Troy, New York to Brattleboro, Vermont 80 miles and 5259 feet of climbing

We were blessed yet again today with perfect weather for our ride into Vermont. The ride out of Troy was relatively quiet as the city streets we navigated had minimal traffic. Troy looks like an older city with buildings and houses built decades ago. Some of the structures have been kept up, while others are in disrepair, abandoned, or in the process of being renovated or torn down.

After reaching the outskirts of town, we began the first of seven climbs today. It didn't take long to go from city streets to the tranquil countryside. Rolling hills, forests, farms, and beautiful residential homes. Eventually, we crossed the Vermont state line. Vermont has always been my favorite New England state. I find it even more beautiful than my home state of Connecticut. Its combination of mountains, hills, rivers, streams, and lack of commercial development, has always appealed to me. In high school, my friends and I would drive up here often to ski. Later on, when I was playing in bands, we would play 4 to 6 weeks a year at ski resorts that are all over this state. 

My high school friend Jack Himmelsbach is a retired Vermont State Trooper. He rode with us back in 2019 from New York State to the Vermont border. That day I remember asking him, 

"Jack, you've lived in Vermont for many years now. Has it changed at all?"

He didn't hesitate, "No."

I suppose therein lies its charm. Vermont still seems much the way I remember it back in 1974 when we came here to ski. The classic song, Moonlight in Vermont was written in 1944. Other than the line about telegraph cables singing down the highway, the lyrics still work perfectly in 2023.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0Otg6s8ps1OkdRkD5KmepW?si=6i5acl6HRVCVS1HswQ0Q6A

There were some long climbs today, but the roads were good for the most part. It also helps when you are surrounded by pristine tree-covered mountains and there is a pretty stream right next to the road you are riding up. 

Tomorrow is the last full riding day of this tour. We ride from Brattleboro, Vermont, to Burlington, Massachusetts. As I sit here tonight, I can honestly say that, despite all the unfortunate circumstances I dealt with during these last seven weeks, I'm still glad I did this tour across the US. The other riders were delightful, and it was a pleasure to get to know them. We all come from very different walks of life, but we all share a deep love of riding bicycles and a willingness to challenge ourselves. This ride most certainly puts you outside your comfort zone on a regular basis.

My wife arrives late tomorrow night, and I can't wait to see her. She will miss the final banquet tomorrow night, which is fine with her. Although I will thoroughly enjoy this final meal with my fellow riders, I do not look forward to the awards, speeches, and presentations the tour director has most certainly planned. She has already asked me if I wished to sing.

" I just want to give you that option.", she said.

I was considering doing an audience participation medley of Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes, The Chicken Dance, and The Hokey Pokey, but my wife talked me out of it. You never know; I still might have one too many cocktails and bust out Baby Shark or California Love, but don't count on it.