Exploring New Roads and Brews at Two Wrasslin’ Cats Cafe

The Ride

A new coffee shop and a new bike.  One of my favorite things about these coffee rides is the sense of exploration, of discovering something new, and experiencing a place and route that are unfamiliar to you.

Today’s ride would be aboard my new BMW F900GS.  If you listen to our podcast, you may have heard about switching some of the fleet around.  While I downsized from my R1200GSA to a smaller engine capacity, the power output was nearly the same: 105 on the 900 vs. 110 on the 1200.  More importantly, the new bike is 80 pounds lighter, making for a much sportier ride and even better for those off-pavement jaunts.

Today’s ride would lead me to Two Wrasslin’ Cats in central Connecticut.  As I straddled the narrow F900GS and pointed the Beeline Moto 2 compass at my destination, it indicated 61.8 miles in a straight line before I’d get some coffee this morning.  Of course, road distance is always longer than compass distance, so I’d have a decent amount of time before that sweet nectar of caffeine passed my lips.

Connecticut always has a strange relationship with New York, or at least the area around NYC.  We generally think of it as north of the city, but in truth, most of it is northeast.  With that in mind, the compass was pointing east-north-east, so I took Route 35 heading east toward the Connecticut border and the town of Ridgefield, CT.

In Ridgefield, 35 turns north to join Route 7, so I continued east on Route 102, a charming, winding road that descends toward Route 7.  The road switches names, ranging from Branchville Road to Ivy Hill Road and then to Florida Hill Road, until it reaches Route 7.  At Route 7, I turn North just to the next road, Old Redding Road, and resume heading northeast, climbing the hill on the other side of the valley that Route 7 runs along.

Passing through Redding, I followed Poverty Hollow Road, a wonderful, narrow, winding road in the area leading toward Upper Stepney.  I began another descent toward the Housatonic River and the twin cities of Shelton & Derby.  Derby sits at the confluence of the Naugatuck and Housatonic rivers.  I pulled over to enjoy the view and grab a few pictures before crossing the Naugatuck River into East Derby, and then climbed the hill on the other side of the river.

I kissed the northern edge of New Haven and turned north to avoid the more urban riding, as it was just a series of traffic lights and strip malls.  In North Haven, I passed by the Quinnipiac College campus.  Quinnipiac has several campuses in this part of Connecticut, but the North Haven campus is particularly notable for its focus on medicine and law.

Past North Haven, the roads took on a more rural tone and became more fun to ride.  I’d thought I’d found a fun route that would turn into some dirt roads, but it ended up just being a dead end leading toward some hiking trails that contained the New England National Scenic Trail.  Unfortunately, motorized vehicles were prohibited, so I had to backtrack and find some paved alternate routes past the woodlands.

The roads I found eventually led north to Haddam, located along the Connecticut River.  Here I was able to turn back east and quickly found a crossing at Route 82.  The bridge is a swing bridge.  The entire span rotates along a center axis to allow taller ships to pass by.  Crossing the river, the most prominent feature is the Gelston House, built in 1736, with a perfect view of the river.    Originally called the River Slide Inn, it operated as a tavern and dwelling house.  It was bought by the Gelston family in 1776.  Today, it still serves as a restaurant and features guestrooms, but under the current ownership of the Goodspeed Opera Company, the theater has become a notable attraction to enjoy.

I only had a short ride past the small town of East Haddam before I arrived at Two Wrasslin Cats at the T-intersection of Route 82 and Route 151. Pulling into the lot, Rever reported that I’d ridden 82.4 miles adding many curves along the way. See the route below.

REVER is a mobile app designed to help you track, plan, or navigate your ride. With the app, you can easily plan your route, view maps and directions, and track your distance using GPS technology. The app is an excellent tool for anyone who loves to ride and wants to keep track of their progress and distance.  Check out our full review of Rever.

The Coffee Shop

A flat gravel parking lot provides ample space for parking your bike. If you are worried about parking on it, check out our episode on mastering every surface for parking.  The building is an old 1784 house that has been painted in vibrant colors, beckoning you to come in and savor its offerings. A couple of tables are outside in front of the shop, and to the side of the building are more outdoor tables..  You come in and see the counter immediately, and then you can turn to the side to access the seating area.

Two people were behind the counter, one at the espresso machine and the other tending the register.  Both warmly greeted me, and we chatted for a bit.  As I perused the menu, most of the standard fare was available, including standard drip coffee, espresso, americano, latte, and mocha.  One particular drink caught my eye, and I had to ask about it. The owner, Mark, indulged my curiosity lest it kill the cat.  After hearing his description, it sounded like the purrfect one for me, especially with the name, Catnipuccino.

A variety of teas is also available, along with juices, fruit smoothies, and other beverages.  Breakfast & lunch options are also available with several sandwiches.  Some have a fun cat-themed name like the Littermate, which is scrambled eggs with either cheese or meat.

Pictures of cats in every possible variation are here.  My mother loves cats, and she would love this space, as her house had many cat-focused decorations, but nowhere near the number here.  Some rustic tables, each mismatched with a variety of different chairs, give a homey character that is very welcoming.  In speaking with Mark, the owner, I learned many of the cat items had been donated by the community, and some pieces of art were on consignment.

The owner started the shop 12 years ago after a career as a molecular biologist at Pfizer as a retirement business.  However, the feeling of community was a significant draw for him, and he recently turned it into a non-profit to keep the spirit alive.  Patrons regularly bring in more cat paraphernalia, so the decorations continue to grow with new pieces being added all the time.

The space is designed to serve as a community hub, providing a welcoming atmosphere for people of all backgrounds.  Named after the owner’s cats, Larry & Bruno, the cat theme is evident throughout.  There is also a window overlooking a cat play area, so if you feel that cats are being left out, you can visit them. However, you may want to grab a table just overlooking the window.

While they do a lot of takeout business, there is plenty of seating in the back, and I found a few other patrons enjoying their beverages.

I got the Catnipuccino, which is a blended iced drink that may remind you of a Frappuccino.  It was served in a plastic cup with a domed cap to hold the whipped crème.  It was a warm, but not remarkably hot day, so the cool iced beverage was perfect.  I got mine with Java chip and it was flavorful and refreshing…. Perfect for sipping after a long ride.

This part of Connecticut has some great roads purrfect for a motorcycle.  Plenty of nearby attractions like the Gelston House, and a bit further down the river is the Gillette Castle.  Using Two Wrasslin’ Cats as your base offers a great place to get some coffee and food while exploring the nearby area.