I have been anxious for quite a while to get back into the mountains. Today, I got my wish! Right out of Troy, we started climbing, and the rolling terrain continued until we got to the first SAG stop. They had a lot of carved animals for sale at the store where the SAG was set up. We knew right away that we were in for a tourist-trap day.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/sag%20horse.jpg)
In the distance, we could see the mountains we would be climbing, or skirting, as it were.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/mountains.jpg)
All of the towns we passed through today were ripe with history, and I took pictures of some of the old buildings and monuments as I rode.
This is a monument in Bennington in honor of the Green Mountain Boys of Revolutionary war fame.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/monument.jpg)
In the same town, there was this old hotel, which I photographed but did not investigate.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/hotel.jpg)
Here is a picture of me entering Vermont, the penultimate state of this tour.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/vermont.jpg)
The first "designated" climb was sort of long, but not too steep. I did really well thanks to my preparations yesterday. On the route to Troy, we had few hills, but on each one I had started slow at the bottom, and sprinted up each one, trying to accelerate over the top, not slowing to recover. I feel this paid off well today, as I felt great on every climb. Also, I have been intentionally not riding with anyone (very closely at least) to make it a little safer. In honor of Kent, I am taking every precaution I can think of to make sure I have no incidents that could send me home early. Some of the others are doing the same.
I descended into Wilmington, a town full of tourists competing with trucks for space on the road, with little room left for bikes.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/traffic.jpg)
Fortunately, Sara had told me about this pie shop she had remembered from riding through here before. I checked in at the SAG, then headed back into town to wait for Sara, Chuck, and Peg, who ride together. We met up at the bakery she had remembered, and I had this great piece of raspberry pie. It was about time! The last good piece of pie I had was in Idaho. The states in between either had no good pie, or kept it hidden.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/pie.jpg)
Sara and her raspberry pie
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/sara%20pie.jpg)
Chuck, looking cool in his ABBike Doo-Rag
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/chuck.jpg)
The scenery today was the best since the Black Hills, in my opinion. I am refering to the overall presentation, not specific things like Niagara Falls. Today we passed a lot of lakes and mountain streams, which combined with the exquisite cool mountain air, made for a most delightful day of riding.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1204/3255/320/lake.2.jpg)