This ride takes you on a tour of Old Saybrook's considerable waterfront: North Cove, Saybrook Point, Lynde Point, and Cornfield Point, with stops in between, including a soda or ice cream cone at a soda fountain that's been serving them since 1896! Park at any convenient spot on Main Street and ride south on Main (Route 154). When you reach the large Congregational church at the end of the shopping area, note on your right the old James Pharmacy and Soda Fountain with its large gold mortar and pestle. It was built in 1790 and operated as a pharmacy from 1877 until 1917 by one Peter Lane. In 1917, Lane turned the pharmacy over to his sister-in-law, Ana James, the first black woman pharmacist in Connecticut, who ran it as James Pharmacy until 1967. The soda fountain dates back to 1896 — don't pass it by!

At the large arrow traffic sign, bear left. (Route 154 is now called College Street.) When you come to North Cove Road, turn left and follow it to the shore of North Cove, a large, protected anchorage, chock-full of sailboats large and small — mostly large — swinging at their moorings. Continue around on Cromwell Place, which leads you back to College Street. Turn left onto College Street and follow it down to the riverside. There is a new marina as well as an inn on the right and several restaurants on the left. A picnic lunch can be enjoyed on the quay. An even better spot would be the park on the left just before the river, Fort Saybrook Monument Park (which has a public rest room).

When you are ready, return to College Street, turn left on what is now Bridge Street, and cross the causeway over South Cove. This is narrow, so ride carefully. The road is now called Maple Avenue. Turn left on the other side onto Nibang Avenue and take a mile-long circuit of Lynde Point. Back on Maple Avenue, turn left and you will soon find yourself riding beside Long Island Sound.

In the distance, you will see what appears to be a large stone mansion. To get to it, turn left on Hartlands Drive, between two stone pillars. Continue until you get to the Castle Inn, built in 1906 to rival the grandeur of Newport. Here you can get a room, a drink, or a meal.

When you leave the inn, turn left on Pratt Street, left on Town Beach Road, and immediately right on Ridge Road. In two blocks, you'll be back on Route 154, now called Plum Bank Road. It continues along the Sound, slowly swings inland, crosses Black River, and becomes Great Hammock Road. About 1-1/2 miles from the inn, Great Hammock Road forms a T with the Old Boston Post Road. Turn right here and return to Main Street, 7/10 mile away.

TAKEN FROM

Short Bike Rides in Connecticut (Fifth Edition), written by Edwin Mullen and Jane Griffith

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