A Bicycle Tour of Vermont
I have a friend who likes to spend his summer’s going on bicycle tours of various places. He usually goes with other friends, but one summer, he talked me into going with him to the Sonoma Valley in California. Well, now I’m hooked. Now, every year, I try to save my money and go to a different part of the country on a bicycle tour.
Last year, I realized that I had never been to Vermont. I had always heard that it was a beautiful state and so, I decided to spend my vacation biking the back country of Vermont. I looked on the internet and found a company that specialized in organizing bicycle tours of the villages in Southeast Vermont. I cannot tell how glad I am I decided to use a service like this instead of trying to figure out a route myself. This trip exceeded my every expectation and it turned out to be one of the best summer excursions I have ever had.
A planned bicycle tour can be really great only if the people who are supporting you are helpful and courteous and know what they are doing. These people did. I would recommend them to anybody. If the breakfast is bad or the beds are lumpy, then it doesn’t matter how great the scenery is, the whole trip is ruined. So, one must be careful when planning a trip like this. It is a lot more work to cycle around to see sights instead of driving around to see them in a rental car. But you are passing the countryside at a slower pace and you have a chance to really see it. You don’t get that as much flying past in a car at 65 miles an hour. And, think of the gas you’ll save.
Vermont is definitely the prettiest state I have ever been in. I concentrated mainly on Southeast Vermont where I passed many small beautiful villages. There were countless white churches and immaculate picket fences. I saw a brick federalist mansion that took my breath away. Several times, I stopped to shop at a local craft shop and even spend a hour or so at a general store.
Riding through Vermont makes you feel like you’re a part of a past that you really didn’t live. But somehow you feel connected to it. People are so friendly. They will wave at you from their front porches as you ride by. Just like in the movies of the 40’s. I was also pleasantly surprised by the excellent accommodations that we were provided. We stayed two nights at the Kedron Valley Inn in South Woodstock, Vermont. What’s amazing is that it is so close to the interstate and yet so far away. The inn is 185 years old and has been selected by travel writers as one of the top ten inns in America.
Regardless of where you live, a bicycle tour of some scenic route near you can be a great summer vacation. You’ll save money on gas. You’ll get in shape and I promise you, you’ll have a great time seeing the countryside in slow motion. Plan a bicycle tour today!
James Hoag