New England Tour

September 2018 with highlight being Mac & Mary's wedding!

Tu. 11.9.:  Arrive in BOS 18:25 with EI0139, spent the night at Hilton Airport Hotel.

We. 12.9.:   Cycle to Lisa, 61km.

  • Shortly after leaving hotel when Hotel Dr. crosses Transportation Way and then becomes Tomahawk Dr., there is a small road to the left of Tomahawk that cuts directly to waterfront path (not shown on Komoot).
  • Ferries at 10:50, 12:45, 13:40.  Per MBTA, bicycles allowed on all ferries at all times.
  • Despite drizzly weather, this was a great day:  cycling out of the airport with planes flying overhead, taking the ferry towards the downtown skyline, cycling around the North End, and enjoying some well-maintainted rail trails.

Fr. or Sa. 14./15.9.:  Cycle to Bill's, 51km.  Early departure from Lisa's to be there by ~11:30.

  • A nice route with very little traffic and some pretty ocean views.

Th. 20.9.:  Off we go!  Marshall Point Lighthouse to Readfield, 110km. 

  • Lunch:
    • Gardiner Food Co-op & Cafe:  as soon as we cross the Keenebec River, left on Maine St., then right on Water St.  Lots of vegetarian and local food, but the cafe seems to have a lot of plastic since it is mostly 'to-go' items.
    • The Liberal Cup in Hallowell:  at 89.5km just before we turn left/west onto Winthrop St.  Brewery brewing session ales with local food & homemade veggie burgers!
  • Afternoon snack:  Fielder's Choice Homemade Ice Cream in Manchester at 96.9km on 202 just after we would leave it for Readfield Rd./17.  Fortunately, Darcy & Henry had this ice cream at home - delish!!
  • Dinner & Sleeping:  Darcy & Henry Whittemore, WS.  Darcy's famous pesto with basil fresh from their garden.  Henry is a fellow forester and Darcy works for Bicycle Coalition of Maine.

Fr. 21.9.:  Readfield to Bethel, 93km.

  • Lunch:
    • Norway Brewing Co.:  16km detour?, family-owned microbrewery with delicious dinner menu available ab 16h. #eatlocal #drinklocal
    • Crosstone Restaurant:  in South Woodstock.  Our track goes right/north onto 26/S. Main St. at the end of Andrews Rd., but Crosstone is just down to the left.
    • The Suds Pub at Sunbury Inn.  A few tasty vegetarian options and lots of craft drafts.
    • Sunday River Brewing Co.:  a few miles north of Bethel with full pub-style menu.
  • Ended up not stopping for lunch this day, which makes for a faster pace and more fluid rhythym.
  • Dinner & Sleeping:  Wendy & Ray, WS.  Mexican fiesta dinner, relaxing soak in the hot tub, shared views on medicinal green, and maybe we'll see telemarker Ray at La Skieda this season.

Sa. 22.9.:  Bethel to Littleton partially on the Presidential Range Rail Trail, 92km.

  • Dinner:  Schilling Beer Co. with craft beer and food, beer garden, and riverfront deck.  Bishop's Homemade Ice Cream Parlor.
  • Sleeping:  Daniel, WS.  Daniel wasn't home, but left his bachelor pad open for us.

Su. 23.9.:  Littleton to Marshfield, 81km.

  • At 37km (shortly after Woodsville) we can bear right off of 302 onto the Wells River Rail Trail (trail not recognized on Komoot) for 2.8km.
  • Our track parallels Rt. 302 and is mostly singletrack so can stay on 302 if no traffic.
  • Lunch in Groton:  Mountain Man Pizza open til 2pm; Artesano for ice cream & bottle of mead for hosts.  Also Village Stores in Groton (just before 232 turnoff) and Marshfield if needed.
  • Sleeping:  Les & Lori, WS.  Really good kale salad and mexican style casserole with homemade cornbread on top - will have to attempt to make myself!

Mo. 24.9.:  Burlington!  87km.

  • Road route to Burlington follows Rt. 2/Theodore Roosevelt Hwy. for 7km Montpelier-Middlesex and 16km from Waterbury-Jonesville.  The touring route alternative to this 23km includes 11,7km of unpaved singletrack.  Komoot estimated time is 3:39h on the road vs. 5:34h on the touring route for the same distance and height difference (600m up; 800m down).
  • The touring route coincides with the Cross Vermont Trail.
  • Lunch:  Prohibition Pig Brewery in Waterbury.
  • Sleeping:  Meg/Jay/Jeannie, WS.  This was a very long day - probably because we were so excited for our arrival in Burlington.  It was a full house at Meg & Jay's and we were too lazy to camp in their yard so we recruited some 'back office' help from Mom & Doug and Doug hooked us up with a good last minute rate at the Hilton.
Burlington
  • Breweries:
    • Vermont Pub & Brewery:  144 College St.  Das Original craft brewery in VT as the founders are responsible for enacting legislative change to allow breweries to sell their beverages on site.
    • Simple Roots Brewing Co.:  1127 North Ave.  Open Wed-Sun.
    • Four Quarters Brewing:  150 W. Canal St., Winooski.  To-Go Sales Mon-Thurs 12-5pm, Tasting Room Thurs-Sun.  Tiny Thai Restaurant is down the street, BYOB, and open every day for lunch until 14:30 and dinner ab 16:30.
    • Foam Brewers:  112 Lake St. on the waterfront.  Open every day with basic food available.  Mon is grilled cheese day.  Taco Tues! with taco food truck.  Their flagship beer is a double IPA so it's a heavy, hoppy selection here.
    • Zero Gravity Beer:  Pine Street Brewery with tasty snacks at 716 Pine St. and Brewpub at Flatbread (C & I ate here in 2010!!) with full menu (Mom will love this) at 115 St. Paul St.  Both open every day.  We liked the bottomless popcorn at the brewery and went to the Oktoberfest at the Brewpub.
    • Switchback Brewing Co.:  160 Flynn Ave.  Employee-owned.  Taproom open every day and has snacks.  Classic Switchback lager was a favorite beer of the week.  Switchback is more than a telemark binding. ;)
    • Queen City Brewery:  open every day but Monday at 703B Pine St. in the southside of town.  Namesake beer is a Munich-style Helles!  We met kind Dickie here who gave us a ride to the Hotel to meet M&D.
    • Magic Hat:  5 Bartlett Bay Rd.  Open every day and now with local & seasonal food menu.
    • Halyard makes craft ginger beers, but the taproom is unfortunately closed for the days we'll be in town.
  • Smugglers' Notch Distillery:  Tasting room at 28 Church St.
  • Snow Farm Vineyard on South Hero Island, tasting room open every day.
  • Shelburne Vinyeard is south of Burlington along Rt. 7 and open all day every day
  • Eats:
  • Green Mountain Transit:  Bus 1 UMall between University Mall and Downtown Transit Center
  • Sleeping:  Tues & Wed at Green Mountain Suites with M&D.

Tu. 25.9.:

  • Hotel Check-in at 15:00

We. 26.9.:

  • Doug & Michele arrive at 14:02 with UA6083 (from UA735).

Th. 27.9.:  Cycle from Burlington to STOWE!!  Tough climb around Mt. Mansfield, 68km.

  • After 54.7km, it's all downhill. 
  • 58km:  Can stop at Stowe Mt. Lodge to see all the Beitzels and Vredenburghs!
  • 59.8km:  Trailhead for Bingham Falls, 1/2 mile hike to waterfall swimming hole.
  • Sleeping:  Hob Knob Inn for 3 nights.
Stowe
  • Matterhorn Bar:  best après ski in the country!  4969 Mountain Rd.
  • Doc Pond's:  Friday lunch with the fam.  M&M recommend hummus and black bean & sweet potato tacos.  294 Mountain Rd.
  • Alchemist Beer:  tasting room open until 7pm.  100 Cottage Club Rd.
  • von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall:  1333 Luce Hill Rd.  Open all day til 21h.
  • The Bench:  Vermont comfort food open ab 4pm on weekdays.  Lots of VT craft drafts, small plates, local food.  492 Mountain Rd.  #eatlocal #drinklocal
  • Tres Amigos:  Mex & margs; guac & rock.  Open weekdays ab 4pm, weekends ab 11:30.  1190 Mountain Rd.
  • Piecasso:  Pizza+ and draft beer.  Open all day every day.  1899 Mountain Rd.

Fr. 28.9.:

Sa. 29.9.:  Mac & Mary's Wedding in Stowe!

  • Burlington Farmer's Market Sat AM for brunch?
  • 15:00:  Ceremony at Stowe Community Church, 137 Main St.
  • Reception:  Trapp Family Lodge, 700 Trapp Hill Rd.

Su. 30.9.:  Drive back to PA with M&D

  • 10:00 Brunch with wedding party:  Kaffeehaus, 700 Trapp Hill Rd.
  • Brattleboro:  Vermont Country Deli - best deli ever!

Wkd of Fr. 4.10.:  NYC or OC

We. 10.10.:  JFK to DUB

Links

Northeast Greenway Bike & Walk Trail, Greenway Map - incl. Janet-Brunswick section

Amtrak Network Map