Day Eighty Five - Middlebury, Vermont to Bethel, Vermont

Day 85

August 9th

Sunday 

Miles 43

Middlebury, Vermont to Bethel, Vermont 

Today's ride was a beautiful climb to Middleberry Gap.  Once past the first 15% grade the climb leveled out until the last few miles.  The route followed the river through heavy forest. The most interesting part of the ride was seeing the Robert Frost forest and interpretive area. Close to that area, a hunter with his dogs stopped, it was fun hearing the dogs bark making the unique sound only hounds make. Ronnie had never heard that before and was amazed at how the sound carried and we could still hear them almost a half mile away.

Before reaching Middlebury Gap, we rode through Breadloaf, home to Middlebury College summer campus.  This beautiful area presents an amazing setting for learning.

At Middlebury Gap we met a young man that rode across the southern U.S. He heard our Texas accent and told us about riding through Post and remembered riding up out of the caprock onto the flat cotton fields. 

The ride going up to Middlebury Gap was on nice, smooth road. The descent had a sign showing a 12% grade downhill and was on very rough road with cracks and potholes. We had to take it as slow as possible so we were thankful for the drum break holding us back a little. It still wore down the brake pads on that steep grade that at times looked like a drop off.

The remaining ride took us through a valley with rolling hills following the White River.  This area through the Green Mountains was beautiful, the towns we traveled through very quaint and historic. We started noticing more food coops with healthy foods and many small organic farms.  We had the opportunity to stop at an organic blueberry and raspberry farm.  We love the fresh fruit and vegetables we have been able to enjoy on our trip. 

A good day that ended in Bethel at a B&B recommended by other cyclists.  The innkeeper was very nice but the house in need of a little tlc.  This was our first experience in a B&B and maybe we expected too much after seeing the magnificent homes alongside the route all day.