The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

A Gravel Adventure in Northern Vermont

August 20th to August 29th

Ride Director: Hilary Warner
Ride Co-Director: Jeff Warner
Report by: Carol Anderson

“A Gravel Adventure in Northern Vermont” nearly did not happen.  Recall the massive flooding in Vermont during July?  It happened 6 weeks prior to the start of the tour.  One of the epicenters of the flooding was the Lamoille Valley –> the destination of our tour.  Roads were wiped out, the rail trail was washed away, many businesses were flooded, and it was uncertain if lodging and services would be available.  But our leaders Hilary and Jeff were NOT to be deterred by Mother Nature.  As a top priority, they were first able to confirm lodging and services were still viable.  With just a few weeks to go, they re-scouted EVERY SINGLE route and rerouted those that were no longer passable.  They regenerated and reposted 26 GPS tracks.  As unfortunate it was that we were not able to ride the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail as originally planned, the alternative routes were not a disappointment.

The 9-day tour was developed to take advantage of, and experience, quiet gravel roads in Vermont.  Each day had multiple options for nearly 100% gravel, a mix of gravel and paved, and nearly 100% paved.  The routes took us to beautiful valleys where tourists do not go because why would tourists travel on gravel roads?  We saw beautiful farms and plenty of wildlife but nary a car.  The one route that everyone considered to be the highlight was between Burlington and Jeffersonville via a long causeway that ran out of Burlington into a Lake Champlain inlet, a short (5 minutes?) ferry trip across a break in the causeway, and the continuation of the causeway to the opposite side of the inlet.

We met at the Courtyard Marriott in Burlington.  We rode from Burlington to Jeffersonville for one night at the Smuggler’s Notch Inn, from Jeffersonville to Greensboro for 4 nights at the Highland Lodge, from Greensboro back to Jeffersonville for 2 more nights at the Smuggler’s Notch Inn, and back to the Marriott for one last night in Burlington.  Both the Smuggler’s Notch Inn and Highland Lodge are old and quirky (every room different, doors that squeak, floors uneven) but very comfortable.  Each inn has a large veranda which was perfect for social gatherings.  The Highland Lodge is situated a short walk to Caspian Lake where swimming and canoeing were alternative options to biking.

There were several excellent dining options in Jeffersonville for the 3 dinners on our own.  Small groups formed in the BAC tradition and several different restaurants were visited.  The Highland Lodge is isolate from any dining options other than its own restaurant. Therefore, the first 3 dinners were catered at the inn.  For the one dinner on our own in Greensboro, everyone chose to eat in the inn’s restaurant.  Food in all cases was wonderful. 

Social hours were enjoyed in the traditional BAC way.  Beverages and snacks were tailored to requests from the riders.  Riding options were discussed around a giant map of suggested routes.  Several people in the group created hybrid rides from the suggested routes.  The conversations went like this:  Can we do this?  Couldn’t we do that?  You could try this.  You might consider that.  What is the best way to the brewery, ice cream, market, museum?  Jeff was instrumental in aiding those who created their own rides.

Hilary and Jeff were excellent leaders.  If this trip is offered in the future, consider signing up!  It was a fantastic experience.