Fertilizer had to be spread in the fields that morning and cheeses evaluated for shipping on Monday; our friends picked up their pigs at noon. It was 60 degrees and sunny, but strong winds chilled that number down. Exposure sucked all the oomph out of Dan, and I got a reverse brain-freeze from the sudden warmth upon returning to the house - all too soon, it seemed, it was time to pick eggs and do the evening milking. No time for fun.
(That's Dan at the Spanked Puppy in Colchester on our return from the Brandon trip.)I have such great memories of the time we spent riding a tandem. We have been through nearly all of Franklin County, and once cycled to Brandon on an overnight trip (where I ate Oysters Casino for the first time).
(I can't recall the name of this inn, but it rained all the way home from Brandon.)
We went around Lake Champlain totaling 112 miles in one day, and did a solid 100 during an organized "century" around the Mad River Valley (we consumed 3 breakfasts at 3 separate diners the morning after).
(This is from a Stowe ride. There used to be a creemee stand on the walking/bike path next to where the McDonald's also used to be.)
On another such trip, we rode up and over Jay Peak on day one with Smuggler's Notch conquered on day two. We frequently crossed the border into Quebec on the weekends. As I recall, the guard made us leave our dog-repelling pepper-spray at the border (he said it was a weapon). We even put the bike on the Amtrak and rode it in South Carolina; it makes me miss eating chicken-fried steak at Cracker Barrel just to think about it!
(We are in South Carolina at a mexican restaurant - Chilaca's? This was the only time we spent an entire week off the farm, ever.)Here are some things that I have noticed riding around during the past two weeks:
There are more ATV's around than there used to be, piloted by younger riders. Or maybe I'm just older and they all seem so much younger - why don't they get any older?
There are quite a lot of wild turkeys in the alfalfa fields.
Most farmers have already spread their manure, chiseled and fertilized fields, but few have put seed into the ground.
Some of my solo rides have been along Lamkin Street in Highgate. There are two hills: one short and steep, one long and gradual. We used to say that if you could pedal over both, then you were ready to tackle the other hills in the area.
Well, I can't get up the steep bit on Lamkin. I've gotten as far as the yellow "Posted, No Trespassing" sign, but the front end of the bike goes wobbly with the effort it takes to get any closer to where the trio of yippy-dogs live (at the top). I have only a second after coming to a standstill to decide whether or not to risk bursting a vessel and falling over - or give up a swear, get off the bike, and plod along the last little bit on foot.
I'm too old to be falling over. But soon, I'll be sailing over the top.
