Three Days on the Lamoille Vally Rail Trail (LVRT)
Our group of 14 adult members of SWC gathered at the Club House on a beautiful August Saturday. Our ride leader, Heather Stewart organized our grand adventure, making room reservations in May. We departed early from the Club House on Sunday morning heading to meet our bicycle shuttle (Lamoille Valley Bike Tours – www.lamoillevalleybiketours.com) in St. Johnsbury where we left our vehicles in a park and ride. The tour driver shuttled us two hours northwest to Swanton Vt. where we began our tour. We decided to ride a half mile northwest to start at the very beginning of the rail trail, where there was a railroad museum. We then rode 31.7 miles on hard packed gravel each carrying our belongings in panniers or bags. Our first destination was Jeffersonville where we stayed at the Smugglers Notch Inn (https://.smuggsinn.com) , enjoying a delicious dinner with cocktails.
The next morning after a hardy breakfast, unburdened from our panniers we road to see the Grist Mill Covered Bridge, before returning to the Inn to pick up our belongings.
We continued SE on the LVRT where some of us saw a mama bear and her two cubs in the woods, shopped at a typical Vermont store offering some CLOTHING sales, and endured a down pour! We ate a delicious lunch at The Black Cap Coffee & Bakery in Morristown. Then headed onward passing cornfield after cornfield. Due to washouts the LVRT was closed before Greensboro, therefore we had to climb a steep grade hill. (where many groans of despair were heard) to reach our accommodation’s, The Highland Lodge. The lodge is a quaint New England Inn with a restaurant and bar. However, it being a Monday, the restaurant was closed. Our Group Leader Heather had informed us that Monday was Margarita Monday with a taco truck! Yum!! Highland lodge is located on a hill above Caspian Lake, the lodge offers its various boats (kayaks, canoes, SUP’s) to its guests, as well as its beach. A dip in the lake is a must! Our buffet breakfast was delicious, plentiful and punctual.
Day three started out with detours due to washouts, one being a very steep climb, again many more groans, some of us even walking up! We were heading to St. Johnsbury, covering 30 miles. Enroute some of us ate an absolutely delicious at Bentley’s Bakery and Café in Danville (mile marker 22).
Overall it was a great adventure! No injuries, no flats, and happy riders!
