The Bicycle Adventure Club - Come Ride With Us!

GoBike Montreal/Lake Champlain

May 25th to June 6th

Ride Director: Deborah Huntington
Ride Co-Director: Andre Bonte
Ride Driver: Chuck Feerick
Report by: Kathy chismark

Our trip begins in Burlington, VT. We ride across the causeway with New York to our left and Vermont to our right. The gravel causeway on Lake Champlain ends 200 feet from the island of South Hero, giving us an opportunity to take “the bike ferry” run by a local nonprofit. Once we land on the other side we bike to a lovely local winery for lunch. Our day concludes in North Hero (VT) with terrific lakefront accommodations and a tasty dinner together.

North Hero was spectacular -- now on to Quebec through quiet surroundings. Wednesday’s border crossing was quick and the farmland spectacular as we make our way to the busy city of St. Jean-sur-Richelieu. Many bike lanes make navigation much easier and safe.

We have a chilly start to our Thursday ride along the Chambly Canal, with its interesting homes, followed by miles of pastures. The incredible infrastructure of bike lanes and pathways lead us to downtown Montreal. One of our trip leaders, Deborah, is an experienced urban rider, so following her was so very helpful. A unique and beautiful hotel for our 4-night stay offered an underground shopping mall, coffee shops and even a grocery store! Montreal is a very cosmopolitan city with really fun pedestrian areas, museums and shops.

 Friday was an optional ride day which some took advantage of thanks to our other leader, Andy, with his gift for creating amazing routes. We had all been looking forward to an evening ride, part of the GoBike Festival weekend, but sadly it was cancelled due to inclement weather. Saturday was a free day to ride, tour and walk this vibrant city. Sunday was the festival “Tour de L’Ile” bike ride with many route options, from 20 to 60 miles, with thousands of riders of all ages making their way through the city, cheered on by jugglers, puppets, musicians, and other encouragers along the way. So fun! And a great experience.

We bid “au revoir” to our friends in the north and begin our ride to Plattsburgh, NY: a fifty-mile ride through the city and a long bridge over the St. Lawrence River, all on dedicated bikeways. Once we cross the border into New York we ride another 25 miles to downtown Plattsburgh. Our ride was rural and quiet. Our leaders provided a delicious meal at the hotel, “catered” by a local grocer at the hotel, which allowed all of us to unwind, catch up, and enjoy each other’s company after a long day in the saddle.

The next day brings us along the lake, then Rt. 9 North where we stop at Ausable Chasm, a natural attraction of magnificent waterfalls, rock formations, rolling waterways and much history. Moving on less busy roadways, we stop at a local “self-serve” honor-system farm stand for lunch, where the huge lilac bushes surround us in a very pleasant aroma. Onward and quite literally upward with a few challenging (but short) climbs, we arrive in Essex, NY, a small, charming town on the Lake. The Inn and its proprietors are simply wonderful. Our rooms are each unique, warm and inviting; a front porch begs you to sit and breathe in the quiet.

We say our goodbyes to our lovely hosts after a delicious breakfast. Another hilly day with breathtaking views, busier roads - but not overwhelming. We arrive at our motel in Ticonderoga, riding past a stunning waterfall. An outdoor patio space lends itself to refreshments and snacks before dinner. Thursday was “choose your activity.” Many of us did some bike exploring, and a tour of Fort Ticonderoga delivered a history lesson about the part it played in the American Revolution. Beautiful vistas and the King’s Gardens are not to be missed.

As we leave Ticonderoga, we begin our 50-mile ride back to Burlington. We cross the bridge back into Vermont, making our way to a funky little general store that sells everything from grocery items, fishing equipment and small tools - even toys!!
 
All in all, this was an incredible trip, well planned, with leaders who handled it all so well, and new friends who share our passion for biking.