Summer Daze

We spent most of July trying to fit in all the local fun and flavor that we could.

There were two purposes to this- First of all, we found our schedules to be getting busier and busier, and we were having a hard time to do all the things we loved around town, and around the state. As a bonus, we could get TT Dad some much needed miles on his bicycle.

That’s right… The PMC was just around the corner.

Each weekend, we tried to find at least one fun event to incorporate into his training. First up, we decided to take the kids blueberry & raspberry picking. Lyman Orchards makes it so easy to go picking with youngsters. They have a hotline to let you know of what is available for ‘Pick Your Own’ along with the cost. Once you arrive, you can easily follow the posted signs to find the orchards- where you’ll find farm stands for purchasing your goodies.

Both Blueberry and Raspberry picking was a hit. The kids were having a blast, and these were great fruits to start with, because they grow low to the ground, and the kids could pick a ton!
After we paid for our haul, we headed to the farm store, where TT Dad ran in to pick up lunch. We took the lunch into Middletown, to a launching point where we figured we’d be able to put the kayak into a river. TT Dad and I ate quickly, and then started to get the kayak ready. The kids enjoyed their picnic, and watching us work. It was getting close to naptime, so we weren’t sure how this kayak trip would go, but we gave it a shot anyway.

I know TT Dad was a little skeptical about taking the kayak into a river. He was concerned it would be too boring, and the kids would get antsy. What we found, however, was that they LOVED it. They could really see the wildlife up close, and they were having so much fun looking for turtles. The river fed into the Connecticut River, sneaking under some railroad tracks (and a highway). The current got a lot stronger once we were in the Connecticut River, so TT Dad got some of the excitement he was looking for.

Soon enough, it was time to start heading back. TT Dad hefted the kayak back onto the car as I got the kids dried off and back into their clothes. He made the switch to his biking outfit, and took off to start his training for the year.

Our next training adventure was a trip to Sailfest, in New London. This time, TT Dad left early in the morning, and we met him there. This is a little trickier, because we’re not exactly sure how long it’ll take TT Dad to get there, and while I don’t necessarily want to be driving around with the kids for hours, or walking around the fair with them, without TT Dad, we also don’t want him to get there and have loads of time to wait for us!

Sure enough, we didn’t get the timing right, and he was left to wander while we tried to figure out parking. Luckily, he found somewhere reasonably safe to lock up his bike, and he grabbed a bite to eat while waiting. After finally arriving, we met up with TT Dad and headed straight for the rides. The kids had been to our amusement park a couple of times earlier in the summer- and loved the rides. The fair did not disappoint. At just under 36” there were limited rides they could go on, but they loved the car rides- and found some free fun under a fountain.

In addition to planning some training adventures, we also enjoyed time closer to home.

There were plenty of puppy snuggles, stuffed friend story time, and bike rides for the duo!

We also found time to visit Lake Compounce a few more times. With our season passes, we didn’t feel bad about spending an entire trip at the lake and water slides. It was the perfect way to spend a hot afternoon.