LONG ISLAND LOOP AROUND PECONIC BAY

I have been wanting to do this ride for over a year now. Figured we would wait for a nice Saturday weather wise then hop the ferry out of New London, CT to Orient Point, Long Island, NY. Of course, nice Saturday's came and went and we always seemed to have something else to do. Finally, a few weeks ago we committed that if it was going to be a reasonable weather day on September 24, then we would go. It was, so we went.

Leaving New London, CT on the 6:30 am ferry.

Enjoying coffee and a muffin.

Arrival at Orient Point, Long Island, NY.

Getting ready to disembark.

The ride was planned as a loop around Peconic Bay, first going west along the North Fork of Long Iisland, then turning at Riverhead, NY and heading east along the South Fork of Long Island, then taking the ferry across to Shelter Island then another ferry back to the North Fork and return to Orient Point. About 81 miles total, which is our longest single day ride to date. Terrain was mostly flat, so made for an easy ride.

Our route around Peconic Bay, Long Island.

Heading out from Orient Point, NY.

Lavender Farm. Missed the blooms by a couple of weeks.

Lavender Farm.

Greenport, NY. Setting up for Maritime Festival.

Along the route.

Lots of vineyards on the North Fork.

Taking a break at Harbes Farm.

Cider donuts and coffee, a good combination.

Outside the Big Duck.

Eating lunch behind the Big Duck.

Receiving a history lesson about the area.

Laura went to college in Southampton at Southampton College, so we took a tour of her old campus. It is now owned by Stony Brook University which is working to fix it up.

Laura's freshman dorm.

Laura's sophomore dorm.

On campus.

Windmill on campus.

Streets of Southampton, NY

More Southampton, NY.

Getting some ice cream at Sip'n Soda in Southampton. I tried their famous Lime Richey. Good, but not my thing.

Outside Sip'n Soda.

South ferry to Shelter Island.

On route on Shelter Island.

North ferry from Shelter Island.

Sunset at Truman Beach.

Made it back to Orient Point for the 8:00 ferry back to New London, CT. We had a nice ride, but found Long Island to be very congested with traffic, due mostly to the limited number of roads in the east and west directions. When we ere able to get off the main routes, it was certainly more enjoyable. It is a beautiful place, however, with lots of deer, picturesque views, and quaint towns.

Click HERE to see more photos on Flickr.