Reporting on: June 24, 2009 - Day 48
Riding Route: From Albany, NY to Brattleboro, VT
Temperature:65-77 degrees /Winds:5-15 mph Elevation Climb: 6100 feet
Miles Ridden Today: 76







We completed our 12th State Line crossing today: Vermont! We had a heck of a climbing day - as we rode through Vermont's beautiful Green Mountains. They extend approximately 250 miles - with the highest peak being about 4400 feet. (There are actually 4 passes that are over 4000 feet). The range is part of the Appalachian Mountains which stretches from New England to Georgia. This area includes many downhill skiing areas and also a portion of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail - a hiking trail that runs 2170 miles - from Georgia to Maine. (There are three main trails in our country that form what is known as the "triple crown of long distance hiking". They are: The Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail).




We made it to mile 36 before it started to rain. There were several longer climbs - a 7.1 mile one and then another 4 mile one...not real tough - but long. Doesn't sound hard, does it? The toughest part seemed to be the long descents in the rain. There were pines and white birch everywhere. It was the first time I felt we were in the New England states! We crossed over into Vermont at mile 31 - and the roads changed immediately. There was a fair amount of traffic - and we were once again hugging the white line.






Brattlboro is a quaint town with a population of about 12,000 people. In the early years Whetstone Falls provided water power for watermills, beginning with a sawmill and gristmill. By 1859, when the population had reached 3,816, Brattleboro had a woolen textile mill, a paper mill, a manufacturer of papermaking machinery, a factory making melodeons, a flour mill and a carriage factory. Okay, who knows what a melodeon is? Yep, it's an accordian!






My friend Todd McDonough of Home Portfolio arrived at 3:00 and is going to ride with us tomorrow. He's a ex-tri-athelete and currently is a marathon guy! What a challenge he'll be for us! We have 91 miles tomorrow - and 6700 feet of climbing. It's our last full day of riding. As our group talked this evening we agreed that the 7 weeks seems like 7 months. We've been in 42 towns and different motels - and everything seems to run together at this point. I'm going to have to go through my blog and pictures to sort things out when I have time.








Tomorrow Carol, son Steve and Andrea and our friends Ron and Nancy Smith will arrive. On Friday we do the ceremonial 21 mile ride to Revere Beach to dip our tires in the Atlantic Ocean! Then we're done...with the exception of Peter. He has a friend coming to join him and they are going to ride from Boston to New York City - where he lives. Some people just don't know when to quit!