Tuesday morning we decided to ride out to Florence and Ann wanted to try riding the Ridley. She got this bike from a friend last summer but it didn't fit her well because this particular model, the Helix, had a seat post that was part of the frame. We tried it last fall but it was just too tall for her so I cut it down and put a very large seat post clamp on it.
Now the bike fits her pretty good but I need to replace the set back seat post with a non set back to move her a little closer to the bars.
We headed out on West Street and rode by this marker for the Hubbardton Military Road. The day before we visited the Hubbardton Battlefield and it was especially poignant seeing this marker because of the significance of that battle. It was the only Revolutionary War battle fought on Vermont soil and while it was technically a defeat, the purpose was to delay British forces so that the main body on the Continental Army that was retreating from Fort Ticonderoga could regroup. The battle did delay the British forces so technically it was successful but at a terrible price. The British were eventually defeated at the Battle of Saratoga.
We rode past Wilson Castle, which unlike Billings Farm, doesn't have much of a rich and colorful history. It's namesake coming from the last owner, Col Herbert Lee Wilson, a pioneer in AM Radios and later a World War II veteran. Touted as Vermont's only castle, its used for weddings and haunted tours.
We rode through Proctor and then down a road that I hadn't been on yet called Beaver Pond Road, which passes by a crystal clear pond. I knew that there was an old railroad line that came through here that went out to one of the marble quarries called the Clarendon & Pittsford Railroad.
The dirt road pictured above parallels the road we were riding, Florence Road, and it went up a considerable grade. I might have to try riding the railroad bed the next time I come through on my gravel bike.
Not a lot to see in Florence
but it has a nice flat section.
We rode by the active portion of the railroad
and it climbs quite a bit.
With these grades they must be only to move a few cars at a time.
Then we turned onto Whipple Hollow Road and past a few cows
another cow farm along the road before we started climbing.
Just a Cat 4 hill
that Ann wasn't liking with her road gearing.
More cows
Finally done climbing and now it's all down hill from here.
Center Rutland Falls
This is where it all came together.
Riding down West Street we got a glimpse of Killington
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