Plenty-of-New-Roads
Tiddler Tour
Steven Rossi
They read like a dossier of allure and intrigue along the road(s) less traveled. North-by-Northwest (2014), Southern Exposure (2015), Go West Young Man (2016), East of Eden (2017), On-the-Trail-of-Nathan Hale (2018), The Merry Ferry (2019), In-Search-of-the-Last-Mohican (2022), Something Old + Something Borrowed + Something New (2023) are but a handful of two-wheeled adventures that we…the cognoscenti…have enjoyed over recent years.
In fact, the annual Tiddler Tours (TT) that I’ve been running here from East Haddam, Connecticut date back to 2009. Since then, we’ve traversed a vast array of enticing two-lanes out in the hinterlands…the majority of which have been paved. But on occasion, a mild dirt stage has had to be thrown in to simply get from Point A to Point B.
So, this year’s July 28, 2024 TT proved to be a bit of a challenge because it was built upon the premise of finding Plenty-of-New-Roads. Not an easy task out here in the rural countryside where rugged geography thankfully dictates and limits roadbuilding opportunity, so the Route layout was developed in reverse. Instead of mapping out the ride with preconceived roads and then looking for an appropriate place to stop for Lunch, an inviting eatery was selected first. Then, a web of roads was strung together to get to and from home base...which happened to be my house. This ensured that “plenty of new roads” would simply just have to be employed.
In case you didn’t know, a “Tiddler Tour” is what we refer to here as an organized ride for early, small bore bikes. It’s modeled after the Moto Giro but it’s only a one-day event. No overnight accommodations or Registration is required. There’s also no timing or scoring. Generally speaking, we like to follow the Giro’s pre-1969, up-to-305cc engine ethic but the truth is…the idea is to really just to get a group of like-minded enthusiasts together and have a good time. So, in fact, you can run what you brung. Shhh…
Therefore, there’s usually a couple of bigger or newer machines that sedately bring up the rear and follow along out back. But the combination of small displacements and big hills ahead…along with some two-stroke smoke…can prove frustrating for them. Which has encouraged more than one follower to join the fun and find himself/herself a Tiddler!
As usual, the morning assemblage of two-wheelers in my driveway represented a United Nations equivalent of motorcycle manufacturers. Italy, Japan, Germany and England were all represented. An unforeseen schedule conflict with an AMCA (Antique Motorcycle Club of America) Yankee Chapter Meet up in Greenfield, Massachusetts kept a few of our regular irregulars away.
After the obligatory coffee, donuts, tire kicking and tall tale telling session we headed for the hills. From East Haddam…Salem, Bozrah, Lebanon and North Franklin were all ports of call (though obviously, we never stopped). Along such topographically diverse roads as Great Hillwood, Rattlesnake Ledge, Scott Hill, Under the Mountain and Robinson Hill. After 42 miles, that strategic restaurant of choice, as previously mentioned, was the Apollo in South Windham. Good quality, large portions, reasonable prices and great service was universally appreciated.
Then it was on to Village Hill, Chesbro Bridge, Witch Meadow and Tater Hill as we made our way back through Lebanon, Colchester and Salem again. Before riding 46 more miles and ultimately arriving in East Haddam to awaiting refreshments.
Meanwhile, Mother Nature couldn’t have been kinder, so many hung around a bit to while away the sunny Sunday and share…more good nature. Other than a boiled over battery and a few more oil spots on the driveway, the Plenty-of-New-Roads Tiddler Tour accomplished its mission. Because a good time was had by all…across some of Eastern Connecticut’s previously unridden pastures of plenty.
