Twelfth State Line and Much Climbing

Twelfth State Line and Much Climbing
Wednesday 26^th June, 2019
Day 47

Location: Troy, NY to Brattleboro, VT

Distance: 74 miles.
Temp:  63 - 85 F sunny
Dew point:  61 F
Winds:  calm

Cumulative climbing distance:  5,410 ft (1+ mile)

Cumulative descending distance:  5,066 ft

 

Well so much for another mechanical-free day.  Woke up this morning with another flat rear tire.  The tally is now Ken 12 and Judi 5.

Crossed our 12^th state line today and entered our 13^th state – Vermont.

 

Today was all about climbing and descending, as the today’s route had the 2^nd most climbing distance of the entire trip.  Hard to believe but an interesting consequence of the route.  We started in Troy, NY on the Hudson River (elevation 29 ft) and then climbed over 2 separate mountain ridges (elevation 2371 and 2153 ft) on Vermont route 9, which runs east-west across the southern portion of the state.  We ended the day in Brattleboro (elevation 288 ft), which is on the Connecticut River and the eastern state line.

Tomorrow is our last full day of riding.  And then Friday is our dip day in the Atlantic Ocean.  This trip went much too quickly but is a consequence of a full schedule everyday.

Unfortunately one of our riders crashed today on a steep descend and had to be airlifted to a hospital.  We are still waiting to learn the extent of his injuries and the details of the crash, as none of the other riders witnessed the crash.  Quiet dinner today, as this could easily been any one of us.

 

Everyone is now being extra caution to ensure a safe ending.

 

 

 

 

 The Vermont mountains are called the Green Mountains for obvious reasons.

 

Numerous moose crossing signs.

 Have seen wind turbines in every state during this trip.

  

 

These grades make for both challenging climbs and descents.

 

At the summit pass for Hogback Mountain.

  

 The descent on this highway was challenging (scary) due to cars passing us a 60 mph while we biked on a rough, narrow to no shoulder highway.