Day 48 Latham NY to Brattleboro VT

Day 48
Latham NY To Brattleboro VT
Miles Ridden 79.5
Climbing 5190 Ft.
Total Miles Ridden  3478.8
Miles to Go 113.0


Yesterday's storm had not moved on by our scheduled start time so the staff delayed things by an hour in hopes of better conditions as radar indicated rain would be ending in Latham. Of course, it was moving slowly to the east and right in our path.

The rain stopped as we crossed the Hudson River into Troy although the roads were wet with standing water in many places. It didn't take long for last night's hours long effort to dry our shoes with a hair dryer and clean the grit off our bikes was ruined. There was a steep climb up from the river through the RPI campus that woke us up and made sure we were wet from the inside as well.

One of the many raging rivers

We rode the thirty miles to the Vermont border in mist and fog but no rain. We stopped at the small Welcome To Vermont sign for our next to last state picture.  That's where the rain started again so we didn't stop for pictures in  Bennington, the first typical New England town we went through. There was some road construction going on through town and the road was narrow. Jack, a very large retired military guy and former Blackwater employee was hit by a car mirror and the driver didn't stop.  I hadn't seen him lose his temper before but he chased the car for a mile before it got out of town. Probably best for both he didn't catch it. His arm was bruised but nothing serious.

At the border

After Bennington, the Green Mountains and our toughest climbing since Mount Rushmore started. We climbed about 1800 feet over six miles. It was tough but nothing like out west. Not sure how much our better physical condition accounted for. On my previous trip, this stretch of road had been one of the roughest and busiest along with being narrow but was now repaved with nice, wide shoulders. A very steep descent followed and then the last big climb of the trip up Hogback Mountain.

Evin and I at the top of the day's big climb

The good road ended and we had to climb in the heavy traffic  as the shoulder was broken up or nonexistent. The climb was steep but not too long but RVs and New Yorkers in Range Rovers buzzed us at frighteningly close distances at sixty miles an hour as we did about seven. Brief but heavy rain showers hit every 15 minutes.

Riders at the top of Hogback Mountain

We got to the top and readied for what had been described as a steep and dangerous descent (when dry) just after one shower ended and the sun came out. The road was very wet and in even worse condition than the ascent. Between the road surface and the shoulder were inch long gaps that could catch your tire and spill you. Both the shoulder and the three feet of road at the right were broken up and cracked. The only safe surface was the middle of the road but that's hard to stay in when cars are coming from both directions and moving back and forth was most hazardous.  I went a little faster than prudent to try to get it over with but was white-knuckled the whole time. The most experienced riders said the road was unsafe and shouldn't have been ridden in the wet but we all made it down.  Among the three worst episodes on the ride.  Just as we finished the hardest part Evin got a flat. It could have been a disaster two minutes earlier. That's about his fifth. I've still only had one.

The last ten miles were a more gentle descent into Brattleboro. More shoe drying and bike cleaning for the evening.