Biking from Vermont to New Hampshire

Here is the map of the bike trip so far. We are going to call this tour the “North East Tour” which so far has included New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and currently I am in Maine. Many people talk about how I am in “New England” and just to clarify that means a tour through six states. Can you guess them all? Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont! I didn’t know all 6 so if you didn’t guess them no worries. Anyways the journey has been full of mountains and green beautiful land.

Vermont and New Hampshire do not have any lack of lakes and rivers for swimming! Waterfalls galore and beautiful people to meet! I think there was not one night that we didn’t camp next to the water. What a wonderful way to go to bed and to wake up in the morning. These day we are averaging anywhere from 25-50 miles a day, swimming wherever we get the chance, and just enjoying the local people and surroundings!

New Hampshire is one of the founding 13 states and actually the first to technically declare independence from British North American Colonies and the first U.S. state to have its own constitution. The license plate motto here is “Live Free or Die”. So humorous to see that on plates. It is also nicknamed “The Granite State” for its granite and quarries.

Here are the typical roads and the green highways. We typically have a shoulder and it is quite the contrast from Mexico. I enjoy the roads here and relax quite a bit. The hills, even the mountain passes are nice and gradual.

I love to ride my bike. I ride because I utilize my body in ways that I didn’t know it could function. I ride for the challenge, for the sweaty and hot uncomfortable feeling. I ride because I realize my privilege and resources available to me and want to take advantage of it. I ride because I know I wont always be able to take on this many miles and this many weeks camping. I ride because it is meditation and frees my mind and soul and lets my heart sing. I love to ride. It gives me power, clears my mind and gives me a beautiful perspective on life. When you ride a bike it takes you longer to get places. It makes you really mindful about who and where you spend your time and the life tends to slow down. I cant stop!

Riding through some of these small towns is really crazy because many of the buildings are over 100 years old with beautiful architecture and stunning farms and landscapes. This small town had a pharmacy that also had a diner. I guess its been open 75 years and the gentleman in the lower right hand pictures name is Jon and he owned the last gas station in town and now is a banker. He is 80 years old and was quite knowledgable about the area.

One night we stumbled upon Bethlehem Flower Farm that had flowers, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens and a garden. The woman that worked and owned the farm for the last two years was my age and we got to chatting with her about the possibility of doing some work trade for sleeping in the back yard (full moon) and getting some eggs from her chickens as well as some zucchini. It was a great trade we worked in the garden weeding some onion plants and feeding the baby goat! What a great time we had, we made popcorn and had some wonderful conversation. This farm was settled in at the top of the White Mountains and was picturesque.