Day 23: Brompton to Island Pond (USA)

96 km (60 miles) – Total so far: 2,212 km (1,374 miles)

When thunder and heavy rain wake you then there’s two options, up and at it, or see what it’s like in an hour. I chose the latter, and was away at 9:30. Actually it was to be the only rain of the day.

Breaking with Route Verde 1 after 4 days and almost 400 kilometres on it, it was Into Sherbrooke for a top bit of breakfast at a truckers cafe and onwards and south wards. This was a day full of interest, lots of good photographs also. The 147 road clings to the river as it goes through town, then steadily climbs through the towns of Compton and Coatihook to the border.

Goodbye to Canada after 20 days, and goodbye to Quebec after 7. Best things being the Route Verdes (in places) and the Unibroue beer. The last time I had been in Quebec was in 1991 with a rugby tour from Latymer, to Montreal specifically. Prior to that, for several lively nights whilst a student in north NY state in 1982. Montreal had a great nightlife, as good as any city ive visited, but I’m less interested these days. As Dylan says, I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.

Border patrol come-customs officers on these small outposts can be incredibly thick, and I thought I would ask this guy a few simple questions to test him, but my prediction had been correct. I asked him how far Island Pond was and he said about 30 minutes for me. All downhill he said. I already knew it was 20 miles and at a higher altitude than the border. It took 90 minutes. I asked him the weather forecast, he said heavy rain in about 20 minutes. After about that time the cloud broke and the sun came out, it’s been out since. I asked him if I was now on the Green Mountain Loop bike trail (there was a poster of it behind him). He said he had never heard of it. H asked me a question, he asked if I was doing this for fun, or as a second job. I know the border are strict on illegals entering and working without green cards, but what job could he have thought I was doing?

Once in Vermont the road was windy and undulating and very quiet. Excellent cycling. Island Pond is pretty much how I expected it to be. Backnthe mountains again; fantastic feeling. A holiday destination at all times of the year, except maybe now when the schools are back next week and the weather has been mixed in the last few days.

Distance 96 kilometres Max Speed 49.5 km / hr Ride Time 4 hrs 55 mins Average Speed 18.7 km / hr (still a southerly wind, though less strength) Departed 9:30 am Arrived 3:00 pm

Leaving Brompton this morning after a big storm

High quality truckstop cafe for breakfast on the way out of town

I always get the feeling someone is chasing me going into these things, and am very relieved to get out of them

Apples and strawberries everywhere – so much so that here is an apple themed fun park

The (uncovered) suspension bridge at Coaticook is in the Guinness Book of Records for the World’s Largest Suspension footbridge at 169 metres

Splendidly designed abattoir

The last twenty feet of the corridor are heavily soundproofed. The blood pours down these chutes and the mangled flesh slurps into these large containers–

None of your blood caked on the walls and flesh flying out of the windows inconveniencing passers-by with this one.