Despite a few Murphy attacks (Nothing we can't handle), we've arrived in Vermont for our eighth (Ed's tenth) fall bicycle ride. We left Braintree around 8:45, arrived at Frank's house in Arlington at 9:00, and heard about our first "snafu", the first hitch in our giddy up, the first monkey in the wrench. It turns out, Frank's front left tire had a slow leak caused by a screw he'd picked up somewhere. We chose to put that in Frank and Johnny's able hands. Ed, Deb, Judy, and I off loaded a few bags, got into Johnny's car, and made our way to Putney to West Hill Bicycle shop to pick up our rented bikes. We agreed to meet Frank and Johnny there later. The second snafu, the second hitch in our giddy up, the second monkey in our wrench happened when I tried to put Judy's bike back together. We had it shipped to Vermont. In the process the rack holding the battery suffered a little damage. (By the end of our first ride, the battery would vibrate completely off the bike-no real damage done). Upon further examination, I've concluded that the design of the battery housing is weak. No worries. I can make it work for the week. We'll lodge a complaint when we get home. We had at least two hours before Frank and Johnny would arrive, so Ed, Deb, Judy and I went for a ten mile shake down ride. The weather was Vermont perfect. When we got back to West Hill, Frank and Johnny were waiting. We all proceeded to Ludlow to our rented house on Echo Lake. OMG! Let me repeat: OMG! This is the best house we've ever rented (Way to go Drouin's). On the way here, we were appraised of our third snafu, the third hitch in our giddy up, the third monkey in our wrench. On the drive from Putney to Ludlow, Johnny's car started making noises that sounded like the wailing of tortured wraiths. None of us have a clue about mechanics, so we've decided not to worry until Monday when we'll find a local mechanic. In the meantime, we've all had a little wine, a little rest, a little food, and the very good cheer of being back together. The weather for the week promises to be all that Vermont offers: some bright, some chilly, some brilliant, and some quite sufferable. Our bikes are in good order. We've put in enough stores for the week, and all of us have selected fine sleeping quarters. We've even availed ourselves of one of the modern electronic wonders of our world: Netflix. We're currently snuggled in front of a warm fire watching Anne with an E, which tugs at our heart strings. For balance, we'll follow that with an episode of Peaky Blinders, which will remind us (sadly, but irresistibly) of what seems to be prominent human values: greed, deception, betrayal, violence, expedience, graft, revenge, and self preservation. Ain't life great, or at least good, especially today.
Packed to the gills, we took off from Johnny's early this morning. Traffic was smooth and light through Boston.
Five full grown adults and their gear all mushed into a 1998 Honda.
Judy's bike, ready for assembly after a cross country trip from Spokane.
It may be a record. We rode one tenth of a mile before we realized we hadn't eaten lunch. We ate a deli sandwich, a few chips, and bottles of water before heading out on a ten mile ride along Putney's quintessential River Road.
The view of Echo Lake when I first walked into the house in Ludlow.
Four bedrooms, a pool table, a ping-pong table, several kayaks, a canoe, a well equipped kitchen, a lakeside fire pit, wifi, comcast, Netflix, and more.
One end of the main sitting room which looks out over the lake.
The dock.
Selfie of the day: Me on the dock, bourbon in hand.
Our hosts must be alumni of Holy Cross just as Johnny is.
Francois, holding court.
Deb and Ed, our master planners, planning the next leg of their trip: Upstate New York. It's one adventure to the next for them.
My Bunny, laying out the fixings for meatloaf sandwiches (Baked yesterday) for dinner.
The crew, stunned like roadkill, sit mesmerized in front of one Netflix series after another. Actual bike riding will occur tomorrow.
Who says Boomer's are unacquainted with modern media.
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