Greg & Camille Go Bike

We started the day with laundry and a foolish attempt to finish the perishable food we purchased at Costco. Aside from one missed towel and half a tub of hummus, we mostly succeeded. After another brief stop in downtown Burlington to donate Camille’s copy of Fellowship of the Rings to a little library, we were on our way.

The plan was to take the islands up through Lake Champlain, but the normal route was impassable on our chosen day with a painstaking 100-yard gap only passable by ferry. Regardless, we’d heard the scenery was beautiful and biked to the end of the causeway taking in beautiful views of the Lake Champlain on either side, the Adirondac Mountains on the horizon to the west and the Green Mountains to the east. At the end of the causeway, we doubled back and went the long way around to the islands.

The islands were beautiful with South Hero/Grand Isle having a bit more of a touristy feel. There were vineyards everywhere and multiple sites where weddings were being prepared. As we were leaving the islands, Greg got another flat in his rear tire. With less than 15 miles to go and a slow leak, we tried to nurse it to our destination, but after re-pumping it lasted 4 miles, then 3, then 2 and finally while angrily re-pumping, Greg busted the stem. Just 5 miles from our B&B we resigned ourselves to unpacking the bike and swapping out the tube.

At dusk, we crossed back over into NY near the Canadian border and arrived at Au Bord du Lac. We were absolutely in love. Everything was so charming with antique furniture everywhere in the house and each room a distinctive feel. We went to bed still waiting for our COVID results and strongly considering staying for another day.