Sunday Driver: The Land of Steady Habits

Round Trip including the "Quiet Corner"

It is another fine summer Sunday in Boston. No "rise and grind" or other hash-tag nonsense; that's just plain horse feathers. It's driving time and I will say it again, nothing like being out bright and early putting the moon to sleep and giving the sun a gentle nudge to get its ass out of bed. I have been through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island; 4 down and 2 to go. The Nutmeg State and Vacationland were my choices today and I went the arbitrary route and checked if Connecticut or Maine had the more interesting nickname. Connecticut has this beauty of a nickname tattooed discreetly on its back shoulder: The Land of Steady Habits. I don't think you can get any more old school New England than that; Connecticut it is.

Since old school is the theme here, I chose Connecticut's "Quiet Corner" and RT-169. It is nestled between I-84 and I-395 and is designated as a National Scenic Byway. The section of  Connecticut-RT169 I traveled was from Pomfret to Woodstock (Northbound). As with other sections of RT-169 this area is rife with history, ranging from the numerous private boarding schools and churches to "praying towns" and the original Connecticut Path. The route chosen was a bit of an odd one coming from Boston. I went via Providence, RI to get to US-6W and took the Hartford Turnpike (RI/CT RT-101). The Hartford Turnpike on its own is a nice peaceful, interesting drive into "what was and what is" even though it is mostly straight; but you are traveling through a hilly region.

When I got to RT-169, I took a right and headed north towards Woodstock. Scenery and historical context rule the day on this stretch as the route is also mostly straight. However, if I had to describe the road in one word, it actually would be yumps. Those familiar with rallying and the Rally Finland can instantly visualize the experience.  Those that are not familiar, simply think of the road being ocean swells and you are in a boat that goes over, down, up and back over each swell. Now, being these are public roads not ocean, and I am not Sebastien Loeb, there was no air to be had; but you do feel some negative G in your belly.

The real driving pleasure came after I became somewhat bored of looking at the cool, picturesque scenery and needed a distraction from the ambivalence of colonial history. There was some twisties with yump sprinkles via RT-197 on the run back to the Massachusetts border. I could have continued on RT-169 and eventually gotten to Sturbridge, MA, but I took a right. The road here is narrow, the area is thickly settled, the countryside is close, so mind your manners...most of the them if you take advantage of early morning hours. This particular stretch of RT-197 is only 3.5 miles but does serve as a driving espresso. However in addition to having espresso, if you need to travel back to the metro Boston area as I do, then you will find additional pleasure traveling back via RT-16 starting in Webster.  You can basically take this route to the ocean, so just keep going east. In between you have Douglas State Forest and  Lake Chaubunagungamaug or Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (that is no joke) or Webster Lake. Whatever you do choose to call it, be aware as these roads are patrolled even if you are up and out with the roosters. The round trip was approximately 150 miles depending on how you get back to the city from Wellesley.

All in all, a trip worth doing if you enjoy history, like saying "oh, look at that" and enjoy espresso. If you enjoy these things, go at a time in which you can enjoy the sites when they are open for visitors. Moving pictures below.

Connecticut Route 169
Old Connecticut Path