dLb1crZpLux-i8hLgtpZFzji2Nm24gXvPYptaN0SM-dY8iykByo1h2H2Jk0KmUWCX_Z5DptWRSV6udab0JBAYLjJz1MG2E/s320/clanm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://macalisterhistory.com/2016/05/29/ss-clan-macalister-at-dunkrik/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
This was the <i>Clan Macalister</i>, a cargo liner and one of the victims of the May 29 aerial attack on Dunkirk. The ship was crippled by bombers, forcing her crew to abandon the vessel. But the <i>Clan MacAlister </i>had not only succeeded in delivering a number of badly needed landing craft to help evacuate troops from the shallow water of the beaches, but also still seemed to be afloat when seen from above. The ship essentially served as a dummy target for several days; German pilots, unaware that the ship had already been destroyed, eagerly continued to bomb the enormous vessel.<br />
<br />
<b>"Where were you keeping them?"</b><br />
<br />
One of the three storylines of <i>Dunkirk </i>involves Mr. Dawson and his two sons taking a small boat to Dunkirk to participate in the rescue effort, where they rescue Tommy, Alex, and dozens of survivors from a sinking minesweeper. When they arrive in Dover, an officer at the port jokingly asks where they were keeping all of the soldiers on such a tiny vessel. This line harkens to a connection between the Dunkirk evacuation and the <i>Titanic</i>.<br />
<br />
Charles Lightoller, the second officer of the <i>Titanic</i>, was one of the few crew members to survive the liner's 1912 sinking. He went on to command a destroyer during World War I and, while in retirement, participated in the Dunkirk evacuation with his personal yacht, the <i>Sundowner</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzirA3c3maypOar_X4jr42Blk8R-4RJJsfZGRvTwvA1ZuQAoF8SLQ3PXK-uwmf2JKl7yN2vBYXYL-gvPgfzO1VDmGkXtGypaih-39RbXjMOubTm1Q3a9qzHhzKj7iXklowh7KAoSrbkU_u/s1600/dunkirk5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="540" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzirA3c3maypOar_X4jr42Blk8R-4RJJsfZGRvTwvA1ZuQAoF8SLQ3PXK-uwmf2JKl7yN2vBYXYL-gvPgfzO1VDmGkXtGypaih-39RbXjMOubTm1Q3a9qzHhzKj7iXklowh7KAoSrbkU_u/s320/dunkirk5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyb8lLG5BHBZDdS_ILv6wL2tGY5UyDVGLLS9COPSUjxX9mb3hCeXezMAEv260tqQFhNdaMIzaJgl3DfVJJleGtVAFpmejSAcnJLdjj01weauK8YlCNIF0QQsAGXnxg9-m6T1Ba_9CXg5O/s1600/dunkirk6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1600" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyb8lLG5BHBZDdS_ILv6wL2tGY5UyDVGLLS9COPSUjxX9mb3hCeXezMAEv260tqQFhNdaMIzaJgl3DfVJJleGtVAFpmejSAcnJLdjj01weauK8YlCNIF0QQsAGXnxg9-m6T1Ba_9CXg5O/s320/dunkirk6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.adls.org.uk/t1/content/sundowner-0">Source</a>) (<a href="http://www.paullee.com/titanic/Sundowner/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Lord's account of Lightoller's participation in the evacuation almost reads like a summary of the portion of Dunkirk labeled "The Sea." Like Mr. Dawson, he agreed to the Royal Navy's request to requisition his vessel but insisted that he and his son (and an 18-year-old Sea Scout) take her to the beaches. Lightoller was able to take on some soldiers who were waiting to board a destroyer, he managed to fit 130 men onto the 58-foot <i>Sundowner</i>. As in the film, one of Lightoller's sons was an airman who had discussed evasion tactics with his father before he was killed in the war, and Lightoller was able to put one of these tactics to use to evade a fighter plane on the return journey.<br />
<br />
Upon seeing the vast number of soldiers pile out of the <i>Sundowner</i> after her return to the port of Ramsgate, one bystander exclaimed to Lightoller, "God's truth, mate! Where did you put them?"<br />
<br />
<b>Spitfires land on the beach (and fly again decades later)</b><br />
<br />
The section of <i>Dunkirk</i> dubbed "The Air" follows a squadron of Spitfire pilots as they battle German fighters and bombers over the English Channel and Dunkirk, trying to protect the ships and soldiers below. At the end of the film, a pilot named Farrier who has opted to stay beyond the capacity of his plane's fuel tanks makes an emergency landing somewhere on the shores of France, then sets fire to the aircraft shortly before he is taken prisoner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLgTgclHZDCiGoDetmtKOEB9E-c9WCOw9RMleMlYhCH83PvKuCCw4wcNBJb81M6EhxgpjCABfQE25I5wtte6ARheNy0Nx2xhIfNNHFM61E5i1sz8XbWY2lZw7CsZ-kXJk47yciEdJPKFK/s1600/dunkirk7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="359" data-original-width="634" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivLgTgclHZDCiGoDetmtKOEB9E-c9WCOw9RMleMlYhCH83PvKuCCw4wcNBJb81M6EhxgpjCABfQE25I5wtte6ARheNy0Nx2xhIfNNHFM61E5i1sz8XbWY2lZw7CsZ-kXJk47yciEdJPKFK/s320/dunkirk7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3155230/Spitfire-shot-Luftwaffe-restored.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Both the Allies and the Germans lost plenty of planes as the Royal Air Force tried to keep the Germans from attacking the men and ships involved in the evacuation. Some British planes did indeed wind up crash-landing on the beaches. Squadron commander <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3155230/Spitfire-shot-Luftwaffe-restored.html">Geoffrey Dalton Stephenson</a> was forced down near Calais (several miles west of Dunkirk) on May 26, 1940, and spent the rest of the war as a POW. His plane was not seen again until 1986, when it was revealed by shifting tides and recovered. After restoration, it was once again capable of flight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPG041M7npVYo5qqaABS19hfdXR66Si3mQMyzp0ScMmDX1MA6b7fdoTW9mi-vN87eWR6RMvAtLGQjxDtN5_z_ZVkv_RnsLlDJsONMAKf3jNOhpi7Urx8YiOZx9DO1YqTgWhj24_5jqtmK/s1600/dunkirk8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="962" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLPG041M7npVYo5qqaABS19hfdXR66Si3mQMyzp0ScMmDX1MA6b7fdoTW9mi-vN87eWR6RMvAtLGQjxDtN5_z_ZVkv_RnsLlDJsONMAKf3jNOhpi7Urx8YiOZx9DO1YqTgWhj24_5jqtmK/s320/dunkirk8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3057575/Spitfire-shot-Dunkirk-discovered-buried-Calais-beach-40-years-later-auctioned-2-5million-fully-restored.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Similarly, a pilot named <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3057575/Spitfire-shot-Dunkirk-discovered-buried-Calais-beach-40-years-later-auctioned-2-5million-fully-restored.html">Peter Cazenove</a> wound up being captured on the Calais beach after his Spitfire was shot down by a German bomber. The fighter was also rediscovered, in 1980, just a few weeks after Cazenove's death. It too was restored to flying condition.<br />
<br />
Both planes are the only surviving Mark 1 examples of the Spitfire, a version of the famous fighter that was operational during the Dunkirk evacuation. Stephenson's plane was <a href="http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-spitfire-lost-for-almost-50-years">donated to the Imperial War Museum</a>, while Cazenove's was <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3155260/Spitfire-faithfully-restored-40-years-buried-French-beach-sells-world-record-3-1million-fee-auction-proceeds-going-charity.html">auctioned off for 3.1 million pounds</a>. John Romain, director of the Aircraft Restoration Company, not only helped with the restoration of Stephenson's plane but also <a href="https://secure.aws.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/flies-planes-dunkirk-meet-warbird-restorers-make-christopher/">provided aircraft for <i>Dunkirk</i> and was one of the pilots involved in the dogfight scenes</a>.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-59546235789492438342017-08-18T17:56:00.001-07:002017-08-18T17:56:09.740-07:00Bike and Brew: Shelter Island Craft Brewery and Greenport Harbor Brewing Company<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh661rzVUzhqT7a7zqIXTzRlObQ3PntIIY4XsOe8aQkpNI9UrA774pMcSRkYeYgs1Utlwr1To7jYcSqwpFWdNcvSk8-lC7NPo9r7pUaTR9v0M6th0lH0avqG1AXCCir1MYlaZeoFsdKtz/s1600/DSCN0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjh661rzVUzhqT7a7zqIXTzRlObQ3PntIIY4XsOe8aQkpNI9UrA774pMcSRkYeYgs1Utlwr1To7jYcSqwpFWdNcvSk8-lC7NPo9r7pUaTR9v0M6th0lH0avqG1AXCCir1MYlaZeoFsdKtz/s320/DSCN0254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I'm not complaining, but it's getting to the point where the opening of new breweries in southeastern Connecticut is outpacing my ability to do this Bike and Brew series for them. I do want to mix up the personal blog entries with some other topics, after all, and there's that <a href="http://downfalldictionary.blogspot.com/">whole other political scandal blog</a> I try to do as well.<br />
<br />
Two new breweries have opened since my <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">visit to Fox Farm Brewery</a>, one in Mystic and one in Norwich. Another one is making good progress in East Lyme, with a separate brewpub that might open soon as well. And according to the lovely Connecticut travel/beer site <a href="http://www.ctmq.org/">CTMQ</a>, another brewery is in the works for Stonington.<br />
<br />
As I was thinking about the future trips I could take, including the likelihood of consolidating visits breweries that were close together, it hit me that I was overlooking another destination. I plan to visit Grey Sail Brewing at some point, even though it's just over the state line in Rhode Island. So it seemed only fair that I should see what Long Island has to over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJSbXl8LdxSKqIXz7qNjuTz92Lppa05qkrBkj9vTSPgJtmXW-1eGLqSipOgCrD3ZY2rAQlOKzn1X70A0UM8-sGVjBHI4gfBk-xZ7HNrdDhOEzu8K5Dx9IQIuh9mm41dHOe_t_PqHMIi4B/s1600/DSCN0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJSbXl8LdxSKqIXz7qNjuTz92Lppa05qkrBkj9vTSPgJtmXW-1eGLqSipOgCrD3ZY2rAQlOKzn1X70A0UM8-sGVjBHI4gfBk-xZ7HNrdDhOEzu8K5Dx9IQIuh9mm41dHOe_t_PqHMIi4B/s320/DSCN0232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
New London is a terminus for several ferry lines. A high-speed ferry heads out to Block Island, while slower ferries visit Fishers Island and Orient Point on Long Island. They all offer the option of taking bicycles on board, easily expanding the travel options for cycling.<br />
<br />
Block Island is a lovely place, but doesn't exactly work for Bike and Brew purposes. The only brewing operation out there is a small brewpub which had some rather unsatisfying, watery, and under-carbonated options last time I checked it out. Fishers Island has a popular and very boozy whiskey/lemonade concoction, which doesn't quite fall into the beer tasting category; they also seem to <a href="http://beatbikeblog.blogspot.com/2014/06/open-letter-to-fishers-island-ferry.html">despise cyclists</a> since it costs nearly as much to bring a bike over as it does to take a car.<br />
<br />
The last line, Cross Sound Ferry, heads to the tip of Long Island and has very reasonable ticket prices; they'll also take a bike on for only $5 extra each way. And a quick search of Google Maps pulled up two breweries within an easy day trip. Orient Point it was!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FxYqpHhay2EdCb8lOBILR3t1xabLn4K_R3plvcoto44jAHHovy06TpVBkIH4ApAavPGHKTiyzx5dgF-15iCi2Rq-67QxatyELmHb-xTOCNWCpOt4YbsOVl16I64HfLT8a7oSD9rkkPpU/s1600/DSCN0235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FxYqpHhay2EdCb8lOBILR3t1xabLn4K_R3plvcoto44jAHHovy06TpVBkIH4ApAavPGHKTiyzx5dgF-15iCi2Rq-67QxatyELmHb-xTOCNWCpOt4YbsOVl16I64HfLT8a7oSD9rkkPpU/s320/DSCN0235.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Xaj8VuYBlAoslCsFL6hlGHnzlQFYe8pC4tN7PxR_Dk8Gz5fpdp9UOBElfa58Xom7V7_2Z_Us8Ide69ziosDNcqrASwDIdVDQxuCDRMbDwfYzX1VN34RuIUdzRR3lUv9OxDt0bJoac2Y6/s1600/DSCN0233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Xaj8VuYBlAoslCsFL6hlGHnzlQFYe8pC4tN7PxR_Dk8Gz5fpdp9UOBElfa58Xom7V7_2Z_Us8Ide69ziosDNcqrASwDIdVDQxuCDRMbDwfYzX1VN34RuIUdzRR3lUv9OxDt0bJoac2Y6/s320/DSCN0233.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Cross Sound Ferry uses some jolly old tubs for regular service between New London and Orient Point. One of them was even used to land tanks at Normandy during the D-Day invasion. It's a slow trip across, but there's plenty of scenery to enjoy along the way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo1e54Z3p-3eiSATY4QFfa8UcA8hk7uZH-pERDJ1L86ifXdwZrFfRolQndcth_WZNHWqgLyruJtum0xUiod3qFl2eUaDGi69YhyMviIkixRtIviATzVgZ1ALhpZb3G-c0lMbsuuXYXRDy/s1600/DSCN0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieo1e54Z3p-3eiSATY4QFfa8UcA8hk7uZH-pERDJ1L86ifXdwZrFfRolQndcth_WZNHWqgLyruJtum0xUiod3qFl2eUaDGi69YhyMviIkixRtIviATzVgZ1ALhpZb3G-c0lMbsuuXYXRDy/s320/DSCN0238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR77wMm99wdM8G7B2RoE9gF-DM7IjDJPHcbqSZXv19V91gBodlqlWyWswFhT7Q6_7-P30C8tU0RLYi_oCdItScXgx8eRiH7cfpTpF6vWmqWMXGw2mTZ_yo2YOLmbdd3_yv1ZOPTjP6dFXP/s1600/DSCN0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR77wMm99wdM8G7B2RoE9gF-DM7IjDJPHcbqSZXv19V91gBodlqlWyWswFhT7Q6_7-P30C8tU0RLYi_oCdItScXgx8eRiH7cfpTpF6vWmqWMXGw2mTZ_yo2YOLmbdd3_yv1ZOPTjP6dFXP/s320/DSCN0239.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HqaM7wpW3DZGycbbbIkyfLKkkRLLE_G4cyfz8u0bDF9avAQhxsoOBsR-7VWhSLfyD5R_3KGU1R9J_xYJSLk01Lx91aSduFzp28dd2wMIa1-Rt8nLicKIo5KIaCvi5jqc9hyeAhD-Loa_/s1600/DSCN0240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HqaM7wpW3DZGycbbbIkyfLKkkRLLE_G4cyfz8u0bDF9avAQhxsoOBsR-7VWhSLfyD5R_3KGU1R9J_xYJSLk01Lx91aSduFzp28dd2wMIa1-Rt8nLicKIo5KIaCvi5jqc9hyeAhD-Loa_/s320/DSCN0240.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Orient Point is one of several hamlets and villages located within the sprawling town of Southold, and there isn't much in the way of population. There's the ferry landing and a highway, Route 25, leading to bigger and better things.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoOlinjVDeHfLOFUHP3_Hcs2YOZtu03a6PHuS2qb50b4UjdvfppFSlIN9GnMGRb7FSFYlCVkRtycVcMQX6ZdVdkIzbFPJeonV9yy3D2833V9IhjONFa2NAjCw1O6oqw6fi6RV9BtAxvL6/s1600/DSCN0243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoOlinjVDeHfLOFUHP3_Hcs2YOZtu03a6PHuS2qb50b4UjdvfppFSlIN9GnMGRb7FSFYlCVkRtycVcMQX6ZdVdkIzbFPJeonV9yy3D2833V9IhjONFa2NAjCw1O6oqw6fi6RV9BtAxvL6/s320/DSCN0243.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb9dlxpQ7KdTXrAPiQh2eIneSponJ2VMPbStg91qGU4DHLvoqLJdDnyLSusYGPo3Eu7uCPS65gPRwsstSb9jHpOPViuRH_MI5DR8-w4H6pJIQEBJS2ky2n3Rwho_W8EHF63Yaiec1Ntzb/s1600/DSCN0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb9dlxpQ7KdTXrAPiQh2eIneSponJ2VMPbStg91qGU4DHLvoqLJdDnyLSusYGPo3Eu7uCPS65gPRwsstSb9jHpOPViuRH_MI5DR8-w4H6pJIQEBJS2ky2n3Rwho_W8EHF63Yaiec1Ntzb/s320/DSCN0270.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
In retrospect, I shouldn't have been surprised at how windy it was at this point in Long Island. It's flat fairly open, with the highway following a fairly narrow strip of land between bodies of water. Still, I got plenty of resistance on the nine-mile journey toward the turnoff for the village of Greenport.<br />
<br />
This part of Long Island is very well-suited for farming. You pass several agricultural operations, including a lavender farm, and the "North Fork" is also a popular destination for vineyards and wineries.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFRgDzR36qrCKXJkj1F_1fGZgqXhuHmKTBGap9IToDq_s0QZRfHj4qT_l9ZOj78ZNxihYrjmTguuwfC7bgDaAOAIinw8YZaFOfYB2vd6vJi6mnS2QiO9LaKctZcJKYH_L_2p2Oy9d7Fmt/s1600/DSCN0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPFRgDzR36qrCKXJkj1F_1fGZgqXhuHmKTBGap9IToDq_s0QZRfHj4qT_l9ZOj78ZNxihYrjmTguuwfC7bgDaAOAIinw8YZaFOfYB2vd6vJi6mnS2QiO9LaKctZcJKYH_L_2p2Oy9d7Fmt/s320/DSCN0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Shelter Island was my first destination, so I cruised right through Greenport to get to the dock for the North Ferry. The island apparently has no qualms with cyclists (<i>ahem</i>, Fishers Island) since a round trip with a bike on the ferry will only put you out $5.<br />
<br />
The island has a couple of thousand regular residents, and several small clusters of shops and restaurants. But about one-third of the island is taken up by the Mashomack Preserve, which I intended to visit before hitting the brewery.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O8fajnU5lnM7NNK-imwQOIogpeYQmZKPy58qAQLOYRb_q3JilTWm4SZdE1294ausCDDtHrdAVmsz_Ir9iOdmlULv_ilbx-sw52SMmeypGCPZ7deQ9BIZpH6lMfmZHtGgik3b7b4lcBmB/s1600/DSCN0248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4O8fajnU5lnM7NNK-imwQOIogpeYQmZKPy58qAQLOYRb_q3JilTWm4SZdE1294ausCDDtHrdAVmsz_Ir9iOdmlULv_ilbx-sw52SMmeypGCPZ7deQ9BIZpH6lMfmZHtGgik3b7b4lcBmB/s320/DSCN0248.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuuDeMlX-wWRScQd7BnX4kJHABfz7EHgMBG-XFwnomrEHX2E6QxcRndHJ9xdj4q37YmgpxZPPni7nyHIxRNMmZDL99N7VCgf55YEza6J0i_FZW5NSqTikYs-3p4oaMa6u78JhpLf-XpQn/s1600/DSCN0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnuuDeMlX-wWRScQd7BnX4kJHABfz7EHgMBG-XFwnomrEHX2E6QxcRndHJ9xdj4q37YmgpxZPPni7nyHIxRNMmZDL99N7VCgf55YEza6J0i_FZW5NSqTikYs-3p4oaMa6u78JhpLf-XpQn/s320/DSCN0249.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJSAw9Io2g351yL4eGmaxoe3MGVvwtdky0LRtJ4HpPPX7Gg7dxMGgHWEuAmZGRtCdT52uPgzuSNozFXJQ3JGHW5Dk5HqHx4AzR8RZKPXzXRhJlglB1TlMs2QDDliHVc9kEykm0eUo7fmh/s1600/DSCN0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJSAw9Io2g351yL4eGmaxoe3MGVvwtdky0LRtJ4HpPPX7Gg7dxMGgHWEuAmZGRtCdT52uPgzuSNozFXJQ3JGHW5Dk5HqHx4AzR8RZKPXzXRhJlglB1TlMs2QDDliHVc9kEykm0eUo7fmh/s320/DSCN0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U9TbmX2aeZjm81fv83wzDaPfLEwEAHwOJuwLu-KufAxsUjPzZiryIxqJzqqle1DS0SUoGj8wIZ9ekJKK-vl1LZQGBhasq1girILLgXcWhUaB7LryIZgCpvyg9ISaUlWjC-sdEo0s0q32/s1600/DSCN0251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U9TbmX2aeZjm81fv83wzDaPfLEwEAHwOJuwLu-KufAxsUjPzZiryIxqJzqqle1DS0SUoGj8wIZ9ekJKK-vl1LZQGBhasq1girILLgXcWhUaB7LryIZgCpvyg9ISaUlWjC-sdEo0s0q32/s320/DSCN0251.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Nature Conservancy runs this preserve, which is just over 2,000 acres of varying ecosystems including forest, prairie, and marshland. There's a nice visitors center on site, as well as a short wheelchair accessible interpretive trail.<br />
<br />
Much of the Mashomack Preserve is wild, but there's also a fairly extensive trail system running through it (as well as a marine map for those interested in touring the coast by boat). I didn't have time to try out the "Blue Trail," which is 10 miles long and takes an estimated four hours to finish. Still, I found an enjoyable route that took me by the coastal bluffs and through an expansive field. I also have to give the Nature Conservancy credit for allowing cross-country skiing here, since it seems like this would be an absolutely wonderful place to do this activity after a fresh snowfall.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjGeldPZorhZ9g8flH-Tp8HJpEIDjFB-UJYOJKpazLF5vURKIi9wZpmEwSYuE_IkWwLv1kmjzR4L8JE1VDffw0Wyp6AQIp9N4w2Vs1msSzqgYnmkpEQoo07C7CfUFKMftVPgBebdWiFzC/s1600/DSCN0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjGeldPZorhZ9g8flH-Tp8HJpEIDjFB-UJYOJKpazLF5vURKIi9wZpmEwSYuE_IkWwLv1kmjzR4L8JE1VDffw0Wyp6AQIp9N4w2Vs1msSzqgYnmkpEQoo07C7CfUFKMftVPgBebdWiFzC/s320/DSCN0253.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts42M4nCClF-2ckk6V7X8BJze_7HDqN7ebutM61ROxrs3sDEm4gPSbDpRle4o3Qw7RE5G8u5S9mbJ5qO951Tg-hOoKZj7ugu6v6o4mV2T49GtInTUOdUG73sSJ8GZt2ftHWRCYL4nBn0y/s1600/IMG_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgts42M4nCClF-2ckk6V7X8BJze_7HDqN7ebutM61ROxrs3sDEm4gPSbDpRle4o3Qw7RE5G8u5S9mbJ5qO951Tg-hOoKZj7ugu6v6o4mV2T49GtInTUOdUG73sSJ8GZt2ftHWRCYL4nBn0y/s320/IMG_1635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYWZjNB_EhBPWwQvDYcU4cwW7deupJAlSkfkwL75q5krxG0py97wOLYJosfuAWxbWcBcf2EPTpdBhFVliuhJB70IUBeaqTistqg0BJKyL_AF3cE0leJzVRoIGjYKFM4UbvtJ4Vm-QlbPM/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYWZjNB_EhBPWwQvDYcU4cwW7deupJAlSkfkwL75q5krxG0py97wOLYJosfuAWxbWcBcf2EPTpdBhFVliuhJB70IUBeaqTistqg0BJKyL_AF3cE0leJzVRoIGjYKFM4UbvtJ4Vm-QlbPM/s320/IMG_1634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Heading back to the center of the island, I arrived at the Shelter Island Craft Brewery in time for lunch. The brewery opened in 2015, with the goal of featuring Shelter Island ingredients in everything on tap. For example, the Nude Beach beer advertised on the sign in the photo above is brewed with wild beach plums.<br />
<br />
The cozy brewery space is also quite welcoming, with a bucket of games inviting you to stay awhile. But there are also several picnic tables to enjoy your beer outside, so I opted for that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IJsnh7Z7xgl0Acl8d7-aWBkHT11oZ0H6YyRlfoqqVaW23AEGG7ERp-nN2wQkBKaEjtqk6d_Sh0mGycI_O5VkR7rQcYxmxvDwPWs1K0yZcX_Amu6C6mY5BU6URkU-Bl9WfD1N9IwmLMa/s1600/DSCN0254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IJsnh7Z7xgl0Acl8d7-aWBkHT11oZ0H6YyRlfoqqVaW23AEGG7ERp-nN2wQkBKaEjtqk6d_Sh0mGycI_O5VkR7rQcYxmxvDwPWs1K0yZcX_Amu6C6mY5BU6URkU-Bl9WfD1N9IwmLMa/s320/DSCN0254.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
No, I wasn't shirking my organ-transporting duties to quaff some beer; it's a gift I got for my wife, a nurse, and borrowed to store my lunch for the outing. I opted for a flight of Shelter Island beers, which came in these stylish glasses.<br />
<br />
Most online reviews for the Shelter Island Craft Brewery are positive, although there are also several that criticize the taste of the beers. Indeed, the range of flavors is enough that you'll likely find beers that you both like and dislike. I was underwhelmed by the 114 IPA, but found both the Uflaffen Double IPA and Nude Beach to be particularly tasty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbk11UetdUlj4nQ5vCLUwztS3rBT7LfNNaZ-ll0ko9RDmgr6mto4zGMSIB0TrDWFC7hsqQ1sVvJ-tHb5KekD5h4q6-RuHoZ_c_TC6zniFlEsEeFcUDLSPWLDiz9kSqVSq9ASjO1ups-xY/s1600/DSCN0258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmbk11UetdUlj4nQ5vCLUwztS3rBT7LfNNaZ-ll0ko9RDmgr6mto4zGMSIB0TrDWFC7hsqQ1sVvJ-tHb5KekD5h4q6-RuHoZ_c_TC6zniFlEsEeFcUDLSPWLDiz9kSqVSq9ASjO1ups-xY/s320/DSCN0258.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjkTZONAMWVTMdM9KhIyg_aHft_nxNa8K6_9hyphenhyphenqaYXgmtq3NbSm7tL3uS2E_WWnz5yUY91dtFSWXi_2u3z7ZIB7ozF-H8I6xGma2iraGxG1YXb9s-ZKdfvGoHfKbrphnRSjIi0h5k0b_C/s1600/DSCN0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjkTZONAMWVTMdM9KhIyg_aHft_nxNa8K6_9hyphenhyphenqaYXgmtq3NbSm7tL3uS2E_WWnz5yUY91dtFSWXi_2u3z7ZIB7ozF-H8I6xGma2iraGxG1YXb9s-ZKdfvGoHfKbrphnRSjIi0h5k0b_C/s320/DSCN0260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieENlR_2ANwL_WZGIER6_ofaUZnsnPse5sW3Q46HfAhuD5d48j3m8f-OO-rJh2QSq_vjkvNbjcUsoNwZ5hCplXQWLoKbjA1R2B35zUJlH65lYFJpukCaGz3LvriiPzpEecCE6xY5d55RB0/s1600/DSCN0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieENlR_2ANwL_WZGIER6_ofaUZnsnPse5sW3Q46HfAhuD5d48j3m8f-OO-rJh2QSq_vjkvNbjcUsoNwZ5hCplXQWLoKbjA1R2B35zUJlH65lYFJpukCaGz3LvriiPzpEecCE6xY5d55RB0/s320/DSCN0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Greenport is a lovely little community with a nice selection of restaurants, touristy shops, and a century-old carousel near the waterfront. There are a couple of museums in town, including one on the maritime history of the area and another on Long Island's railroad history, but I didn't have time to check them out. One of the more nondescript attractions is the National Scrabble Association, which oversees the North American tournaments for the word tile game.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IvniuYZcT20uLREQdlaEVGDIBBgo-U50c46k9js8lL8MkmABjlJxR6TYuS_R4ogvq5L2iSYjSpwOiTOY_OCYJjqLQdSjd4aqB6WwzEbS3_4mbs963kUN5W0GvPcikSUUYP9LMa81znUD/s1600/DSCN0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IvniuYZcT20uLREQdlaEVGDIBBgo-U50c46k9js8lL8MkmABjlJxR6TYuS_R4ogvq5L2iSYjSpwOiTOY_OCYJjqLQdSjd4aqB6WwzEbS3_4mbs963kUN5W0GvPcikSUUYP9LMa81znUD/s320/DSCN0264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkrANGGIU233Jh5M1mQUqvzoypMRxukPSEnPx01P6GYL8_YuwRSpsPAbR7-93akKK2vCGCSOw0Zla1bwLnKZ74T8zkF-D_qAlJ9v0uKbofUhy9wpSE2qQTAdBxmYiswlwQEJCgIRV8wM_/s1600/DSCN0266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkrANGGIU233Jh5M1mQUqvzoypMRxukPSEnPx01P6GYL8_YuwRSpsPAbR7-93akKK2vCGCSOw0Zla1bwLnKZ74T8zkF-D_qAlJ9v0uKbofUhy9wpSE2qQTAdBxmYiswlwQEJCgIRV8wM_/s320/DSCN0266.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A fireboat festooned with water cannons was prominently visible from the ferry to Shelter Island, and I was surprised to see that it was open for tours. The simply named <i>Fire Fighter</i> was in service for more than 70 years, helping put out major blazes along the New York City waterfront and providing water for the response to the 9/11 attacks. The boat has been berthed in Greenport since its retirement, and one of the volunteers on board was kind enough to take me through the engine room and other interior compartments.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZOC9_Aqf3TUCCnRiQb1Nzju4raOPuLqApOVU6TtuKvzwGfJWoMpPtn2rKjeTZLFRD4eiIA3bPD84Kd_2cClU6TCYWtNEjOq5PYtOuZvadxjnim-yveuJqK0noKKDr84F8y8cEQ9IJQTr/s1600/DSCN0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZOC9_Aqf3TUCCnRiQb1Nzju4raOPuLqApOVU6TtuKvzwGfJWoMpPtn2rKjeTZLFRD4eiIA3bPD84Kd_2cClU6TCYWtNEjOq5PYtOuZvadxjnim-yveuJqK0noKKDr84F8y8cEQ9IJQTr/s320/DSCN0267.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSludU4OSY4ZvZsotqtUxG366g5Em3iuQHOfbvG2IVvGRs6qd42KwQ0K_BLkzJVPc2p7ppNJlUDQICRH0Lp6pSbSlKgQmrWmY4WqOwwdOTjPWBho3C2LTm3S-0aUXV_zBZ8ADlgcB2n2E/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSludU4OSY4ZvZsotqtUxG366g5Em3iuQHOfbvG2IVvGRs6qd42KwQ0K_BLkzJVPc2p7ppNJlUDQICRH0Lp6pSbSlKgQmrWmY4WqOwwdOTjPWBho3C2LTm3S-0aUXV_zBZ8ADlgcB2n2E/s320/IMG_1641.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The Greenport Harbor Brewing Company is fairly well-known in my neck of the woods in Connecticut, since it's just a ferry ride away for distribution. They opened a larger production space and taproom in Peconic in 2014, but still maintain some brewing operations and a taproom in their original location just off the main drag in downtown Greenport. It's located next door to the former village jail, which is now a museum on Greenport's defunct police department.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUgjYy12uEChRDyMbCLOW2x1Vi2fD30tE0LE2jPM-WpSop-YLAJCEO3m1OKjT6kPO5Wbwv__L4_J711ucS34iU37G6SzVZm8cci9uGYepKh7KDbxw6AUbCN4o4gGWvKSm6CKfhJKmUTpE/s1600/IMG_1640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUgjYy12uEChRDyMbCLOW2x1Vi2fD30tE0LE2jPM-WpSop-YLAJCEO3m1OKjT6kPO5Wbwv__L4_J711ucS34iU37G6SzVZm8cci9uGYepKh7KDbxw6AUbCN4o4gGWvKSm6CKfhJKmUTpE/s320/IMG_1640.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
There's a decent tasting deal at the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company where you can try a selection of five beers for $12, then keep the four-ounce tasting glass afterward. A lot of people in the taproom were digging the Apricot OGB, but I'm not much of a sour fan ("like drinking a Warhead," according to my Untappd check-in). I was much more impressed by the Fine Detail IPA and the Black Duck Porter, getting a full pour of the latter.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I7Oakejy_-xiVTf8FUdTy0dKiSpKxWCk0hSwih_E_v3RvS0l27DRj_-mfu69fLBHDZGYXvSZusZmgRn-pRBr3JDjWHdKTcT49nzlvUyC30nRCPThCl6xWMDubNguvlqLcJGkRe7OM2Ov/s1600/DSCN0268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9I7Oakejy_-xiVTf8FUdTy0dKiSpKxWCk0hSwih_E_v3RvS0l27DRj_-mfu69fLBHDZGYXvSZusZmgRn-pRBr3JDjWHdKTcT49nzlvUyC30nRCPThCl6xWMDubNguvlqLcJGkRe7OM2Ov/s320/DSCN0268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPerc8hsh_1yR1d5zNqcgtapY_heMuwmx_NwSaYDX2RsuioPReq2o35p6DeUxP2m50hQxBJxWl4KuoDWXGg1625xzkVzGeXAl6q47wP0vGW1qW99A5NGVuLWVbKXw829_X11Ctw9dXTZK/s1600/DSCN0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjPerc8hsh_1yR1d5zNqcgtapY_heMuwmx_NwSaYDX2RsuioPReq2o35p6DeUxP2m50hQxBJxWl4KuoDWXGg1625xzkVzGeXAl6q47wP0vGW1qW99A5NGVuLWVbKXw829_X11Ctw9dXTZK/s320/DSCN0269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The crewman who gave me the tour on the <i>Fire Fighter</i> recommended that I check out Village Lane in Orient on my way back, saying there were some lovely mansions there. Maybe I've been too spoiled by checking out the Gilded Age homes in Newport, but the houses on the street seemed fairly modest. I did check out Poquatuck Park, however, a beautiful village green that offered some nice views of sunbeams coming through the encroaching clouds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp16KnlxF_XPaocsW3NU5wV1fOH7t701k96YI4bL0eJUa9fZlWGFxOt6A8hWL0DNaSh6XeMaTEWm-DTMA1EpAQtXOS55gAXQJe7nlmaxQxQSMX6U_MS4l2j0BqO9xOwqN68qhGE4OTpva_/s1600/DSCN0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp16KnlxF_XPaocsW3NU5wV1fOH7t701k96YI4bL0eJUa9fZlWGFxOt6A8hWL0DNaSh6XeMaTEWm-DTMA1EpAQtXOS55gAXQJe7nlmaxQxQSMX6U_MS4l2j0BqO9xOwqN68qhGE4OTpva_/s320/DSCN0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I've gotten used to being blasted by headwinds on most of my bike rides, and didn't expect much relief during the return journey along Route 25. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the wind was at my back the whole way back, allowing me to cover the route much faster.<br />
<br />
The <i>Fire Fighter </i>crewman also recommended that I check out Orient Beach State Park. This is located near the ferry landing, where the address numbers inexplicably ramp up into five digits, and boasts several miles of beaches. Unfortunately, it required me to head back west, directly into the punishing headwind. Plus I could see that my ride home was pulling in nearby, so I didn't want to miss it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAq04t4FwNH3uuEo3uXyA4aQIU3suiMePaTlOjqsl_W2CSxERqjghM3jaFzLhduDaUNiUfyvqXjLlIYnbUKCSKbl-3AM6Q4lXCxOwLSsPVuJ4Ab7TljOiIs1Xx1Nv7uQ3vPjbsux5j7oD/s1600/DSCN0278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAq04t4FwNH3uuEo3uXyA4aQIU3suiMePaTlOjqsl_W2CSxERqjghM3jaFzLhduDaUNiUfyvqXjLlIYnbUKCSKbl-3AM6Q4lXCxOwLSsPVuJ4Ab7TljOiIs1Xx1Nv7uQ3vPjbsux5j7oD/s320/DSCN0278.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD2dA9b5akrdhBO8l5VHQDm9Rn2z7PhyphenhyphenA-5IqXJ77gLJPLu0ETL6JFf_vxdTObrpG_-s22O-MRrMVQHZSomgtWyK3hU1slvIhYi1P-PaqY49GC678MgSpribpAeRZXUxsqCSrdKdLpZCR/s1600/DSCN0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidD2dA9b5akrdhBO8l5VHQDm9Rn2z7PhyphenhyphenA-5IqXJ77gLJPLu0ETL6JFf_vxdTObrpG_-s22O-MRrMVQHZSomgtWyK3hU1slvIhYi1P-PaqY49GC678MgSpribpAeRZXUxsqCSrdKdLpZCR/s320/DSCN0281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
From there, it was simply a matter of enjoying the relaxing ride back to New London as the sun set over the city.<br />
<br />
Distance traveled (bike only): 27.3 miles<br />
Hiking distance: About four miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/05/bike-and-brew-fox-farm-brewery.html">Fox Farm Brewery</a>Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-70332357864215378522017-07-26T14:15:00.005-07:002017-07-26T14:17:54.068-07:00I Make Fun of State Quarters: IdahoIs it potatoes? I'll bet it's going to be potatoes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaKKYmFJZF3sDoGrmyRmQOlzgMre4RLpJpVmS0ahMlwEI97EyCJcZx2YfaYgTY1kdca0RMEPrciq__c35f7bmB_ssOu6Aq_4WPMT4wQyjmHZbeGm0JPiCRuVYpbf2ASh1MJbltGUOTXGf/s1600/idahoquarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaKKYmFJZF3sDoGrmyRmQOlzgMre4RLpJpVmS0ahMlwEI97EyCJcZx2YfaYgTY1kdca0RMEPrciq__c35f7bmB_ssOu6Aq_4WPMT4wQyjmHZbeGm0JPiCRuVYpbf2ASh1MJbltGUOTXGf/s1600/idahoquarter.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.theus50.com/idaho/quarter.php">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
No potatoes!? What gives?<br />
<br />
Here's the thing about Idaho. It's a rugged state in the American West with some beautiful mountains, waterfalls, and other areas of wilderness. It has a fairly rich history. Some of the <a href="http://westerndigs.org/13500-year-old-tool-making-site-uncovered-in-idaho-forest/">oldest Native American artifacts on the continent</a> were found in Idaho, the area was part of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Northwest">Pacific Northwest region disputed by the United States and Great Britain</a>, the <a href="http://idahoptv.org/outdoors/shows/pathwaysofpioneers/TrailMaps.cfm">Oregon Trail passed through it</a>, and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints_in_Idaho">Mormons established a fair number of communities there</a>.<br />
<br />
There have been a bunch of <a href="http://idahostatejournal.com/members/center-recognizes-nine-hate-groups-in-idaho/article_2fc18774-ec87-11e3-a505-001a4bcf887a.html">survivalists and right-wing wackos</a> who have been attracted to Idaho, and the infamous <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Ridge">Ruby Ridge standoff</a> took place in the state in 1992. But the state, like many in the West, embraced the early Progressive movement and was one of the first to <a href="http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/progress/suffrage/">grant women the right to vote</a>. Labor unions were active in the mining camps, with a number of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coeur_d%27Alene,_Idaho_labor_strike_of_1892">violent confrontations between miners and management</a> over work hours and wages. Idaho is known as the Gem State due in part to its abundant natural resources, and a good part of its economy is today supported by the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/04/09/idahos-top-export-is-semiconductors-what-trade-looks-like-in-every-state-and-how-it-might-soon-change/?utm_term=.a50d8222ce3d">manufacture of semiconductors</a>.<br />
<br />
But what do we know Idaho for? Potatoes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS60b1X1KqkritFZDq56yUyiDMt-wRO7nsqKYuDQQnSJyXutvvKyxARBHkm5HevvuZVAhzQbzLlKvRQ8upRtGD0YjJ4wM-jwjw9SaOKoq0NYKXJBiTA_Y4nqFKLxtXYjCWE-4yPjgTsToX/s1600/ralph-idaho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS60b1X1KqkritFZDq56yUyiDMt-wRO7nsqKYuDQQnSJyXutvvKyxARBHkm5HevvuZVAhzQbzLlKvRQ8upRtGD0YjJ4wM-jwjw9SaOKoq0NYKXJBiTA_Y4nqFKLxtXYjCWE-4yPjgTsToX/s1600/ralph-idaho.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And for being one of the easiest Halloween costumes ever </i>(<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobulls/comments/2lmicu/game_thread_philadelphia_76ers_05_vs_chicago/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
So it's no surprise that the state quarter shies away from this aspect of the state. Everyone already knows Idaho for its leading agricultural product (it provides <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/idaho/articles/2017-04-18/federal-efforts-to-eradicate-idaho-potato-pest-succeeding">about 30 percent of the nation's russet potato crop</a>), so why not try to inform people about other aspects of the state?<br />
<br />
Does the state quarter design accomplish this? Um...no. It just shows the state under attack by a giant bird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o3MbY0lYk9z7966FNrL6EQhPImbeAwQ38mV6AbDVNys57AtVM6Nt_79kO-CplAQNWphfOkRk6CsRO8RyYf-PIzRB8ke_5EoNXcaXqZmffDSx-AS0EhsHtvjZk9GNLzjvm7H9adMtmqxJ/s1600/falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="1024" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6o3MbY0lYk9z7966FNrL6EQhPImbeAwQ38mV6AbDVNys57AtVM6Nt_79kO-CplAQNWphfOkRk6CsRO8RyYf-PIzRB8ke_5EoNXcaXqZmffDSx-AS0EhsHtvjZk9GNLzjvm7H9adMtmqxJ/s320/falcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Seen here without its customary <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junkers_Ju_87">"Jericho trumpets"</a> </i>(<a href="http://www.lazerhorse.org/2014/11/06/peregrine-falcon-fastest-animal/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
You know, this quarter gets creepier every time I look at it. This is a peregrine falcon, the state raptor of Idaho (not the state bird, which is the diminutive mountain bluebird). It's either casting its gaze down on the unwary inhabitants of Idaho or looking aside to us. It's hard to tell with those cold, dead eyes.<br />
<br />
What's more, it looms over the whole state. Idaho measures 305 miles across at its widest point, but this bird is easily the larger of the two. It can't even fit on the quarter, for God's sake; it's probably 1,000 miles long, making it a threat to the entire damn nation.<br />
<br />
What's more, the peregrine falcon is the <a href="https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/4/14/14780482/peregrine-falcons-fastest-animal-on-earth">fastest animal on the planet</a>, reaching speeds of more than 200 miles per hour during a dive. They can be found in virtually any climate. And the bird is also a carnivore, eating small mammals.<br />
<br />
Idaho, you fools! Do you realize what a 1,000-foot peregrine falcon considers to be "small mammals?" We're all doomed to be devoured by a gargantuan bird of prey!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
And don't think Mountain Home Air Force Base will protect you. The state slogan is apparently declaring this giant bird of death to be perpetual.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6IeSgSSY4yQ" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Footage of the oft-forgotten attack on Boise by the state raptor</i></div>
<br />
How does it compare to the alternate designs? Well, I can't say I'm a fan of Idaho controlling an abomination of nature with the ability to wipe out mankind. But I guess it's better than the state quarter awkwardly introducing Idaho like a mediocre prize in <i>The Price Is Right</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbLiTK3sG2F6t9ymiJYFeunHr0LT5spK9xJZFVWOGB5qpzKn3pltb0MGtHAj7iuFbX23tkS7u7aMglA7WXYTuZjzkkRjr9dHpB0wBDVQWOmcFKsgebxSuKuuB1HDLp5oEo_UkId9uDH6e/s1600/idaho3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbLiTK3sG2F6t9ymiJYFeunHr0LT5spK9xJZFVWOGB5qpzKn3pltb0MGtHAj7iuFbX23tkS7u7aMglA7WXYTuZjzkkRjr9dHpB0wBDVQWOmcFKsgebxSuKuuB1HDLp5oEo_UkId9uDH6e/s1600/idaho3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> "And you can enjoy all the wonderful potatoes Idaho has to offer on your NEW DINETTE SET!" </i>(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/idaho.html">Source</a>)</div>
Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-83057217849840469152017-06-25T19:50:00.000-07:002017-10-13T06:30:47.210-07:00Whatever Happened To: The Cast of Step By StepIn a recent running of the weekly bar trivia, our team became bitterly divided over the crucial final question on the old TGIF lineup on ABC. We're all children of the 90s, and we all agreed that <i>Full House </i>debuted first while <i>Boy Meets World </i>and <i>Sabrina the Teenage Witch </i>came later. We also knew that <i>Family Matters </i>and <i>Step by Step </i>were in the middle, but couldn't come to a consensus on which premiered first.<br />
<br />
It was especially galling for me because I'd already done one of these "Whatever Happened To" blogs <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2015/12/whatever-happened-to-cast-of-family_2.html">for the <i>Family Matters </i>cast</a> and was planning, sometime, to write one for <i>Step by Step</i>. Thankfully we were satisfied that Steve Urkel wouldn't be crashing his jet pack in Wisconsin if he wasn't already an established TGIF character and put <i>Family Matters </i>first. And as it turned out, <i>Family Matters </i>began in 1989 while <i>Step by Step </i>started two years later.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlNLgtDWdoebYmiM-UBOKaAyzmHcikAnIhQOgJEiTD9FndUnO8zalDdCbtO0oOpPIT4Y5DLLyR29r3FlFtJ2RPA1a8nsXHbHIssw_GE-XEul1onJQtw9UhY9S81W865-Z-HKh2oC6xC_2/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-26+at+8.43.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="940" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnlNLgtDWdoebYmiM-UBOKaAyzmHcikAnIhQOgJEiTD9FndUnO8zalDdCbtO0oOpPIT4Y5DLLyR29r3FlFtJ2RPA1a8nsXHbHIssw_GE-XEul1onJQtw9UhY9S81W865-Z-HKh2oC6xC_2/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-26+at+8.43.10+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9nFkEdROqQ">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
<i>Step by Step </i>was basically <i>The Brady Bunch </i>with more aggression between the two halves of the blended family. After two single parents impulsively get married while vacationing, they end up moving in with each other and their combined litter of six children; wackiness ensues! The show lasted seven years, moving to CBS for its final season.<br />
<br />
So what happened to the Lambert/Foster clan of Port Washington, Wisconsin? Well, I'm going to exclude some of the more minor characters, but otherwise...<br />
<br />
<b>Patrick Duffy (Frank Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XFICyQo2pvELV2ux6hQiLDL2J8efr_SEif6MJw-EhcVwcLE98aShMlzEoJJBhBaKebjZk-IRhl9E6LXUz2QFHQTpI52Udjd2h2Uz76unr6IWNrdxs-H4tL6QgKb9720ZKLoyDfG6xXYj/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.07.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XFICyQo2pvELV2ux6hQiLDL2J8efr_SEif6MJw-EhcVwcLE98aShMlzEoJJBhBaKebjZk-IRhl9E6LXUz2QFHQTpI52Udjd2h2Uz76unr6IWNrdxs-H4tL6QgKb9720ZKLoyDfG6xXYj/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.07.59+PM.png" width="283" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/step-by-step/images/2843956/title/frank-screencap">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The owner of his own construction company, Frank was handier and less bumbling than most of the sitcom dads out there (although he could still be fairly chauvinistic and slovenly). He was a sports enthusiast, especially when it came to the Green Bay Packers. Frank is often shown to be somewhat out of his league when it comes to parenting a blended family, but also strives to be a role model and forge strong bonds with both his children and stepchildren.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46D0L5nU6r3jXa4MUjoeO7oGZ2xgXyLc8hCsRXNAR6Nm0AzSar3ewKy33B0AuIZH3Nsou4lElhZtPXWqc8FevzlakAXlZ5QtoBe0d7RGLhsKfNp8SV_fp4eWcH2YKHB4OIC0-X68YsFyt/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.09.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="386" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46D0L5nU6r3jXa4MUjoeO7oGZ2xgXyLc8hCsRXNAR6Nm0AzSar3ewKy33B0AuIZH3Nsou4lElhZtPXWqc8FevzlakAXlZ5QtoBe0d7RGLhsKfNp8SV_fp4eWcH2YKHB4OIC0-X68YsFyt/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.09.41+PM.png" width="210" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.patrickduffy.org/photos.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Patrick Duffy's first credited acting role came 27 years before <i>Step by Step</i>'s premiere. He was already well-known for playing Bobby Ewing in the soap opera <i>Dallas</i>, a role he reprised for a couple of TV movies as well as a <i>Dallas </i>reboot which ran from 2012 to 2014. In addition to small roles in a number of TV movies and shows, Duffy (now 68 years old) had a long-running role as Stephen Logan on <i>The Bold and the Beautiful</i>. His <a href="http://www.patrickduffy.org/">endearingly simple website</a> says he's written a book based on an early role in the science fiction show <i>The Man From Atlantis</i>,<i> </i>and also encourages people to check out a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwaWrHuHxvg">YouTube series of comedy skits where he is harassed by a crab puppet</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Suzanne Somers (Carol Foster-Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZWpp5bLhELYG_wOhilLyMvuZqMNQiqIC21eFNJpwSD53WCR6ZhE7Cv87Sd9U_7lc7F_fqVKH2VRgR1kmvsPFHee3zQwD0Tab4wT4691ZxJHip4U3QlETkLWx2nvkMWo2fbEwDI94Eb5X/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.14.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZWpp5bLhELYG_wOhilLyMvuZqMNQiqIC21eFNJpwSD53WCR6ZhE7Cv87Sd9U_7lc7F_fqVKH2VRgR1kmvsPFHee3zQwD0Tab4wT4691ZxJHip4U3QlETkLWx2nvkMWo2fbEwDI94Eb5X/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.14.45+PM.png" width="155" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/patrick-duffy-step-by-step-437914">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Carol works as a beautician in a home-based studio along with her mother and sister (both of whom were later written out of the series). She is generally portrayed as being a confident, no-nonsense mother, though she sometimes second guesses herself in stressful situations. Carol makes a genuine effort to connect with her stepchildren, although she encounters quite a few bumps along the road.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisF3rfv4laNiynx600LKhuxkigoZcLAwg7nO6Nd5e__I5ocjEe9zkigaoKqUYGqQh4egzCtajeSH-l1St7sB-_3dfBdaInCM1ixLei1Y0DBOyfJLM2OVwQCE43BarWNsSu044MZI37iYe5/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.15.57+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisF3rfv4laNiynx600LKhuxkigoZcLAwg7nO6Nd5e__I5ocjEe9zkigaoKqUYGqQh4egzCtajeSH-l1St7sB-_3dfBdaInCM1ixLei1Y0DBOyfJLM2OVwQCE43BarWNsSu044MZI37iYe5/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.15.57+PM.png" width="287" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.suzannesomers.com/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Following an abusive childhood, Suzanne Somers began modeling and later won small roles in TV shows and movies. Her first major role was as Chrissy Snow on <i>Three's Company</i>, as well as the title role in <i>She's the Sheriff</i>. Somers also gained some recognition as the spokesperson for the Thighmaster. After <i>Step by Step</i>, she co-hosted a brief revival of <i>Candid Camera</i>, appeared on Broadway in a one-woman show, and had a couple of talk shows. Somers now runs an <a href="https://www.suzannesomers.com/">alternative medicine business</a> which sells beauty and health products.<br />
<br />
<b>Brandon Call (J.T. Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34WFLWngMGg8Wt7RWRdZnoiKr-iuoxcUqsum1HVwvd0L6PcE6A7IbhdHrfMmUFLzX_mdFKU-Yhgjrgbog6bS7fpTMNgo29xMJ7z0f9H9p6qDZXCxWD_lsuxWgV66THYrVA4v6wONytIiF/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.24.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1112" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34WFLWngMGg8Wt7RWRdZnoiKr-iuoxcUqsum1HVwvd0L6PcE6A7IbhdHrfMmUFLzX_mdFKU-Yhgjrgbog6bS7fpTMNgo29xMJ7z0f9H9p6qDZXCxWD_lsuxWgV66THYrVA4v6wONytIiF/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.24.00+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/33976854.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Frank's oldest son, J.T. (for John Thomas) was a boorish jock who wasn't too smart academically. However, plenty of episodes showed him making an effort to perform well in school or find a worthwhile career. His learning difficulties were eventually traced to dyslexia. J.T. was also locked in a perpetual battle of insults with Dana.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNy57__NmUh0F8cJjF9piybdjlPalA0EvWNlRf__9vX_-uMbDOd5C_3Y1c7NzIrD81uzGR1So9xEKeXWHJk6V0lXHJZ8x-bKsscCG1L0y2hii1aOQQpG7__-k8Lt7k8C83dEHk2AIvtRO/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.26.37+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNy57__NmUh0F8cJjF9piybdjlPalA0EvWNlRf__9vX_-uMbDOd5C_3Y1c7NzIrD81uzGR1So9xEKeXWHJk6V0lXHJZ8x-bKsscCG1L0y2hii1aOQQpG7__-k8Lt7k8C83dEHk2AIvtRO/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.26.37+PM.png" width="226" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://washedupcelebrities.blogspot.com/2007/08/brandon-call.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Brandon Call began appearing in TV and film, having major roles on <i>Santa Barbara</i>, <i>The Charmings</i>, and <i>Baywatch </i>(where he played David Hasselhoff's son) before joining the cast of <i>Step by Step</i>. He was <a href="http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ca-court-of-appeal/1224203.html">shot in both arms</a> in 1996 during a traffic incident in which another driver inexplicably began menacing him. What happened to <a href="http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov/Results.aspx">Tommy Eugene Lewis</a>, the guy who shot Call? He's still doing somewhere between 41 years and life.<br />
<br />
Call dropped out of acting after <i>Step by Step</i> and has stayed out of the limelight since then. He reportedly helps run a San Diego gas station and car wash owned by his parents.<br />
<br />
<b>Staci Keanan (Dana Foster)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydit3f28HU4L9ffFqtRX_nO_NEPATzGttJgsc2eTQbpN6X3F_vKph4cL_9Jor2UUeOd1l2EcD7ubbYiXjCEhKFGApHcNqTmusBGGppxivWhHLFedjPMquqx2V7Tvctm6uRWdvYSqGKQQL/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.03.31+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="416" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydit3f28HU4L9ffFqtRX_nO_NEPATzGttJgsc2eTQbpN6X3F_vKph4cL_9Jor2UUeOd1l2EcD7ubbYiXjCEhKFGApHcNqTmusBGGppxivWhHLFedjPMquqx2V7Tvctm6uRWdvYSqGKQQL/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.03.31+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/step-by-step/images/2844071/title/dana-screencap">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Dana was an intelligent, outspoken feminist who developed a fierce rivalry with J.T. and generally held dismissive views of the Lambert family. Her haughtiness sometimes earned her a dose of comeuppance, such as when she got a face full of motor oil after mocking J.T. for doing well in an auto repair class and asserting that anyone could master those skills. Much to the surprise of the family as well as herself, Dana began dating J.T.'s similarly uncouth best friend Rich.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoJkJsRatOo8w_vHmdsYGyps6Zf05ONImbEUXkP4pcTKRsge1jifHz9qsIzolE25XICh5rw_bUToPMTTAoioSTzBg19fsez8tG5fDTuy8ey92A30Sd_zsrEF7wIs5TEZNUW1fAlLcJUOb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.34.15+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpoJkJsRatOo8w_vHmdsYGyps6Zf05ONImbEUXkP4pcTKRsge1jifHz9qsIzolE25XICh5rw_bUToPMTTAoioSTzBg19fsez8tG5fDTuy8ey92A30Sd_zsrEF7wIs5TEZNUW1fAlLcJUOb/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.34.15+PM.png" width="119" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/yolakin/?hl=en">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Staci Keanan, now 42, is actually one of the stage names for Anastasia Sagorsky. Prior to <i>Step by Step</i>, she appeared as Nicole Bradford on <i>My Two Dads</i>. Although she had a number of minor acting roles in the 21st century, Keanan later opted to pursue a career in law. She graduated from Southwestern Law School in 2013 and is now a practicing attorney in California.<br />
<br />
<b>Christine Lakin (Al Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-r6IuaqqkLLeBTLfP7s_G82R9gSVQseEZSgpqPmva6V6JDNWvpStbvzlNehXAT4hYqTOBoLWrqhQT__nqeWQln0Cn77i1hzhkQqyX8nDHbJDoy7wnq62-mNi4Y3qMPwySfo-hNyW_QgH/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.29.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="606" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-r6IuaqqkLLeBTLfP7s_G82R9gSVQseEZSgpqPmva6V6JDNWvpStbvzlNehXAT4hYqTOBoLWrqhQT__nqeWQln0Cn77i1hzhkQqyX8nDHbJDoy7wnq62-mNi4Y3qMPwySfo-hNyW_QgH/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.29.43+PM.png" width="235" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://starcrush.com/then-now-step-by-step/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The only girl in the Lambert household, Al (short for Alicia) was a tough, sarcastic tomboy who usually found little in common with her stepsisters. However, a few episodes showed her being more appreciative of Carol stepping up as her stepmother. In the last season, Al begins to pursue an acting career.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRI35yBO2K6cpv2vtZjVFc_06vhCrQZ5qjeUKKATx8Zvgur4gk__NLmT8yJGwC6Iqwo9f7fJkcwQTtU6CE2HI2A2-wAkRL5Hnwn_zYBhqeNdv4vSoLpReAs0h5HI8LW7jnNTuzBRz78_4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.35.39+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="441" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRI35yBO2K6cpv2vtZjVFc_06vhCrQZ5qjeUKKATx8Zvgur4gk__NLmT8yJGwC6Iqwo9f7fJkcwQTtU6CE2HI2A2-wAkRL5Hnwn_zYBhqeNdv4vSoLpReAs0h5HI8LW7jnNTuzBRz78_4/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.35.39+PM.png" width="163" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/yolakin/?hl=en">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Christine Lakin managed to balance her education and acting, graduating from high school in 1997 and from UCLA in 2003. Her roles after <i>Step by Step </i>were predominantly in independent films and as guest spots in TV shows, although she has also done work in comedy and theater. More recently, she has been focusing on voice acting. Lakin, now 38, provides the voice of Joyce Kinney in <i>Family Guy </i>and Jane in <i>The Walking Dead </i>video game, and has also narrated audiobooks. She plays a tongue-in-cheek version of herself in the TV show <i>Hollywood Darlings</i>, alongside Beverley Mitchell of <i>7th Heaven </i>and Jodie Sweetin of <i>Full House</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Angela Watson (Karen Foster)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eYKrbCd7raiblQFX3jiLzkpmU6VgfubJtKWTBz5gmwdZTR_TEfu_UeU4sUVSiKv96aMjRKPZdOsOvMPzFC1x-yuOco7bs8gSb_6ar38I6eSDCUrXqX_6guFc8opLhDvFYwyDCadj38Ev/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.06.47+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="702" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9eYKrbCd7raiblQFX3jiLzkpmU6VgfubJtKWTBz5gmwdZTR_TEfu_UeU4sUVSiKv96aMjRKPZdOsOvMPzFC1x-yuOco7bs8gSb_6ar38I6eSDCUrXqX_6guFc8opLhDvFYwyDCadj38Ev/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.06.47+PM.png" width="287" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky1knsYzwLI">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Karen was as a bit of a ditz, obsessed with fashion and aspiring to be a model. Nevertheless, she was also shown to be fairly compassionate to both her siblings and step-siblings, and smart enough to start attending college later in the series. A few episodes focused on Karen's singing talent and pursuit of a country music career.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklF4040TrZsMONZSHWjvRlhGH7vWwOfvXcyems5kLAECotQQeLhNJQ_CGPMfHFDHZdj3vNCr5LpEQJpIwFsAtALh_8UoJ3xqBuIbnfUF5k0p5S91xS5zQDBfULgLhhACJq84Wwfvewmcy/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.11.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="728" data-original-width="588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklF4040TrZsMONZSHWjvRlhGH7vWwOfvXcyems5kLAECotQQeLhNJQ_CGPMfHFDHZdj3vNCr5LpEQJpIwFsAtALh_8UoJ3xqBuIbnfUF5k0p5S91xS5zQDBfULgLhhACJq84Wwfvewmcy/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.11.11+PM.png" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://fox2now.com/2017/03/21/hugs-america-building-lives-through-love/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Angela Watson, now 41, returned to acting only briefly after <i>Step by Step </i>ended, appearing in the film <i>Final Approach</i> as well as the short film <i>Cowboys and Indians</i>. More notably, she established the organization <a href="http://www.hugsamerica.com/cast/">Child Actors Legal Fund (CAST)</a> to provide support for child actors who feel they have been victimized after realizing that her parents had misappropriated some $2.8 million she had earned over the course of <i>Step by Step</i>'s run. Watson continues to work with this organization and serve as a spokesperson for HugsAmerica Charity Events.<br />
<br />
<b>Josh Byrne (Brendan Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR9FL0GvxdE_CcKLYavFGZWA40tFIT-Bq5nSNkwY6uo8hyIo-a6O1ndGSr5nzUfjRhn8lTCu6Z24sEgjBFxcqFlVjg-pze8e5aisiVjuh4rb-b58WHeXNbEmcp4Wyd7fwf0nJJHP9UJV3/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.12.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="414" data-original-width="404" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRR9FL0GvxdE_CcKLYavFGZWA40tFIT-Bq5nSNkwY6uo8hyIo-a6O1ndGSr5nzUfjRhn8lTCu6Z24sEgjBFxcqFlVjg-pze8e5aisiVjuh4rb-b58WHeXNbEmcp4Wyd7fwf0nJJHP9UJV3/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.12.30+PM.png" width="312" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=158023954">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The youngest member of the Lambert family, Brendan seemed to look up to his older brother in hopes of being a macho guy when he grew up. Yet he was also more accepting of his step-family, generally acting friendly towards Carol and her children. While the show continued to refer to the Foster-Lambert clan as having seven children, Brendan became a more minor character in the sixth season and disappeared altogether in the seventh season.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbHlaD3gYZdHOaebGEIQXcsbz7GV1bD8WcLcNDPf7aCbnz2eM1z5p87HjTowMTumkl6FGqzNcWSxkrHHuUH4uAc6tGqHjt75S2eBI4mNQtTUNtJgzlVcxEzaUeMJLF-krS8u-Ga-YQeqs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.14.11+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="548" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbHlaD3gYZdHOaebGEIQXcsbz7GV1bD8WcLcNDPf7aCbnz2eM1z5p87HjTowMTumkl6FGqzNcWSxkrHHuUH4uAc6tGqHjt75S2eBI4mNQtTUNtJgzlVcxEzaUeMJLF-krS8u-Ga-YQeqs/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.14.11+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://myspace.com/266070924/photos">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Josh Byrne, now 33, didn't have any other acting credits after <i>Step by Step</i>. His <a href="https://myspace.com/byrneblood">still accessible MySpace page</a> shows that he developed an interest in art and live action role playing. Beyond that, it's not clear what he's been up to.<br />
<br />
<b>Christopher Castile (Mark Foster)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWHr5j-d0cWuYIPF7NpblqARzZ696SiusWF46i-IoiPosE8evlc7H6V8Rufov3eQWG9Rib0JX-PgVrrOJG-S2s9XqtqXOyI_BfE6XhGxz2rHLzWVsXP3ULoRkgMFNczrGLBNcJOO458Fb/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.15.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="366" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWHr5j-d0cWuYIPF7NpblqARzZ696SiusWF46i-IoiPosE8evlc7H6V8Rufov3eQWG9Rib0JX-PgVrrOJG-S2s9XqtqXOyI_BfE6XhGxz2rHLzWVsXP3ULoRkgMFNczrGLBNcJOO458Fb/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.15.40+PM.png" width="281" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/step-by-step/images/2844033/title/mark-screencap">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The only male in the Foster family, Mark is your typical sitcom nerd: academically smart, socially awkward, a bit of a wuss, and a little arrogant at times. He became somewhat more adept at dating, playing sports, and interacting with the rest of the family as the show went on. Mark was absent for the majority of the final season, appearing in only eight of 19 episodes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji19aQ5-MLlxPiDDq9ncN5p-Mx8lqH8B1Awh4HOAc5I1VMtkJmkDwuWLLs-YFq9K6a5wzhjV0k48yKZ-jXwdqNaEpxxH4A64CTuweAbXfmzGYxEzL_cBaga4QmT_E-f385CX0iNmlgL_CJ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.16.43+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji19aQ5-MLlxPiDDq9ncN5p-Mx8lqH8B1Awh4HOAc5I1VMtkJmkDwuWLLs-YFq9K6a5wzhjV0k48yKZ-jXwdqNaEpxxH4A64CTuweAbXfmzGYxEzL_cBaga4QmT_E-f385CX0iNmlgL_CJ/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-24+at+11.16.43+PM.png" width="236" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.thedowneylegend.com/parents/2012/10/09/from-hollywood-actor-to-u-s-history-teacher/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Christopher Castile's acting career lasted as long as <i>Step by Step </i>did. While working on the show, he also landed roles in the first two <i>Beethoven </i>movies and voiced Eugene Horowitz in several episodes of <i>Hey Arnold!</i> After retiring from acting, Castile earned both a bachelor's degree and master's degree from California State University, Long Beach. Now 37, he works as a <a href="http://www.thedowneylegend.com/parents/2012/10/09/from-hollywood-actor-to-u-s-history-teacher/">history teacher at Downey High School</a> and an adjunct professor of political science at Biola University.<br />
<br />
<b>Sasha Mitchell (Cody Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQljcHd0mPUjGkD-Tq6oU3THrEpzJ7Nt2i6tkbSr4F_OleKZBEiMgBN_hXbh9YwYsmeLRLQHp-APZoRnZti9Z0euTuKIPSmaAG-sW5pTdOW_F41bkf8s7ZS4Tx2fdp_hZQoB751KdHFCGR/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.20.54+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQljcHd0mPUjGkD-Tq6oU3THrEpzJ7Nt2i6tkbSr4F_OleKZBEiMgBN_hXbh9YwYsmeLRLQHp-APZoRnZti9Z0euTuKIPSmaAG-sW5pTdOW_F41bkf8s7ZS4Tx2fdp_hZQoB751KdHFCGR/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.20.54+PM.png" width="274" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/step-by-step/images/2843985/title/cody-screencap">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Cody began appearing in episodes early on and later became a full cast member. A nephew of Frank, he lived in a van in the family's yard and was an absent-minded but good-natured fellow. Certain episodes showed that he was skilled in a number of different areas, including karate and dancing.<br />
<br />
Cody mysteriously disappeared partway through the fifth season, with the show awkwardly explaining that he had gotten a job in Russia. This pivot was a result of troubles outside the show, with Sasha Mitchell being accused of violence against his wife. He was <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1995-06-08/local/me-10843_1_sasha-mitchell">arrested in April 1995 for spousal assault</a>, but not booted from the show until after he was <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1996-05-03/local/me-65444_1_spouse-abuse">sentenced to 60 days in jail</a> in May 1996 for violating his probation. Mitchell would still return to the show for a guest spot in the final season.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLJY9orx_Dt9XJC3tMSQPVFw35jnaeCoJTtAWUc5ZemSA-jLR-Zga43fUUTgVlc3m0WWtBD6-XSxuTcwpu9yeRE21omzdXaMIR0Sf8cz3Ie5T-p-VzWZlmiZxTAWhL1pdBNbGWajjwz_Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.22.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="480" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLJY9orx_Dt9XJC3tMSQPVFw35jnaeCoJTtAWUc5ZemSA-jLR-Zga43fUUTgVlc3m0WWtBD6-XSxuTcwpu9yeRE21omzdXaMIR0Sf8cz3Ie5T-p-VzWZlmiZxTAWhL1pdBNbGWajjwz_Q/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.22.29+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/sasha727?lang=en">Source</a>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Working as an actor and professional kick boxer before getting into acting, most notably in the <i>Kickboxer </i>series of martial arts films, Mitchell appeared as a guest star in several TV shows including <i>JAG</i>, <i>NYPD Blue</i>, and <i>ER</i>. Although he only had one credit in the decade after 2005 (as Rodrigo in <i>Abelar: Tales of an Ancient Empire</i>), he's been busier as of late with credits in films such as <i>Assassin X</i>, <i>Drunk Parents</i>, and the upcoming movies <i>Cyborg Nemesis: The Dark Rift</i> and <i>Algiers</i>. He also <a href="https://twitter.com/sasha727?lang=en">sporadically tweets</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Emily Mae Young (Lilly Foster-Lambert)</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu9h7YLu2peOOKO2Y118JeliJQZ_DfLCItNrTf2eKJubIvry_qKYiqfRi0Z8Hfc67kC0xU_gf-aLt37_poDb3vEseVsnpc-EGTxZw9G_EgVX825YpY2EHBG22ny4vk8IiMTSLGedGLj90/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.13.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="536" data-original-width="348" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu9h7YLu2peOOKO2Y118JeliJQZ_DfLCItNrTf2eKJubIvry_qKYiqfRi0Z8Hfc67kC0xU_gf-aLt37_poDb3vEseVsnpc-EGTxZw9G_EgVX825YpY2EHBG22ny4vk8IiMTSLGedGLj90/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-19+at+11.13.10+PM.png" width="207" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.hackingocko.estranky.cz/fotoalbum/step-by-step/step-by-step/carol-a-frankjpg.--.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Like <i>Family Matters </i>before it, I'd outgrown <i>Step by Step </i>by the time it was winding down. I do remember that Lily was introduced simply as the seventh child of the Foster-Lambert clan and the only kid that Frank and Carol had together, but I hardly saw any of the episodes from the last season. That was when Lilly was, in the wonderful words of Wikipedia, given the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap_opera_rapid_aging_syndrome">"soap opera rapid aging syndrome"</a> and advanced to the role of a precocious five-year-old.<br />
<br />
After <i>Step by Step</i>, Emily Mae Young only appeared in the movies <i>Undercover Angel</i> and <i>Santa and Pete</i>. She also played a part in commercials for Welch's grape juice. Now 27, Young is...somewhere, I don't know. She dropped off the radar, and I wasn't able to find anything through the wondrous powers of the Interwebs.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-64188054764562363992017-05-22T19:06:00.000-07:002018-11-19T13:37:16.879-08:00Bike and Brew: Fox Farm Brewery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpofiZeCLdk3OUa2ARTBoL5oq2wTKdaEdR6UlEKlMRe0VpG_s-Fv62nTXgw4HlJ4YfiWKMl2jZBE6WWBBJ-QvjzxRa_vbyezbW-aOMB52ZzphRaol9Uw8UVQzF_UC3fCWmMfH20jTCpLe/s320/DSCN0225.JPG" /></div>
<br />
Last year, I interviewed three people who were looking to bolster the somewhat anemic brewing scene in southeastern Connecticut. Each one was hoping to get their business off the ground by the end of year. Each one missed their target.<br />
<br />
But over the weekend, one of these venues made its soft opening. After some careful renovations and some more recent tap takeovers, <a href="http://www.foxfarmbeer.com/">Fox Farm Brewery</a> in Salem was officially open for business.<br />
<br />
I was contemplating a bike ride on Sunday when my wife informed me of this development, having learned the news through Reddit. I immediately decided that another Bike and Brew was in order.<br />
<br />
This marks the first time I've headed west from New London for a brewery trip. Until Fox Farm Brewery opened, there wasn't much in that direction. The last time I went west with a brewery destination in mind, I was trying to get to the 30 Mile Brewing Company in Old Saybrook and cut the trip short after struggling against scorching temperatures. The next closest breweries west of New London are Steady Habit Brewing Company in Haddam and Fat Orange Cat Brew Co. in Colchester. Those are both about three hours away by bike, not exactly a casual outing.<br />
<br />
So it was nice to set out in a direction that didn't take me over the Gold Star Bridge's terrible bike route for a change. Instead, I took Vauxhall Street out of New London and into Waterford.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN7eoTfGo4utMu5Qv-Fkp0bA_hldFx2vh8Fm5OQY7qCSEhvLuJf82Cntw45097QFC6hLhLWv_Eq9fgdBwCK0G7XKVH-s7GIg3kTR4sVqXWjh0v58-gJUE170REjJcA7OqhEaZon_nCLIO/s1600/DSCN0211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUN7eoTfGo4utMu5Qv-Fkp0bA_hldFx2vh8Fm5OQY7qCSEhvLuJf82Cntw45097QFC6hLhLWv_Eq9fgdBwCK0G7XKVH-s7GIg3kTR4sVqXWjh0v58-gJUE170REjJcA7OqhEaZon_nCLIO/s320/DSCN0211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxOyLwVs2F3Qg9aDM83z96DcBzU16gaL9i2tYia5mMU-Lv0SUhCHOAYsc2M6Mf0E-7fa-gJudU2V6iUCK1iKaXrhAzqzCsoErL_2rqIjQtFoLrWttGPBdTEFGY9D5HCLkbqgIRw3QOjS/s1600/DSCN0212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uxOyLwVs2F3Qg9aDM83z96DcBzU16gaL9i2tYia5mMU-Lv0SUhCHOAYsc2M6Mf0E-7fa-gJudU2V6iUCK1iKaXrhAzqzCsoErL_2rqIjQtFoLrWttGPBdTEFGY9D5HCLkbqgIRw3QOjS/s320/DSCN0212.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The denser urban area ends pretty much immediately after this sign. The town line is just beyond an overpass crossing I-95, with views north to the shopping areas that the highway has neatly sliced down the middle. Once you pass this, there's a single professional center and then nothing but residences.<br />
<br />
Right after I moved to Connecticut, I heard a public service announcement on bicycling safety that bluntly stated, "Connecticut is not a good place to ride a bike." It's not strictly true; most drivers are actually pretty respectful of cyclists. But it can be a little scary trying to share the road on two-lane highways with nonexistent breakdown/bike lanes.<br />
<br />
Vauxhall Street avoids one of these treacherous routes, since it bypasses a road which becomes absolutely clogged with drivers trying to reach the Crystal Mall and other retail locations. Instead, it loops around Lake Konomoc before intersecting with Route 85 in a quieter location. This part of Connecticut is full of relatively unknown parks and preserved spaces, so I was surprised to find an Audubon Society preserve not too far from the lake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbCr3fkmZ_9J-0pp0bVKNuM181CjQYt91MqcrJj-bLubmuGNI8XLZLoeSaTK0zOcjfdhRe4WkPNWb1LddQhlJ5g7XgVww6PtaD_uoASRp-VSTommGkWGPiKWU2iYzRJVUJj_69Mjepjvr/s1600/DSCN0213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbCr3fkmZ_9J-0pp0bVKNuM181CjQYt91MqcrJj-bLubmuGNI8XLZLoeSaTK0zOcjfdhRe4WkPNWb1LddQhlJ5g7XgVww6PtaD_uoASRp-VSTommGkWGPiKWU2iYzRJVUJj_69Mjepjvr/s320/DSCN0213.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujz7iWGvenviyaFqGFyfp9db9kHiPyeZlAqg3lEchJlCN6DZnff7pR4EnnZ-Il8c-Qu8shyphenhyphen0oVzZpDrhoKSWFMqx6d4IMDgLAdKY3qifc-vOQmyDs7bkxBqBEIQNHByqYv0cXQhM_XxRT/s1600/DSCN0214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujz7iWGvenviyaFqGFyfp9db9kHiPyeZlAqg3lEchJlCN6DZnff7pR4EnnZ-Il8c-Qu8shyphenhyphen0oVzZpDrhoKSWFMqx6d4IMDgLAdKY3qifc-vOQmyDs7bkxBqBEIQNHByqYv0cXQhM_XxRT/s320/DSCN0214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Up until this point, I hadn't been feeling particularly up to the task of this bike trip. Maybe I was a little undernourished after a late breakfast and no lunch, or maybe the hills were a little more than I expected. At any rate, the back roads had seemed much more arduous while the highway immediately seemed much speedier.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BAwd6Z-jwGzGw6fBcyAp6orrxCtnX4wLHWg1HEjEbnimGQBRyQPaEX5l6VnFrLME79seBB2xwox2prfCRgqBR85yl9WQ0rW9myuxOgTQyPOAwH5fWifRnJYpnOakHilqgmqqSXIssA2s/s1600/DSCN0215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BAwd6Z-jwGzGw6fBcyAp6orrxCtnX4wLHWg1HEjEbnimGQBRyQPaEX5l6VnFrLME79seBB2xwox2prfCRgqBR85yl9WQ0rW9myuxOgTQyPOAwH5fWifRnJYpnOakHilqgmqqSXIssA2s/s320/DSCN0215.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Soon after coming onto Route 85, you pass the Nature's Art Center and Dinosaur Place. This is something of a far-ranging tourist stop, encompassing such wares as jewelry and an antiques museum, but it's probably best known for the dinosaurs. Several life-sized thunder lizards are distributed throughout the place, including the mascot "Monty" (for the town of Montville where he resides).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V3LfbWPKlauWzBu7UmWw_FUlEGIolySzSa5Hq0nnxr6IwmYsGFtHopLcLd9qVJsmUkGnCZDd6wHORKA_qijXViTqF5PRMSBv_Sh7srGgGO7fp1V0dmWOpBMv0asbn1GOGTdcou6_gDDY/s1600/DSCN0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V3LfbWPKlauWzBu7UmWw_FUlEGIolySzSa5Hq0nnxr6IwmYsGFtHopLcLd9qVJsmUkGnCZDd6wHORKA_qijXViTqF5PRMSBv_Sh7srGgGO7fp1V0dmWOpBMv0asbn1GOGTdcou6_gDDY/s320/DSCN0216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Route 85 is almost a straight shot to Fox Farm Brewery, although it can be something of a challenge on a bike. Once the road crosses from Montville into Salem, the generous breakdown lane often shrinks to a white lane painted mere inches from the side of the road. There's also at least one section which is a rather relentless incline, though if you get past this you'll be rewarded with a steady downhill into one of Salem's central village areas.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiZbe32GuRLHcnpAS3srMTigEKR9UhDklOwUBP4HoAsV0wynjO-cSxjBAQM9EKrA5yHyafwF-Ha06fecqGW_uRkgOrHYZhayux_2dMtZ_9pP-5BSjVTJZUr6FUIwqDSgW1Rqqpb38i4nz/s1600/DSCN0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEiZbe32GuRLHcnpAS3srMTigEKR9UhDklOwUBP4HoAsV0wynjO-cSxjBAQM9EKrA5yHyafwF-Ha06fecqGW_uRkgOrHYZhayux_2dMtZ_9pP-5BSjVTJZUr6FUIwqDSgW1Rqqpb38i4nz/s320/DSCN0217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The recently famous Salem rotary greets you not long before you get to the turnoff for Fox Farm Brewery. This used to be a dicey intersection before they decided to replace it with a dicey, overly complicated roundabout. I lingered here for a few minutes and heard maybe five car horns blaring, presumably as people confused with the concept of a rotary that requires you to choose a lane cut them off. It's apparently <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20140106/NWS01/301069975">helped cut down on accidents</a>, though.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGWUhpwAQV-c1WU-_8EQviJpEJgRxaqELXV4Xm9wSE_Bx4lRCsuzlCGVGn52jhcsyE77XKzVXaNwccsljGi4U7UW1j5NQt4wLLwygk27Ne2DVb29b_CoEUjVm37HVR3gX55ukgX2x74LB/s1600/DSCN0218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGWUhpwAQV-c1WU-_8EQviJpEJgRxaqELXV4Xm9wSE_Bx4lRCsuzlCGVGn52jhcsyE77XKzVXaNwccsljGi4U7UW1j5NQt4wLLwygk27Ne2DVb29b_CoEUjVm37HVR3gX55ukgX2x74LB/s320/DSCN0218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A beer-conscious friend of mine has frequently checked in at 2 Brothers Pizza in Salem. This pizzeria is reportedly very knowledgeable of local craft brews, and was even mentioned by the Fox Farm Brewery owner when I did my interview. I was feeling a bit famished and contemplating whether to stop in for a bite to eat, but it was unfortunately closed on Sundays.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGlkb_EVs_cxVD8D8L5OgrzDiHYfMR2pOD5_msZMFBekWji1RxTLUneha0WpR3wtb5CIpcS-Q1CPgjZOvv_UuwSX47RxKGamCPQeI2FTGpd7SRLSPPLcDfkENJn_9070fZGcj2slNYJfr/s1600/DSCN0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGlkb_EVs_cxVD8D8L5OgrzDiHYfMR2pOD5_msZMFBekWji1RxTLUneha0WpR3wtb5CIpcS-Q1CPgjZOvv_UuwSX47RxKGamCPQeI2FTGpd7SRLSPPLcDfkENJn_9070fZGcj2slNYJfr/s320/DSCN0219.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWMvS24zv7hCiFyBcp3y6ycpT1iTmMzWS2KiHyFFVZxTnl5dNyFstS5vzfrbQXCTJiakyvs-z4SI6RecLu2PrjqD2rMY5SZix4e33kvCn6YrrobdafNiezdCx6vmLO6TqptfnE4gD-DSa/s1600/DSCN0220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAWMvS24zv7hCiFyBcp3y6ycpT1iTmMzWS2KiHyFFVZxTnl5dNyFstS5vzfrbQXCTJiakyvs-z4SI6RecLu2PrjqD2rMY5SZix4e33kvCn6YrrobdafNiezdCx6vmLO6TqptfnE4gD-DSa/s320/DSCN0220.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Before long, you get the turnoff for Music Vale Road. Then it's just a short distance to Fox Farm Brewery. The owners renovated a former dairy barn on the site, with about half the space dedicated to the brewing tanks and the rest given over to a taproom. There were also a few outdoor seating areas, although the outside crowd far exceeded the spaces available on such a beautiful sunny day.</div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh183RIS_4_VjZdNJVihi5hwQoHLijUvHTlez_LXThacUpCeN7Z4uhf0sUndELwlqmqBGOnqvoyB_WWbV-j7KTihNIceucrwsxiGe_KNe4lDHe0gWYszm8gl81gtSt42xk_S2rzdM6fRDWO/s1600/DSCN0221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh183RIS_4_VjZdNJVihi5hwQoHLijUvHTlez_LXThacUpCeN7Z4uhf0sUndELwlqmqBGOnqvoyB_WWbV-j7KTihNIceucrwsxiGe_KNe4lDHe0gWYszm8gl81gtSt42xk_S2rzdM6fRDWO/s320/DSCN0221.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10HNnbeZ1hO0mzFRq66HZtCZJMD5lfMwoyethZXed9GRf-dqhGPkMaFvmKROpNA8KDlkQLiyR9hxtNINkYAd_77fG9X2OnY7KFTyGGE5G0zM5popjz9ekFVGVUqWbQgKF0J4drD4ioT-D/s1600/DSCN0222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi10HNnbeZ1hO0mzFRq66HZtCZJMD5lfMwoyethZXed9GRf-dqhGPkMaFvmKROpNA8KDlkQLiyR9hxtNINkYAd_77fG9X2OnY7KFTyGGE5G0zM5popjz9ekFVGVUqWbQgKF0J4drD4ioT-D/s320/DSCN0222.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgA87jeFFyA9ShWiDG8N_INmk-qrsD3Pwk1fqdx6h2mus5BEPf0o2uknVMYY4z-pngSoZEZFBRfz6SJziAnarPhj22amF4qMeP7e9NXFTsqQY3B-JiTZA8rjMY6AXGbnzRK6CvfuRY9J6/s1600/DSCN0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgA87jeFFyA9ShWiDG8N_INmk-qrsD3Pwk1fqdx6h2mus5BEPf0o2uknVMYY4z-pngSoZEZFBRfz6SJziAnarPhj22amF4qMeP7e9NXFTsqQY3B-JiTZA8rjMY6AXGbnzRK6CvfuRY9J6/s320/DSCN0223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Fox Farm Brewery has a few unique characteristics. For one thing, the tap handles are made of shovel handles. This was a result of a last minute creative impulse after the owners realized that the handles of the old shovel handles found in the barn could be put to new use. They even put out a call over social media not long before opening, asking if anyone could supplement their shovel supply.<br />
<br />
The price list included the dollar amount for different sizes of growlers as well as full pours or half pours. The full pour glasses seemed a bit short of a full pint, while the half pour glasses usually went for three bucks. A sign at the counter warned that there was a limit of two full pours or four half pours per customer.<br />
<br />
It was also interesting to see a certain regimentation at the brewery. Those interested in filling a growler were asked to take a number, and an LED display behind the counter added to the deli counter experience of waiting until your turn was up before you could get your beer. Similar to the limit on glasses, there was a growler limit of nine liters.<br />
<br />
Word of a new brewery gets around quickly. Even though this was a soft opening, it was absolutely mobbed. There was some grumbling about the length of the lines, despite the fact that five or six people were manning the taps. But they were still able to keep people served fairly quickly.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQg36v7l2fZkz7xIXI6v2G6IErzWHGUJIfX-rE483-vb6sAO6_iWVSzt3BpW7tddzR8e1yE7XQjkcPAsZNP-VNZKlLm89xLcXYsSWNkesbZ222yggjsglyYgmTMcv2OLgSIZM0Mjm8Gkp/s1600/beer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQg36v7l2fZkz7xIXI6v2G6IErzWHGUJIfX-rE483-vb6sAO6_iWVSzt3BpW7tddzR8e1yE7XQjkcPAsZNP-VNZKlLm89xLcXYsSWNkesbZ222yggjsglyYgmTMcv2OLgSIZM0Mjm8Gkp/s320/beer1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
For the opening weekend, Fox Farm Brewery was offering five beers: two American pale ales, an IPA, a pilsner, and a porter. There was also nitro coffee, but it was actual coffee from Ashlawn Farm Coffee instead of the nitro coffee stout I was hoping for. I went with the Hearthbound porter, which had a nice rich flavor, and enjoyed it in the upstairs seating/standing area which overlooks both the taproom and the brewing tanks.<br />
<br />
I usually don't go for a second beer on these outings, but decided to max out my limit. When I joked about this while ordering one of the American pale ales, and the bartender replied that the limit isn't too strictly enforced.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfB0cFH_TFAsQNAHVyppupSnEhXOHN5HoW0yEySd9R-oVKUGlLgoG0XXLechjHJ414ituKL7167_W3wdJ3Y3nr0XhzU_xQXfkbolNhEg4IiygbPk8Dp7yDFkZrlQ9fwlpn1Jdhi8H_Rf6k/s1600/DSCN0224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfB0cFH_TFAsQNAHVyppupSnEhXOHN5HoW0yEySd9R-oVKUGlLgoG0XXLechjHJ414ituKL7167_W3wdJ3Y3nr0XhzU_xQXfkbolNhEg4IiygbPk8Dp7yDFkZrlQ9fwlpn1Jdhi8H_Rf6k/s320/DSCN0224.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXPBrC1gVHY5KZ7-tTJbfaUzE2XcIILVXBvWUeIRTJxrlhVKJzwpOK6OxxNvOiamPIyV6xmnRva6mzHGoFG731FksBYJHuqke1aOEagmwg4NsSSCrXWJQprCelk-HPB-JVVyCKZDzSKSq/s1600/beer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXPBrC1gVHY5KZ7-tTJbfaUzE2XcIILVXBvWUeIRTJxrlhVKJzwpOK6OxxNvOiamPIyV6xmnRva6mzHGoFG731FksBYJHuqke1aOEagmwg4NsSSCrXWJQprCelk-HPB-JVVyCKZDzSKSq/s320/beer2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Both of the American pale ales have the same ABV and name (Roam), but are prepared in different ways. One uses Nelson Sauvin hops which apparently give the beer a flavor similar to Sauvignon Blanc. I went with the other version, which uses Citra and Mosaic hops.<br />
<br />
I took a brief stroll with this beer and found a makeshift hopyard at the silo. The strings only went about halfway up, but it was still a pretty neat sight.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPOiqXyMnH5gr-3PCyGbLTcEs-cWpxChD2mO1rw6aDDHFhdx3YPX7xrz9zy6IKxwZj3xkNVZ13ws42ukIzuLXOx19YkG1sQQwb0okVkEEFOSqI7BTJxg1re3-mjQgZdV7D8tmKanD5PN9/s1600/beer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPOiqXyMnH5gr-3PCyGbLTcEs-cWpxChD2mO1rw6aDDHFhdx3YPX7xrz9zy6IKxwZj3xkNVZ13ws42ukIzuLXOx19YkG1sQQwb0okVkEEFOSqI7BTJxg1re3-mjQgZdV7D8tmKanD5PN9/s320/beer3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I was hoping to find a tree to climb, because how often can you drink beer in a tree on a farm, but opted to settle down against a tree trunk instead. I finished the Roam while reading <i>The Eternal Footman</i>, the last book in James Morrow's trilogy on how the world reacts to the discovery of God's enormous corpse floating in the Atlantic Ocean.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xHjJfRnrKb5msBDDvosz6CQ5wWOZ-yOeVIp2YiVRPUVkgJFZ4H_RdYjSb6xFzgM7WO-dHkpDkcNaavFKhBBpvHRLuzvmrcsCDz2N7t1BIVbyM-cbQ2Jd4gIBjSkMiEW5FDvHLlRc0JQs/s1600/DSCN0226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3xHjJfRnrKb5msBDDvosz6CQ5wWOZ-yOeVIp2YiVRPUVkgJFZ4H_RdYjSb6xFzgM7WO-dHkpDkcNaavFKhBBpvHRLuzvmrcsCDz2N7t1BIVbyM-cbQ2Jd4gIBjSkMiEW5FDvHLlRc0JQs/s320/DSCN0226.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
For the route back, I took the more rural route recommended by Google Maps. The scenery was beautiful, although it could be challenging. In addition to some perpetual uphills, the side of the road was often deteriorating, full of random sand patches, or otherwise sketchy enough to force me more towards the middle of the lane on several occasions. Thankfully the traffic was very light.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbdq7VAJlN5HKZKflO_LU0HDjxm8xPOMWiGS-lgBfdF98Iz8hxKr9yNGkadcped_mDqkRGCWfe07Br1IrqwkQ0Kv6cNTAeMVc5_nOLHBn7PYsHvwZaQfxzjReoaB751pMb4eS66JLj9Ht/s1600/DSCN0227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBbdq7VAJlN5HKZKflO_LU0HDjxm8xPOMWiGS-lgBfdF98Iz8hxKr9yNGkadcped_mDqkRGCWfe07Br1IrqwkQ0Kv6cNTAeMVc5_nOLHBn7PYsHvwZaQfxzjReoaB751pMb4eS66JLj9Ht/s320/DSCN0227.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Montville has a bizarre transportation layout. The major roads in town often do little more than nip through the corners, while the central villages are accessible by twisting minor routes. The return route passed through Oakdale, distinguished by a large shopping plaza which <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20100907/NWS04/100909768/0/Search">burned down in 2010</a> and has since been rebuilt. The pizza parlor and pet groomer and other shops which were once here have long since found other storefronts, and the new complex is oddly devoid of picture windows, so now it's apparently home to businesses like this net manufacturer.<br />
<br />
Then it was back into the rural roads. Like, serious country roads. So country that I got the Bob Denver song stuck in my head.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYZeD7KOn5ESAk4tO_BbKN7qZKg87r5JuWfaQjUVOum0PoueZ0OGxwg6vI0A6OwX2Nb1qdausHz0q3ues4tEGxbSu_F1YU5UVMXs7uoXiI5c7wgv4ckb57Rpnk9l2_8b4H0zm3IG7G6XB/s1600/DSCN0228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYZeD7KOn5ESAk4tO_BbKN7qZKg87r5JuWfaQjUVOum0PoueZ0OGxwg6vI0A6OwX2Nb1qdausHz0q3ues4tEGxbSu_F1YU5UVMXs7uoXiI5c7wgv4ckb57Rpnk9l2_8b4H0zm3IG7G6XB/s320/DSCN0228.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So country that someone made a cinder block garage even uglier.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd8H6S-EUk_qXJcbJ7oRJBBn75fYfJCzeegptyunhyTolDTlyBBdW0jlbA1LyqxCw8xqh01YAINL1HsegmleiDpGhezuFPtCzP0B2LGmLcH5eunPWyRWTDGAOrv2fGY-pIKML3diQrU_t/s1600/DSCN0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEd8H6S-EUk_qXJcbJ7oRJBBn75fYfJCzeegptyunhyTolDTlyBBdW0jlbA1LyqxCw8xqh01YAINL1HsegmleiDpGhezuFPtCzP0B2LGmLcH5eunPWyRWTDGAOrv2fGY-pIKML3diQrU_t/s320/DSCN0229.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So country that I came across the other side of that Audubon Society bird sanctuary.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKycEyU27wY_UgfF8JJ2bH-jxiVZRF1Ufpn_JuHShUHocjMRdg__XQd1u7L4tadgZlUgLFY9nMk9s3GqCm1HDEBg2UGmUrNhwoC9atEpbdsCppzf90DraXzQgpej_3ifHRlMyx9cmYWQiS/s1600/DSCN0231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKycEyU27wY_UgfF8JJ2bH-jxiVZRF1Ufpn_JuHShUHocjMRdg__XQd1u7L4tadgZlUgLFY9nMk9s3GqCm1HDEBg2UGmUrNhwoC9atEpbdsCppzf90DraXzQgpej_3ifHRlMyx9cmYWQiS/s320/DSCN0231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So country that it took me past the Waterford Country School.<br />
<br />
Actually, this campus style school for at risk kids was one of the last landmarks before the route completed its circle back to Vauxhall Street. It was in the middle of yet another arduous hill, but not long after was the intersection for the way home.<br />
<br />
Mileage total: 28.1 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew Outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2017/04/bike-and-brew-beerd-brewing-company.html">Beer'd Brewing Company</a><br />
<br />
<br />Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-72123508926841887292017-04-22T10:07:00.002-07:002017-05-23T13:35:16.476-07:00Bike and Brew: Beer'd Brewing Company<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The last time I did a <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Bike and Brew ride</a>, it was just about the last day where temperatures were comfortable enough for casual biking. I was rewarded with a beer from the Outer Light Brewing Company and a massive hamstring cramp which announced itself at the dinner table.<br />
<br />
During the beautiful sunny weather we got this past weekend, I decided it was a perfect time to do the first Bike and Brew of 2017. I had a choice of five remaining brewing destinations within a biking day trip of New London (four more are in the works). Once again I went east, this time with the goal of visiting the <a href="http://beerdbrewing.com/?age-verified=753d8a740d">Beer'd Brewing Company</a> in Stonington, Connecticut.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8glB-weGgpxXX0VCQ2sAn4RLvskuoCNjCoC9TxfXJdChKghH7ahZLwgJcqv4XAgHOBVZ0q839maIaTwpDQ3Z7xDq0sLxZu2PIu5oA5f9-zcSf0xUMtAtSNX7mODgOIVWZXN0BNEgAZsnD/s1600/DSCN0190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8glB-weGgpxXX0VCQ2sAn4RLvskuoCNjCoC9TxfXJdChKghH7ahZLwgJcqv4XAgHOBVZ0q839maIaTwpDQ3Z7xDq0sLxZu2PIu5oA5f9-zcSf0xUMtAtSNX7mODgOIVWZXN0BNEgAZsnD/s320/DSCN0190.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
And once again, this required a trip over the Gold Star Bridge. It's still ugly, it still looks out over the less interesting part of the Thames River, and it's still too narrow to accommodate two bicyclists going in opposite directions. The bridge is <a href="http://www.theday.com/local/20170401/gold-star-bridge-in-line-for-overhaul">slated for some major improvements</a> over the next five years. The sidewalk will be open for much of the construction period, but apparently not subject to any upgrades.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwikuPOeg6aIj5B67oouxfO2yKF6zYGY0iSucH2DTnlZLjtykLR9v-W6e22aWGD1PnVONLpiIAq_HMvebzZlk-6mpdIpBvlB4q5jpWu0C2jfabyHTkAH21pptR1mHi0CzmOndfvQ0AOtIy/s1600/DSCN0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwikuPOeg6aIj5B67oouxfO2yKF6zYGY0iSucH2DTnlZLjtykLR9v-W6e22aWGD1PnVONLpiIAq_HMvebzZlk-6mpdIpBvlB4q5jpWu0C2jfabyHTkAH21pptR1mHi0CzmOndfvQ0AOtIy/s320/DSCN0189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
On the plus side, the view north wasn't quite as dismal as it was on the gray day when I started this series. The Coast Guard Academy's sailing team was out and about during the crossing, and you could see up to the slowly blossoming hills of the river valley.<br />
<br />
Somewhat counterintuitively, biking toward the shoreline requires you to head away from it when you first get off the bridge. Shoreline routes in this region hug the coast, lengthening the ride considerably. Plus, getting there would involve a scary ride down one of Groton's strip mall thruways.<br />
<br />
It's easier to head through a quiet suburban neighborhood instead and hop onto Route 184. This road has a wide breakdown lane, is fairly flat, and offers a reasonably straightforward path to the Mystic/Stonington area. The only downside is that it's populated mostly with blocky business buildings and similarly blocky churches that apparently think aesthetically pleasing architecture is an affront to God.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlXlPo3dcCjQkOmCvbLX81Zt1LSRnPhcmEVBD8avl4NFgmPIp7IsqHHKLTqDqzu7jnA1dqu1w1afaPqDXKxYxm7agXfEmhNVgyT_oA0jE59wilvFxoiOXDir4F1oWG14wtU8qpjkPz9Jb/s1600/DSCN0210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlXlPo3dcCjQkOmCvbLX81Zt1LSRnPhcmEVBD8avl4NFgmPIp7IsqHHKLTqDqzu7jnA1dqu1w1afaPqDXKxYxm7agXfEmhNVgyT_oA0jE59wilvFxoiOXDir4F1oWG14wtU8qpjkPz9Jb/s320/DSCN0210.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">First Baptist Church of This Used To Be A Linoleum Warehouse or Something</span></i></div>
<br />
The suggested route continued along this highway, but it's much more rewarding to abandon it for the scenic route. I wound up taking some back roads past a small farm with enormous piles of firewood for sale as well as the trailhead for the Pequot Woods, a 140-acre parcel of preserved land not far from downtown Mystic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOFXp4l4fjtPnFan_DoI2MDH6KN75RdwFYX_IayiGeZyuZa1tmNQiatymwFOJ33s2w3mGtUS_k4rOUqweKObSgNqK7OobXbKL_IrGj28CMGAxHog98a3a7-CThDhkUEiGMcH3PpDxnjTN/s1600/DSCN0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOFXp4l4fjtPnFan_DoI2MDH6KN75RdwFYX_IayiGeZyuZa1tmNQiatymwFOJ33s2w3mGtUS_k4rOUqweKObSgNqK7OobXbKL_IrGj28CMGAxHog98a3a7-CThDhkUEiGMcH3PpDxnjTN/s320/DSCN0191.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsIkqmxyQDkYPUBXaook35o_YPN-KRcZB_JdwmomKo3LA7K8QsrzJ4H2XymZhvIvpXVn-6c-abDFSqDQyGUPBJRERTl0dcnwX9M4NRYc5KViFCqwkKhgy7Q6C_0IiI-eU1Ivz2p8Z606V/s1600/DSCN0192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsIkqmxyQDkYPUBXaook35o_YPN-KRcZB_JdwmomKo3LA7K8QsrzJ4H2XymZhvIvpXVn-6c-abDFSqDQyGUPBJRERTl0dcnwX9M4NRYc5KViFCqwkKhgy7Q6C_0IiI-eU1Ivz2p8Z606V/s320/DSCN0192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Deviating from the suggested route also gives you an opportunity to check out Mystic, crown jewel of tourism in the region. If you hop off at Route 27 instead, you go past attractions such as the Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, and the impressively misspelled Olde Mistick Village shopping center. The way I took led directly into downtown Mystic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4jo0yu8iha66fVpJynwypv1xc1LMgTJORoin95T_ym0uXRPYS3llh9Oj4B-jkCK7CuP5aXroqFN2Cl7MGLeSYKsBsrACtLcpm9PtYnzJxxVH7PYOUXEE8vN4aFUhvPFp9kRGebsFCorM/s1600/DSCN0193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4jo0yu8iha66fVpJynwypv1xc1LMgTJORoin95T_ym0uXRPYS3llh9Oj4B-jkCK7CuP5aXroqFN2Cl7MGLeSYKsBsrACtLcpm9PtYnzJxxVH7PYOUXEE8vN4aFUhvPFp9kRGebsFCorM/s320/DSCN0193.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrN1CnEJPS8RX9ZOB7cEUHsqVk97T0s3onmPXrVr1JtJApVJ4oGjcfKmAa8d6HAuLHAqb-XVBVSHylsAljJWukTWf1yXuo_fJHyUwQ-KijzdsZ6NXSjAUUCQ3K07BTunFeLE2E5D_r_8Y/s1600/DSCN0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrN1CnEJPS8RX9ZOB7cEUHsqVk97T0s3onmPXrVr1JtJApVJ4oGjcfKmAa8d6HAuLHAqb-XVBVSHylsAljJWukTWf1yXuo_fJHyUwQ-KijzdsZ6NXSjAUUCQ3K07BTunFeLE2E5D_r_8Y/s320/DSCN0194.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mystic is actually one of the innumerable villages of Groton, at least until you get past the Mystic River. It's a pleasant stretch of shops, restaurants, and art galleries, all leaning heavily on the maritime theme. There were already some pretty big crowds out enjoying the sunny weather, and it's certainly a nice place to stop for a rest on an extended bike ride.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg1DUJ4kyLGWnCZmH8uHRhYbkGjQRN-sOk6-CBrDQTlS6NtmO5q9pevTrJvMJE0H0BTAbQIuXb5ema9hTf5WRLeflm6CYKM1jgpvlPg7Rd1vKxZkjzKo-GDRhhlvP4tuLG31ADESqcWEc/s1600/DSCN0196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg1DUJ4kyLGWnCZmH8uHRhYbkGjQRN-sOk6-CBrDQTlS6NtmO5q9pevTrJvMJE0H0BTAbQIuXb5ema9hTf5WRLeflm6CYKM1jgpvlPg7Rd1vKxZkjzKo-GDRhhlvP4tuLG31ADESqcWEc/s320/DSCN0196.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmM1_Ds0nq6QMU2orlf17VL_5WUx3LItOCNq0Lh2VkIftYBEIA8XdF_Gpe2WF6y2V9F6GgOxi7JiB8Rq81tyEeO1FxJP27FOKZQpl5sa8H1eYUW9U9SNV1YN6Fnouipgo6quPoiQEZzLQ/s1600/DSCN0197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmM1_Ds0nq6QMU2orlf17VL_5WUx3LItOCNq0Lh2VkIftYBEIA8XdF_Gpe2WF6y2V9F6GgOxi7JiB8Rq81tyEeO1FxJP27FOKZQpl5sa8H1eYUW9U9SNV1YN6Fnouipgo6quPoiQEZzLQ/s320/DSCN0197.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Getting off the bike in Mystic also avoids the hazard of riding over the famous Mystic River Bascule Bridge. The bridge will turn 100 in 2020, and is distinguished by enormous concrete counterweights on the western side. It looks like the steel deck would be a little jarring to ride across, and you'd be hemmed in by parked cars on either approach. It's more pleasant to walk your way across; you might even join the legions of people getting a cone at Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream and enjoy it in nearby Mystic River Park.<br />
<br />
The easiest way to get to Stonington from Mystic is to take Route 1. It quickly sheds its traffic lights and troublesome intersections, becoming an open highway with rolling hills and generous breakdown lanes. I was tempted to take a side road which crosses a causeway onto scenic Mason's Island and goes from there across <i>another </i>crossway to Ender's Island, but left those water views for another day<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqo6nLT1hCgS1sG70X06lpINsgIFOuwqEfCbLjR3OQT-NspX4STBfE0CAekyDDpiFxReV_uJucatT-hR-BsnqHb8ocrm4yJucflCYDPiF6hpqoNYPcOLoR2nYHdL43POHIMMpJeG3zVkjp/s1600/DSCN0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqo6nLT1hCgS1sG70X06lpINsgIFOuwqEfCbLjR3OQT-NspX4STBfE0CAekyDDpiFxReV_uJucatT-hR-BsnqHb8ocrm4yJucflCYDPiF6hpqoNYPcOLoR2nYHdL43POHIMMpJeG3zVkjp/s320/DSCN0198.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYAT5GcWlDfGitkSC_wUboGU_F-94SEzkrO5hiFAAaYkFb1r7hiXtQd_zOGuUzxUTB8Usi0FYCllaXsz8nv9V7uVVRsTxall4laz33NKdKrq1z6RictU6nqZ_vp2U6UDJ3NPB_2R90Hwx/s1600/DSCN0199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipYAT5GcWlDfGitkSC_wUboGU_F-94SEzkrO5hiFAAaYkFb1r7hiXtQd_zOGuUzxUTB8Usi0FYCllaXsz8nv9V7uVVRsTxall4laz33NKdKrq1z6RictU6nqZ_vp2U6UDJ3NPB_2R90Hwx/s320/DSCN0199.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Stonington Borough is a skinny peninsula extending into Long Island Sound. The first time I went there, I came to the conclusion that it was exclusively populated with real estate offices, jewelers, and architects (and the occasional restaurant and plenty of expensive homes, of course). It hasn't really changed since. There isn't much room for cars and bikes to coexist, but the speed limit is low enough that drivers probably won't mind if you cruise along Main Street.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGiRv13qPnrhTU7HRTQWCmlupMe5SJiNFme4d2z63N9L-sh-VNTHcJNsIvm0134bGG__rhQlo3EXnrRjNC8T4_VxE41NjlWr1K_Rs8MpSeIpJWISKVEdlGVyTJvcE8i2hAgZFB1LgpU1S/s1600/DSCN0201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlGiRv13qPnrhTU7HRTQWCmlupMe5SJiNFme4d2z63N9L-sh-VNTHcJNsIvm0134bGG__rhQlo3EXnrRjNC8T4_VxE41NjlWr1K_Rs8MpSeIpJWISKVEdlGVyTJvcE8i2hAgZFB1LgpU1S/s320/DSCN0201.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QA6ELS1vWNyqOtJ7g42AVZd0QCdT8gq5DTyfkHrKqgZQGLfPmN5H9gwl0sxESL5NgjZuWa2Fclia6qG1L8p83VjfYrkiZn5bqpzWA08LZoBjbpugI_nqUKBu4QYGnLkvTXDCB2qb21na/s1600/DSCN0200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QA6ELS1vWNyqOtJ7g42AVZd0QCdT8gq5DTyfkHrKqgZQGLfPmN5H9gwl0sxESL5NgjZuWa2Fclia6qG1L8p83VjfYrkiZn5bqpzWA08LZoBjbpugI_nqUKBu4QYGnLkvTXDCB2qb21na/s320/DSCN0200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEM5vwPz_UR40W5Qhas1Jm-y58ctUCNzOivggTSd2oU4isIEVgZ0w3UG1FSBb2gPcOJGeM0QNzKSJQ3Dh4kEowwi-y-x2wZO7t_Coxno3fwn6QfdFXYqnDiKS6NSfgZThfLA-ZmCK0nXy/s1600/DSCN0202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEM5vwPz_UR40W5Qhas1Jm-y58ctUCNzOivggTSd2oU4isIEVgZ0w3UG1FSBb2gPcOJGeM0QNzKSJQ3Dh4kEowwi-y-x2wZO7t_Coxno3fwn6QfdFXYqnDiKS6NSfgZThfLA-ZmCK0nXy/s320/DSCN0202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Getting to the tip of the peninsula rewards you with an expansive view of the sea as well as a monument recollecting <a href="http://www.theday.com/article/20120628/NWS01/307019996">Stonington's minor but proud role in the War of 1812</a>. The town was able to repulse a bombardment by four British ships in the summer of 1814, holding out for four days with the modest defense offered by a pair of cannons. Artifacts related to this battle are displayed in the Stonington Historical Society, housed in a nearby lighthouse; the cannons are kept in the aptly named Cannon Square near the middle of the Borough.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmBCJptbO5WDBd-nQftlaDxzaeCxLIbP4rMnDHVGEeWbUhcELiHNhl6Mxlzrm67plDuQMcgTfjUEP-i8BoWzpIaRhUKzoTuz0ydW2qw5DZRLu2kR5U53DJYv4LBJSMvh6cmES_z9C2jg8/s1600/DSCN0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmBCJptbO5WDBd-nQftlaDxzaeCxLIbP4rMnDHVGEeWbUhcELiHNhl6Mxlzrm67plDuQMcgTfjUEP-i8BoWzpIaRhUKzoTuz0ydW2qw5DZRLu2kR5U53DJYv4LBJSMvh6cmES_z9C2jg8/s320/DSCN0203.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgUDgiGQwlDqJNUs8tUpQuHTccbhWftGJpj_kUkpzaTryESp8c7MaOJai9BfOZiOTNAEtRgnSl4-_OFqoI02rRSk4S4ppkOd18apOmEqhYPD81LVWV4X-Qs3vYtPi_dQ-76XoMhjdzFY6/s1600/DSCN0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsgUDgiGQwlDqJNUs8tUpQuHTccbhWftGJpj_kUkpzaTryESp8c7MaOJai9BfOZiOTNAEtRgnSl4-_OFqoI02rRSk4S4ppkOd18apOmEqhYPD81LVWV4X-Qs3vYtPi_dQ-76XoMhjdzFY6/s320/DSCN0205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The map shows an intriguing shortcut out of the Borough toward the Beer'd Brewing Company along Elm Street, although I trusted Google Maps' advice to take the long way around. Turns out the Elm Street way is a secluded walkway over the railroad tracks, which wouldn't be too fun to haul a bike over.<br />
<br />
The Velvet Mill is a rambling brick structure located in a residential neighborhood in Stonington. The business got its start in the town because a malaria epidemic forced a Long Island company to look for other locations for its velvet weaving and dying operations. The mill once housed hundreds of looms and employed 450 people, but after its closure it became a haven for artists. It has now been subdivided into dozens of spaces housing businesses such as art galleries, photographers, metal workers, boutiques, and even an organ restorer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNC2GshsmyKfGbEUsQmP7oDJC0LmkgYVRC3kHQw2sNIHKRSGh0_ZghXe5nfcPobnGhiP9lUhsRjBazCkFx8gpOb-aZrzDrFe5ILr_ih9kWZe7_JqblqatwG0fo1HCxNrSHGW_HO8AQ39l/s1600/DSCN0204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNC2GshsmyKfGbEUsQmP7oDJC0LmkgYVRC3kHQw2sNIHKRSGh0_ZghXe5nfcPobnGhiP9lUhsRjBazCkFx8gpOb-aZrzDrFe5ILr_ih9kWZe7_JqblqatwG0fo1HCxNrSHGW_HO8AQ39l/s320/DSCN0204.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
While several breweries have started up or are underway in southeastern Connecticut today, there wasn't much of a scene as recently as five years ago. The Cottrell Brewing Company in Pawcatuck, a place I'll visit for a future entry, had been a mainstay since 1996. Aaren Simoncini apprenticed at Cottrell before opening the Beer'd Brewing Company in 2012 with partner Precious Putnam. The brewery had the misfortune of opening right after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast, forcing them to rely on an emergency generator for their early batches. Luckily, Beer'd got past this initial hurdle and has been thriving ever since.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoGbY0dKYHt7bUbzy2hcNM2yJycMt9QxA_R1GLsNJNlrokKJYmZVTxJnBnLCNGnITcQfhyphenhyphenBt1nhrKBU-c-9P4WjtNh2RNHD3ZyaB1mN0gOhCgcrQ5vF_ojhEax90BOB82Niv8mWGpX8EW/s1600/DSCN0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWoGbY0dKYHt7bUbzy2hcNM2yJycMt9QxA_R1GLsNJNlrokKJYmZVTxJnBnLCNGnITcQfhyphenhyphenBt1nhrKBU-c-9P4WjtNh2RNHD3ZyaB1mN0gOhCgcrQ5vF_ojhEax90BOB82Niv8mWGpX8EW/s320/DSCN0206.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Before the taproom opens for the day, Beer'd hides behind a large sliding door with the company's logo, which features Simoncini's beard. The taproom occupies the front end of the room, with a scattering of individual tables and one family style tabletop in the center. The brewery is constantly whipping up new batches, and the bartenders are kind enough to give you a sample of whatever's on tap that day.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQG8XcWDs3Wyjwa8sT9glbBI9f9L_9-DeLIbBi-Ghb8qfK8FZvXrDLuu_qI_lNZfp_swJWgkKK1Cxs0mqvIVvDe-p9rgvKvHXGR33a8s6SJn-1uf1NDsoMw30PQ1lkNG_A5kgPRPrEid1/s1600/beer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQG8XcWDs3Wyjwa8sT9glbBI9f9L_9-DeLIbBi-Ghb8qfK8FZvXrDLuu_qI_lNZfp_swJWgkKK1Cxs0mqvIVvDe-p9rgvKvHXGR33a8s6SJn-1uf1NDsoMw30PQ1lkNG_A5kgPRPrEid1/s320/beer.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Beer'd posts its daily offerings on Facebook, and I was hoping to get a Nano-A-Nano, a Belgian style black IPA, but it had already sold out. Several other taps had kicked or were offered for growlers only, so my choices were fairly limited. I opted for a This Side of Paradise, a rather strong IPA (9.3 percent ABV) with a bitterness that was nicely balanced by the fruit notes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHLiRMpPKl18n6xE8vuwesIJD3Ts0IDoGYZbknL4DwdSIvLqWOd0xq-8zeMgRF0mlDRW1vNmw6XI75shcGLtPmAlmSTGbgT9eRtUtmRUK824AguWRqLGMTKQUv8ZdpIXDUrBdZi8207NH/s1600/DSCN0208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLHLiRMpPKl18n6xE8vuwesIJD3Ts0IDoGYZbknL4DwdSIvLqWOd0xq-8zeMgRF0mlDRW1vNmw6XI75shcGLtPmAlmSTGbgT9eRtUtmRUK824AguWRqLGMTKQUv8ZdpIXDUrBdZi8207NH/s320/DSCN0208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For my return trip, I opted to stick with the directions that had been suggested on the route out. This once again took me away from the coast and through the small hamlet of Old Mystic. As with most New England villages, this involves a cluster of sites that are important to the community or at least were at one point. This picture of the general store cozying up to the post office about sums it up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaPUxpI3IV0l_B8r65M_a_Fr3g2S0N-_2tBv8jp8IxyTVbYdvoDpEBH7yUTqwUoOLZWklKT6K3XYbN34ov5D_NxgxV5_qiZ7sOagFsIniecbraCWYJndwhxhEHbBFKX6QONVREDktizgC/s1600/DSCN0209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaPUxpI3IV0l_B8r65M_a_Fr3g2S0N-_2tBv8jp8IxyTVbYdvoDpEBH7yUTqwUoOLZWklKT6K3XYbN34ov5D_NxgxV5_qiZ7sOagFsIniecbraCWYJndwhxhEHbBFKX6QONVREDktizgC/s320/DSCN0209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Most of the route back to New London was retracing the route along Route 184. I took this photo near the entrance of a small apartment complex, at about the time I was starting to feel the combined effects of the double IPA, treacherous westward winds, and a slowly increasing elevation. I eventually got a second wind and made it over the bridge, feeling quite rubber-legged by the time I got home but none the worse for wear.<br />
<br />
Mileage total: 31.27 miles<br />
<br />
<b>Previous Bike and Brew outings:</b><br />
<a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/10/bike-and-brew-outer-light-brewing.html">Outer Light Brewing Company</a><br />
<br />Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-78527908632219257492017-02-19T07:47:00.002-08:002017-02-22T12:01:35.268-08:00I Make Fun of State Quarters: HawaiiI'm a U.S. citizen, so it's only natural that some of the states featured in this series are going to have a more personal connection than others. I ran into this for the <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2014/04/i-make-fun-of-state-quarters-connecticut_22.html">Connecticut quarter</a>, and the future entries for Massachusetts, Maine, and Minnesota (whenever they may appear) will likely feature some first person observances as well.<br />
<br />
In one sense, Hawaii is just one of the states I've visited in my lifetime. But this was a special trip, given that my wife and I chose the islands for our honeymoon. It was an absolutely wonderful experience, which you can read about <a href="http://runnerman33.blogspot.com/2016/05/honeymooning-in-hawaii-highlights-from.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
So am I going to have to go easy on Hawaii's state quarter because it was such an incredible place to visit? Let's find out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe35NYW6W37atxG4z91AFtsU5suWLBXfQ8z6Mlo_rEOp8k6lbAjUf3eiQ4IQhSW_IuFqwT_9KggwiO1ZgNt0TfE9ECS2lpmQ-DzOExn-3smXPLaGS7IRnuUfH-Q1puEJQg5foVc-SZijL/s1600/hawaii-quarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCe35NYW6W37atxG4z91AFtsU5suWLBXfQ8z6Mlo_rEOp8k6lbAjUf3eiQ4IQhSW_IuFqwT_9KggwiO1ZgNt0TfE9ECS2lpmQ-DzOExn-3smXPLaGS7IRnuUfH-Q1puEJQg5foVc-SZijL/s1600/hawaii-quarter.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.theus50.com/hawaii/quarter.php">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Wait a minute, is that Magneto? Is Hawaii's quarter just a mutant levitating the islands, preparing to rain them down on the mainland in a shower of lava and palm trees?<br />
<br />
Before we get to that, it's worth mentioning that Hawaii was the last state to get a quarter in the Mint's series. The state wasn't admitted to the United States until August 21, 1959. So while the first quarters in the series started appearing in 1999, Hawaii's wasn't released until 2008.<br />
<br />
Interestingly enough, the quarter was released just one day before that year's election. President Barack Obama was no doubt delighted to see the state quarter for his home state unveiled right before he was chosen for the highest office in the land. It's a happy little coincidence, unless you're one of those hollow-brained sapheads who takes the word of InfoWars as gospel. In that case, you're probably wondering if this quarter was a secret government device to rig the election results by assuring people that Obama grew up in Hawaii and not Muslim Socialist Kenyastan.<br />
<br />
But back to the quarter. It's not Magneto, of course. Clearly this is meant to represent Hawaii's Gate of Kings. I'm not sure if that's Isildur or Anarion, but he's gazing toward the enemies of Gondor and raising his arm in a show of defiance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5a7x1JCExye0xU4V7fPfrU-wyUZTnUrMLsaGPsXaQlwy3Cha1nSTOmXiseEVtb72uWBJnhD44QJu88trYRbuIwq6-TSsowj9Q4HWUBczm2UAXsQXc4kNPeMByStt_koInrArHdFgUQoU/s1600/TheArgonath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5a7x1JCExye0xU4V7fPfrU-wyUZTnUrMLsaGPsXaQlwy3Cha1nSTOmXiseEVtb72uWBJnhD44QJu88trYRbuIwq6-TSsowj9Q4HWUBczm2UAXsQXc4kNPeMByStt_koInrArHdFgUQoU/s320/TheArgonath.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://bencurtisjones.com/project/the-pillars-of-argonath/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
OK fine, it's not that either. But it <i>is</i> a royal monarch, at least. The quarter depicts King Kamehameha I, one of the most well-known monarchs of the island's pre-state days. He is best known for uniting the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom, a feat he accomplished in 1810. Kamehameha's "Law of the Splintered Paddle" is also particularly well-regarded, as it held that citizens should be protected during wartime.<br />
<br />
The fact that this design was chosen for the quarter is a solid affirmation of Hawaii's native culture and history. One other finalist's design also had King Kamehameha on it, with a Hawaiian beach in the background instead of the islands, but the two other finalists focused more on the touristy aspects of the archipelago. One of them had a hula dancer, which is indeed part of the Hawaiian culture but today seems to be more closely associated with the entertainment at hotel luaus. The last finalist had an awkward dude on a surfboard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qmaAo70cvCsQV4x4gEk2yKWkOeCKD3GyNJIzKKT9P8c9Ay0wOmUUcnjb54eeSpDZvSmjW0O8BUAZAJDb1fVgSLtZW3tB58lsvnPsBcUzqH_wlnTF050QaEna6QOhd0a9USkanapnyQA0/s1600/design1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qmaAo70cvCsQV4x4gEk2yKWkOeCKD3GyNJIzKKT9P8c9Ay0wOmUUcnjb54eeSpDZvSmjW0O8BUAZAJDb1fVgSLtZW3tB58lsvnPsBcUzqH_wlnTF050QaEna6QOhd0a9USkanapnyQA0/s1600/design1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I own a timeshare!" </i>(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/hawaii.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
It's also striking that the quarter uses a lengthy Hawaiian phrase. The other finalists simply stuck with "aloha," the word everyone knows as the traditional greeting and farewell. The phrase on the approved quarter, "Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono," translates to "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."<br />
<br />
This gets a tad awkward for a few reasons. For one thing, the phrase was spoken by Kamehameha III, not Kamehameha I as the quarter design implies. There's also the fact that the phrase is celebrating how the Hawaiian kingdom was restored after the British briefly seized control of the islands in 1843. I guess the United States can share some solidarity with the Hawaiians in this regard, since we booted the British monarchy as well. Then again, Hawaii is a U.S. possession only because U.S. officials backed an effort to depose the kingdom in 1893.<br />
<br />
So the Hawaii quarter has a celebration of the restoration of monarchy on a piece of currency of a nation that celebrates the overthrow of monarchy and also deposed Hawaii's monarchy. It's a little convoluted. But hey, it makes you think more than Craig the retired hedge fund manager/surfer dude would*.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qmaAo70cvCsQV4x4gEk2yKWkOeCKD3GyNJIzKKT9P8c9Ay0wOmUUcnjb54eeSpDZvSmjW0O8BUAZAJDb1fVgSLtZW3tB58lsvnPsBcUzqH_wlnTF050QaEna6QOhd0a9USkanapnyQA0/s1600/design1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_qmaAo70cvCsQV4x4gEk2yKWkOeCKD3GyNJIzKKT9P8c9Ay0wOmUUcnjb54eeSpDZvSmjW0O8BUAZAJDb1fVgSLtZW3tB58lsvnPsBcUzqH_wlnTF050QaEna6QOhd0a9USkanapnyQA0/s1600/design1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"My golden parachute could pay your salary for your entire working life!" </i>(<a href="http://www.quarterdesigns.com/proposed/hawaii.html">Source</a>)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
*Addendum: A friend let me know that the man portrayed on the surfboard is Duke Kahanamoku, not some random hedge fund trader who retired to the islands on a government bailout. Duke was an Olympic swimmer who is credited with popularizing the sport of surfing in Hawaii. He's a fascinating character, and it's too bad that his quarter design wasn't able to include his name. You can read more about him <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/23/upshot/duke-of-hawaii-a-swimmer-and-surfer-who-straddled-two-cultures.html">here</a>.</div>
</div>
Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7428166231799504016.post-20955777470764943642016-11-27T11:30:00.002-08:002017-05-07T15:19:58.171-07:00Whatever Happened To: The Contestants of Survivor BorneoThe subject of reality TV came up among friends some time ago, including shows we had seen and those we wouldn't mind being a contestants on. One friend said he considered <i>The Amazing Race </i>the only worthwhile show, since you got the advantage of traveling the world and the winners were determined more by intelligence, strength, grit, and so on.<br />
<br />
<i>Survivor</i>, he said, was much less rewarding. "To win, you have to be the second biggest asshole," he suggested.<br />
<br />
This seems to be true on the occasional times I've seen the show since the first season. There's plenty of backstabbing, underhanded tactics, and dirty tricks. Contestants are often more likely to despise each other than be friends by the end of the game.<br />
<br />
While this strategy essentially developed during the original run of episodes of <i>Survivor: Borneo</i>, it was still enjoyable enough that I found myself getting sucked in. Sixteen people, from various different parts of the United States and a range of ages and professions, played the part of willing castaways on the island of Pulau Tiga, near Borneo in Malaysia. After 39 days on the island and several elimination rounds, one person emerged as the winner of a $1 million prize.<br />
<br />
So what happened to the people who kicked off the <i>Survivor </i>series back in 2000?<br />
<br />
<b>Sonja Christopher</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPVxVeWTIBjmIF4y1CHaN271PBmHbo4SCrkrssw5qdpHgI6slv01F2-nIj5Uadh3OOkQjxX0tfL50OVfXu1TMeSu3KQF2cDfC3YCGirzmeOtRrSgkkRiK_JoTdkC1IzuKv_Jpy51xwM-P/s1600/sonja1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPVxVeWTIBjmIF4y1CHaN271PBmHbo4SCrkrssw5qdpHgI6slv01F2-nIj5Uadh3OOkQjxX0tfL50OVfXu1TMeSu3KQF2cDfC3YCGirzmeOtRrSgkkRiK_JoTdkC1IzuKv_Jpy51xwM-P/s320/sonja1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://survivoroz.com/2012/05/08/sonja-christopher-interview/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
<br />
At 63 years old, Sonja was one of the older contestants. She was part of the Tagi tribe, hailing from Walnut Creek, California. Although Sonja was kind and well-liked by her fellow castaways, she was also seen as more of a liability in the immunity challenges due to her age. After Tagi lost the first challenge, in part because of Sonja stumbling during the race, she became the first person voted off the island.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVfAB7QRM071hFGbm0gtnEfqToXnEF-IPXKG6cyYwFhfvnoi0aTbqZmLzB8brkQhq5ic3_tABcfrkdJeFXxY-07zTOuhZtIrj39ck4fTlnXSV0i2HkYoCtOLhfoxm-1oNxwQJwpCxmPOP/s1600/sonja2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVfAB7QRM071hFGbm0gtnEfqToXnEF-IPXKG6cyYwFhfvnoi0aTbqZmLzB8brkQhq5ic3_tABcfrkdJeFXxY-07zTOuhZtIrj39ck4fTlnXSV0i2HkYoCtOLhfoxm-1oNxwQJwpCxmPOP/s320/sonja2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sonja.christopher.9">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Now 79, Sonja had retired from her job as an elementary school teacher by the time she was selected for the first season's cast. According to her IMDB page, she is spending her retirement by acting in a local community theater and working part-time as a music therapist for Alzheimer's patients. She had a bit part on an episode of <i>Diagnosis: Murder </i>later on in 2000. Sonja used her $2,500 consolation prize from the show to help finance the expansion of her Unitarian church, an act which helped kick off fundraising efforts that <a href="http://www.uuworld.org/articles/survivor-seed-money-grows-fellowship-hall">resulted in $1 million in pledges</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>B.B. Andersen</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQxlPnTmkURR0KYdbbsFyIRuaYPuvT_lRBrYHXlRMvLk0_CgFNrAOIteAkA0KPF8fOjjgziGG0KFvobB3_bnFlHZmt0MXnjBIviRlbCuPlGwsPqi6uz6uh8PE-pSitYeq4usGxeHM7Wqt/s1600/bb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQxlPnTmkURR0KYdbbsFyIRuaYPuvT_lRBrYHXlRMvLk0_CgFNrAOIteAkA0KPF8fOjjgziGG0KFvobB3_bnFlHZmt0MXnjBIviRlbCuPlGwsPqi6uz6uh8PE-pSitYeq4usGxeHM7Wqt/s320/bb1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://survivoroz.com/2014/06/19/ozcars-2014best-second-bootrankings-from-28-to-1/">Source</a>)</div>
<b><br /></b>B.B. was another older contestant, 64 at the time of the filming. He was a particularly hardworking member of the Pagong tribe, and also proved useful when his fellow castaways found they could use his glasses to start a fire. He wound up clashing with other tribe members due to his belief that some of them were lazy, and further annoyed them when he washed one of his T-shirts with clean drinking water. He eventually grew tired enough with the competition that he said he wouldn't mind if the tribe threw the second immunity challenge to get him off the island. Although they didn't try this tactic, they still lost and B.B. was the first Pagong member to be booted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIMkqiMGMJx9eVjnRBtummEhmsawoYOA0T1VwA3PaoZeI6SrvYRyNUZU0Xoc-G6q3OkHvXXCoA1JAJ69ey8srfdrlorMIAUd_cC_Rb5EqJfzOw72OVrG9IUQoJa9TYu9nCwg_eUASq2DN/s1600/bb2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWIMkqiMGMJx9eVjnRBtummEhmsawoYOA0T1VwA3PaoZeI6SrvYRyNUZU0Xoc-G6q3OkHvXXCoA1JAJ69ey8srfdrlorMIAUd_cC_Rb5EqJfzOw72OVrG9IUQoJa9TYu9nCwg_eUASq2DN/s320/bb2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.kcconfidential.com/2013/11/01/hearne-survivor-b-b-andersen-of-mission-hills-dead-77/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
The chance to be marooned on an island naturally proved attractive to B.B., who enjoyed adventurous activities such as boating, scuba diving, and flying. A real estate developer from Mission Hills, Kansas, he also spent several years on the advisory board to the Defense Intelligence Agency after being appointed there by Ronald Reagan. He made a couple of appearances in commercials for Home Depot and Reebok after his appearance on <i>Survivor</i>, but soon returned to his regular life in Kansas. He <a href="http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/kansascity/obituary.aspx?pid=167780423">died of brain cancer in 2013</a>, at the age of 77.<br />
<br />
<b>Stacey Stillman</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzjAjKLHJffkDZXN7bHJUx29qv8E6s5dJFINDf6uBnbaS0O8zA9tozODaNexZ15QeaAgVlNQrnvMYcE-cuxKCLoFN7VtSuf5MrriNuyV8poYqhOClvfGyYZ-zXYOxBBM-9lxRfeLzoWXf/s1600/stacey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzjAjKLHJffkDZXN7bHJUx29qv8E6s5dJFINDf6uBnbaS0O8zA9tozODaNexZ15QeaAgVlNQrnvMYcE-cuxKCLoFN7VtSuf5MrriNuyV8poYqhOClvfGyYZ-zXYOxBBM-9lxRfeLzoWXf/s320/stacey1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.chronologicalsnobbery.com/2010/05/tenth-anniversary-survivor-premieres.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
<br />
A lawyer from San Francisco, Stacey helped Tagi to their first win by triumphing in an "eat this gross thing" challenge. She was the first to propose forming an alliance, inviting the other women in the tribe to band together, but this scheme never came to fruition. Stacey never got along with Rudy and twice voted to kick him off, only to become the second Tagi member to be eliminated. She was visibly annoyed at the result, telling at least one person, "All right...you switched your vote."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JJtvCDtu5IlmW1G0xnqj_Lxo23QDqHt8q_gnFuP3WVreTNcNVaIXqnps5hQ9J6YJoLPaG4CHZQ3qXv1d7a5POs6KwHcUIqQfYmltkenKZxp-8xOBIEyXwlyRDDacNyJ8iEeBODpK1WlV/s1600/stacey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JJtvCDtu5IlmW1G0xnqj_Lxo23QDqHt8q_gnFuP3WVreTNcNVaIXqnps5hQ9J6YJoLPaG4CHZQ3qXv1d7a5POs6KwHcUIqQfYmltkenKZxp-8xOBIEyXwlyRDDacNyJ8iEeBODpK1WlV/s320/stacey2.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.orrick.com/People/7/1/3/Stacey-E-Stillman">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Stacey caused a stir after the show aired by filing a <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Survivor-Stacey-Stillman-s-Lawsuit-against-CBS-3312100.php">$5 million lawsuit</a> against CBS in 2001, alleging that producer Mark Burnett had coerced fellow contestants Dirk and Sean to switch their votes from Rudy to her. These contestants were split on their reaction. Dirk said he did not consider that Burnett had manipulated or coerced the contestants, but believed that he had unfairly influenced the result. Sean said Burnett's advice to "vote your conscience" was not meant to persuade him one way or the other. CBS vehemently denied Stacey's claims, and even <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=109275">countersued her for defamation and extortion</a>. The matter was eventually settled out of court.<br />
<br />
Now 44, Stacey is currently a senior associate with the Silicon Valley law firm Orrick. She focuses on litigation related to technology and Internet companies, including patents and copyright law.<br />
<br />
<b>Ramona Gray</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgzmIhKg4LjekWs3Qi6csDJtjzao7DkN2yBwhiBSC_0aAdTvQi8C13rDNCAULi4Fc8irEyKP3duPgIp7oUrW2ygI1dtDn6FrXQ2-gsVUk_w6NE_FmPP7oqbTgUPIpMMtilotjJLW0booH/s1600/ramona1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgzmIhKg4LjekWs3Qi6csDJtjzao7DkN2yBwhiBSC_0aAdTvQi8C13rDNCAULi4Fc8irEyKP3duPgIp7oUrW2ygI1dtDn6FrXQ2-gsVUk_w6NE_FmPP7oqbTgUPIpMMtilotjJLW0booH/s1600/ramona1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/File:Ramona_smells_the_rat_png_300x1000_q85.jpg">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ramona was a friendly, easygoing member of the Pagong tribe. Although she had a black belt in karate and was physically fit, she came down with an illness and was not able to help out around camp or perform as well in immunity challenges. Although she started to recover soon after, the tribe was worried enough about her physical condition that they voted her out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusZwg2BLhMuEmlPh2fUQcBneNP22FT1-Rkee-drqenc8m_K7g_uaUJfjEvsGjFdP7NZaEnJp1RFJHepd64QsN07kET2nEjpmaoX-THuMkJqm9xGXRCAzSNliGo0mI9Kxetn7Vz1SDrEZl/s1600/ramona3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusZwg2BLhMuEmlPh2fUQcBneNP22FT1-Rkee-drqenc8m_K7g_uaUJfjEvsGjFdP7NZaEnJp1RFJHepd64QsN07kET2nEjpmaoX-THuMkJqm9xGXRCAzSNliGo0mI9Kxetn7Vz1SDrEZl/s320/ramona3.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.dailypress.com/entertainment/dp-fea-reality-ramona-gray-0913-20150912-story.html">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Gray made a few more televised appearances after her time on <i>Survivor</i>. She served as a "challenge mayor" in the <i>Real World/Road Rules Extreme Challenge</i> reality show, and won $32,000 for charity by defeating five other castaways in a <i>Survivor</i>-themed episode of <i>The Weakest Link</i>. She used her $8,500 in prize money to travel, and raked in another $10,000 by auctioning off her Tribal Council torch. Ramona remained close with fellow tribe member Gervase, who attended her wedding when she got married in 2009; she gave birth to a daughter two years later. Now 45, Ramona continues to work as a chemist in New Jersey.<br />
<br />
<b>Dirk Been</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S0F257rNmTU7gX4bJogRilq6z82v2vuMwwo4saIX7j85rh31zYOiQRgODhXGNSQ9VdhvXB1IXeisvvAmLf2i-SNQMrSSusx6HwmoZ9fUyoi15_RediYnU_FA99iffbxo2-JoeT5F1KYU/s1600/dirk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9S0F257rNmTU7gX4bJogRilq6z82v2vuMwwo4saIX7j85rh31zYOiQRgODhXGNSQ9VdhvXB1IXeisvvAmLf2i-SNQMrSSusx6HwmoZ9fUyoi15_RediYnU_FA99iffbxo2-JoeT5F1KYU/s1600/dirk1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/Dirk_Been/Gallery">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Dirk was helping run his parents' dairy farm in Spring Green, Wisconsin, and working as a substitute teacher when he was selected as one of the show's 16 castaways. Although a pleasant person, his devout Christian faith sometimes put him at odds with his fellow Tagi tribe members. He was uncomfortable with Richard's homosexuality, and some castaways were annoyed that he seemed to waste his time reading his Bible or fruitlessly trying to catch fish. Due to his perceived lack of work ethic and the tribe's concern about his weight loss, Dirk was the third member of Tagi voted out; he was also the first person targeted by the alliance formed between Richard, Kelly, Rudy, and Sue.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzraycBMAIDO9CVxKGkJv8dlGkjPt2ygOKowNElv9xlarhM1_GjzbyaNDG9JdwS2VcDPRC09TeDOuwiCz2SmKBFjeTMyE0RTc-ZABrbROsk4LmYW4yNyFpXCv3q7P8w_eKaRml0xgm-JHU/s1600/dirk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzraycBMAIDO9CVxKGkJv8dlGkjPt2ygOKowNElv9xlarhM1_GjzbyaNDG9JdwS2VcDPRC09TeDOuwiCz2SmKBFjeTMyE0RTc-ZABrbROsk4LmYW4yNyFpXCv3q7P8w_eKaRml0xgm-JHU/s1600/dirk2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-been-80101036">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Following his appearance on the show, Dirk was frequently booked as a speaker at Christian events and encouraged people to pursue education, serve as mentors, and stay away from drugs and alcohol. He also had a brief film career, landing lead roles in the 2002 Rapture-themed Christian movie <i>Gone </i>(along with fellow castaway Joel), the 2003 film <i>Synthetic Truth</i>, and the 2009 film <i>A Rabbit's Trails</i>. According to his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-been-80101036">LinkedIn profile</a>, he now works as an admissions representative at the Modern Technology School in Orange County, California, and volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club. He was married in 2004 and now has two children.<br />
<br />
<b>Joel Klug</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5MkiCm21PTxrw43JS2hDOL3myVHlJNSTUIy8hNEumPmqRnbHOvRZ6RACtx4_HFEj0XMTXI2Pq_ILkULfkVu6mkP0y-6g5MNaPT3ILKmcH4rNiquxSU3LIujfIecg9eR6pMK51XS9UcOD/s1600/joel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5MkiCm21PTxrw43JS2hDOL3myVHlJNSTUIy8hNEumPmqRnbHOvRZ6RACtx4_HFEj0XMTXI2Pq_ILkULfkVu6mkP0y-6g5MNaPT3ILKmcH4rNiquxSU3LIujfIecg9eR6pMK51XS9UcOD/s1600/joel1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/Joel_Klug/Gallery">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Joel was in a good position to be a valuable member of the Pagong tribe. He was particularly strong (working as a health club consultant at the time he joined the show) and this quality made it seem like he could last for quite awhile in the game. He also advocated for an alliance of Pagong members, correctly intuiting that Tagi would have one of their own going into the tribal merger. However, he irked the tribe's women when he laughed at a sexist joke told by Gervase (and defended him for it); they also worried that he would be more of a threat after the tribes merged. As such, Joel became the last person to be voted off before the remaining members of Tagi and Pagong became a single tribe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH_aSCw3BVDzzAYxS9k5yceliuheBvea2F7YL9nu-yGIgY3OrNeYRqN1x6CBPGkBqsrIUEwIbkW2o-02Tj0s79xbYByU3rZQU-mi4Vub-zGDf9urSWF0dOluBwTaavsTog-ondsKgFy9h/s1600/joel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqH_aSCw3BVDzzAYxS9k5yceliuheBvea2F7YL9nu-yGIgY3OrNeYRqN1x6CBPGkBqsrIUEwIbkW2o-02Tj0s79xbYByU3rZQU-mi4Vub-zGDf9urSWF0dOluBwTaavsTog-ondsKgFy9h/s320/joel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/joel.klug.5">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Like many of the people in the first season of <i>Survivor</i>, Joel dabbled in acting for awhile. He appeared in an episode of <i>Baywatch</i>, joined fellow castaway Dirk in the film <i>Gone</i>, and returned after several years' absence to play bit roles in the films <i>Zombie Wars </i>and <i>Consciousness</i>. Although Klug's IMDB profile suggests that he wanted to follow a career in the pharmaceutical industry, his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/joel.klug.5">Facebook page</a> says he's been working at Nielsen since 2014. He is now 44 years old.<br />
<br />
<b>Gretchen Cordy</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJj4rUCmNsPy1kTzWAaBFQd89P4kEsZq86o0K7EpcgzykURqJzFQONYehhLLKVR_hwcFZfQ_j1B_dJ_FC4RijCis895lDkDOS9x078bo_t1uAtoYw9Pf5VxPcP7EUigo7vWoFZRW55gjw/s1600/gretchen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiJj4rUCmNsPy1kTzWAaBFQd89P4kEsZq86o0K7EpcgzykURqJzFQONYehhLLKVR_hwcFZfQ_j1B_dJ_FC4RijCis895lDkDOS9x078bo_t1uAtoYw9Pf5VxPcP7EUigo7vWoFZRW55gjw/s1600/gretchen1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivorrocks.wikia.com/wiki/Gretchen_Cordy">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Although Gretchen was working as a preschool teacher in Clarksville, Tennessee, when she was accepted for the show, she had a strong background in survival tactics. She had spent six years teaching these skills for the Air Force before getting married and having two children. On the show, she was well-liked on the Pagong tribe for her expertise and leadership. The Tagi alliance quickly deemed her a threat, however; in a blindsiding vote, she became the first person in the newly formed Rattana tribe to be ousted, as the Pagong tribe's failure to unify scattered their votes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHJ08MoHHeWCr2icmDmDVb2vrz8B6ZeX7Fsx1OEUajw6INQ2zG1WrfpZF03Nmrf2hPJ6YtXRAveYVrBYWb_WyQyaakqunZkC26TNXsYj6tDcT8UomBeF6BjgBSm65TLu9tnzuX9_CyCNh/s1600/gretchen2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHJ08MoHHeWCr2icmDmDVb2vrz8B6ZeX7Fsx1OEUajw6INQ2zG1WrfpZF03Nmrf2hPJ6YtXRAveYVrBYWb_WyQyaakqunZkC26TNXsYj6tDcT8UomBeF6BjgBSm65TLu9tnzuX9_CyCNh/s320/gretchen2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/gretchencordy">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
According to her <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-cordy-1a9186108">LinkedIn profile</a>, Gretchen quickly landed a job as a radio broadcaster after her time on <i>Survivor</i>. Now 54, she works as a morning host on Q108 in Clarksville.<br />
<br />
<b>Greg Buis</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGhMW7XTVXpFIS3tkch5NcOp2D3N6bH2NtL1nQVxFGsg-zQ3jNOG-Jzzkc64zl8yne1KI4tnf2DPddImVNO1-2x5InVn1QqAd3n6GXBEWpPHtkp83Kjyz8fwF3jowAOxVdMtZWtgujGZ7/s1600/greg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUGhMW7XTVXpFIS3tkch5NcOp2D3N6bH2NtL1nQVxFGsg-zQ3jNOG-Jzzkc64zl8yne1KI4tnf2DPddImVNO1-2x5InVn1QqAd3n6GXBEWpPHtkp83Kjyz8fwF3jowAOxVdMtZWtgujGZ7/s1600/greg1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/Greg_Buis/Gallery">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One of the most memorable contestants on <i>Survivor: Borneo</i>, Greg was a strange but likable fellow. Among other things, he would occasionally burst into song and puzzled his fellow Pagong castaways by "communicating" with the outside world on a coconut telephone. He was clearly having a great time and didn't take the competition too seriously, although he was a hard worker and often seemed to be trying to lighten the mood in the camp. Greg also became quite close with Colleen, with the other tribe members suspecting that there was romance between them. He was the second person voted off after the tribes were merged and the first to stick around on the jury that would decide the final winner. Greg was also notable for poking fun at the solemnity of the Tribal Council proceedings, pretending to sob inconsolably after getting voted off. During the jury proceedings, he simply asked the final two contestants to guess which number he was thinking of in order to win his vote.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHPmHg3cco3nXaMlexb7inR0D6dyUXrNs1q1cnZHK4UlK20BKv3LghOLgOG4DF_QH85kx8qbZEaRrPPn6ib3VaL0MSdFtyy4ml7nnM8PQaLbRgiJ-KhJvVm39dbRGxLClxGlGwtY_BjZM/s1600/greg2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHPmHg3cco3nXaMlexb7inR0D6dyUXrNs1q1cnZHK4UlK20BKv3LghOLgOG4DF_QH85kx8qbZEaRrPPn6ib3VaL0MSdFtyy4ml7nnM8PQaLbRgiJ-KhJvVm39dbRGxLClxGlGwtY_BjZM/s1600/greg2.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.pioneergreen.com/our_team.html">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Greg, now 40, seemingly had little interest in trying to capitalize on his time in the limelight, although he did sign a modeling contract soon after the show concluded. He continued his education, getting a master's degree in ecology from Colorado State University, and his <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-buis-841ba55">LinkedIn profile</a> charts a career in environmental protection. His past jobs have included forestry management, working with the National Science Foundation in South Africa, and serving as director of E.ON Climate and Renewables. Greg was one of the founders of the renewable development company Pioneer Green Energy in 2010 and is currently the company's president. Busy with this work, he's turned down subsequent offers to be a return player on <i>Survivor</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Jenna Lewis</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3GCo133PqmVPKgYLKdcoPCC3gChZQmzY6lb-MU36Bbj6YmkNdaIfcv0FTgWN3NvOPiJWMmoNjdaMSfwRVp8d_OXy2DG-TM21MELx0cF6oAUNo5EcyJu47gMh0LQK31ee4E4-XWgQNrp-/s1600/jenna1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3GCo133PqmVPKgYLKdcoPCC3gChZQmzY6lb-MU36Bbj6YmkNdaIfcv0FTgWN3NvOPiJWMmoNjdaMSfwRVp8d_OXy2DG-TM21MELx0cF6oAUNo5EcyJu47gMh0LQK31ee4E4-XWgQNrp-/s1600/jenna1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/349310514827678843/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
A student who grew up in Franklin, New Hampshire, Jenna earned a smattering of votes in the early Tribal Councils since the other castaways occasionally found her chatty and bubbly personality to be annoying. Originally a member of the Pagong tribe, she was chosen to attend a meeting with a Tagi member (Sean) and decide on a new tribe name. She had twin daughters at the time of the filming, and was disappointed at one reward challenge to find that her family had neglected to send in a tape for a prize. Jenna was the third victim of the Tagi alliance after the tribal merger.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVa6BrOpGrwCD7DKmaNSPI41ANe6NRN2OkGzmXU7J6g-w24jVFSU2IIdFJAoKzL2XkTmhM3rDZ15BRj6k4OJjI3izwQozbTQtorRChnjIiCfag7ZkuwECXf_Yo8pia4dqzp_m9y1bmJ2h/s1600/jenna2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVa6BrOpGrwCD7DKmaNSPI41ANe6NRN2OkGzmXU7J6g-w24jVFSU2IIdFJAoKzL2XkTmhM3rDZ15BRj6k4OJjI3izwQozbTQtorRChnjIiCfag7ZkuwECXf_Yo8pia4dqzp_m9y1bmJ2h/s320/jenna2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ssjenna/photos?source_ref=pb_friends_tl">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Now 39, Jenna returned to join the cast of <i>Survivor: All-Stars </i>in 2004 and fared much better. In this competition, she made it to the final three before being voted out by lovebirds Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano. She had done some TV and movie work, appearing in productions such as <i>Scorned</i>; she also had a role in the 2012 made-for-TV movie <i>The Mel & Wendi House</i>. Around the time of her appearance on <i>All-Stars</i>, a sex tape featuring Jenna and ex-husband Travis Wolfe leaked to the Internet; she claimed to be horrified by the breach of privacy, but it was later revealed that she and Wolfe were benefiting from sales of copies of the tape. Jenna has since been remarried, had two more children, and goes by the name Jenna Lewis Dougherty. According to her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ssjenna">Facebook page</a>, she now works as a real estate agent in California.<br />
<br />
<b>Gervase Peterson</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxHBOGbJV5hUHhFZiHOhmibvv84kKRqQn6H7Hf9Ks5lLbtBm8P3XW7U25wK-Lrrq9hUXNbvkD3xucV3XYkDL83pS2b4ynwingcqlsaQYQqHVcyE34_5UOEbAIstN83fxiUzAIMjgQwNXJ/s1600/gervase1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZxHBOGbJV5hUHhFZiHOhmibvv84kKRqQn6H7Hf9Ks5lLbtBm8P3XW7U25wK-Lrrq9hUXNbvkD3xucV3XYkDL83pS2b4ynwingcqlsaQYQqHVcyE34_5UOEbAIstN83fxiUzAIMjgQwNXJ/s320/gervase1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2013/12/16/survivor-blood-vs-water-gervase-peterson">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Gervase managed to stay in the game for quite awhile despite multiple missteps. He lost Pagong their first immunity challenge when Stacey beat him out in a grub-eating tiebreaker round, made the sexist remark about women being "the stupidest things on the planet next to cows," and didn't contribute much to camp work in an effort to preserve his strength for the challenges. While still on the island, he received word that his girlfriend had given birth to his fourth child. Gervase was the penultimate member of the Pagong tribe to be eliminated.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZqoTJjcEIKkrwScF1VRbP4tRjFxRL3a-GTgsmr_Wda2sVVbufuFHI5c0BUnjuBOxD5jfXVvlYQEtl0U_sDx85UnS4EQg595kzp70NI1nwnASSE_lclMBlPwUaOCWZkEHvcJGtE24EPyf/s1600/gervase2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZqoTJjcEIKkrwScF1VRbP4tRjFxRL3a-GTgsmr_Wda2sVVbufuFHI5c0BUnjuBOxD5jfXVvlYQEtl0U_sDx85UnS4EQg595kzp70NI1nwnASSE_lclMBlPwUaOCWZkEHvcJGtE24EPyf/s320/gervase2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/gervase.peterson?fref=ts">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Gervase, now 47, has periodically shown up in TV shows and movies since his appearance on <i>Survivor</i>, including <i>The Hughleys</i>, <i>As the World Turns</i>, and <i>The Underground Kings</i>. He's been a bit more active in these areas recently, and will appear in the upcoming projects <i>The Evangelist</i>, <i>Rock Paper Scissors</i>, and <i>American Zealot</i>. He also returned to <i>Survivor </i>for their <i>Blood vs. Water</i> competition, competing against his niece, and finished as second runner-up. A former YMCA basketball coach, Gervase now lives in Philadelphia and wears several hats. He's an owner of the Burnz Cigar Vault and Lounge in Lawnside, New Jersey; a custom clothier at the tailor Morroni Custom Clothing; vice president of a company called MFM N G Productions; and writes a column for <i>JerseyMan Magazine</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>Colleen Haskell</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y1Go0cqn6VYWyAGWrQtGfa5wA1skeWDRXCSZM60xzcSbTHpP-Q8q5TbDIZXz4oaOZlUCLqcXoBG8MfKCFwaJOljHSzhM0DsUXSvQxMhvPk1ghPFZ_bEoVwi4hk66l3HiPYcizcZRZKga/s1600/colleen1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Y1Go0cqn6VYWyAGWrQtGfa5wA1skeWDRXCSZM60xzcSbTHpP-Q8q5TbDIZXz4oaOZlUCLqcXoBG8MfKCFwaJOljHSzhM0DsUXSvQxMhvPk1ghPFZ_bEoVwi4hk66l3HiPYcizcZRZKga/s1600/colleen1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/terriveganmom/colleen-haskell/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
A cute brunette who was a total sweetheart and had a great sense of humor? Why yes, I did have a crush on Colleen; didn't you? She and Greg grew particularly close, even snuggling up together away from the other tribe members at night, although she insisted that nothing happened between the two of them. Colleen later exhibited some strategic maneuvering, spearheading an unsuccessful effort to unite the remaining Pagong members and recruit Sean to counter the Tagi alliance. She was the last surviving member of Pagong. Richard suggested that she would be spared for at least a little while, since the alliance was prepared to oust Kelly for voting independently at the previous Tribal Council. But after Kelly managed to win immunity, the alliance teamed up to vote Colleen out instead.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhheFkDHM5QiM1aKNOuw7PERLyGPwRTETZhYMd6Mm9SsnF8M0tc5Wbf7wuPdYZOZYCMB60ztk8T60es2F5FSrKLNp-td-tmiCYPdUHjO2zxiw0bcyBcNF-qhgCwjtTsJ3Truk8v4runzU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-25+at+8.41.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmhheFkDHM5QiM1aKNOuw7PERLyGPwRTETZhYMd6Mm9SsnF8M0tc5Wbf7wuPdYZOZYCMB60ztk8T60es2F5FSrKLNp-td-tmiCYPdUHjO2zxiw0bcyBcNF-qhgCwjtTsJ3Truk8v4runzU/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-25+at+8.41.55+PM.png" width="268" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.instagram.com/alanshampton/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
At the time of her appearance on the show, Colleen was attending college in Miami and hoping to pursue a career in creative advertising. Her popularity on <i>Survivor </i>led her to briefly dabble in film and TV roles, appearing on episodes of <i>That '70s Show </i>and <i>Maybe It's Me </i>and as Rob Schneider's love interest in the 2001 film <i>The Animal </i>before working as a production assistant on <i>The Michael Essany Show</i>. Now 39, Colleen has generally stayed out of the spotlight. She turned down a $100,000 offer to pose nude in <i>Playboy</i>, and also said she wasn't interested in being marooned again for <i>All-Stars </i>or <i>Heroes vs. Villains</i>. She has since gotten married, had a daughter, and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleenhaskellhampton">seems to be living in New York</a> working as a freelance interactive producer.<br />
<br />
<b>Sean Kenniff</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5CZzxofvfDJOOiiNRGoro1LUJLyYSnQStI8czVQrbXurtleJtyU0lZHUCZE1vQy3XCqC7VkJk9Fxd7FTn3lIkXOU7y1FTyKXUOJaFfHGNbS9HcnMFgSeTQm-yEA01riOklDVOiBhTz2N/s1600/sean1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ5CZzxofvfDJOOiiNRGoro1LUJLyYSnQStI8czVQrbXurtleJtyU0lZHUCZE1vQy3XCqC7VkJk9Fxd7FTn3lIkXOU7y1FTyKXUOJaFfHGNbS9HcnMFgSeTQm-yEA01riOklDVOiBhTz2N/s320/sean1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://wins.io/13-hated-survivor-contestants/">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A neurologist from Brooklyn, Sean was fairly vulnerable at the start of the game. His unsuccessful attempts at fishing didn't endear him to the other members of the Tagi tribe, and he was the one person left out after the formation of the Tagi alliance and the elimination of Dirk. However, he survived for much longer since the alliance began systematically offing Pagong members after the tribe merged. Sean, wishing to stay neutral, adopted a strategy of casting his votes in alphabetical order based on a tribe member's first name. After he confessed this strategy to the other tribe members, the Tagi alliance (whose names all fell near the end of the alphabet) used it to their advantage. Although the alliance considered ousting Kelly and replacing her with Sean, Kelly's continuing streak of immunity wins ensured that he was the first person voted off after all of the former Pagong members were eliminated.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAiOL-YS4Kvmxns7HYp2otzmWDHh9mINcVa_Tyf4-ZHvS-npokh8SDxSpwKyDC0FpijnMjdPd4iPjE0H8somwxKl6mpImNy9htMujTZJRehlhJ2__2tY51Cwhi6xA5tsxdAH_-2WrH7Z0/s1600/sean2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAiOL-YS4Kvmxns7HYp2otzmWDHh9mINcVa_Tyf4-ZHvS-npokh8SDxSpwKyDC0FpijnMjdPd4iPjE0H8somwxKl6mpImNy9htMujTZJRehlhJ2__2tY51Cwhi6xA5tsxdAH_-2WrH7Z0/s320/sean2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/drseankenniff">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Sean (now 46 and married with a few kids) had taken a break from the medical field at the time he appeared on <i>Survivor</i>, giving some consideration to being a writer. He realized this ambition in 2010, publishing both a novel entitled <i>Etre the Cow </i>and a non-fiction book, <i>Stop Effing Yourself: A Survivor's Guide to Life's Biggest Screw-ups</i>. In addition to an appearance on <i>Guiding Light</i>, Sean showed up several times as a medical correspondent for CBS and was part of the news staff at the station's affiliate in Miami. He also started a medical call-in program, <i>The Dr. Sean Show</i>, on an AM radio station in Florida in 2009.<br />
<br />
<b>Susan Hawk</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEU2uwIVQ38TxTPNzKJnhq9HBs3YyfisPtSU4K7HT0B7juEPnU-b2d1ONcqrqOMmdffLmooV89IgWtqlVT5lku6I4bbHmEfzLx2frv3R5z4H27kEgtV4g3xUOshuFaY62wJeCxBu00a8C/s1600/susan1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEU2uwIVQ38TxTPNzKJnhq9HBs3YyfisPtSU4K7HT0B7juEPnU-b2d1ONcqrqOMmdffLmooV89IgWtqlVT5lku6I4bbHmEfzLx2frv3R5z4H27kEgtV4g3xUOshuFaY62wJeCxBu00a8C/s320/susan1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/Susan_Hawk/Gallery">Source</a>)</div>
<b><br /></b>A tough, hard-edged contestant, Susan quickly proved to be a strategic player. She became a member of the Tagi alliance, ensuring that she would last into the later stages of the game. Susan sometimes clashed with other women in the game, spurning offers by Stacey and later Jenna to join together to create a bloc of female votes at the Tribal Council. She was especially incensed by Kelly's decision to defect from the alliance, considering her to be manipulative and a liar, and became the first member of the alliance to be voted out.<br />
<br />
In one of the show's more memorable moments, Susan gave an embittered speech at the final Tribal Council vote in which she criticized both Richard and Kelly. She reserved most of her ire for Kelly, comparing Richard to a snake and Kelly to a rat before urging the jury to let nature take its course and let the snake eat the rat. She carried on the invective to say that she would not stop to help Kelly if she was dying of thirst, and would instead leave her to the vultures. The remarks particularly rankled Gervase; while casting his vote for Kelly, he described Susan as a hypocrite and a sore loser.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfi9_wgo0uRRvC100K7uNkFkf1GelTjKazB2cmc2rCoNFRIK8Ipd45F6TIHsg6KwtJVUqqQoZ_b6CybDtnt9XtdZjqg67OuXdRJB74sPHds_HNGh4nraaD6XBjz5AWlmGNZ1gzkeWXi3w/s1600/susan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfi9_wgo0uRRvC100K7uNkFkf1GelTjKazB2cmc2rCoNFRIK8Ipd45F6TIHsg6KwtJVUqqQoZ_b6CybDtnt9XtdZjqg67OuXdRJB74sPHds_HNGh4nraaD6XBjz5AWlmGNZ1gzkeWXi3w/s320/susan2.jpg" width="229" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Susan+Hawk/CBS+Survivor+10+Year+Anniversary+Party+Arrivals/2oMRk00KHZ_">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Susan was a truck driver from Waukesha, Wisconsin, at the time the show aired. Following her appearance on <i>Survivor</i>, she appeared on a number of game shows including <i>Hollywood Squares</i>, <i>The Weakest Link</i>, and <i>Dog Eat Dog</i>, on which she won the $25,000 top prize. Susan returned for <i>Survivor: All-Stars</i>, but became quite upset when her former Tagi ally Richard rubbed against her while competing nude in an immunity challenge. When it seemed like host Jeff Probst was trying to dismiss the incident as a joke, an angry Susan declared that she had been "sexually violated, humiliated, [and] dehumanized," then made the decision to drop out of the competition. She later <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawk-and-hatch-getting-past-it/">appeared with Richard on <i>The Early Show</i></a>, and the tone of the interview suggested that they had gotten past the incident but not exactly reconciled. Susan has stayed out of the public eye since then; now 55, she was last reported to be living with her husband on a ranch near Clever, Missouri.<br />
<br />
<b>Rudy Boesch</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTeELBoQfgNpykhIESV5XhNQcx_QihwMdkfHg6SHKzu1YcwW5aUD947dmfnO9f1dgcTH1ju-4r7nZSi43_8hDRM8RbDUP0Z6NwAQnUWqrYMG1mJB9EqCr6eBxq3a9qzglhw_En4tcVBS0/s1600/rudy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTeELBoQfgNpykhIESV5XhNQcx_QihwMdkfHg6SHKzu1YcwW5aUD947dmfnO9f1dgcTH1ju-4r7nZSi43_8hDRM8RbDUP0Z6NwAQnUWqrYMG1mJB9EqCr6eBxq3a9qzglhw_En4tcVBS0/s320/rudy1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivor.wikia.com/wiki/Rudy_Boesch/Gallery">Source</a>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Rudy was the oldest contestant on <i>Survivor: Borneo</i>, but he had the expertise to make him competitive. He was a career military man, joining the Navy in 1945, becoming a SEAL, earning a Bronze Star in Vietnam, and retiring in 1990 after 45 years of service. He was especially dedicated to physical fitness and performed well in the challenges, including one where he had to sprint across the beach while carrying a wooden chest. Rudy's gruff, curmudgeonly attitude rubbed some of his fellow Tagi members the wrong way, and he wasn't shy of expressing criticisms for other players (among other statements, he suggested that Dirk's luxury item of a Bible was only good for toilet paper, was critical of Gervase having children out of wedlock, and didn't much care for the video sent by Greg's sister that jokingly suggested the two were having an incestual relationship).<br />
<br />
However, he was also impressed by Richard's leadership and later joined the Tagi alliance. This proved to be a wise move, since two efforts to vote him off early on had nearly succeeded. Although some members of Tagi clearly would have liked to see him go early on, he grew much friendlier with the remaining tribe members as the game proceeded and was popular among fans as well. His increasing likability ultimately became a liability, however. While he made it to the final three, he lost an immunity challenge to Kelly and she decided to vote him off after determining that she had a better chance of winning against Richard.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenZUJiAULKDXN5ikC7tQGyJ28FI9CvC8wXJk8RZzvudu3NiZ5rS-BN1Fss-OOegyoOI7jIyo9OheBqNM1Zgo9-qUC9S202ceyO4zkFeuyHyOSqhzsYRcBa3ouzGiDcuVuxwHNe7aw6dTB/s1600/rudy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenZUJiAULKDXN5ikC7tQGyJ28FI9CvC8wXJk8RZzvudu3NiZ5rS-BN1Fss-OOegyoOI7jIyo9OheBqNM1Zgo9-qUC9S202ceyO4zkFeuyHyOSqhzsYRcBa3ouzGiDcuVuxwHNe7aw6dTB/s320/rudy2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://pilotonline.com/news/local/former-survivor-contestant-competes-at-va-beach-adult-home/article_451048d2-b176-52a8-bc91-3caec7929484.html">Source</a>)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Third place still gets you some substantial prize money in <i>Survivor</i>, and Rudy shared his $85,000 consolation prize with his daughters. He earned a fair amount of publicity for his appearance, getting a guest spot on <i>JAG </i>and a hosting role on the show <i>Combat Missions</i>. He also wrote a book entitled <i>The Book of Rudy: The Wit and Wisdom of Rudy Boesch</i>. Rudy became the oldest person ever to compete on the show when he returned for <i>Survivor: All-Stars</i>, but was voted out after only six days due to an ankle injury and concerns that he was compromising the tribe's performance in the immunity challenges. Originally from Rochester, New York, Rudy is now 88 years old and lives in Virginia Beach.<br />
<br />
<b>Kelly Wiglesworth</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH5nufdN8DCNDQFfJ8cGJWfN3YzKUkkHo1uIhun4wrcLOoGWJO_3JUnSSQ6HUvLHjMQxeNBrdFfWBlaf5rXc-rGu0ezV3zlaJttYJwEJSkjy1hZlR06MwEF7AHl7y8ePtpMYS0ZowHCT1/s1600/kelly1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggH5nufdN8DCNDQFfJ8cGJWfN3YzKUkkHo1uIhun4wrcLOoGWJO_3JUnSSQ6HUvLHjMQxeNBrdFfWBlaf5rXc-rGu0ezV3zlaJttYJwEJSkjy1hZlR06MwEF7AHl7y8ePtpMYS0ZowHCT1/s320/kelly1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://survivorfandom.com/kelly-wiglesworth-survivor-2015/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Kelly was something of an under-the-radar player at first. A whitewater rafting guide from Nevada, she was dealt a blow when the Tagi tribe lost an immunity challenge where she was a designated rower. However, she managed to make it through the entire game without anyone voting to kick her off the island. Kelly was a member of the Tagi alliance, but ultimately broke away from this group on the belief that it wasn't a fair way of determining a winner. The remaining alliance members (especially Sue) targeted Kelly for elimination after learning that she had not joined their vote against Jenna, but she won four immunity challenges in a row to secure her place in the final vote. She made the case that she had played the game fairly and respectfully, noting how she won one challenge involving trivia on other tribe members because she had taken the time to get to know people. Kelly won the support of most of the former Pagong members, but lost the grand prize to Richard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhyfE6uJFTEVXREqYFMc2jGCJdPyQ8g5rU3dsedsCT0SZpcfuqOj4ZaGrBS9scj26GAtAUbLFqv3rMStK_aTfa50z-oZKSibm4tEBm8Qx5qmjejbJSqJvKzJZLGZl_xkRcdQSRsc32dGk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-26+at+9.40.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhyfE6uJFTEVXREqYFMc2jGCJdPyQ8g5rU3dsedsCT0SZpcfuqOj4ZaGrBS9scj26GAtAUbLFqv3rMStK_aTfa50z-oZKSibm4tEBm8Qx5qmjejbJSqJvKzJZLGZl_xkRcdQSRsc32dGk/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-26+at+9.40.50+PM.png" width="205" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://twitter.com/kellywigles?lang=en">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Second place wasn't too shabby for Kelly, as she won $100,000 for finishing as runner-up. A small portion of this prize went toward resolving an outstanding criminal case from 1995 in which she and a friend <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=110257">racked up charges on a stolen credit card</a>; she was ultimately sentenced to pay $455 in restitution and do 75 hours of community service. Unlike many of the <i>Survivor: Borneo</i> castaways, Kelly made no TV appearances aside from some talk show visits. However, she did return for the show's "Second Chance" competition in Cambodia, and was the ninth person to be eliminated. Now 39, Kelly lived in Mexico for a time and worked as a yoga teacher. She now travels the world as part of a <a href="http://people.com/tv/survivor-alums-joe-anglim-and-kelly-wiglesworth-release-the-trailer-to-their-new-reality-show/">travel show called </a><i><a href="http://people.com/tv/survivor-alums-joe-anglim-and-kelly-wiglesworth-release-the-trailer-to-their-new-reality-show/">Mana</a> </i>with fellow castaway Joe Anglim.<br />
<br />
<b>Richard Hatch</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbpZPezAM6YSg-NATEx5tlqEUcaWjUuVZGTyYteaDdu160T7qFHniOjn3cjZwHXnwIq2wRJmJ9Mi-vh9UtH3Ye91fdF9HpXjAdcmVoPSDZegiZpP-rBmYSzDpBL2mKXHcouoXKBBgmNlP/s1600/richard1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbpZPezAM6YSg-NATEx5tlqEUcaWjUuVZGTyYteaDdu160T7qFHniOjn3cjZwHXnwIq2wRJmJ9Mi-vh9UtH3Ye91fdF9HpXjAdcmVoPSDZegiZpP-rBmYSzDpBL2mKXHcouoXKBBgmNlP/s320/richard1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/08/20/flashback-survivor-and-its-naked-ambition/31817555/">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
Richard had a varied career going into the show, having worked as a bartender, car salesman, and real estate agent and later studying marine biology. At the time he joined the cast of <i>Survivor: Borneo</i>, he was a corporate trainer living in Newport, Rhode Island. While he was one of the more openly devious people in the game, Richard still managed to gain the trust and respect of several castaways. Early in the game, he let his fellow Tagi tribe members know that he was gay and was relieved to find that it didn't bother most of them. He came up with the idea of forming an alliance, recruiting Sue and Kelly and later bringing Rudy into the mix. Richard further solidified his role in the Tagi tribe when he proved an adept fisherman, using the equipment won in a challenge to bring plenty of food to the camp. He also became known for his comfort with being naked and strutting around camp in his birthday suit.<br />
<br />
Richard occasionally found himself in a more vulnerable spot, such as when the Rattana women were able to catch a fish on their own and when the remaining ex-Pagong members made a last-ditch effort to knock him off. However, Richard's strategies were successful in bringing him to the final Tribal Council. In one particularly risky move, he gave up on the penultimate immunity challenge on the belief that whoever won would want to face off against him in the final vote. In the end, he squeaked out a victory as the jurors voted 4-3 to award him the $1 million prize.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Gl7cz2ZUn46ObjFTF9rnviObm9filroFRqqPDOBjiqrWIXZL2LOzt5Lrc3ffnEO0ChlF_vhFhFlKn9_Nv71CHl-EaA1GqZFfKwYmcXKoF3YBJ8qbJ8i8bt4FMJQlLz_qfUgvFgp5UxS/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-11-25+at+8.30.14+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2Gl7cz2ZUn46ObjFTF9rnviObm9filroFRqqPDOBjiqrWIXZL2LOzt5Lrc3ffnEO0ChlF_vhFhFlKn9_Nv71CHl-EaA1GqZFfKwYmcXKoF3YBJ8qbJ8i8bt4FMJQlLz_qfUgvFgp5UxS/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-11-25+at+8.30.14+PM.png" width="235" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/richardhatchofficialpage/videos/?ref=page_internal">Source</a>)</div>
<br />
After his win, Richard appeared on a number of game shows as well as an episode of <i>Becker</i>. His win was soon overshadowed by troubles off-screen. He was accused of abusing his adopted son during an exercise regimen he had set up, but the <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2000/08/29/charges-against-richard-hatch-are-dropped">charges were later dropped</a>. Not long after, he was sentenced to a year of probation after <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/05/19/celebrity-apprentice-richard-hatch-cant-win-from-survivor-to-tax-court-to-trump.html">assaulting his son's caretaker</a>, but the charges were later vacated. Richard returned for <i>Survivor: All-Stars</i> and was eliminated after his tribe lost the immunity challenge where he traumatized Susan. In 2005, he was then charged with evading taxes on his <i>Survivor</i> winnings. Following a trial in 2006, he was found guilty and <a href="http://www.today.com/id/11023392/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/ex-survivor-hatch-found-guilty-tax-evasion/">sentenced to 51 months in prison</a>. Richard's attempts to appeal included allegations that he caught other <i>Survivor </i>contestants cheating and that Mark Burnett agreed to pay the taxes on his winnings to keep him quiet. Richard was released from prison in 2009, but <a href="http://www.today.com/id/42034841/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/survivor-winner-hatch-gets--month-prison-sentence/">sentenced to another nine months in 2011</a> for violating his probation by failing to amend his tax returns or pay back taxes.<br />
<br />
Between these prison stints, Richard became part of <i>Celebrity Apprentice</i> but was soon eliminated from the show. At the time, his legal troubles <a href="http://people.com/tv/donald-trump-wants-to-help-jailed-richard-hatch/">earned the sympathies of the show's host</a>, one Donald Trump. But during the the former reality host's bombastic presidential campaign, Richard was critical of Trump on his <a href="https://twitter.com/HatchRichard?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Twitter account</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/richard.hatch.568?fref=nf">Facebook page</a>. Earlier this year, he joined the cast of <i>The Biggest Loser</i>, shedding 34 pounds before becoming the fourth contestant eliminated. Richard (now 55) has founded a production company called <a href="http://moonstonetv.com/">Moonstone</a> and continues to make public appearances.Dirk Langeveldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347292004358347133noreply@blogger.com4