s an Alfista (UNA Alfista, not UNO Alfista) since 1980, I am very honored to write this "Il Reporto del Giro". To begin, let me tell you that the idea of the Monadnock Tour is that of a gentleman named John Percival, an AONE member who, with his wife Peg, lives here in Peterborough during the best part of the year weather-wise (excuse me, but I was born in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). John and Peg also have a residence in Florida. At one of the AONE venues, my husband Guilherme and I met John, Peg, their daughter Heather, and her husband Keith. All four are Alfisti of Cuore Sportivo, although Keith (maybe due to the New Hampshire weather) drives an Audi TT [at least it’s red—Ed.]. Our connection grew as fast as Alfa engines rev up, in part due to the fact that John and Peg have lived many years in Brazil.

John had approached Tom Lesko with his idea for a tour around the back roads of the Monadnock region sometime before the convention. Thanks to the teamwork between John, Tom, Guilherme and Dave Pratt, and the great attendance in spite of very short notice, Il Giro materialized.

On Sunday, September 26th, John, Peg, Guilherme and I made a dry run. John and Peg had double-checked every detail the prior Friday. The map that John drew is already a collectible. The weather forecast for October 3rd kept changing by the minute on the trail of yet another tropical storm, but since "God is from the Monadnock" (I’ll have to explain that, or at least try to, in another article), at the very closing bell when the invitation went out via email to the club, it looked like it would be perfect weather for Sunday, October 3rd. And indeed it was.  

From the meeting place at the Percival’s home at Governor Square, six Alfas and six Alfa couples (tutti da Cuore Sportivo), left for the center of Peterborough. We had a light lunch, sitting outside at the Twelve Pine Restaurant. We then strolled through the shopping area of Depot Square, visited the Sharon Art Gallery, and enjoyed the perfect day by the bridge at Putnam Park. Then we left for Hancock via Route 202 North. The uphill of Norway Hill Road took us to an apple orchard, where we made a stop. Then we motored through Hancock Center, Hunts Pond, and through Harris Nature Center. This was followed by a visit to the awesome business that Heather owns in Hancock (Hancock Baskets), where each of us received a beautiful card (painted by John) with a miniature gift sample basket. When we left, the Alfas were joined by a certain Audi TT, but it was kept in the dust portion of our parade. No problem, because the couple in it also have a set of Cuore Sportivo. We all went to MacDowell Dam, and seeing the Alfas atop the Dam made our dream come true: Alfas where they deserve to be—at the TOP (pictures to prove).

I must say that the views from some of the roads we went through were extremely beautiful, and the last stretch around Jaffrey took us to the charming Kimball Farms Restaurant, by the Jaffrey Airport, with small planes approaching overhead, on that beautiful and crisp Sunday afternoon. We ate lobster rolls, some amazing banana splits and sundaes, and enjoyed ourselves.