The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

Gravel Adventure in Northern Vermont

August 24th to September 2nd

Ride Director: Hilary Warner
Ride Co-Director: Jeff Warner
Report by: Chris Danilson

Our group convened in Burlington for the kickoff of our Gravel Adventure in Northern Vermont. Following the first of many great happy hours, dinner and a night at the posh Courtyard Marriott, we left town via the Island Line Trail along the shoreline of Lake Champlain. This ‘Leader’s Choice’ route included riding a bicycle ferry operated by Local Motion - a non-profit organization dedicated to bicycle advocacy. A unique and pleasant way to begin our out-and-back journey.

Our first destination was Jeffersonville, where we stayed at the historic Smuggler’s Notch Inn. This quaint inn is operated by a hard-working couple (Pat & Lisa) who made our stay seamless and enjoyable. For the remainder of the tour, our happy hours included a recap of the day and overview of several route options for the following day. All rides provided a variety of scenery, unique points of interest, and strategic access to local ‘gennys’ (local speak for general stores) where riders could refuel with deli foods, drinks and snacks. Riding friends old and new mixed & matched throughout the tour to explore the rural backroads of this area.

Our rides invariably wound us through lush green landscapes of forests and farms. Evidence of maple syrup and timbering operations dotted the forests while dairy and small produce farms provided a more open space feel. Well-maintained barns, happy cows, and the occasional covered bridge were appreciated by the photographers among us. Self-served roadside stands offered a variety of produce, maple syrup, honey, and apothecary items (who knew?). While the rides included paved segments, they were biased towards the wonderfully smooth and well-maintained gravel (dirt if you’re a local). Though most routes included occasionally steep hills, all were manageable.  

On our transition day to Craftsbury, we followed a segment of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that follows the Lamoille River. This is another amazing Vermont cycling resource with access to restrooms, bike repair stations, historic sites, and random art works. Our accommodation at the Craftsbury Outdoor Center were ‘dormitory style’ with access to shared community rooms, gym facilities, and the wonderful outdoor campus on Great Hosmer Pond. The meals provided by the center featured locally sourced foods. During a guided tour, we learned about the Center’s commitment to supporting Olympic-level athletes and environmental sustainability. Nightly rain finally yielded to a daytime ‘soaker’, so we took a day off to relax and recover and enjoy each other’s company during games, meals, and beverages. A bit more rain caught us the following day on our return to Smuggler’s Notch. However, with undampened spirits, group members shared dinners, a surprise birthday, and the ubiquitous (but essential!) maple creemee for the remainder of the tour.

On our return to Burlington, everyone chose to repeat the Day 1 ride to enjoy another ride along the shores of Lake Champlain. Given the excellent weather and weekend holiday, the trail and beaches were unsurprisingly bustling with people cycling, skating, dog walking, swimming, bird watching, and soaking up the gorgeous weather. Seeing so many folks enjoying the outdoors made for a pleasurable finale to a great tour.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. We gathered for a final group dinner in Burlington before parting ways with hugs, handshakes, and commitments to find ways to ride together again with our new BAC friends. The group consensus was that the planning, execution, and support provided by the Warners were off the charts with many participants hoping the tour is offered again.