Coffee Ride to Wilson’s Bakery & Cafe - Kent, CT
The Ride
An early departure meant cooler temps of around 60F, so I had to kick on the lightest heated grip setting on the BMW R18 Classic this morning. The coffee shop for today is in the popular motorcycle destination of Kent, CT, and the Beeline was 33.2 miles. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline.
Departing Cross River, I head north on 121 and make a right where it intercepts Route 6, followed by a left onto Joe’s Hill Road. At the end of this, a right onto Federal Hill Road. This crosses into Connecticut and passes by Farrington’s Pond.
This road nearly connects again with Route 6, but I make a hard left onto Aunt Hack Road, a steep hill climbing up from the valley where Route 6 and Interstate 84 sit. The road splits into one way in each direction, so a quick left and a right get me back onto Aunt Hack off Cedar Crest Drive.
I pass the Richter Park Golf Course as the road bisects the park, so watch for golf carts trying to cross. Just after the course, the road makes a 90-degree right and becomes Middle River Road, heading north.
I make a right where it ends at King Street. The road winds for a short while then ends at Route 39. This is a light that can take a long time. You’ll see a gas station across the street to your right. A left here gets us heading in the direction of the compass arrow again momentarily, and then it starts heading west before finally turning back to the north. If I could go straight where we turned onto King, we would end up about where Route 39 turns north.
There is a fork in the road where 39 starts heading east, so I turn left onto Warwick Road, which aligns better with the Beeline compass pointing north. The road ends at Route 37.
I turn right onto Route 37 as I have to head northeast according to the compass. The road starts heading south, finally connecting with Route 39. If I’d stayed on 39 instead of the left, I would have wound up in the same place.
I follow 39 as it now heads north alongside Candlewood Lake. The road becomes a causeway splitting Candlewood Lake and Squantz Pond, named after a chief of the Schaghticoke Tribe.
A bit further north, I connect with Route 37 again as I enter the town of Sherman, CT, the least populated town in Fairfield County. If you come through the town, stop at The American Pie Company. They have a great selection of baked goods and food and have served the area for 30 years!
Both 39 and 37 in the area of Candlewood Lake make a lot of turns, so either can be a fun road. 37 stays slightly further from Candlewood Lake to the west, while 39 runs alongside it. Where 39 and 37 diverge again just outside the downtown of Sherman, I turn left, heading north on Route 39 as it aligns better with my compass pointer.
39 connects with Route 55, and here I make a right, heading east to connect with Route 7, where I turn left and head north. Route 7 is a popular north-south route for motorcycles. It has several winding curves as it follows along the Housatonic River. I pass Bulls Bridge, one of 2 covered bridges still used for traffic in Connecticut.
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.
Route 7 continues north, leading to Kent, CT. I find Wilson’s on the right and grab a spot on the opposite side of the street with the recorded track by Rever at 49.6 miles. See the route below.
The Coffee Shop
Kent, Connecticut, is a popular destination for motorcycles. Part of Litchfield County, Kent, has three boarding schools, and the Schaghticoke Indian Reservation is within the town. The town borders Dutchess County in NY to the west.
The famous Housatonic River bisects the town, and the Kent Falls State Park empties its 17 waterfalls into the river. Route 7 follows along it and is a great motorcycle option. The fall foliage along 7 is another great scenic ride.
Wilson’s is right on Main Street as you come into Kent from the south, just north of the intersection with Route 341. At that intersection is a gas station that is often filled with bikes. A few hundred feet west on Route 341 is a Royal Enfield dealer. A riding buddy recently purchased a Royal Enfield Scram from them and had great things to say about the experience.
Along the main street of Kent, you’ll often find motorcycles parked along all the shops downtown, so you know you are in the perfect spot for motorcycles.
There are seats outside Wilson’s in front of Main Street and the back near another parking area. The inside has a fireplace with some leather chairs, a couch, and a couple of larger tables with wooden chairs. A tall ceiling, almost like a cathedral with exposed beams and clear chisel marks, added an old farmhouse look to the space.
Behind the counter, a chalkboard highlights the menu options. Coffee includes drip coffee, cappuccino, americano, macchiato, espresso, and several latte variants. Several iced versions are also available. Beyond coffee, several teas, fresh juices, and smoothies are available. Breakfast options are also on offer, including sandwiches like egg & cheese. Lunch has a variety of sandwiches and salads available.
Wilson’s creates their own baked goods with several muffins, croissants, biscuits, bagels, and cookies at hand.
Wilson’s is part of a larger mission of High Watch. Please see their site for more details.
The Refreshments
I ordered a cappuccino and a chocolate croissant. My cappuccino was served in a branded paper cup and sleeve, and my chocolate croissant in a bag with the Wilson’s logo imprinted.
The croissant was light and flaky, with just the right amount of crunch on the crust. I find too many croissants miss out on the importance of the texture, while this example was perfection in the mouth.
The cappuccino had a nice foam, and the earthy flavor balanced it perfectly. It was a perfect pick-me-up after the chilly ride.
