04 BIKE VERMONT

On August 7, 2004 Anne and I drove to Brattleboro, Vermont for a 5 day 250 mile bike ride from Brattleboro to Stowe, Vermont with the Tri-State Wheelers. We crossed the Connecticut River on two days to ride some in New Hampshire. We were joined by friends Lew and Kathleen Frain, Barry and Carol Nelson, Jeffrey Marx, Bob Moore, Bart and Kinlein all Baltimore Bike Club members. There were 54 riders plus staff.

We biked north with overnights in Brattleboro, Proctorsville, South Woodstock, Montpelier and Stowe. We stayed in nice motels and hotels with one night in an old country inn. The food was very good with large buffet breakfasts, rest stops for lunch and dinners usually in our hotels in the evening.

The green mountain state scenery was superb. We biked through many New England villages with a village green, churches, court houses and general stores of the distinctive colonial architecture. We biked through the green country side along clean streams and across many covered bridges. Of course there were a few wee mountains to climb but none too difficult.

We managed to find some cheese farms and a brewery with excellent products to sample and buy. There were some antique and craft stores to visit. No visit to Vermont would be complete without a stop at Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory with some sampling of their ice cream.

August 7, 2004 Saturday Drive to Brattleboro, Vermont

I was up at 4:45 for my daily 5.1 mile run through Stevens Forest in Columbia. After some orange juice and milk I headed for a quick shower so Anne could survive the all day drive in the car with me.

At 6:18 we pulled out of the driveway with our two bikes, biking gear and clothes for two weeks loaded inside the car. We headed north on US-29 to I-70 to the Baltimore Beltway I-695 to I-83 to the Ashland Cafe on York Road near Hunt Valley. Lew and Kathleen Frain and Jeff Marx were waiting with a large table when we arrived about 6:50. Barry and Carol Nelson arrived about 5 minutes later. I ordered pancakes, eggs, sausage, toast and milk which came to $14.52 including Anne's breakfast and tip. Bob Moore arrived when were about half done eating.

The Frains with Jeff, the Nelsons and us continued north in a caravan on I-83 about 8:00. We picked up I-81 at Harrisburg continuing on it to Scranton where we headed east on I-84. We stopped for a picnic lunch in the visitor center at the Delaware Water Gap.

We continued east on I-84 into New York before turning north on the NY State Thruway I-87 at Newburgh. We exited I-87 at Troy and stopped for gas. My car took 11.0 gallons at $1.93 per gallon totaling $21.27. We headed east on NY-7 which turned to VT-9 when we crossed into Vermont. We followed VT-9 through some pretty scenery to Brattleboro arriving at the Quality Inn at 1380 Putney Road in Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 at 4:44. We checked into room 215 for $86.11. We had traveled 483.4 miles in 10:26 since leaving Columbia.

All of us went to dinner at the Sweet Mesquite. I had blackened Cajun catfish, French fries and salad for $40.51 including Anne's meal and tip. We stopped in McNeils Pub on the way back to our cars. I had a 16 ounce cask condition draft ESB (Extra Special Bitter) for $3. The girl actually hand pumped the beer from a cask in the basement using a long porcelain hand pump. I had not seen that since I left England in 1971.

August 8, 2004 Sunday Check-in and Bike around Brattleboro

Lew, Barry and I met for the buffet breakfast about 7:00. The buffet was great with eggs, sausage, bacon, muffins, pancakes and waffles, fruit, melons, juices, cereals, etc. for $4.11.

Kathleen, Carol and Anne planned to bike together all week. Lew could not bike because he was wearing a back brace after his recent spine surgery. Barry was experiencing severe chain skip on his bike and determined that he could not ride before getting it fixed but no bike shop opened before 12:00.

After making sure that Anne's bike was ready and that she was set to ride, I biked from the Inn at 9:15 in 70^o. Of course I started with a one mile climb heading north on VT-5. I was soon in Putney a distance of 6.4 miles. I stopped at Basketville so I could tell Anne I stopped (she didn't stop). I had no interest in the merchandise but the building was a huge barn of post and beam construction, very interesting and beautifully made.

I continued north on a series of back roads containing a series of pretty tough climbs. They each were fairly long with grades in the steepest parts in the 10-12% range. I had a good coast down to Westminster on the Connecticut River where I stopped at a gas station and talked to Norm driving the sag wagon. I consumed a carton of milk and a small bag of barbecued potato chips.

I biked across a bridge into New Hampshire at 20.1 miles and turned right heading south on mostly back roads. I soon stopped at Boggy Meadows Cheese Farm at 23.0 miles. After a small sample I bought $2 of cheddar cheese. I was the only person in the shop and it was the honor system. They had a box full of cash sitting on a table and I put my money in the box.

I was riding along the river with a lot of little steep ups and downs. At about 30 miles my left pedal froze. Fortunately I freed my cleat and did not hurt my ankle or foot. I couldn't free up my pedal so I had to ride with one leg. I learned to use my left foot some on uphills when the pedaling rotation was slow. I limped back 10 miles recrossing the river into Vermont and the Inn at 1:25. On the road 4:10 I biked 40.4 miles in 3:20:47 averaging 12.0 miles per hour (mph) reaching a maximum speed of 36.5 mph climbing and descending 2480' in 4 major climbs (200' or more elevation gain).

Lew drove me to the West Hill Bike Shop near Putney. I bought a pair of two sided Shimano SPD mountain bike pedals for $53. Back at the Inn I replaced my pedals with the new ones. I munched on the cheese I bought and leftover banana, apple and cherry tomatoes I brought from home.

The Nelsons, Frains and McQueens walked to the Panda North Chinese restaurant. I had a Szechuan seafood dinner with rice, tea and a Tsing Tao for $47.55 including Anne's dinner and tip. Each of us had a beautiful flower made from dyed radish slices. The colors were almost fluorescent and very vivid. Each flower was unique and a different color.

We had an eight o'clock meeting. A tub of iced Serotta beer appeared and we could take them to our room. Serotta is a bike many on the BBC racing team ride. The beer was brewed especially for Serotta by a local craft brewery.

We turned in early in room 215 in the Quality Inn at 1380 Putney Road in Brattleboro, Vermont 05301 phone (802) 254-8701.

August 9, 2004 Monday Bike Brattleboro to Cavendish

We all assembled for breakfast at 7:00. Again it was the same great buffet paid by the Tri-State Wheelers.

Barry was ready to go with a new chain, middle chain ring and cassette. We biked from the Inn at 7:56 in 56^o headed south on VT-5 into Brattleboro then right onto VT-30 at 2.6 miles. At 9.3 miles we stopped at the Dumerton Covered Bridge built in 1872. We talked to Aldo, a New York attorney born in a small town near Turino, Italy. We biked into the village of Newfane at 14.2 miles and stopped at the Country Store for a blueberry muffin and milk for $2.10. We circled the village green photographing the church, courthouse and a 1953 Ford black and white police patrol car.

We stopped at the Grafton Cheese Factory and sampled many excellent cheeses. Barry bought some cheese. Anne also bought some Cheddar cheese when she came through with Kathleen and Carol. Barry and I circled Main street passing the old inn on the corner with many people rocking on the porch that surrounded the entire inn. We stopped at the rest stop at 28.6 miles to enjoy some delicious black plums and nectarines. The rest stops would have these for the rest of the trip. We were in Springfield about noon so we stopped at a Mobil station at 45.7 miles for some barbecued potato chips (I needed the salt) and milk to appease the stomach for $2.20. We biked north on VT-106 to Downers Corner where we stopped at a rest stop and then the Jiffy Mart across the road for a Klondike bar for $1.29. We started talking to a local man from Ludlow about our age on a mountain bike. He was having a road bike built. He was a good biker and rode with us the 9 miles mostly uphill to Proctorsville.

Barry and I biked into the Clarion Hotel phone 800 438-7908 at Cavendish Point at 1:55 in 80^o. We were on the road 5:59 biking 63.1 miles in 4:32:18 averaging 13.9 mph reaching a maximum speed of 42.0 mph climbing 3170' descending 2510' in 4 major climbs.

Checked into room 129. Lew drove Barry and I back to Crow's Bakery and Cafe where we bought a twelve pack of Otter Creek's Pale Ale, Vermont Lager and Copper Ale. We carried some beer for a lady and her daughter from Cincinnati and a man all from our group. We drank a bottle each on the shady grass next to the hotel parking lot. At 7:00 the group walked next door to The Castle on a hill for a brief meeting and buffet dinner. I had a salad, roll and butter, pasta salad, green beans and carrots, vegetable lasagna, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, cranberry sauce and apple cobbler with ice cream.

August 10, 2004 Tuesday Bike Cavendish to South Woodstock

We have a 7:00 buffet breakfast similar to the previous breakfasts in the Clarion Hotel.

Barry and I are joined by Jack Glazer a retired United Airline pilot from Las Vegas, Nevada. Jack has a new Comotion bike that decouples in the middle to travel in a 26" x 26" x 10" suitcase. We retrace yesterday's route back on VT-131 to Downers Corner at 8.9 miles continuing straight to Ascutney where we crossed the Connecticut River into New Hampshire. We turned left north on NH-12A for 6 miles. We stop to photograph and enjoy the 465' two span Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge the longest in the United States.

After crossing the bridge we leave the route to visit the Harpoon Brewery just north of Windsor, Vermont.

They have 6 beers for sampling. I taste an IPA (India Pale Ale), Amber and a Scottish Ale. Lew finally showed up with the car so I bought a 16 ounce draft Scottish Ale for $4 and shared a 12 pack of 22 ounce Scottish Ale with Jack and a small bag of barbecued potato chips for $26.32.

We follow US-5 north along the river to Hartland where we follow the Quechee - Hartland Road for eight miles. We have to cross over a mountain and the road turns to dirt for about a mile but it is dry and fairly smooth. We turn left on US-4 in Quechee not realizing we will miss the gorge. We follow US-4 six miles into Woodstock.

We stop at the Creamery for lunch of tomato rice soup, corned beef sandwich and ice tea for $10 including tip. After a walk around Woodstock we bike 5 miles uphill on VT-106 to South Woodstock and the rustic Kedron Valley Inn phone 802 457-1473. I check into room 21 upstairs. The room is huge with 3 windows on one wall.

We were on the road 5:43 biking 48.0 miles in 3:12:04 averaging 14.9 mph reaching a maximum speed of 38.0 mph climbing 2330' descending 2120' in 3 major climbs.

Lew drove Kathleen, Barry and I back to the gorge for a few photos. We returned to sit on the inn's porch with several other riders enjoying the Otter Creek beer, snacks and conversation. At 7:00 we enjoyed a buffet dinner in the back of the old inn.

August 11, 2004 Wednesday Bike South Woodstock to Montpelier

7:30 buffet breakfast with all the normal fare. At 8:21 Barry and I biked 4.7 miles back down the hill into Woodstock. We followed VT-12 north out of town and up a long climb. We had a nice downhill into Barnard on a large lake where we stopped to use the toilet. I enjoyed the lake views and waterfowl. We continued straight north on North Road with a steep short climb. The scenery is spectacular here. We passed through Bethel and Randolf. We stopped for a huge Hood's soft ice cream cone for $2 then at the rest stop about a block later.

We turned left onto VT-12A north through West Braintree, East Granville and Roxbury before rejoining VT-12 at Northfield. We passed Norwich University on the left in town. We stopped at a rest stop north of town and took a little side trip of about a mile over three covered bridges and past a dam. It was a nice easy glide slightly downhill along a stream for 8 miles into Montpelier.

We arrived at the Capital Plaza Hotel phone 802 223-5252 at 1:28. We were on the road 5:07 biking 62.8 miles in 4:12:47 averaging 14.9 mph reaching a maximum speed of 38.0 mph climbing 2440' descending 2950' in 4 major climbs.

I checked into room 321 then walked to Lew's room for a cold beer. The Frains, Nelsons, McQueens and Bob Moore walked a few blocks to the New England Culinary Institute for supper. I enjoyed salad, meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread, butter and fruit cobbler with ice cream for $57.01 including Anne's meal and tip.

August 12, 2004 Thursday Bike Montpelier to Stowe

We met in the hotel lobby at 7:00 and walked two blocks to the Coffee Corner for breakfast. I had a mushroom, cheese and sausage omelet with orange juice, milk and toast for $19.74 including Anne's breakfast and tip.

Barry and I rode north on VT-12 about 8:30. We had a pretty good climb then a steep curvy descent into Putnamville. This would have been the fastest hill of the trip except for the facts that the road deteriorated, got curvy with a stop sign at the bottom of the steepest part. We biked through Worcester at 7.8 miles and on to Lake Elmore and a rest stop at 21.5 miles. It is easy biking with no significant hills. It is a little cool with a wind coming off the lake to our left. We angled west past Morrisville before turning south on VT-100 into Stowe. We were biking with two tandems from Michigan, a young guy from Woodbridge, Virginia and a dentist from Connecticut. The only scary event of the trip occurred when a car passed us and turned right into a side road just short of Stowe. Three of us turned right with the car to avoid crashing.

Barry and I pulled into Stowe about 11:00. We locked our bikes and walked around the village. We stopped in a bakery for a blueberry turnover and an 8 ounce milk for $3.85. As we continued to walk I was thirsty so I stopped in a gas station convenience store for a 16 ounce milk for $1.19.

We remounted our bikes and rode a mile to the Commodore Inn phone 802 253-7131 at 12:33. We were on the road 4:03 biking 36.5 miles in 2:23:02 averaging 15.3 mph reaching a maximum speed of 39.5 mph climbing 1480' descending 1290' in 1 major climb.

I checked into room 121 and retrieved our luggage. It started raining hard and continued the rest of the day. Many people got caught in town and were soaking wet. We took the pedals off our bikes and loaded them on the truck at 4:00. At 7:00 we had a brief meeting and a buffet supper of cheeseburger, potato salad, fruit salad, slaw and strawberry shortcake.

August 13, 2004 Friday Shuttle to Brattleboro & Drive to Maine

It rained all night and continued through the morning. We had a buffet breakfast in the Inn. Everyone loaded their luggage and boarded the bus which departed at 9:00. We stopped at 9:15 at the Ben and Jerry's factory near Waterbury. Anne and I had some ice cream $5 and then took a guided half hour tour $4 with ice cream tasting at the end.

We followed I-89 and the I-91 south to Chester where we dropped a few people with their bikes that were going to bike back to Brattleboro. We arrived in Brattleboro at 12:37 with the sun starting to shine. Our bikes were not there so we waited about 40 minutes for the truck. Our bikes were the last off the truck so it was 1:47 before were ready to go.

Anne and I drove north on US-5 to Putney stopping in the Putney Diner. We had sandwiches, ice tea and blueberry pie ala mode for $22 cash. We stopped in Basketville where Anne bought some wooden games for the grandkids at the lake in Maine.

We got on I-91 driving north of St Johnsbury through a lot of rain before exiting on US-2 east across the Connecticut River into Lancaster, New Hampshire. We stopped at the Lancaster Motor Inn at 5:40 having driven 148.7 miles and checked into room 103 for $74.52.

Anne and I ate at Glendon's Chowder House which was very busy. I had ice tea, baked potato, blackened swordfish, slaw and seafood chowder for $35.86 including Anne's meal and tip. We walked around town for a while after dinner.