|
The Gold Star Bridge Gambol (short
version)
Total Distance: 53.6 miles Elevation
Gain: 1374 feet
Degree of
Difficulty Index: 1374 ft /
53.6 mi = 25.63 ft/mi Terrain: Flat to rolling
Killer Hills:
None
Geographical
Region: Southeast Connecticut
City/Town: Niantic (East Lyme)
Starting
Location: Samuel M. Peretz
Park (formerly Bridebrook Park) on Route 156 about 0.4 miles east of the
Rocky Neck Connector (I-95 Exit 72) intersection with Route 156 in Niantic
(East Lyme)
Ride
Description: This is a neat
ride over mostly flat terrain to the suggested lunch stop at UConn's Avery
Point campus in Groton. Featured
are visits to (or passing close to) Black Point, McCook Park, Connecticut
Regional Center for Mental Retardation, Harkness Park, Camp Harkness, O'Neill
Center, Mitchell College, Pfizer's Research Center, Fort Trumbull State Park
and Fort Grisword Battlefield State Park (amongst others). Use the bike/pedestrian path over the
Gold Star Memorial Bridge, both going and coming. There is a lot to see and admire on this lengthy but
scenic ride.
Note: The
first 38.7 miles of this ride is exactly the same route as the longer version
of the Gold Star Bridge Gambol.
This ride takes a different and slightly shorter return route.
Facilities
and Points of Interest:
|
Mile
|
Facilities
- Points of Interest
|
|
0.0
|
Samuel M.
Peretz Park (bathrooms and water available)
|
|
2.2
|
Approximate
start of 5 ½ mile tour around Black Point (views)
|
|
7.9
|
McCook
Park (comfort stop)
|
|
8.3
|
Start of
ride through Niantic business district (various stores & shops)
|
|
13.4
|
Begin
0.8 mile round trip tour of Seaside Regional Center (spectacular Long
Island Sound views)
|
|
15.4
|
Harkness
State Park (comfort station and water here)
|
|
16.0
|
Camp
Harkness
|
|
16.3
|
Entrance
to O'Neill Center
|
|
17.9
|
Start 2 ½ mile ride along the Thames River passing
Mitchell College and the Pfizer Research Center
|
|
20.8
|
Fort
Trumbull State Park (views); comfort station & water here
|
|
22.3
|
New
London Railroad Station
|
|
23.5
|
Start
1 ¼ mile traverse of Gold Star Memorial Bridge over the Thames River
(very narrow path)
|
|
25.9
|
Fort
Griswold Battlefield State Park (views)
|
|
26.4
|
Electric
Boat nuclear submarine manufacturing complex
|
|
29.4
|
UConn's
Avery Point campus; great lunch spot overlooking Long Island Sound, and
Fishers Island Sound and Fishers Island (bathrooms and water in building nearby )
|
|
~32.0
|
Groton
– New London Airport
|
|
37.3
|
Start
1 ¼ mile traverse of Gold Star Memorial Bridge over the Thames River
(very narrow path)
|
|
40.1
|
Start
2 ¼ mile ride on Montauk Avenue passing Lawrence & Memorial
Hospital & Mitchell College campus
|
|
53.6
|
Samuel M.
Peretz Park (bathrooms and water available)
|
|
