Chris Murphy's 6th walk across the state starts on water

Jul. 5—U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy began his sixth annual "Walk Across Connecticut" Monday on the Fourth of July holiday, embarking in a kayak on the Housatonic River and spending time along the Appalachian Trail.

Murphy stated in a post on Twitter that he traveled for about 20 miles by river and road on Monday.

While taking his journey across the state, Murphy will hear from residents on a variety of topics and take that information back to Washington D.C.

During his first day on the road, Murphy said he spoke with residents about high-speed internet access, gas prices and mass shootings — an issue the democrat has doggedly tried to address since Sandy Hook, ushering in a landmark, bipartisan gun violence bill last month that is the most far-reaching response by Congress in decades.

Besides talking with residents, Murphy also took the time to enjoy local cafés, and enjoyed the company of a couple fishing in Litchfield County.

While Murphy was in Cornwall, he received a visit from First Selectman Gordon Ridgeway who gave him some squash and maple syrup from his farm.

Falls Village First Selectman Henry Todd, Salisbury First Selectman Curtis Rand and State Rep. Maria Horn, D-Cornwall, also spent time with Murphy on Monday.

Murphy's planned trail and itinerary takes him through the western part of the state this year, headed south from Litchfield to New Haven. The walk will end on Thursday, July 7 in New Haven.

Collin covers East Windsor and Windsor Locks for the Journal Inquirer.