A cool 54° beautiful Sunday morning as we pedaled off at nine this morning. We enjoyed the first half mile of flat land through town before we started to climb.  We were still struggling through the extreme (14%) grades, but enjoying the cool morning and beautiful scenery, finally getting a chance to photograph the creeks and river, that made the climbing worth it.  The Moose River must have some high, raging waters to plant this tree on top of this rock. We were just discussing wine, when we passed a bottle tree (sorry, M.E. missed the photo) and this apropos flag.The first half the ride today we climbed and dropped step, yet slightly shorter, hills.  A turn in the course and the next ten miles we were on a busy highway. Though the noise was deafening after the peaceful countryside, we did enjoy relaxed grades and a tailwind, previously hidden in the colorful woods; and this road led us to town and lunch.  Our turn after lunch had us climbing the hillside filled with vacation homes (very realistic lawn ornaments, eh?)and lakefront cottages.These foothills rolled us past the Fulton Chain Lakesand deep forest treating us to cool shade and not a lot of steep grades

People getting the last few days in before school starts and booking everything around is really dictating our (shorter) distances through the Adirondack.  So at 40 miles we stopped at this nice motel, just walking distance from a 50 beers on tap restaurant.

Clouds hung low from the overnight showers, giving an entirely different cast to the stellar sixty degree morning. We had a five second drop from our motel, then the climbing of the Adirondack began. Up and down the hills, as we rode by numerous lakes

and cabins.with mountains looming in the background.Nestled in the trees, we only occasionally would feel the strong wind and enjoy the push.  We didn’t realize how moderate the hills were in the first 20 miles until we hit mile 21…..a straight up 14% grade climb. We only had a couple serious climbs, but a definite up and down all day, and lakes upon lakes. The clouds never did clear, but the overcast kept the day cool.

The only motel choices we had were at 35 and 70 miles.  But we’d reached the 35 mile point before lunch, stopped to eat and decided to go on.  There was a possible, yet questionable, place to stay at mile 50.  When we stopped for water and inquired about the last 25 miles, we decided we had best tackle it tomorrow.  Turns out lodging was a nice little cabin, full kitchen and nice view of the Hudson River.

Last night’s thunderstorm left the roads wet and the air thick with humidity with no sign of breaking through the low ceiling.A couple miles through the village and what remained from yesterday’s construction and then out into the wilderness, no one around for twenty miles. The clouds still hung low on the mountains, thankfully obscuring most of the mountain tops (it’s there above the tree line).so we couldn’t see it before we had to climb it.  The first half of the ride is what we put off yesterday, so we could tackle with fresh legs.  It paid off, though it was tough, the scenery definitely kept our minds occupied. This sign got to be comical,like really, super tough climbs, but great long mile plus fly downs…..great reward.  At one point this morning, we reached the ridge top only to see our next climb; it was so long and straight up it was almost as if they have paved over the treetops.  Then one by one, homes and farms started to appear.  There was a lot of beautiful scenery, but we were either struggling to climb or flying down, we missed many a photo op.  With no wind, the lakes were like glass and the reflection of trees into the water was incredible.  Such a beautiful day, even the mile long stretch on a dirt road was enjoyable.  On a long climb we chatted with Dave, the conversation helping us up.  Then a fabulous three mile drop (this is the tail end of the drop). We were stooked and ready for more, but didn’t want to kill Travis, so called it a day after 47 miles.

The fog was as thick as pea soup this morning as we coasted the three mile downhill to the ferry.  All we saw of Fort Ticonderoga through the thick fog, was this sign on the way.Amazing how peaceful the morning is in the deep fog, as we waited for our ferry. Eerie feeling silently creeping across the Lake Champlain in thick fog. We rode ashore into Vermont past peach and apple orchards and beautiful churches. The fog hung low for about an hour,but the thick humidity stayed all day. This is the second day in the Champlain Valley and it is anything but flat as a valley should be, but it is beautiful. We rolled up and down the hills enjoying what we could see of the mountains in the distance. Halfway through our ride we peddaled through the charming college town of Middleburg. Against our better judgement but knowing we needed fuel, we stopped for lunch at a wonderful Inn, before we climbed the mountain ahead of us.  Right from the parking lot, we started our 11 mile climb into the Green Mountains. A symphony of water rushing down the mountain serenaded us as we climbed,each small bridge lined with flowers. As we inched up, the river got smaller and the rushing of water was replaced by the pitter/patter of rain drops. We were glad to have the cooling sprinkle as we were drenched with humidity, and this was much more refreshing.  We had a few patches of 12 to 14% grades, but mostly just climbing with a few very short down hills to break it up. It took us just over an hour and a half to complete the 1500 foot climb before our bumpy, rough road, almost sunny but definitely beautiful ten mile downhill; a great way to finish the ride.  There was a huge welcoming committee in the park across from our bed & breakfast, where we enjoyed food and music until turning inat nightfall.

No fog, but the clouds were still snuggling with the mountain when we pushed off just after 8:30 this morning. Not sure how we were going to climb any mountain after being wonderfully stuffed with a huge bowl of fresh fruit, french toast, bacon and sausage, etc, etc., but had to go. Though today was the same 60° as yesterday, it felt much cooler; the fog replaced with overcast skies.  Our first 30 miles were a stupendous up and down roll of incredibly picturesque countryside along the White River. We are sure there is much we missed without the sun’s illumination, but the mid-sixties temperature was perfect for bikingand we saw plenty, centuries old graveyardseven a brick church. There is just something about the churches in Vermont, that we couldn’t get enough of ……. much like the barns in some state long ago.  Once again, just before lunch we reached the foot of our serious climbing.  We opted for a quick stop at a country store where we had a light lunch with the ants and this creature. There really is no good recipe for climbing mountains, especially when they start with a (thankfully, short) 14% climb.  Once again the river was beside us, this time carrying us all the way to the top.  Apparently, it can get quite large and powerful as we went through a very rough patch where the road had been washed out. This 1000 foot climb was only the beginning of  more sharp rises and falls for the rest of the afternoon. As exhausting as the climbing was, it was so gorgeous, and the drops from these climbs are very rewarding.  We called it a day at 54 miles.

It took us less than two miles and one more Vermont church to cross the river into New Hampshire, without having bought a Subaru!  Though just the Connecticut River divides the two states, the homes and churches seemed different.  The morning started off overcast, but that did not stop these flowers from glowing. For our first 18 miles, we rolled up and down the ridge above the Connecticut River, occasionally catching a glimpse. We enjoyed the beautiful river valley below and the small towns,farms and the historic Haverhill Corner along our route.Our turn, marked by this Veterans Memorial, was the start of our serious climbs.The Moosilauke Mountain stands just short of 5000 feet, but we only had to climb about 1500 feet and that was broken up by a short downhill.  The sun started to burn through the clouds about the time we headed into the woods and it’s protective shadeand beautiful fields with more stone wallsand again a river.We didn’t last long in the shade, so crept slowly up the mountain in the hot sun.Fortunately our rest stops were picturesquewith our mountain looming beside us. Our pass through the mountain was topped with the beautiful Beaver Brook Lake. We stopped for a break and a chat with a local fisherman, very proud of his lake trout.A stellar fly down from the mountain and into town, where they are preparing for a Ducky Regatta.As much as we would like to participate, we will hopefully be in Bath, Maine by then.  A short 40 mile day, once again due to motel availability on this busy weekend. Which did not stop us from a wonderful pasta dinner and a double dip of homemade ice cream  Properly stuffed and hydrated, we will rest for the long climb we have first thing in the morning.

It rained just before we headed out this morning leaving heavy clouds behind.Sixty two degrees, 99% humidity and a good chance of rain; any way you measure it, we are going to be dripping by the end of this ride.

We had a mile ride out of town, through the next one and then began our climb. This area is apparently a tourist hotbed, filled with lots of recreation,high end lodges and resorts. Our climb was slow, steady and beautiful; steam from the rain/humidity/sun trifecta was still thick an hour and a half into our ride.  Early in the morning, however, we were able to take advantage of the shade from the low sun and tall mountains.  Stopped at the overlooks, showcasing the 4000 to 5000 foot mountains that surrounded us. Once again, we enjoyed the streams rushing down the mountain.

With our slow and steady pace, it was a pretty easy ride up the 2000 feet;two and a half hours to ride the fourteen and a half miles.  We were stoked, but with this kind of vista, how can you not be! The 2855 foot pass was certainly not our highest or toughest, but it was still fun.  And that’s not counting the glorious fly down; we covered five miles in 10 minutes; then pedaled hard the next 18, completing it in an hour, twenty; just plain exhilarating.  We arrived at the bottom about the time everyone else in New Hampshire, but with a wide shoulder, we quickly moved past the long line of cars and into a cafe for lunch.

We got 50 miles out of our 43 mile ride….miscalculated the closest available grocery store, so a bit of backtracking.  Is it a coincidence that the only hotel within 100 miles was a short ride on the opening day of football season?  Or a coincidence that the TV in the motel was a 43 inch flat screen?  Or that there was no restaurant close enough to bike, so we had to sit it front of the T.V. with a bowl full of homemade pasta…..I think not!  But, it was a good afternoon, to watch football and rest for tomorrow’s ride.