Walk CT: Day Four
Another day starting the Walk Across Connecticut before sunrise. Began the day in North Haven at Wharton Brook State Park and set off south for East Haven’s Shore Line Trolley Museum where we held our traditional end-of-walk celebration!
This is how the last day of my seventh walk across Connecticut went down:
There weren’t too many people on the road at 6:30 am, but you can always find someone to talk to if you know where to look. I stopped in the Adelphia Cafe and met the owner, Chris. His family originally owned the Neptune in Wallingford, and have run the Adelphia for more than a decade. He told me that business has been good, but food prices have been volatile. I talked to him a little bit about our work in Congress to bring down costs for small business owners and working families alike.
Further down, at the Athena II diner, I met three guys who have breakfast there together EVERY DAY. I have talked a lot about the loneliness crisis, and one thing I’ve found to be absolutely true is that finding and maintaining social connection requires intentionality. Studies suggest these guys will live longer, happier lives because of their commitment to finding and maintaining these important social connections.
During the walk, people often find me to talk policy, but I love it when folks talk to me about life in their community. At Empire Cafe in North Haven, I met Francine. Her best friend just opened the place, and she’s working shifts to help get it off the ground. She and I chatted about raising teenagers. She’s got two, and she says there just aren’t enough recreational opportunities for them in New Haven where they live.
As I crossed through New Haven, I got to see all the fantastic Halloween decorations. I don’t normally do my Walk Across Connecticut in October, so this time it was a fun surprise. People go all out!
Making my way into East Haven, a woman named Betsy pulled her car over to say hi. She was excited to talk because her kids met me when they were younger, and now they are both pursuing public policy careers. I don’t feel like I can claim much credit there, but having motivated, hard-working young people in public service is always a good thing. I was glad to be able to thank her for teaching her kids the value of service to our community.
I finally crossed the finish line in East Haven at the Shore Line Trolley Museum– a beautiful backdrop for our traditional end-of-walk celebration. I love our state and this walk allows me to meet countless leaders, business owners, and citizens who are doing small but heroic things to make our communities better. I rely on each and every one of them to help me do my work better. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to walk across this state each year, and the kindness I feel at these celebrations is always special.
That’s a wrap on my SEVENTH annual Walk Across Connecticut. It was a great four days, and thank you all for following along.
Hanging up my sneakers until next year.
Dude! I thought I told you about Danner Mountain Lite II's. You're just being political with those red laces. And, I know why you don't sport a Gregory Baltoro pack for water, snacks, DEET, moleskin, surgical scissors, and ever crass Vaseline for ye chafing thighs. Politicians dont chafe and blister, huh? Well, let me just say that DEET is not DDT, so, no trohic accumulattion to weaken leucocephalus eggshells, just so you know. There is birdsong at the not so silent spring. Afraid to be a 1% camper, huh? Well, think like a Rough Rider and consider a Spanish American kneckrchief slide for your schemagh. TR is an acceptable Republican to emulate because of the Bull Moose party, Woodrow, and Cousin Frankie.
You are so impressive. Thank you for all you do.