Winter's gone -- I mean, really gone this time, no more freak April snowstorms, thank you. Will and I decided to celebrate with a double-Vaya dirt road dandy.
We took Shutesbury Road in Amherst to Pratt Corner Road and then a little further up Montague Road in Shutesbury. A lot of dirt climbing early on a chill spring morn, temps in the 30s at roll-out (7:30 -- ouch! -- because Will had to be back at the
shop in time to open) but more comfortable towards the end. Birds singing, horses in upland pastures, and a good long talk about the recent challenges and rewards of our lives. Somehow, chatting on a bike always amounts to therapy. Then, of course, the payoff: The bomber downill, trying to lay off the brakes on the twisty, pot-holed spring roads. FUN!
Today, I remembered why I bought the Vaya. Thanks for a great ride, Will!
 |
| A chilly, brownish roll-out |
 |
| The apex, somewhere in the Shutesbury woods |
 |
| Will found a perfect tripod to produce the next photo, below |
 |
| Admirals Bird and Scott, as I call us |
We climbed the whole thing...
 |
| … and survived the descent! |
