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SCCC's Connecticut River Double Cross
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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: 28.7 miles
Elevation Gain: 1892 feet
Degree
of Difficulty Index: 1892 /
28.7 = 65.88 ft/mile Terrain:
Very hilly
Killer
Hills: Joshuatown Road is a very
hilly and narrow road w/ several long, steep sections.
Geographical
Region: South Central
Connecticut
Starting
Location (city/town): Essex
Starting
Location (detailed directions to):
Essex Town Hall parking lot near the
tennis courts; from the intersection of Rtes. 153 & 154 in the
Centerbrook section of Essex (Rt. 9 Exit 3), take West Ave. toward Essex for
0.3 miles (approx); turn left just after library onto Grove St. Parking lot is immediately on your
right behind the Town Hall. Park
near the tennis courts.
Ride
Description: This interesting and challenging ride passes
through the Otter Cove section of Old Saybrook en route to the Baldwin Bridge
bike trail crossing the Connecticut River. The route then travels up to Hamburg via mostly back roads
before tackling the very difficult Joshuatown Road route to the Chester Ferry
($1.00 fee). After departing
from the ferry the ride heads back to Essex through Deep River via the
classic River Road bike route.
This ride is very similar to the Essex Loop via Joshuatown Road ride
except this one doesn't visit Chester village.
Facilities
and Points of Interest:
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Mile
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Facilities
- Points of Interest
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2.0
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Start
tour through the Otter Cove development; pay close attention to the route
cues, it's a maze
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4.8
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Start
bike path over the Connecticut River via the Baldwin Bridge
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6.2
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A&P
plaza; bathrooms in A&P; various shops in plaza
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12.9
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Hamburg
village; general store
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13.5+
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Scenic
bridge over Eightmile River at Hamburg Cove; start of serious hills on
Joshuatown Rd
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19.2
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Chester-Hadlyme
Ferry ($1.00 fee); possible lunch/snack stop
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23.1
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Start
4-mile ride along Connecticut River (views)
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27.5
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Essex
business district; various shops and eateries; convenience store
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27.6
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Public
restrooms in little park beside the post office and New Alliance Bank on
right
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27.9
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Connecticut
River Museum; Essex town boat launch and Essex town dock/pier (views)
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27.9+
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Ice cream
shop on right as you are heading back from river
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Note: This ride has been provided by the Southern Connecticut
Cycle Club from its Ride Library (Ride #30) as a service to the Connecticut
bicycling community.
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