Walk Across Connecticut 2018 — Day 3

In case you missed it, I decided to walk across Connecticut. I started in Hartland near the MA border and will be ending in New Haven. Check out my recaps from along the way — Day 1 and Day 2.

Today was a perfect Connecticut day, which was a good thing because my legs are beginning to revolt. It started in New Britain, included a midday town hall in Meriden, and ended with a great surprise.

Let’s get right into the full recap:

21 miles today and for the first time during the walk, my legs are in a fit of revolt.

I’m rocking a Voltron: Defender of the Universe tee today. You will only know what this is if your childhood was either mid 80s (original show) or present day (Netflix reboot).

First stop of the morning was at Avery’s Soda in New Britain. I was excited to get a tour (and a cold cream soda) from the owner, Rob.

Avery’s is known for their custom labels and I walk in to see a Walk Across Connecticut label they designed for my visit today!

My mom spent her childhood in New Britain and I grew up drinking Avery’s so I was especially excited about the label — I think this means I’ve finally made it.

John found me on my way in to Meriden. We had a great chat about health care and the Russia investigation.

In Kensington, a few people stop to talk to me about their opposition to open borders. One guy tells me he thinks 99% of what he reads in the Hartford Courant is “fake news.” It’s a reminder of how tough it can be to have conversations these days when we’re operating off of two different narratives.

I’ve never met a Democrat in Congress who wants open borders or who doesn’t believe in enforcing immigration laws. But when you start from a place in which people think that’s what Democrats believe in, it makes it tough to have a rational conversation. Similarly, when Democrats believe that the underlying motivation for people who have concerns about undocumented workers in this country is racism, it makes the conversation tough too. So we’ve both got to come out of our corners in order to have a more rational dialogue.

These conversations are good but I need to pick up the pace if I’m going to make it to Meriden on time for my afternoon town hall.

There’s a great crowd gathered for the town hall at the Meriden Senior Center. We talk about immigration, urban farming, health care and more.

Thanks to everyone who took time out of their Saturday to join me in Meriden. Now off to Wallingford!

Picked up some lunch at Cumby’s. I assume this is real, not processed rib meat. Right? Right? (Not going to lie: it was more delicious than I could have imagined.)

I walk by the German Singing Club in Meriden and sadly I don’t have time to stop. I’ve been there before and it’s as fun as it sounds.

I pop in to say thanks to the Wallingford Fire Department. Big night tonight — town fireworks at Sheehan at 9pm!

These guys at Redwood Grille are very fun to talk to. They just finished cleaning out their restaurant’s grease trap and were fired up to be done with the work day. “No offense”, one said. “But you don’t look like a f — -ing Senator.”

The weather is perfect as begin my last leg of the day. I’ve said it before, but doing this walk makes me fall in love with the natural beauty of our state all over again.

The day ends with one more surprise — my wife Cathy comes to meet me and walk with me for the last mile! We artfully avoided getting hit by cars on windy Mount Carmel Ave in Hamden.

Cathy and I cross the finish line together — It’s a perfect way to end Day 3.

I told the crowd assembled at the town hall today that the one of the big reasons why I do this walk is that I want to show people just how much this job means to me and how seriously I take the responsibility the people of Connecticut have given me.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with me. Frankly, I’d be shocked if they did. But I want them to know that their opinions matters to me. Their problems and their ideas and their hopes matter to me.

I started my walk this morning just a few blocks away from the housing projects in New Britain where my mom spent her childhood. Now, her son is a United Stated Senator. It’s not lost on me just how special that is — or how uniquely American.

The conversations I had today encouraged me, challenged me and inspired me. I’ve got 11 miles to go tomorrow and I’m looking forward to even more dialogue during my last day on the road. Onward to New Haven!