U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy wrapped up what he calls his “favorite week of the year” as the 48-year-old Democrat finished his sixth “Walk Across Connecticut” on Friday in New Haven.

Murphy, trading in his business suit for shorts and a T-shirt, makes it his mission to visit places off the beaten path while talking to constituents on the ground. Embarking in a kayak on the Housatonic River and spending time along the Appalachian Trail, Murphy walked 69 miles through 14 towns.

“In this kind of job you have to guard against being put in a bubble,” Murphy said. “There’s a danger — that you can come to believe what’s dominating the TV news cycle or what’s being talked about in Washington — actually matters to your state. This keeps me grounded.”

Murphy started the annual walk in 2016 as a way to hear about issues that people find important outside of the typical political chatter.

“There is a symbolism to the walk,” Murphy said. “It’s part of trying to reach out to the people of Connecticut who maybe don’t ever write or call my office. It’s the idea that I’m willing to go to great lengths to get this job right and talk to everyone.”

Each day on this year’s four-day walk, Murphy walked 15 to 20 miles.

“It sounds corny, but I do fall in love with the state every time I walk across it,” Murphy said. “The state is so beautiful and each time I see it is in a totally different way.”

But while some residents stop to just talk about life and grab a beer, Murphy said he hears a lot of the same concerns over the years.

“Generally people talk about personal issues or things affecting their town,” Murphy said. “It’s normally not the issues in the headlines that people talk about. I hear about the same set of economic and safety issues year to year. This is an important reminder for me to keep working on the same issues people care about.”

The Highland Park shooting in Illinois — which left seven people dead and 46 wounded at an Independence Day parade — happened on the first day of Murphy’s walk.

“Gun safety became a more frequent topic of discussion than previous years,” Murphy said. “We just passed an important gun bill so it was something people were asking a lot about.”

President Joe Biden last month signed into law the first major gun safety legislation passed by Congress in nearly 30 years.

The legislation, a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Murphy, includes incentives for states to pass so-called red flag laws that allow groups to petition courts to remove weapons from people deemed a threat to themselves or others.

“Just another reminder on the importance of the work being done to ensure gun safety,” Murphy said.

Other issues Murphy said he hears frequently include the cost of living, wages, quality of schools and safety of neighborhoods.

“These kitchen table issues always dominate the conversation,” Murphy said. “The economy is always on the minds of voters. Schools are another important issue that draws a lot of interest. These issues remain a focus.”

Murphy said the most important lessons he learns from walking are what’s happening on the municipal level in towns across the state.

“When I was walking through Bethany and Woodbridge, I was approached frequently about local issues,” Murphy said. “Those towns just came through a pretty brutal school budget process that saw some conspiracy theories over inclusion and critical race theory. A lot of people just wanted to talk to me about their thoughts on it. It also allows me to learn about local issues.”

As far as holding this event every year, Murphy said he plans to do it for as long as he is physically able.

“I’m getting older,” Murphy said. “There will come a day when I can’t do this anymore. But as for now I will continue to do this for as long as I am able.”