First there was the Pennsylvania trip (that they ran a recon on in the pouring rain), those who went on that trip have done nothing but praise for the entire adventure, from the Scenic views to the footplate dragging, fringe cutting roads. Then there was Greylock and the Western and Central Massachusetts tour, and today it was A ride to Vermont and Barbecue.
The day started for most with a 9am A.O.B. at Dunkin Donuts in Montville, then a ride to Colchester and a meet with 3 other bikes, From there the contingent ran north to Hartford Ct and rte 91 to Warehouse Point to collect the final batch of riders and don helmets for the ride into the Helmet capitals of New England; Massachusetts and Vermont.
With Mellon protectors in place Les and Adriane led us up 91 through Massachusetts to Vermont exit 4, Putney for lunch at the "9th Wonder of the World" Curtis BBQ . Check out their website for details. Good music, a friendly hog, and fantastic food even if the ambiance is a little...southern school bus? (Check out the NLMC photo link for pictures, (Club rides)). The only incident on the way up is when a non- club bike, with a man and woman on-board folded into the group at a construction site on 91 and failed to notice the merging cars that slowed the club. the interloper figured out that a rapid deceleration was required and at the last moment locked up the rear tire on their bike and left a cloud of tire smoke in the air for all to savour.
After devouring copious amounts of Chicken, ribs, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, collard greens and Corn bread the club made a fuel stop, then headed north on rte 5 and crossed over the Connecticut River into New Hampshire at Walpole to pick up route 12 north. then they led us on an across country tour of New Hampshire on roads that combined curves and drops and climbs that kept everyone interested. the trip ran east then south on routes 10,9,12A ,202,123 and into Petersborough Vermont for a re-hydration and (dehydration ) stop. At Petersborough a few of the members sped off for a fast ride home via rte 91 south . for those left it was back south into Massachusetts and rte 2 to 202 down through Ware and Palmer for the final fuel stop. From Palmer Les and Adriane made a repeat visit (for those that missed the previous weeks ride) to Westview Farms in Monson for Ice Cream or food depending on the person. After eating and feeding the goats it was back on bikes and south into Connecticut on rte 32 and home.
I have to say The Cropleys can plan as many trips as they wish and if at all possible I will be there.
Total bikes including trikes was 20 with Charlie and Mike Holmes bringing up the rear in Charlies truck.
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