Day Thirty One

Bathroom got very wet this morning as our shower curtain was missing. Presume the previous room occupant had been murdered and wrapped in it before being disposed of. Breakfast in the hotel and asked for a shower curtain before heading out for the final day of activities. Travelled north into Hartford and parked for free at the Legislative Office Building Public Parking Garage, which was nice. We then tried to work out how to get to the State Capital without being run over. Eventually figured it out although later on we found out it could have been a lot shorter and easier.

Went through security and set off the metal detector. Had to be wanded by an officer to find the problem which apparently was my belt. Took a self guided tour booklet and set off for a gander. This definitely was the tallest state capitol we've been to but also the least accessible. Both the Senate and House of Representatives were not open which is not usual in itself but both public viewing galleries were also not open. Had to take photos through windows.

Civil War cannonball in a tree

House of Representatives

Gold rotunda

Senate

Stained glass ceiling in the East Wing

Having seen everything we discovered an underground walkway from the Capitol to the Legislative Office Building. In there was a small shop. It wasn't great.  Woman starting talking to us about the UK. The best fish and chips she'd ever had was in London. Didn't have the heart to tell her that is probably the worst place to get it. She thinks Camilla and Charles look like horses. Got a magnet but not ideal. Discovered her eyesight was atrocious as she had to use a magnifying glass to see anything. We managed to get away and into the cafe. Picked up what we wanted but there was no one at the till. Worked out it was self service a bit like a self checkout at a supermarket.

On leaving we walked out and about two seconds to the carpark. Realised we could have entered that way when we had arrived. In the car and headed north to the New England Air Museum. It was quite big with a whole load of stuff. Highlights were a section all about women in early flight, an F19 and a B-.29.

Plane

Huey

F15

Bottom of an airship

B-29

Jeep

Saw a sign on a lift that I didn't believe.

200 people, sure it can

Made Ann go in it to see. She said she didn't think it would.

Got a decent magnet from the shop and then headed for lunch at the Vernon Diner. It was really good. I had a grilled cheese and lattice fries. Ann had something. Our waiter was a young lad and we had a chat with him about the differences between the US and UK. Picked up some desserts to go to have tonight. 

Then just as we were about to leave it happened. We've waited the entire trip for this moment and I suddenly noticed a man who had come in and sat down across the room from me. Managed to sneak a picture.

Dan Doppelganger!!

He may have white hair and a white beard but there was no mistaking it, the normal trip viewing of Dan Thomas had occurred. Celebrated although Ann had no idea what I was trying to communicate to her until we got outside.

Headed back to the hotel to drop the desserts off and found shower curtain had arrived. Headed to Safari Golf just across from our hotel. We both started with a hole in one and then I managed a second in a row but that was as good as it got.  It was the first course we've ever played which had African animals littered throughout.

Giraffes

Elephants

There were three shots in it at the turn and then a triple bogey from me on 14 brought it down to one shot. Unfortunately three bogeys in the last four holes undid Ann's challenge. Final result was:

Knightley - 43

Roffe - 47

We then headed to a garage to top up with cheap fuel ahead of tomorrow's final trip back to New York.

Now about to eat the dessert and pack everything neatly ready for the flight home.

States visited - 14