Every year, we pair up with Dr. Al and his staff for a summer outing. This season, we chose to go on the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat excursion. We could not have asked for a better day – the sun was brilliant, the air warm, the sky dotted with dollops of whipped cream – absolutely gorgeous! Because of this, we made a last-minute executive decision to upgrade our seats to the open-air car. We listened to a guided tour as the train ambled along the Connecticut River Valley, laughing as spots of coal began to fleck our skin. The Riverboat was equally as enjoyable with the intoxicating fresh air and humorous river guide.
A view from the steam train
Once we got our land legs back, we lunched at The Black Seal, which felt a bit like an English pub. The carrot cake was wonderful…so wonderful that we felt we needed to do some walking to counteract it! We meandered around downtown Essex, popping in the boutiques and shops, taking note of all the creative small businesses. The day drawing to a close, but not wanting to leave the shore just yet, the group disbursed among park benches in a beautifully landscaped town green abutting the shore. The peaceful atmosphere was the perfect backdrop for reflection on the day and allowed for quiet brainstorming.
We all slept wonderful that night and are already looking forward to next year’s trip. We’d love suggestions for fun, local day trips!
