Final Day: Burlington, VT - Return to Start

Date:           August 15, 2017
Distance:       35 miles
Average Speed:  10.1 mph
Maximum Speed:  32.2 mph
Feet Climbed:   2100
Day Trip:       Middlebury to Burlington

It was a beautiful final day of riding with sunny skies, beautiful landscapes and perfect company. Today's ride returned us to where we began 12 days ago - Burlington, VT.  We took the roads less traveled today making our way through the Green Mountains and acres of farmland. We climbed hills, crossed bridges and sped down long descents.  A perfect day!

We started our day taking a walk to the local diner for a hearty breakfast.  We had many restaurant choices this morning, but we decided on The Park Diner, a local establishment since the mid 1930s. On the walk over, Steve wanted to made sure we didn't get hit by a cyclist so he used the crossing flags.

Steve motioning to the cyclist to stop

Actually when Steve saw that it was just a cyclist, he waved her on.  He was overly enthusiastic this morning to use the flags.  I'm glad he had a chance to.

Job well done!

And here's more good news.  We ate blueberry pancakes for breakfast this morning. Mine were gluten free and they tasted fabulous!

With two fried eggs on the side

Steve up close and personal with the pancakes

We could not sign-on to Garmin Express this morning to create our bicycle route to Burlington.  Our only option at this point was to use the iPhone google map for bicycles, although necessary, it was risky given our track record. We thought when we arrive in Vergennes later this morning perhaps we would try again to create and load a map to Burlington.  Vergennes was just 13 miles away.  Luckily, we made it to there without much trouble, just one wrong turn that delayed us just a few minutes.

Crossing over Pulp Mill Bridge as we left Middlebury

About 3 miles into the ride, Steve pulled over quickly to check out a antique shop.  He wanted to check one final store for large skillets (for a number 10 or 11).  We stopped at so many during the tour without much luck, and today unfortunately wasn't much different.

Sadly, empty handed

While on Morgan Horse Farm Road we passed the real Morgan Horse Farm owned by University of Vermont. There is a story here - Steve had remembered it from his days at UVM. The story of Justin Morgan, who bought in 1789, a middling size, heavy chested, bushy mane and hairy legged horse named Figure. Figure became the founding sire of the Morgan breed.  Figure's ability to out-walk, out-trot, out-run, and out-pull other horses were legendary.  His three most famous sons - Sherman, Bulrush, and Woodbury—carried on his legacy to future generations of Morgan horses. Apparently, Morgan horses are quite famous in Vermont.

We continued riding on the back roads with the wind blowing at our backs; we encountered another bridge. This one covering Otter Creek same as the first bridge that we had crossed earlier this morning.  Otter Creek spans 112 miles running upstream north through Vermont.  It is one of the largest rivers in the state.

I crossed first

Steve next

Otter Creek

So we thought we had licked it - riding to Vergennes without getting lost or hitting a dirt road. We were wrong - well - we encountered this rather steep dirt road that seemed to go on forever.  We had no choice but to climb it. 

3/4 mile dirt road - 10-12% grade

Now how convenient is this ...

Shortly there after - we spotted a biker's resting place from the road.  It looked so inviting and we needed a rest; we pulled over to sit for a minute to hydrate. I also snacked on some cow's tongue (Steve's name for the beef jerky).

Cool place to rest

Another angle

We arrived in Vergennes just under 1 1/2 hours of riding.  We stopped at the local cafe. We tried Garmin Express again and was successful this time.  I created a map in no time at all.  We also took advantage of being at the 3 Squares Cafe by having an Iced Coffee.

Lucky cafe

We stayed a short while to drink our Iced Coffee then after about 30 minutes we set off for Burlington.

One of many beautiful landscapes

We stopped at about the 22 mile mark for another snack.  We both wanted fruit and Steve a chocolate milk. Steve bought bowl of fruit and me a peach.  Very refreshing and sweet!

We had visited this Old Brick Store last year as well.  As it turns out, we had taken the same bicycle route in reverse last year!

Ready to go

This actually is a bike path.  The first of many that we took today.

Beauty x 3

More beauty

Even more beauty

Steve on the go

Steve charging the way and excited to get to Burlington

We made it to Burlington by 4:30p.  We didn't waste any time.  We quickly took showers and then left for Church Street.

Just one of 1005 photo's that Steve took this trip

We went to one of our favorite places - Leunigs Bistro.  Our meals were out of this world!  

I ordered a boneless pork chop with spinach and grilled corn and black bean salad served with red onions and heirloom tomatoes also served with yuca fries. Wow!  Steve ordered crispy quail with fried plantains made with cinnamon and cloves, and served with an arugula peach salad. Yummy!

Rating - 10 out of 10

In for the close up

It started raining as we were eating dinner.  The weather forecast said rain with thunderstorms and lightening between 7:00-9:00p.   After we finished dinner, there seemed to be a break in the weather so we decided to make a run for it, but not without a final picture of me on Church Street!

Picture 1005

Steve and I just love riding our bicycles together and visiting different cities, towns and villages. Riding around Lake Champlain was a trip Steve and I had discussed doing years ago when we first began touring.  In fact, it was in 2012 because instead we went to the Chesapeake Bay area, which was the location of our first tour. At the time, we thought Lake Champlain may be too difficult. Can't believe we have been doing this for 6 year now. 

Well, it's time to say goodbye.  This is our last blog entry for our Lake Champlain bicycle tour.  As always we have enjoyed writing and sharing with you our cycling adventures. Without your comments and readership it would not have held the same meaning.

Thank you all for your continued interest, love and support!

Day 11: Middlebury, VT

Date:           August 14, 2017
Distance:       34 miles
Average Speed:  10.1 mph
Maximum Speed:  37.4 mph
Feet Climbed:   2330
Day Trip:       Fair Haven to Middlebury

We had told Greg yesterday that we would have breakfast at 8:30am this morning, so of course we awoke at 8:15 and had to scramble to get downstairs on time.  We were only a few minutes late and that is pretty much on time for us.  All the other guests had already eaten and gone, so we had the dining room all to ourselves.  To accommodate Di's dietary restrictions, she had a frittata made especially for her - a five herb frittata.  I had the sausage frittata and then had a quarter of Di's.    They also had homemade orange muffins that were fantastic.

Di and her coffee seated in dining room #2

Di's multi-herbed frittata

My sausage frittata and muffin with fresh fruit

This is a picture of dining room #1

Close-up of chandelier from dining room #1

Because we are such intrepid cyclists, we couldn't wait to get on the porch with our coffee and enjoy the beautiful morning.  Most cyclists like to get an early start, but that seems like so much work to us, so we tell ourselves that we like to stop and smell the coffee roses.

Di on the front porch 

After we were lazy for the appropriate amount of time, we headed back to our room so Di could plan our route.  I don't think Di mentioned it yesterday, but we are in an exceedingly small room.  It is so small you can't walk around the bed - the person on the wall side of the bed has to crawl over their sleeping partner in order to get up.  I tried to take a picture of the room while Di was creating the route for today, but I couldn't get far enough away from her.  I had to leave the room and take the picture through the open door.

Its actually a nice room, especially if you like small rooms

Here is a picture of the sitting room, in case you want to know how the other half lives

Another view of the sitting room

We had climb two sets of stairs to get to our room (it made my legs burn)

That's Greg, the owner, hanging with us before we headed out

Greg took this picture of us

This is the park across the street from the Marble Mansion Inn

This is Di having a business meeting at the park in front of the Marble Mansion Inn

It was now 11am and we were finally on our way.  As far as havens go, we had a great stay in this one.  They should consider upgrading the name to something like Great Haven, or Good Haven, or at least Fairer Haven.  We rode our bikes about 50 feet and met Alan, a fellow cyclist who was entering Better Than Fair Haven from a different direction.  He started his trip in Albany, NY and is on his way to Montreal.  He asked us how far we had gone that day and we sheepishly pointed to the building behind us and said, "From there."  He had been on the road since 8am and had ridden close to 30 miles already.  I felt a twinge of guilt, but it passed. We chatted for a bit and then, as we parted, Alan said, "Well, I'll see you later up the road."  I told Di that we would probably never see him again, but it was a good sentiment to suggest we might all meet again.

The ride started out surprisingly hilly, and to remove any suspense from this entry, it remained hilly all day.

Hilly, though in this case in a favorable direction

The road we were riding, Rt 22A, was not the greatest of roads.  The breakdown lane was small and there was a lot of traffic, but it was very scenic.

A Rt. 2A vista

 At about the 6 mile mark we came upon Alan again.  He was eating a yogurt by the side of the road.  We spent time with him and learned he is a professor of criminology at the University of Maryland with an expertise in medical marijuana.  He is finishing the bike trip he and his buddies started 40 years ago but abandoned long before the finish.  None of those original riders would agree to do the ride with him, but his wife and daughter are meeting him in Montreal.  It was fun talking with Alan and when we parted he again said, "Well, I'll see you up the road."  He was going to Shoreham, about 17 miles away and we were off to Middlebury, about 28 miles away.  At some point our paths would diverge, so once again I said to Di, "Well, we'll probably never see Alan again."

Chatting with Alan

Just as we were leaving Alan, my Mom called.  I think she was bored at work, but it was great to talk with her.  I miss our Wednesday shopping excursions and all the laughs we have.

Talking with Mom

We rode some more.  We had some long inclines and it was getting hot, so we decide to take a break at the 14 mile mark.

Di grinding up a Rt. 22A incline

I'm sure you can guess who we met at the convenience store.

Well met for the third time

We had a long talk with Alan and then it was really time to part because we were now going in separate directions.  We are all headed to Burlington tomorrow, though, so we laughingly said we will probably see each other there.  But to make that event more likely, Di and Alan exchanged phone numbers and Di told Alan to call us if he wants to join us for dinner.  We'll have a car by that point, so even though Alan is staying in South Burlington, it will be easy for us to drive and have dinner in Burlington (way more fun than dinner in South Burlington, the Windjammer aside).

We had now left the iniquitous Rt. 22A and were on a quiet country road.  [Note to future self: if you are reading this before going back in time to ride to Middlebury, avoid Rt 22A.]

Ah, a non-Rt 22A road.  

Di is happy to be off Rt. 22A

A bucolic Vermont road

Even I am happy

We eventually needed to leave that beautiful road and hop onto a dirt paved road.  This road was a constant up and down, but at least the scenery was still beautiful.

Climb that hill, Di!

Di is impressed with the hay wheels (are they still bales if they are not cuboid?)

Here are two pictures that are very similar to ones I took last year when we rode this very same dirt road.  Interestingly, we remember last year's ride very well, but we didn't remember it as being hilly or difficult at all.  It must have gotten hilly in the intervening year.

Di by a single white fence

Di by two white fences

This picture serves to suggest it was hot

Di ignoring the apple orchard to her right

We finally left the dirt road and a nicely paved road brought us to an intersection with a sign that said Middlebury was only 4 miles away.  Even though we were quite close to our destination, we decided to stop in a yard by a church for a quick snack.

Di is happy because I was bitten by flies and she wasn't

A short while after resuming our ride we came to the outskirts of Middlebury.  The first thing we saw was the Middlebury College golf course.

Open to the public, in case you are interested in playing here

We found the Middlebury Inn and Di checked us in.

The interior of the Middlebury Inn.

The exterior of the Middlebury Inn

We relaxed a bit and then went searching for the Fire and Ice restaurant.  A couple of days ago we met Paul and his mother at a convenience store.  He is a teacher in Middlebury and he recommended we go to Fire and Ice for dinner.  His good friend, Paris, owns the restaurant, but he assured us that was not the reason he was recommending it, but rather, because the food is excellent.

View of downtown Middlebury as we search for food

Di in the middle of Middlebury

We are going to Burlington by way of Vergennes tomorrow (although for us it will be 40 miles)

Fire and Ice Restaurant (no connection to Game of Thrones, as far as I know)

We ordered the unlimited salad bar (an infinite amount of salad is Di's heaven)

Nice salads, if you are into that kind of thing

Di had the blackened cod and I the roast duckling (yummy!)

We had a great dinner at the Fire and Ice.  On the way out, a voice from within a side room yelled, "Thank you for coming!"  I couldn't see who had uttered those words, so I asked, "Who said that?"  A gentleman came out from the room and laughingly said, "I did."  I took a gamble and said, "Are you Paris?"  And indeed, it was Paris!  He, of course, was very surprised that I guessed his name and wanted to know the circumstances upon which I came to learn it.  I told him about our meeting with Paul and he exclaimed, "Paul is a really good friend of mine!  In fact, I am seeing him this weekend."  He said he would be sure to tell Paul that we took his advice, and on our part, we told Paris to tell Paul we were glad we heeded that advice because our meal was excellent.  It was a fun way to end our visit to Fire and Ice.

These last two pictures are self-explanatory, but to me, they help show why Vermont is both a weird and a great place.

Blow-up from the picture above (gently!)

Today has been the penultimate day of our ride.  As you can guess, I was really just looking for an excuse to use the word penultimate.  Tomorrow, Burlington!  Which will be the last day of our tour (the day after the penultimate day).