The
Favorite Ride section in the April 2022 issue of
Rider Magazine featured a ride up route 5 in Vermont from Brattleboro to Derby at the Canadian border. I thought it would be fun to duplicate the ride as best we could. So we booked a three night stay at the Cherry House Bed & Breakfast in St. Johnsbury and hoped for good weather when it was time for the trip. And yes the weather was good for us to go.
We left the house on Tuesday July 26th at about 10 AM. Later than I wished, but that's the way it goes sometimes. Took back roads up to Brattleboro, primarily route 12 N to Keene and then 9 west from there. Had lunch at an OK diner just south for the route 9-5-I91 rotary. Back on the road at 1 PM on route 5 north for the ride to St. Johnsbury. GPS said 4 hours to St. Js via all back roads. I thought OK, we'll start on route 5 and eventually get on I-91 since they parallel each other.
Route 5 meanders along the Connecticut River with the water in view part of the time. Very beautiful road with many ups and downs and twisties, with lots for scenic farms along the way. By the time we got to White River Junction, we'd had plenty of views on route 5 and got on I-91N for the sprint to St. Js. We arrive about 4 PM.
Wednesday was the day to do the ride described in
Rider. Headed north on route 5 then on to 5A north for the ride to Lake Willoughby. Our innkeepers describe it as Vermont's Lake Lucerne. And indeed it's beautiful. Lots of folks were swimming and kayaking where we stopped to take pictures.
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n_efj269cz1y6ho4uao0lUvaAUrgnwgvQnZ_1RWb7NZPA?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1659204253https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n_efj269cz1y6ho4uao0lUvqCe7ffHDJpwno-pEcjtJnw?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1659204252https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8l5YC8PtyIYk0-Bfag8lNiUnDnu4gHHWpfyYq5WwzmNg?cn=THISLIFE&res=large&ts=1659204254The Lake reminded me of Newfound Lake in NH, which is also long and skinny. We continued on route 5A to Derby, where we turned right on to route 5 north for a run to the Canadian border.
The Haskell Library and Opera House in Derby straddles the Canadian Border. It was built by a wealthy benefactor for the citizens on both sides of the border. The entrance is on the U.S. side. Canadians who are members of the Library can simply walk across the border to the front of the building to enter. There was no border control at this point. Everyone is on their Honor, which I think is pretty cool. In the picture below, the yellow caution tape at the left of the building marks the location of the border.
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8k2pbbDk8RCHy3eOpdj7SxVZV51t4MhjbEwRNyGscOgg?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1659204256Being clueless, Sherry and I walked in the front door and strolled across the border that is marked on the floor and said to each other, Wow, we went to Canada and didn't even need our Passports. After a few minutes doing this, one of the librarians walked up to us and asked if we were members of the Library. We said no, we're tourists. She very kindly informed us that we were not able to be in the Library unless our visit was booked as a tour. But she said she would be happy to take a picture of us at the border marker on the Library floor. We said thank you and took her up on her offer. By the way, she was from Quebec and spoke perfect English with no accent. Here's the pic.
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n9LvQUgIN40PCo2rKj4013WKwg5ydwHipy3aIZBf9dNYQ?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1659204255There's not very much going on in Derby so we headed to Newport, VT for lunch. Newport is charming with Lake Memphremagog providing a beautiful view north. The Lake straddles the border. After lunch were took 105 west to 100 south to Stowe, Vermont. The ride was spectacular with beautiful views of mountains, picturesque farms and quaint villages. Just what you'd expect to find in Vermont.
Afternoon rain was forecast for Thursday so we decided to take a shorter ride. Cannon Mountain in Franconia Notch, NH is only about 40 minutes from St. Js on I-93. We headed there. It was a beautiful day in the Notch so we took the Arial Tramway to the top of Cannon. Headed to the observation tower for spectacular views and met some nice folks from NY. We took pictures for them and they took some of us.
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/render/00-lT2MFNLjCrRYpdd3MEczfkqsQ63vB8BfhaKMpNS69n8_KHqdp_-z7S-RfgHuWblg4xJ2Twu75QF_jizMkB1ZdA?cn=THISLIFE&res=medium&ts=1659204257After that, we went to the Woodstock Inn and Brewery for nice lunch. Rain was in the forecast so we headed back to St. Js after lunch for a relaxing afternoon. It didn't rain in St. Js until about 6:30 after we were finishing dinner and had to walk back to our B&B. We waited it out and got back mostly dry.
Friday we head a leisurely morning and were on the bike by 10:30 for the ride home on I-93. It was nice to be able to ride back though the Notch. Two hours to the Hooksett, NH rest area where we had a decent lunch. Then back on I-93 for the ride to MA and the usual sh*t show that is I-495 S. By then it was near 90 degrees so when saw traffic building up we exited on 117 E for the remainder of the ride home. Got home a little after 3.
The trip was a lot of fun and I'm glad that
Rider published this article. Other than a few sprinkles while riding through Franconia Notch on the way home, the ride was rain free. Total was 651 miles at an average of 51 mpg. Hope you enjoyed this post.
