25-June 3 Bridges

“Flat” is a relative term.

Would that be “flat” as in “flat as a pancake”? Or is that “flat” as in “flat as the surface of a lake”? Or is that “flat” as in “you start and finish at the same elevation”?

For a Wisconsin-ite, perhaps “rolling” better describes today’s route. We left Burlington and headed south on the bike trail. This was a weekday and the traffic on the bike trail, to us, was heavy. There were more runners, walkers and bikes on the lake shore trail on a weekday than most of Milwaukee’s trails see on a weekend.

The first clue that “flat” might not mean the same to those in Vermont as it does to those in Wisconsin, came with a ¼-mile stretch of 8% gradient on the bike trail. Really? Mom, Dad and the kids do this on Sunday? Gee, they grow them tougher here in Vermont.

In the end, a really nice ride over rolling hills with a dozen hills in the 8+% gradient range: some short, some a little longer, but none more than a half mile or so.  For a Wisconsin-ite, a moderately hilly ride, but for Vermont (we were told)...."flat".

To round out our introduction to Vermont, our route was set up to visit 3 of Vermont's covered bridges including riding a few of Vermont’s many dirt roads. Well. when in Rome do as….and all that; how could we not ride the dirt roads? Surprisingly, the dirt roads were smoother and more comfortable riding than many of our Wisconsin potholed roads and definitely nicer than Arizona’s chip seal. Little did we know that dirt, gravel, and cinder would be a constant theme of this trip.

Bike spotting: Milwaukee Bicycle Company in classic orange.

Today's Food: Open Arms Café in Shelbourne (great food). Leunig’s Bistro (OK—although we did get to try a local ice wine, better yet to come).

Yesterday food: Magnolia (great – faux Philly Cheesesteak). A Single Pebble (good—‘white barbeque sauce’).