Newhaven to Rocky Hill: In Search of More Dinosaurs

I know most people going to the East Coast don't think of dinosaurs, but my eye landed on a place called Dinosaur State Park on the map when I was figuring out our route.  Apparently, conditions in Connecticut were just right for the preservation of dinosaur tracks and bones in the early Jurassic; people had been finding bones and tracks in the area as far back as the early 1800's.

Therefore, we must go.  Two dinosaur days in a row!

To get up to the park from New Haven, we followed the Farmington Canal Heritage trail north out of town.  This route follows a former canal line that because part of the New Haven Northampton rail line, and is now a gentle paved rail-trail that cuts north across the state as part of the East Coast Greenway.  We followed it for miles and miles and miles -- a welcome change from the more traffic-infested road sections we had previously been on.

I found myself taking pictures over my shoulder to assess the mental state of the kid as the day progressed.  She liked the rail-trail.

Checking the map.  (Not that we needed it today.)

Wait, you're riding off the trail!  Clearly time for a snack.

Chad adjusted his light during snack time.  This is one of the mere three mechanical adjustments needed over the whole trip (not counting the three flats).

Energy restored!

We admired many old brick buildings lining the old rail route.

 Eventually, we left the trail for scenic country roads that cut over towards Rocky Hill and the dinosaur park.

As we entered the town of New Britain, we happened across the Nutmeg State Championship bike race.  All we were doing was riding along, looking for a snack, and heard the distinctive sound of a big peloton whooshing by in the park next to the road.  Naturally, we stopped to spectate for a few minutes.

I located an Italian deli nearby, where we got giant sandwiches and a big box of cookies that were, for once, as delicious as they were pretty.

Eventually we made it to our hotel for the night.  Kid is still smiling.

Even though we were only about a mile from the dinosaur park, it was getting late in the afternoon, so we opted to chill out, get dinner, and enjoy the hot tub, planning to hit the park first thing in the morning when it opened.

Dinner was soulless hotel food, but we did get ice cream.

Next morning brought dino tracks!  Lots of dino tracks.  The building is built right over the site, though apparently there are a lot more outside the building that have been reburied to protect them.

Nim's souvenir was a little tiny pterodon, which she then had to take for a little hike through the woods.  Apparently one does not outgrow these things :)