Chaplin: Complete! Hide-A-Way Steaks & Stuff and The Bach Dor Cafe Here is the CTMQ Guide to Chaplin with my list and stories about everything I've done there! After a decade of writing CTMQ, I decided to try to “complete” towns. In that decade of traveling and writing, I had already done a lot of stuff in … [Read more...]
James L. Goodwin State Forest Trails
A Good Win For All Goodwin State Forest Chaplin & Hampton Good ol' Goodwin. As you can imagine, I doubly enjoy our state forests with a good trail system. And I triply enjoy those with a good trail system and a museum. There are more than you realize, trust me. In fact, as I type this sentence I'm going through my … [Read more...]
Natchaug SF: Chaplin, Eastford, & Hampton Block Trails
CCC I Told You So Natchaug State Forest Trails, Eastford, Chaplin, & Hampton October 2021 The Natchaug has been a state forest for over 100 years. That's pretty cool. Who knows... if not for that designation, the towns of Eastford and Ashford and Hampton and Chaplin and Pomfret may be bustling megacities by now. … [Read more...]
Air Line State Park Trail: Section 2
Putting the Quiet in the Corner Route 97, Pomfret to Hop River State Park Trail, Windham (~14 miles) August 2021 If you'd like to begin with my Section 1 through Thompson and Pomfret, here you are. (This is just a placeholder for now.) We'll pick up this section at the Route 97 crossing in Pomfret, although I'd … [Read more...]
JT: Hubbard Sanctuary & Garrison Park
Hubba Hubbard Joshua's Trust Hubbard Sanctuary & Agnes' Pasture & Garrison Park, Chaplin March 2021 This is a Joshua's Trust property. There's a lot going on here. Okay, not really, but there's a lot going on here in terms of landowners and managers and trail rights and easements and activities. And for … [Read more...]
Natchaug Trail: Section 2
Section 2: Still NatCHUGGING Along 10 miles, Eastford, Chaplin, & Hampton July 2017 What a thing... splitting this trail into two hikes; the first in single-digit temperatures in March and this one in the heat of mid-July. I guess that's not really a very interesting thing, as I've done that plenty of times. You … [Read more...]
Diana’s Pool Falls & Trail
The Pull of Diana Diana's Pool Falls & Trail, Chaplin March 2021 Chaplin is a funny town. There it is, quietly existing in eastern Connecticut... no one bothers Chaplin, Chaplin doesn't bother anyone. Aside from a few trails coursing through town, there's really not much in town bringing in people from elsewhere. … [Read more...]
JT: Bernard Church Woods
The Woods are Our Church Joshua's Trust Bernard Church Woods, Chaplin March 2021 This is a Joshua's Trust property. Calvin and I arrived at the backwoods trailhead for The Joshua Trust's Bernard Church Woods property at the end of several hours of Chaplin exploration. Yes, it's truly possible to spend a few … [Read more...]
JT: Two Sisters Preserve
Don't Get it Twister, Sisters Joshua's Trust Two Sisters Preserve, Chaplin March 2021 This is a Joshua's Trust property. As I was gathering stuff for Calvin and I to venture out to Chaplin, I alerted my wife to our destination. "Oh. Chaplin, have fun. It's a beautiful town." I paused for a moment, … [Read more...]
Natchaug State Forest Intro
Natchaug State Forest Ashford, Chaplin, Eastford, & Pomfret The name Natchaug means "land between the rivers" and refers to the land at the junction of the Bigelow and Still Rivers which join to form the Natchaug River. The state says that the Forest is popular for its horse trails, outstanding fishing, and … [Read more...]