Moving on again

We had enjoyed the last couple of days with Bruce so much it was tempting to want to linger - and Bruce made it clear we had not yet worn out our welcome. Looking at our itinerary, we didn't really have any wiggle room.

Bruce

Indeed, we had an invitation from a couple we met in California to stay with them in New Jersey, and  reluctantly had to turn that down because we couldn't find a shoe horn big enough to fit two extra days in.

We were reluctant to leave and found every reason to stay: Clothes needed washing and our blog was two days behind. It would have been nice to relax and catch up.. It was interesting to to meet some of the people Bruce knew. His house, which he built himself, feels like a living organism. It takes some time to comprehend its functions let alone mentally map its design. We were lucky enough to have the bedroom in the tower with a tree top view. No motel room could compete with that.

Our bedroom above the solar panels.

While we lingered, two ladies who were driving past stopped to marvel at Bruce's house and it's artwork. One was associated with a gallery. Bruce was happy to show them his house and artworks. If he's not careful he'll have to become president of their art association or a curator of the gallery.

Looking at our schedule we realised other people were expecting us on time.This outweighed  any reasons to delay our departure so we said our farewell to a person we hoped to see again. If not there's always the internet...

From Bruce's we rode west across the northern edge oc Connecticut to the town of Canaan where we stopped for a late lunch. Turning south we rode a scenic route to Kent where a local market in the town centre was in full swing. We refuelled in the service station at the cross roads in the centre of town before heading back north on a different route.

   

Sculptures made from layers of rock.

Bronzes

 We didn't get far before we saw a sign about a bridge ahead being closed, so we detoured for a number of miles before returning to our original route - exactly where the bridge was closed, but still on the near side of it. We headed back into the woods to detour around the bridge, and found ourselves with a choice of going back to Kent or taking a gravel road - but for how far?

Fortunately a couple of locals in a huge black truck stopped to see if we needed help, and assured us the gravel went only a few miles, and that the road was well maintained. A slow careful ride but it was fabulous country with the occasional intimate home nestled in trees that almost touched and, more dry stone walls. (What a time for the camera batteries to expire) These detours can take time especially when you are continually stopping to check the map. The GPS can't always help with the quality of the road.

We rode through and continued across the border into Massachusetts, where the lights were still all on.

Arriving in Great Barrington, we found a terrific motel room with all the mod cons - and internet that worked without a hassle. It was a good price, so we booked in for two nights. This way we can spend tomorrow riding through the Berkshires.

We had seen an Indian restaurant on the way into town and decided it was what we wanted..  When we returned it was nowhere to be found - it seemed to have disappeared!

We looked for it on our GPS, and that gave us an address,  but there was no Indian Restaurant in the middle of town.. After asking a few people one was able to give us some clear directions. It was out of the centre by almost a half a mile.

The food and atmosphere were superb. Your taste buds can taste many more flavours than "sweet" or "fat" but so many of us know nothing of the endless variety of spices and herbs which flavour but do not fatten. It was well worth the effort of finding the restaurant.