Walk Across Connecticut — Day 5

In case you missed it, I decided to walk across Connecticut. I started in Killingly near the RI border and ended (today!) in Danbury. Check out my recaps from along the way — Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4.

Five days, 105 miles and 200,000+ steps later and my second walk across Connecticut is officially over. Here’s what I saw on my last day on the road.

This one’s a little shorter than normal, so I hope you’ll read all the way to the bottom.

Last day of my walk across Connecticut. Miles 95–105. Short day. Started here in gorgeous Newtown after last night’s big town hall.

Stopped to chat with the guys at Sugar Hill Auto. “We want some adults in Washington,” they said. “So would I,” I replied.

Some nice company as I enter Bethel. “Nothing else really matters if we don’t protect the climate and voting rights,” they tell me.

Met some friendly people and had a delicious blueberry muffin at Jacqueline’s Restaurant in Bethel.

Look what Kathleen put outside her flower shop on Bethel!

I’m going full Dr. Doolittle for the last half mile. Look who joined me for the home stretch.

What an amazing crowd that came to meet me at the finish line!

I want to end my last recap with a story that I’ve told a couple times along the way this week at my town halls.

When I first got elected to the House of Representatives, a former Congressman from Connecticut wrote me a letter with ten pieces of advice in it. And #10 is one that has stuck with me during my years of public service.

It said, every night as you leave your office, look back behind you at the Capitol building bathed in light, and feel that little shiver that runs down your spine. And if there ever comes a night when you look at the Capitol and you don’t feel that shiver, turn around, walk back to your office and go write your resignation letter.

I still look at the Capitol when I leave my office each night, and I still feel that little shiver run down my spine. Because I think it is absolutely amazing that I get to do this job.

Part of the reason why I wanted to walk across the state was to show people how much this work means to me, and how seriously I take the responsibility that the people of Connecticut have given me. I’ve been in this job for four years, and I’m still learning every single day. There are conversations I had on this walk that have pushed me to learn more and get sharper on issues that matter to the people I’ve met.

Your comments and your stories and your questions help make me a better Senator, and I’m grateful to all of you for being a part of this with me.

HIGH FIVE!