Yesterday, I rode 52 miles round trip on the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail which is a 26.1 mile bike/snowmobile/cross country ski trail that runs from St. Albans to Richford, Vermont which is on the Quebec border. As usual, I got a later than planned start and wound up riding into the night. At least I had the foresight to pack a light this time. My bike light charger broke a while ago so I have been 'lightless' this whole season. Fortunately, I had my kayaking headlamp with me and just happened to think of tossing it in my pack before leaving - which was good because I wound up biking til 9:00 at night! In +/- 30 degree weather!
At the end point of the trail (before turning around to double back to the beginning), I decided that since I was so close to Canada, I might as well have a look at the border. So I followed the road signs out of town to check out the border. When I got there, they didn't look too warm and fuzzy at this silly looking cyclist bundled up in four layers of clothing with a helmet and a headlamp on so they pulled me over and asked me what I was doing there. I decided that taking a photo of the border was probably not in the cards, so I explained myself and turned around.
The trail passes through farmland, wetlands, woods and lush countryside along a beautiful river. As rail-trails are usually flat, I was surprised at the over 500 foot climb that my bike computer registered, but then I remembered, this is Vermont, of course there will be a climb!
These pictures were taken before it got too dark. As you can tell, the weather was damp and heading towards rain again, but it is Vermont and it was still beautiful. Pictures can never capture the raw beauty that one sees, but hopefully this will give you an idea of how beautiful Vermont is! Everywhere you turn, there is more and more beauty to admire.
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