Hidden between steep wooded hills on either side, the pond at the top of Middlesex Notch is a pretty spot. High above it, someone had built a castle-like mountain retreat with a gorgeous panoramic view. But from where I was standing at the southeast end of the lake, I could only see that it was the end of the road. There was no room for a road or even a path around the lake, so steeply did the hills come down to the shore, yet not long ago there was. It was clearly shown on the maps that I used to plan the route. Apparently the Middlesex town highway department had failed to reach an agreement with the local beaver colony limiting the height of the dams they could construct.
My wife Margaret, was accompaning me for this weekend and had dropped me and the bike off only 10 minutes earlier, at a commuter park and ride lot just off exit 10 on Interstate 89. But roads crossing the Worcester mountain range are few and far between. The closest choice was not very appealing. Turn around and go back the five miles to the start of the day's ride, and follow paved roads five or six miles to the next exit on rt 89. Usually I hate to turn back and retrace my steps and to make it worse, I would be riding paved roads along the same route that Margaret had just taken minutes earlier after dropping me and the bike off. It would have been much better to go on with her in the truck for one more exit.
Eventually picking up the route on the other side of the Worcester mountain range, I followed dirt roads along the west flank of the mountains into Stowe.
The route went through the center of Stowe-the most upscale town in Vermont. This mecca for all the finest, trendiest, and most expensive rivals any in all of New England. Me with my mud-splattered Walmart jeans and antique Honda dirt bike-so called because it looks as if it that's what it's made of - clunking and rattling along main street among the shiny and sleek Mercedes, Lexuses and BMWs parading from bistro to boutique. Maybe Stowe's most famous residents, the von Trapp family, were in town that afternoon. I'll know for sure if in a year or so the sequel to "The Sound of Music", ie "The Sound of Music-Extreme Version" comes out with Maria and the kids frolicking in mountain meadows doing double flips and flying supermans ala Travis Pastrana on their dirt bikes-wireless helmet mics allowing them to sing all the while. This would extend the appeal of the Trapp family to a whole new generation and insure a steady stream of visitors to the family's Lodge for decades to come. All thanks to me. I've always been something of a trendsetter, especially in fashion (just ask my kids). Like Al Gore, who invented the internet, I (and a few friends) invented mountain biking while riding our fat-tire coaster-brake American Flyers down the foot trails of the Moose Hill Audubon Sanctuary, years before anyone else had ever thought of it. And now, guests at the Trapp Family Lodge rent them on the grounds, so there you have just one example of my almost unbelieveable impact on the Trapps.
My wife and I visited the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe on our way home. We saw the lodge and even took a picture or two, as much to prove that we were there as anything. The Lodge itself is nice, but not terribly impressive.
The grounds, however, and especially the view, are oustanding and worth a visit. We had a wonderful time walking through the gardens
and admiring the views even though the air was hot and hazy. On a clear day, you could see forever.
I had liked the Sound of Music film, but after our visit I was moved to read the book, which is really much better than the film, less musical, of course, but I highly recommend it. It's true and real, not the shallow sacherine Hollywood fluff of the movie. And I read that the Trapps bought the property for the view-good call on their part. Apparently they had a smidgeon of good taste even before my influence.
On the other side of Stowe, I rode into a scenic hidden valley that few people will ever see as the road degenerated into a mere trail which was almost obliterated by grass and weeds, but which, as so often happens, opened up after awhile into a nice dirt road. However, no car would have ever made it through.
A few more miles and then the 'Fitch Hill Inn' sign kindly welcomed us for the next couple of nights. This classy bed and breakfast is run by a thoughtful couple who continously amazed us with their attention to every detail. We had a very nice stay.
No comments:
Post a Comment