Day 67: North Kingstown, RI - Home (Revised)

Day 67: North Kingstown, RI  - Home

August 18, 2016

Miles: 58

Average Speed: 10.5 mph

Maximum Speed: 42.5 mph

Mansfield, CT to North Kingstown, RI


The night before yesterday, the last night away from home, we stayed in Mansfield, CT at the Fitch House B & B, a place that had recently reopened after a change of ownership.  Although, we didn't really plan to stay in Mansfield CT that night, it was the only place available almost halfway between Beth and Chris' house and home. Ironically, on the first night of our tour, we stayed in Mansfield, MA at our friends, Marianne, Ed and Ally's home.  A wonderful first day and experience!  Funny how these things happen. Normally, we would have chosen a hotel with quality accommodations such as the Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn or Best Western with good reviews, and known services for our final day. However, the only available lodging other than the Fitch House was the Best Western, but it was completely full.  And since it wasn't a Friday or Saturday night this was very unusual.   As it turns out, there was a church event going on and a wedding that booked solid the only hotel in the area.  I tell you all this because the last time we stayed at a B & B that didn't provide any recent reviews online and had just reopened, you may remember, we had to sleep with the windows open all night and in our sleeping bags on top of the bed linens. So, we had a fair amount of scepticism as we navigated our way to this B & B.  Well, perhaps the stars, moon and the sun aligned for us once again, as it did with Leroy Bailey, because this B & B was just fabulous and the inkeeper and owner Mia was the best!

The Fitch House, an estate house built and owned by Edwin Fitch in 1836 where he and his wife Alice lived.  It changed hands another 5 times before being bought by Mia and her husband.  This historical house has been maintained over the years to preserve it's history and identity, such as Edwin Fitch's portrait that still remains on the wall in the dinning room.

Mia welcomed us with a tray of goodies - roasted almonds, homemade assortment of three different kinds of cookie's, including gluten free cranberry and pecan cookies, and fresh, delicious well water.  We knew then we had picked the right place.  Morning breakfast was prepared with the same level of detail.  A wonderful, gluten free quiche (two different types!), one with fresh picked berries and the other with cheese that Mia bought from the local farm.

The Beautiful Conservatory

Breakfast is served.

Same room, but in the section with all the oxygen

GF quiche and fresh fruit on side; we were served french pressed coffee as well.  Now how did she know we love our coffee this way!

We were the only guests in the B & B that night and at breakfast just the way we like it! 

We had a wonderful stay at the Fitch House and Mia was a fabulous host.  Now, this is a place we would frequent again!  We had such a great morning that it was 10:30a before we were ready to leave despite out breakfast start at 7:45a.  As we were leaving, Mia asked if she could take our picture; later she shared with us the pictures via email.

Finally ready to go home

Montage of images at the Fitch House

As we rode out of town, we navigated to the bike path that headed in the direction we were going.  This bike path was perfect.  It was paved, fairly flat, shaded and the wind hidden by the trees.

The way bike paths are supposed to be

We decided to route ourselves home via the Washington Secondary Trail Bike Path, which begins at the Connecticut/Rhode Island border and stretches to Providence.  We wanted to catch this trail at the border and then about the halfway mark, we would exit the bike path to route to North Kingstown - a known bike route that we have ridden in the past.  Unfortunately, it was 25 miles to the trail and and it was crazy hilly all the way there.  We climbed almost 3000 ft to get home yesterday, not an easy last day.

We climbed lots of hills, mostly between 10% and 14% grade

for 25 miles and

and for almost 3000 feet

As we headed toward the border, we connected with an old railroad dirt trail that was under development.  This railroad trail connected to the Washington Secondary Trail Bike Path at the border, so we had a choice to take it for a couple miles or to re-route on Rt117 that would take us almost 7 miles out of the way.  We decided to go for it!

Surface is thick sand

The way bike paths are not supposed to be

Walking an 85 pound bike through thick sand while wearing cleats is not pleasant

It was never ending; the surface was so soft that it was difficult to ride.  And at one point it was like riding a roller coaster with 3ft gullies one after the next.  We decided to abandon the trail at the first sight of an exit road.

Not what we had hoped

After about two miles, we saw our chance to leave the old rail-trail.  Even though this new road was dirt as well, it allowed us to ride safety to a paved surface road fairly quickly.  As it turned out, the paved road was just 1 mile out of our way, so it ended up faster all around because we flew on the paved road compared to on the dirt roads.

Acceptable dirt road

Dirt road changes to pavement

Finally, we made it to the beginning of the Washington Secondary Trail Bike Path, but before proceeding we needed to get something to eat and drink. At this point, we had about 24 miles remaining and it was 3:30p.  The good news is that the hills are behind us and we are certain this bike path is paved.

Steve has a turkey sandwich and me tuna, lettuce and tomato wrapped in provolone cheese.

Now this is a bike path

Riding side by side

We were lucky to see a family of wild turkey's along the bike path.

Matriarch of the family

and her kids

We flew home once we hit the bike path.  It was slightly downhill and the surface was perfect.  We were hauling at between 16 and 19 mph. Once off the path, we had 15 miles to go.  The last leg went really fast riding from Coventry to NK.  Maybe because we were on a known route or because the roads were easier to ride; perhaps we were just ready to be home.  Whatever the reason, we made it home by 5:30p.  Here we are below posing just as we did 67 days ago.

So we are home and pretty tired at this point, and as I leaked in the mini blog last night, we quickly took showers and left for the reunion.  We surprised my mom by picking her up and Nanny and Poppy by showing up for Thursday night dinner. Well, perhaps they were expecting us because oddly there were enough table settings for all of us.  That Nanny, she knows everything!

Andy and Poppy with harvested tomatoes from their vegetable garden.

Nanny made a great meal, as usual.  It was a wonderful reunion, and now that we are home safely, our mom's can rest soundly!

The Thursday night crowd, plus my mom!

It is time to say goodbye.  This will be our final blog entry.  We had another great adventure touring through Canada and through more of the US.  With the help of family and friends that we met along the way, it made the 67 days free from hassle and homesickness.  Thank you everyone for following our journey once again.  Thank you all who read our blog and to those who left comments and sent texts throughout our journey. Your blog comments inspired us to keep riding and writing everyday. The first thing we did each morning was to check for comments and we appreciate your committment, support and love!