My mother read an article in the New York Times a few months back about a couple brewpubs here in Connecticut, and had the brilliant idea to send us all on a GPS-only Wild Goose Chase for Father's Day.
She programmed the GPS for Willimantic, a part of Connecticut none of us has ever really been to, and the Willimantic Brewing Company as our final destination. I learned my respect for GOOD beer from my dad, who brewed his own for years. :)
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314426388_N8XHj-M-1.jpg)
So, not having a CLUE where he was going, he was only allowed to do what the GPS told him to do. It was torture! But it was a blast.
If you're familiar with Willimantic ("Willi" to the locals) you've seen these guys.
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314426507_9kTS6-M-1.jpg)
They sit upon thread spools, and are affectionately called The Frog Bridge, or Thread City Crossing, for Windham's rich thread and textile mill history.
The frogs are a sort of inside joke... they hearken back to the Battle of Frog Pond, "a harrowing night in 1754 when townspeople rushed outside with their muskets to defend themselves from an unseen screeching menace. The next morning, they discovered scores of dead frogs, who had fought for the last remaining puddles of water in a drought-stricken lake." Hee hee.
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314426711_soVWU-M-1.jpg)
And they're everywhere... even on the brewery's signage. (Which was incidentally in the old post office, hence the postmark look.)
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314427321_LfALC-M-1.jpg)
It was a great place!
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314427207_cRU2H-M-1.jpg)
With TONS of house brews... and more "guest" beers on tap as well!
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314427077_AKgUt-M-1.jpg)
It was a necessity to get the sampler, and try them out... but they were all delicious!
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314426817_RnG4H-M-1.jpg)
But I think this was my most favorite detail of all!!!
![](http://saltygrapes.smugmug.com/photos/314426377_j9k8J-M-1.jpg)
We all wished it was closer... there isn't anything like it down here on the shoreline, where you can get, say, a growler of a tasty house recipe for super cheap. :) So, we'll just have to make another trip out someday. I know we passed LOADS of cool old buildings I can't wait to go back and shoot... and a lot of farm equipment dealerships. ;)
Love the re-order line! lol Sounds like a great day! Love all of your images...as always!
ReplyDeleteAnd FYI - We don't have a GPS either!
sounds like the perfect day.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun day! :) Vinnie and I spent one day before we had kids, and we had our jeep, just following our instructions of take 2 lefts, take a right, etc, to see where we ended up.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine doing that with kids now!
And we don't have GPS either.
By the way, LOVE the frogs!
thanks for the history lesson. i always wondered the significance of those freakin' frogs :) The brewing company is amazing! i went there once a few years back after doing an event for the Windham Theatre Guild. Really awesome food and brewskies...can't go wrong.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely awesome pictures! You really captured the adventure! It was a hoot! MU
ReplyDeleteThat whole GPS thing is too funny....I do the same thing. They don't know the most efficient way...:)
ReplyDelete