Saturday October 18th
Moved to room15 as room 26 reserved for tonight. By 9 off to Glastonbury Apple Festival. Bought apples, cheese and nut bread. Tents protected from misting rain. Breakfast at farm store and then headed for New Britain to visit Steve* at New Britain Memorial Hospital. His hair is now dark brown and he has acne, but still looks like Steve. He seemed to recognize me and squealed and wiggled in delight. I hugged him and he hugged back as well as he could with hands tied to chair and in socks. His attention span was very short so I didn’t stay.
Headed south on Connecticut 9 and at 1:00 got off to go to Gillette Castle and began to wonder if I could find my way back so many turns- beautiful scenery even in the misty rain. Passed the opera house and crossed the Connecticut River. The castle reminded me of the one at Loveland. Gorgeous view of river and saw a ferry across the way so took it back via Chester. Much shorter. Drove through Essex but too contrived among the old. On to Old Saybrook. Bought brown turtleneck sweater $18 and on to Saybrook Place. Found Chalkers in Cypress Cemetery. Pulled into beach and asked 2 boys where Chalker Beach was. One said “This is a Chalker.” -also descended from Alexander Chalker. On to Guilford 1639 house.
*Steven Sands – attempted suicide victim and son of Bob & Inge Sands