Fifty Plus (50+) - Lake Champlain - short ride report

Last week a friend and I did some cycling on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain. We stayed the first two nights in a B&B in North Hero and the next two nights in a motel in Burlington. The first day was cool but brilliant sunshine, the next three days were forecast rain.

The Hero Islands have roads with little traffic and pleasant views

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1329a.jpg

The hills are modest and the views at the top can be beautiful

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1339a.jpg

We were lucky the second and third days. We headed out in the mornings and the rain held off until we finished our rides. It was overcast both days and very windy on day 2, when we again cycled in the vicinity of North Hero.

We cycled the rail trail from the Burlington waterfront on day 3

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1353a.jpg

The rail trail includes a causeway that goes about 3 miles across a bay, but unfortunately there is a gap preventing people from continuing to South Hero. The railway had a swing bridge that was removed years ago.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1359a.jpg

Day 4 had a steady rain in the morning so we did not cycle. Burlington is a great town with a pedestrian mall and lots of pubs. Unfortunately the patios were not open due to the rain.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1365a.jpg

That looks like a nice area to ride. When my wife retires next year we plan to start driving to various places around the country that offer great rides. Country roads, water fronts, and rail trails fit the bill nicely. A book with pointers to B&Bs and places like you just explored would be helpful.

Nice pics. Did you see the lake monster?

Really nice pictures and a good looking place to ride...That wooden bridge looks slippery in the rain. Too bad there isn't a bridge on the 3-mile causeway...Looks like it would make a pretty novel bike route. Thanks for sharing.

Is the trail paved?

I have been to Burlington many times but have not biked around the area

Fantastic! Thanks for sharing.

Did not see the lake monster. Much of the rail trail is paved, but not the causeway. The granular surface is quite good though. They have a ferry to take you across the gap in the causeway on weekends in August only. The bridge with a wooden deck is not particularly slippery.

Here is a photo of the gap in the causeway

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1361a.jpg

Did I mention that Burlington is a great town with nice pubs?

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee202/cycletourist/Vermont/IMG_1364d.jpg

The gap looks almost narrow enough to attempt to jump cross with a good head of steam!!

Very nice. I'll be cycling down there in early August.

The gap looks almost narrow enough to attempt to jump cross with a good head of steam!!

You would need a ramp. Alternatively, swim with your bike over your shoulder.

I'm headed there this coming week..though my trip is a bit south of Burlington. We bike each day to new B&B, while a van moves the luggage, so all I need to move is me and the bike. Weather is predicted to be a little bit wet and chilly...but what the heck... you know the old expression "The worst day biking is better than the best day working" so I am looking forward to it.

During July and August, Local Motion (a bike advocacy group) runs a ferry service from the south side of the path to South Hero and back. It operates on weekends.

Vermont has some amazing riding. Up in the Islands, the terrain is very flat. The middle of the state has some killer climbs. Last years Point to Point Century ride was billed as somewhat hilly. It had 8,000 feet of climbing. The varied terrain and the strong support of biking make it a great place to bike. The Green Mountain Bike Club Sunday rides bring out 50 or more riders on any given Sunday.

I have moved to Alabama and miss the riding and the PUBS. Today's group ride had six of us. Something to work on. Glad you enjoyed Vermont. I did.

Thanks for the great pics. I've been to Burlington a few times and always liked it, but I remember seeing a tourist brochure that proclaimed Burlington as "The cloudiest city in the U.S.A.!" Not something that most places would publicize :)