August 6, 2005
ROUTE: Troy NY to Brattleboro, VT
DISTANCE: 81 miles
WINDS: Not a factor
WEATHER: Sunny and pleasant
TERRAIN: Hills and green mountains
TOTAL CLIMBING: 5,370 feet
I sit here now before the computer, sated with China Buffet sushi, stuffed clams, salmon, shrimp, and crab. It's been a very full and fun day, first in New York, our 8th state, and then in Vermont, our 9th. But let's start at the start . . .
It was another beautiful day for riding, temps in the high 60s in the am and warming to the low 80s in the pm. Well, another state bit the dust . . . New York. I hate to see New York go since it's "my" childhood state and I really liked the roads with their super wide shoulders, smooth paving, and bike lanes, but today we entered Vermont, the Green Mountain State . . . our next to last state. We will be in Vermont for only one day because tomorrow we enter New Hampshire and take it home. Even though we were on several different roads today, the navigation was pretty simple . . . take Rte 2 to Rte 7, which becomes Rte 9 when we enter Vermont. But, in contrast to the easy navigation, the terrain was challenging as we climbed over 5,000 feet today. For the new riders who came in just a few short days ago, and who may not have developed climbing legs yet, it was a tough day. Lots of climbing, both long and short. But what does climbing mean? Lots of downhills, too, both long and sweeping and short and straight.
The Chamber of Commerce of Bennington set up a fund raiser in which organizations and businesses buy a moose and decorate it and then auction the moose off in October to the highest bidder. The town really got into this fundraiser and one could also see 40 smaller moose, one of which was decorated by the elementary school and was being auctioned off. The highest bid to date was $450, but the bidding had not closed. There were also mousse moose(see below). One at a chocolate store was valued at $950 (right). Below are a couple of moose shots: Some of the moose had very clever names. No. 3 below was named "Vermooster Vern." No. 4--being inspected by Staff Karen--was named "Riding Moose Daisy." No. 2 has a scene painted on it that includes a moose so you could say this was a moose on a moose.
Barbara set up SS#1 at a Deli east of Hoosick, and served delicious brownies, donated by Jean and Herb Insley who had stopped at the motel last night. They brought brownies to last year's SS, too, and like this year, they disappeared instantly. Thank you Herb and Jean and thank you for the info about Troy and the run up the hill last night with one of our riders. I set up SS#2 in touristy Wilmington behind the 1836 Country Store where I could not be seen from the road. Jim (he of the broken collarbone) rode to the second SS with me in White, and then with his good arm, waved in riders with a little American flag given to him by the proprietor of the store. He also warned riders about the hump (which looked suspiciously similar to the one he'd wiped out on yesterday) at the entrance to the SS.
Wilmington came after a long climb and a steep but thrilling downhill (last year Mike reported seeing double nickel on his computer max speed), so all but the earliest riders took a lunch break here to enjoy the touristy atmosphere and to catch a bite to eat. There are several restaurants and delis in this area and just about all of them serve good sandwiches and sides. The 1836 Country Store sold Ben & Jerry's ice cream, fabulous Vermont sharp cheese, maple syrup, and crackers. I bought two large cheese wedges and some crackers for SS sampling. Several of the riders bought cheese, maple syrup, tee shirts, and other things at the Country Store, and I carried these things back in White.
Other riders bought items at the Vermont Wooden Bowl Store about a quarter mile from town and told the shopkeeper that I would be back to pick them up after I closed up the SS. I almost earned a huge DUH of the day when I closed up the SS, loaded up two riders who were going to sag in, and left Wilmington for Brattleboro. Half way up the first hill, I remembered the beautiful bowls, rolling pins, toast tongs, and trivets that were waiting for me to pick them up at the VWB Store. Yow! Back down the hill I went, much to Ride Leader Mike's astonishment (he and Karen were sweep today and were climbing the hill after just leaving Wilmington).
Even though we are in Vermont only one day, it will leave an impression on the riders. The name Vermont is derived from the French vert mont,meaning "green mountain." You can understand why they call this state the Green Mountain State. The terrain is spectacular. We rode along a river and two pristine lakes tucked between two tree-covered mountain ranges that stood majestically on both sides of our route. Everywhere you looked you'd find small farms nestled into the base of these mountains and hills. We actually rode between the mountains, so our riding terrain was mostly big rollers, but our road went up drastically soon after we left Bennington. It was our first taste of mountain climbing since we left South Dakota and I think most of the x-country riders found these hills not to be nearly as challenging as they were out west . . . but the hills are every bit as tough. It's just that the riders are much stronger than they were at the beginning of the ride.
As far as Mike was concerned, it was a successful day . . . everyone got in safely today. No one tried to hug the pavement or a tree. Riders spent most of the afternoon after the ride chilling around the lobby and visiting with relatives who have started to gather. I think we are all beginning to feel the end nearing and are trying to nurture the friendships we've made in the past 48 days. We have only two more days of riding. Yikes!
Sue2 gave a little talk at Route Rap about post ride procrastination (laying off the bike for awhile) which can lead to endorphin withdrawal, which in turn can lead to either 1) the Bad Bicycle Blues or 2) Post Cycling Weight Gain. These two conditions can set in after a long ride such as we've been on in which we've become endorphin junkies and have consumed mega-calories each day. Bicyclists beware!
Tomorrow we ride into New Hampshire, our 10th state. It will be our toughest day since John Day, but most of the riders will find it fun and beautiful, even with all the climbing. At this point, these riders feel that nothing will stop them from getting to the beach. We've overcome mountains, heat, humidity, a little rain, and each other. Tomorrow's just another bump in the road. See you then. Susan
HEARD ON THE ROAD:
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- "What a beautiful state!"
- "I just put it in low gear and zoned out."
- "We need to rename this organization: 'America by Buffet'."
- "Everything looks flat from the van."
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| A buoyant Barb who's shed her crutches and is back in business doling out the goodies at the sag stop. |
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| Albert, Don, Fred, and Duane--The Flying Four-- enjoying the 59.5-second break that Fred allows at sag stops. |
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| Me taking a photo of Tim taking a photo of me under a sign that read "Photography." (Is that a poem?) |
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| Bob and Larry at Brattleboro's covered bridge. |
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| We ate at a China Buffet tonight, and Josh--whose mother evidently never taught him not to play with his food--created an artful sushi, crab Rangoon, and egg-roll plate face |
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| I don't think they'd go for this in Iowa. The corn isn't high enough. |
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