Many go to Hubbard Park in the Fall to take in the beautiful views of the changing leaves at the castle (link to Fall visit at bottom).
But in the Spring there are fields of daffodils – or so I always heard. The weekend crowds always discouraged me. But today is Thursday and it’s my birthday so off I went for the spring daffodils and to take a birthday bike ride up the mountain side to Castle Craig!
The beautiful daffodils had me recall and look up the romantic words of William Wordsworth who wrote his Daffodil poem inspired by a similar sight.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance
The waves beside them danced, but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not be but gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed – and gazed – but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. “
The ride up to the Castle was a bit steep at times but so satisfying once you reach the top!
You can see Sleeping Giant beyond on this clear day.
Warning to keep hold of your brakes on the way down! A great day for a birthday!
https://btographytravels.com/2020/11/22/ct-meriden-new-haven-park-hubbard-park-castle-craig/
Pivot and Pause in New England 