There’s an air about me when I go on rides. People stop and stare. Mothers hold their children closer and talk in hushed tones. Cars veer into telephone poles. After clipping off my mountain-man beard, I’ve come to understand that it’s not merely my perpetually out-of-place appearance that elicits these responses. The public-at-large has obviously been struck by the unparalleled awesomeness of HB-04, now nicknamed “Grand Toro”.
That silliness aside… After surviving the GRR, it’s time for a ride closer to home similar in both scenery and elevation gain. West we go, deep into the Farmington River Reclusion Zone.
Our first panorama is of Cherry Brook Farm in Canton.
One of the tragedies of riding around New England in the autumn is that all these picturesque farms framed by hills full of foliage start to look alike. (Hang in there, everyone!)
Our destination. It’s spelled Barkhamsted, feel free to pronounce it however you like.
Saville Dam – a view that captures a warped but broad impression of actually occupying the space, ensconced comfortably in the realm of the hyperreal:
Looking outward onto the Bar-CAM-stead Reservoir:
Looking inward towards the spillway into Lake McDonough (Pronunciation? Dunno.):
Finally, Lake McDonough proper:
Closing with a glamour shot of the Great Vehicle itself, Grand Toro. It’s just a bicycle, but it’s a pretty cool one.
