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Post Toymaker’s Report from the CXT in CT:
5:30am came early enough  , and four of us headed out from our pre-determined rendezvous point in Madison, CT. It was light enough to navigate at that time (according to the almanac sunrise was 5:20am) and the morning fog made it even more exciting. 
The four riders (horsemen?) began their adventure:
RichNCT and his newest 83 GL650I (“Storm”)
Dead-eye Dave and his newly acquired 83 CX650Eurosport (Y”E”llow)
ELindy and his GL1500 Goldwing (aka our “support” vehicle)
And myself on the 83 CX650 Turbo (aka turboBEER)
RichGinCT was a no-show on his 98 ST1100 (“faST”) 
We’re off!! heading in a general north westerly direction along the state roadways and back roads of CT on our way to “nirvana” at Toymaker’s Café (and http://ct.local.yahoo.biz/t100toymakers/index.html) in Falls Village, CT (in the northwest corner of “cozy” CT). The roadways were dry for the most part despite showers and thunderstorms that blew though the state the night before. None of us are afraid to ride on wet roads or in the rain, but dry roads are always preferable and a good indication of an enjoyable ride. 
The first highlight was the “Lyman” ridge along the “Orchard” parkway in Middlefield. Dead-eye Dave went as far as here as he had another appointment at 6:30am with NortonLarry for another rendezvous with a British bike meet in Auburn MA (Quote RichNCT: Dave rode with us as far as Lyman Orchards, because “at 5:30 AM there is nothing better to do”)
It was nice getting out of the cold wet foggy valleys up onto the ridge and the warm sunlight of the morning. After a brief stop to admire the view (and clean the wet coating of condensation off our face shields, glasses, mirrors and, and wind screens) we’re headed north west again.
A brief stretch of open superslab on I-691 & I-84W, and we’re onto State highway 8 North at Waterbury, CT for again a foggy divided highway run up to Torrington, CT and some more back roads cruising. Just the occasional 4 wheeled vehicle, State Police trooper, and our “crew” along that stretch.
After a quick spin halfway around the Goshen Rotary (It’s literally a 3 foot diameter circular island in the middle of the four-way intersection) we cruised past the wildlife refuge park with the man-made animal shelters of piled stones onto to our next scenic attraction the covered bridge of West Cornwall, CT.
What a nice well-kept covered wooden bridge, I though in my mind as we traveled across it. I always enjoy that part of the trip. These attractions are a rarity in southern New England. Onward to Route 7 /112 along to Lime Rock Park (a small road course raceway snuggled in the hills of northwestern Connecticut which hosts vintage and classic car shows, races, and a driving school)  . A quick right-hand turn at the old stone church directly across from the park’s entrance leading onto a local town road discovered by our leader from his canoeing with the scouts along the Housatonic River which parallels the roadway, and provides another nice attractive element to the morning’s ride. A scenic detour to our destination and we reach the familiar hydroelectric dam, spillway and power plant where some of us have began many a canoeing adventure in the past (its great to run that section when the hydro plant does its daily water release), and across the one-lane steel bridge and local road leading around the back side of the still functioning power plant.
Another ½ mile puts you on Main Street in Falls Village and Toymaker’s is the yellow building with the open porch on your right. There was only one other motorcycle rider in the parking lot when we arrived around 7:30am (they open at 7).
Both Greg and Annie (the owners) were happy to see us (and I thinking they remembered us too from previous visits). We came for the sausage, biscuits and gravy so RichNCT, ELindy and myself all ordered, received a mug for a cup of there own coffee  (my mug had the British Union Jack on it, R.N. had a Triumph mug, and E.L. had a Norton logo on his).
After some coffee, a great breakfast, and some good camaraderie (even Greg came out from behind the grill to chat for a bit with us) we went “exploring” around the dirt parking lot, and admired a vintage Agusta? (Italian) racer, a newer Yamaha sport-tourer and an older BMW sport-tourer. Toymaker’s is always a great place to admire “unique” bikes.
After filling our belly’s with biscuits & gravy and coffee, and doing some “window shopping in the parking lot” we were off again cruising the back roads of the Litchfield hills taking a slightly different route back to the superslab and home (by 11am!) refreshed for the rest of the day’s work.
The “locals” (CT, MA SENY, etc.) and others passing though should check out this place. Nice country roads and rolling hills perfect for MC riding, great food, some great people to meet & greet and “window shopping” too (in the parking lot or the old bike barn out back) you won’t be disappointed you detoured through or made it your “destination”
With our inaugural run to Toymakers the riding season in Connecticut has officially started for us!!
-KevinInCT
82 GL500 (rootBEER)
83 CX650T (turboBEER)
01 Polaris XC500SP (blueBEERd)
Another great article on Toymakers’s:
http://fallsvillageblog.blogspot.com/2007/05/happy-anniversary-toymakers.html
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