Inadvertent Roubaix

 August 19, 2024

Boy and the Boot

After D2R2, I drove up to Rutland to see Ann and didn't ride on the Sunday after because I was still sore from Saturday. I took Monday off from work and went for a morning ride south of Rutland .

Heading south from Rutland I rode along Route 7 till I got to North Clarendon and then headed down a parallel route, 7A, to avoid RT 7 where it becomes more of a highway. 

Eventually, I had to ride Route 7 because I was trying to stay solely on pavement.  RWGPS said this route was all paved. The highway portion of RT 7 ends at Wallingford and there was a wide enough shoulder so I didn't mind the cars whizzing by me at 60+ miles an hour.

Riding through Wallingford, VT, I passed by the Boy and the Boot, a fountain statue in front of the Wallingford Inn.  

Heading south of Wallingford, Route 7 becomes a two lane highway with little to no shoulder. Here the road crosses over the Green Mountain Railroad line that heads south to Manchester, VT.

Despite the speeding cars, who do give you ample space when passing, this is a really pretty route between the Green Mountains to the left and the Taconics to the right.

Turning onto Dugway Road I found dirt. Not just any dirt but a 17% dirt road climb. I went back and looked at my routes trying to figure out how I missed this until I realized I mapped this route out with Garmin Connect instead of RWGPS.  That's how I missed the fact that there dirt roads.

A nice Cat 3 climb into the Taconics

New rule of thumb, if the grade is over 10% on a side road assume it will be dirt.

This was the Energizer Bunny of climbs.

Finally a bit of civilization

but it kept climbing

and climbing

and climbing

and some more climbing.

At the top of the climb there was a great view

and some pretty flowers.

There was a good view of the debris field at White Rocks.

Then there were some nice dirt rollers

The dirt road ended at VT Route 140 and a wicked downhill run back to Wallingford.

Crossed over the train tracks

and then Otter Creek.

Found yet another unmarked dirt road. Even RWGPS doesn't have this one.

Round Hill has a very volcanic shape to it.

Nice sight lines but sadly, as of May 8, 2026, that tree is no longer.

Found some cows!

Get along little dogie!

Got a little Foamer action, too.

That's the nice thing about living near Rutland Junction. There's always trains to be seen.