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A Trip to the Beach
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NOTE: This Ride Description and its
corresponding Route Sheet may not have been checked for accuracy by the www.ctbikeroutes.org team
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Total Distance: 39.8 miles Elevation Gain: 1360 feet
Degree
of Difficulty Index: 1360 ft / 39.8 mi = 34.17 ft/mi Terrain: Rolling
Killer
Hills: None
Geographical
Region: South Central
City/Town:
Durham
Starting Location: Durham
Post Office, Route 17 and Fowler Avenue, between the intersection of Routes
68 & 79, Durham.
Note: The parking lot at the Post Office is small and
shouldn't be used when the Post Office is open. Parking at such times should
be available across Route 17 at the library or Town Hall.
Ride Description: Take
a trip to Hammonnassett Beach, using as many shady back roads as you
can. YouŐll have to spend some
time on Route 79 with beach traffic in the summer, but the shoulders are good
(do watch for broken glass!) and a dip in the ocean is great. Bring a jacket, even on warm days, as
it can be cool at the beach.
Facilities and Points of Interest:
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Mile
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Facilities
- Points of Interest
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0.0
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If you
travel any time except Sunday or Saturday afternoon, you may have to find
an alternate parking location, as the Post Office parking lot is
small. The Durham Library is
across the street and there are a number of businesses along Route 17 in
Durham, so this should not be a problem.
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19.2
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Visit
MeigŐs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset State Park on the left. Check the Internet for more information. The Nature Center's bathroom is
open year round.
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19.7
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Take a
swim at the beach. Bring a
picnic and have your lunch there.
Restrooms and changing rooms are available, as well as vending
machines that sell cold soda.
You can choose another beach at Hammonasset State Park if you like,
some of which have concession stands.
Check the Internet for more information. Bikes are not permitted on the ramp up to the Pavilion;
continue on the road through the east parking lot and loop back to the
Pavilion.
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23.9
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Downtown
Madison: If you havenŐt had
lunch yet, or if itŐs a cold day and you need to warm up, there are plenty
of eateries and coffee stops in this old-fashioned downtown, as well as an
excellent bookstore: R. J. Julia
Book Sellers.
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31.0
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A shady
stop in front of the church, before you head out onto Route 79. Across the street there is a
convenience store and a pizza joint, right before the rotary. For a grocery
store and restrooms, detour east on Route 80 for 0.1 mile.
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39.5
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An ice
cream stand with soft serve, regular ice cream and frozen yogurt is on your
right, just before the end of the ride!
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www.ctbikeroutes.org
Ride
submitted by: Kathy Eldergill, 5/28/06
(updated 3/3/07)
Ride description:
Wu-New011
Route sheet:
RS-New011
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