78 Miles A New Farthest Distance

I was finally going to do the two states, two ferries ride today but last night my husband suggested I check to see if all the ferries were still running. It's a good thing he did because they weren't.  I didn't know they stopped.  So a new plan and a much longer ride was planned.  It also centered around Lake Champlain but half of it was in a whole new area.  My friend, Cathy, was going with me again.

When I got off the interstate there was a sign that Route 2 was closed near some place but it meant nothing to me.  I met Cathy at Sand Bar State Park and we were on our way. It was a bit chilly - part of the reason for a 9:30 start but nothing too bad.  I used my arm sleeves for the first time and loved them. When I got warmer they slid  right into my bike shirt pockets. I had the pockets stuffed with food, sun screen and arm sleeves today.  I really haven't been using the bike shirt pockets much.  Today changed that!

We started out on a familiar road along the West Shore, past the ferry and into North Hero.  The sky was hazy and stayed that way all day.  I didn't take as many pictures as some days but of course I took some. We saw lots of animals but the only ones I stopped for were these very cute goats.

North Hero has a nice welcome center that is a popular stopping spot. It was a good place to hit a restroom and have a snack.  It offers some choices as to where to sit outside. There is a spot for Democrats, Republicans and if you're Independent you can sit in Sander's chair.

So we continued north on Route 2 and very shortly found out why the sign had been  there about route 2 closing.  We pretended we were going just a short way and then made our way somehow past the work area. It was a bridge with the lake on both sides and didn't look good but we found our alternate route, maybe not quite what they were suggesting.

At this point I was still feeling pretty perky.  We continued on familiar roads. The lake was pretty but rather foggy all day.  We passed on by the causeway to Isla La Motte on yet another West Shore Road that went on forever.  It was quiet and beautiful with very little traffic.  Much of the ride was very peaceful.

When we began going east heading toward Missisquoi there were a lot of trucks on the road as the book had warned us.  There was a wide enough shoulder that you could handle it though.  I did find this my least favorite part of the ride.  But I haven't spend much time in this part of Vermont if any on some of the roads and it was nice to have different things to look at.  St. Albans and Milton had unbelievably beautiful parts. I almost missed the view in the second picture as it was at the top of a hill and I was huffing and puffing.  But I saw a woman stopped on her bicycle and looked to see why she was stopped. It was gorgeous in all directions!

 I was beginning to get tired in these sections as we began to hit  hills.  On an ordinary day I might not have thought too much about it but after 60+ miles I may have uttered a bad word or two. It seemed each time I turned a corner there was another hill looming.  It was no fun going downhill because it always meant an uphill.  Maybe if we do this ride again we will go in the  opposite direction so we have the hills in the beginning when we are fresh. The last 15 miles had the hills as advertised!  Every time I saw a new hill I was sure I was going to end up walking it. That so isn't me and I didn't but was I ever tempted!  I was also  getting seriously tired. I was sure we were going in the wrong direction (we weren't) and was ready to throw a tantrum if we had to turn around.  Then we were back on route 2 heading toward the car and I knew I was going to make it.  I hit 78 miles which was a new high for me.  Cathy was tempted for about 2 seconds to keep riding and hit 100 but I knew this wasn't the day. Not only was I exhausted but it was the end of the day and beginning to get dark.  That will be a goal for another year.