Jacob Friend
Spending our last break day in the rural mountain town of Pittsfield was just what our souls needed. With help from a sugar overdose during breakfast, we were excited to get back on the saddle and venture further into the Green Mountains. Once again, a blanket of fog slowly unveiled the mountain tops as we progressed through the morning.
The White River acted us our tour guide for the rest of journey through Vermont. It took us around mountains, quaint towns, and vibrant farmlands. It’s been neat to see how the abundance of well-preserved nature in this state has influenced Vermont culture. Perhaps more than anywhere else on this trip, we’ve seen yard signs and storefronts advocating for peace and love. At a glance, it seems like a higher percentage of Vermonters are strongly rooted in their natural environment relative to people in other states. I think it contributes to a more positive atmosphere throughout the state. I’ve noticed the same pattern when I run and bike around Raleigh. The more I’m exploring in my community, the happier and more curious I become. I’d definitely like to come back and explore more of Vermont in the future.
Morning miles out of Pittsfield, VT
Towards the end of our morning we were faced with a moderate climb. We put our heads down and made light work of it compared to Brandon’s Gap two days ago. Before enjoying our downhill cruise from the top, Brian informed the rest of us about two upcoming turns to look out for, then sent us off. Once we made it to the bottom, Michael, Usher, and I incorrectly interpreted Brian’s instructions, then made a wrong turn resulting in us biking 2 miles in the opposite direction. Brian, who didn’t see us at the bottom of the hill, assumed we were ahead of him, and sped to the nearest town assuming he’d see us there waiting for him. Once we (Michael, Usher, and I) understood our mistake, we retraced our pedals, reconnected with Brian at the next town, then settled for lunch near the Connecticut River.
Michael gets aero on the way down the pass
During lunch and into the evening we dealt with scattered showers. A short-lived rainstorm ended our lunch early, but it stopped in time for us to enjoy our entrance into the state of New Hampshire. Once we were in The Granite State, as the nickname suggests, we began to notice exposed rock on some of the mountains we passed. Overall, however, the geography didn’t change much as we continued to follow the Connecticut River north.
Bike Loud at the New Hampshire border
Towards the end of our ride, we tracked another rainstorm following us from the Southwest. As always, I got my hopes up that this would be our chance to see our first rainbow of the trip. The dark clouds and curtain of rain were very scenic as they approached us, but upon arrival, we were once again disappointed to not find a rainbow.
A rainy welcome to New Hampshire
On the bright side, our home for the night—the River Meadow Campground—had fantastic amenities including a pool, hot tub, basketball court, and showers. For our evening activities, Brian and I faced off in a 1v1 basketball showdown where he squeaked out a hard fought victory 7-5. Afterwards, Usher, Brian, and I enjoyed a swim to cooldown while Michael showered and indulged in one of his signature picnic table naps.
Brian does some post-ride hooping
To end the night, we enjoyed a great family dinner with Tour De France highlights, High-Low-Buffalo recaps, and a perfect sunset. We go to sleep tonight knowing we’re in safe hands with Tony the Tiger watching over our fort.
Usher’s dinner
Sunset in North Haverhill, NH