Montpelier

Day: 36
Destination: Montpelier, Vermont
Route: Highway 95, to 222, then west on Highway 2
Mile Ridden: 257   Total Miles: 8,006

Points of Interest:

• Mexico, Maine
• Farmland and marshland on Highway 2
• White Mountains, Maine
• Montpelier, Vermont

We woke up today with the parking lot and our bikes wet from rain. The forecast was rain in the morning, but clearing in the afternoon, but by 10:30 a.m., the rain was only increasing and clear skies did not look likely. We left by 11:00 a.m., and rode through the rain, heavy at times, for about three hours. Eventually, the rain weakened, the rain suits came off, and riding returned to "normal." Essentially, the entire day was on Highway 2, which is an east to west highway which runs from Maine, through New Hampshire, and into Vermont. Our goal was Burlington, Vermont, but with the late start, and the rain, we came up 40 miles short and spent the night in Montpelier.

 

It turned out to be a great choice, since Montpelier is a great town, with very old buildings and streets, and some great restaurants and an outstanding Irish Pub. Highway 2 was an outstanding road as well, which ran from the hills and valleys of Maine, to the mountains of Vermont where the road begins with a two lane road, then a four lane road cut through granite, to a 2 lane road as it wraps around and through many communities. The scenery is the best, with everything around you a lush green. There are lakes, rivers, and streams which snake through marshland. It was a very enjoyable ride, despite the rain.