Yesterday I made the trek up to Bear Mountain in Salisbury, CT and was, as so often, greeted with weather changing for the worse. It was beautiful as always, but there was rain mixed with sleet blowing in from the east up top. Anyhow, nice thing was, on the way up I passed a couple from New York descending who highly recommended a tea room in Salisbury, Chaiwalla right at the intersection of Rts. 41 and 44.
I completed my hike a few hours later, then went looking for the tea place. The directions were imprecise and I didn't remember the name, and I wandered around Salisbury and Lakeville in my car looking for the tea room. No luck. About to give up, I googled it on my droid, found it and called. It was 6:01 pm. Mary, the proprietor, answered.
"Are you open?"
"We close at 6."
"Just my luck!" I explained that I'd been looking around for 10-15 minutes, that the couple (who were regulars) had recommended her, could she kindly tell me where she was so I'd know next time in town?
"I can serve you a pot of tea. Come on over." Then she gave me better directions. I was 500 feet away.
The room was magnificent. Mary serves very fine teas, a wide selection. I had soothing jasmine. If the three berry cobbler I had (I shouldn't've, but come on!) and the looks of the remaining sample were any indication, her baked goods are amazing.
Mary has met many thru-hikers, section- and day hikers along the way, has trail angeled and hikes herself. She and the remaining patrons made for good company. The room was of a medium size for a tea room and, as to be expected in Salisbury, very clean, tasteful and well furnished and decorated in calm earthy tones.
For a generous helping of the cobbler and a pot of jasmine I paid $12 plus tip. Reasonable for such a nice tea room - a worthwhile luxury for someone with weary feet. I highly recommend this friend of the trail to other friends.