Day 62. VERMONT Rochester
63 miles 3,845 feet
Slightly before sunrise I left the motel and headed south to reach Ticonderoga. My motive: No coffee or breakfast to be had in the motel till 7 or later. It was light and there was little traffic and I reached Ticonderoga and struck gold: The Hot Biscuit Diner. it was covered with award notices and had a healthy crowd at 8:15 am when I arrived, filling up even more while I was there. I doubly lucked out because as I entered the deluge began. I had some rain but warm light rain until then.
I had a truly massive breakfast and lingered over coffee until the rain lightened then biked to the small ferry across Lake Champlain. This little ferry is summoned with a manual signal flag and is a great introduction to New England. On landing my first impression of Vermont is that it is so...green. But it has a problem with ups-and-downs.
See the left elevation profile (morning) compared to the right (afternoon). The climbs are similar but the afternoon climb is all up then down while the morning is up/down/up (repeat ad nauseam).
I had a break for lunch and then discovered that New England doesn't believe in constant 6% grades. My maximum grade in Brandon Gap according to Garmin was 26%! It was intense, but relatively short. When I reached Brandon Gap, the heavens opened and I had warm rain from there to Rochester where I am staying tonight.
At dinner at a nearby restaurant I sat next to a young graduate student at Middlebury College who will be teaching English and composition to middle and high school students when he finishes. It was so inspiring to hear his plans, and uplifting. Of course, New England is not typical of the United States.
The co-owner of the restaurant said they have not had trouble hiring and keeping restaurant staff. This is in contrast to most businesses I've encountered that have Help Wanted signs up and often limited hours because of staffing shortages. A question for those reading this blog: Why is it that there are so many Help Wanted signs but our unemployment rate is rising? I genuinely do not understand this.
Tomorrow, off to Hanover to stay with my sister Judy!
Slightly before sunrise I left the motel and headed south to reach Ticonderoga. My motive: No coffee or breakfast to be had in the motel till 7 or later. It was light and there was little traffic and I reached Ticonderoga and struck gold: The Hot Biscuit Diner. it was covered with award notices and had a healthy crowd at 8:15 am when I arrived, filling up even more while I was there. I doubly lucked out because as I entered the deluge began. I had some rain but warm light rain until then.
I had a truly massive breakfast and lingered over coffee until the rain lightened then biked to the small ferry across Lake Champlain. This little ferry is summoned with a manual signal flag and is a great introduction to New England. On landing my first impression of Vermont is that it is so...green. But it has a problem with ups-and-downs.
See the left elevation profile (morning) compared to the right (afternoon). The climbs are similar but the afternoon climb is all up then down while the morning is up/down/up (repeat ad nauseam).
I had a break for lunch and then discovered that New England doesn't believe in constant 6% grades. My maximum grade in Brandon Gap according to Garmin was 26%! It was intense, but relatively short. When I reached Brandon Gap, the heavens opened and I had warm rain from there to Rochester where I am staying tonight.
At dinner at a nearby restaurant I sat next to a young graduate student at Middlebury College who will be teaching English and composition to middle and high school students when he finishes. It was so inspiring to hear his plans, and uplifting. Of course, New England is not typical of the United States.
The co-owner of the restaurant said they have not had trouble hiring and keeping restaurant staff. This is in contrast to most businesses I've encountered that have Help Wanted signs up and often limited hours because of staffing shortages. A question for those reading this blog: Why is it that there are so many Help Wanted signs but our unemployment rate is rising? I genuinely do not understand this.
Tomorrow, off to Hanover to stay with my sister Judy!
The ACA route takes you on River Road, a dirt road for part of it's course.
No lifeguards at this hour, but no crowds either!
I biked through that gap. See below for the route.
