Oh what a beautiful day. I sit here now seated with China Buffet sushi, stuffed clams, salmon, shrimp, and (warm) beer. It's been a very full and fun day, first in New York and then in Vermont. I talked Debbie into letting me ride today since I didn't get to ride yesterday and I'm glad I did.  I really felt good with the climbing and got to spin my legs out a bit.  It did cost me as I'll be in the van for the rest of the trip...but it was worth it.

 It was another beautiful day for riding though darkly overcast at times and a bit chilly if you stopped very long. Threatening all day...but no rain!  We did get wet during departure as the air was heavy with mist, but that's all that materialized through the first SAG.  After that, there seemed to be lighter skies but grey was the word of the day.  I never really saw the sun all day.

Well, another state bit the dust...New York.  I hate to see New York go since it has some of the best roads we have on the trip...super wide shoulders, smooth paving, and bike lanes.  But leaving New York, brings in Vermont, the Green Mountain State...our next to last state.  We will be in Vermont only for 1 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.  In contrast to the easy navigation, the terrain was a bit challenging as we climbed over 5,000 feet today and for the new riders who haven't developed climbing legs yet, it was a pretty good test.  Since we haven't really had any climbing for several days, I think most everyone enjoyed getting into the lower gears for a change...breaks the monotony and uses different muscles.  And the down hills, especially the one into town, were sweeeeeeet.

Our roads ranged from beautiful shoulders to no pavement in one spot before our first SAG.  Many of the roads in this part of the country are pretty good, but some have weather cracks about 2 feet from the edge where we ride...makes for a bit of sporty bike handling sometimes, especially during fast descents.  Our second SAG was in Wilmington, a busy touristy town where most of the riders took a short break there to enjoy the touristy atmosphere and have a bite to eat.  There are lots of neat delis in this area and just about any of them will serve the best sandwiches and fixins.   Karen and I stopped with a couple other riders at the Vermont Deli...catchy don't you think?  Talk about great food...just about anything you want and lots of it.  They had cookies that I'm sure substituted for the discus in the last Olympics.

Our ride ended in Brattleboro, a beautiful New England town with a vibrant downtown...tall brick buildings that look like they should be in a Norman Rockwell painting.  I guess Wal Mart hasn't gotten here yet.  Karen and I stopped by the local bike shop on the way in and browsed through the narrow streets.  I could dig a place like this.

As far as the tour leader is concerned, it was another successful day...everyone got in safely.  The riders spent most of the afternoon after the ride chilling around the lobby waiting for the rooms to be ready.  Seems this motel didn't have all their stuff in the same bag.  We didn't get our room until after 5:00.  Butt was a bit sweaty before I got a shower.

I think the riders are starting to feel the end nearing and are trying to do the last group bonding.  We have only 2 more days of riding...it's hard to believe we are almost done with this adventure, but we still have a few more miles to focus on safe riding.  I'll remind them of that tomorrow when we have our final evening meal...stay focused.

Tomorrow will be our toughest day since Missouri, but I think most of the riders will find it to be a fun day even with all the climbing.  Hey, they were nervous about today and they came through with flying colors...what's a couple more hills tomorrow.  At this point, they feel nothing will stop them from getting to the beach.  The states have thrown almost every conceivable construction scenario at us and we've overcome.  We've overcome mountains, rain, heat, humidity, and each other.  Tomorrow's just another bump in the road.  See you then.