Berlin, Montpelier, Middlesex
8/27/23
At 25 miles and 2500 elevation gain, this is a solid ride that took us about three hours. It is also a cool ride through downtown Montpelier, by the statehouse, and out the other side into beautiful Middlesex.
It begins in Berlin. We parked at the Central Vermont Med Center (hospital), across from the Berlin Mall. This is a very developed area, but soon we headed northeast, turned left on Stewart Rd. and immediately it becomes rural farmland, with barns, farm machinery and animals in the fields.
It also soon goes down, down, down into Montpelier. You ride across the metal bridge into town and cruise on Main Street, dodging cars, turn left onto State Street, and ride right in front of the capital building with its golden dome.
You jog a little to get onto Terrace St, which becomes East Hill. It is aptly named, since you gain about a thousand feet in elevation in four miles. It is a tough climb but a great view at the top.
Just as steep, but heading down this time, you ride by some beautiful country to come eventually to US Route 2, and the Red Hen Bakery for a pastry and coffee. We forgot our money, but luckily Chris found some bills that he had stashed in his bike bag years ago. I have never seen such dirty money, but they accepted it anyway, and we got our treats.
Leaving Red Hen Bakery, we stayed on pretty level ground riding up and alongside the Winooski River, and eventually turned by the Dog River tributary onto the Dog River Road, and old Rt.12, which parallels the Interstate as you head back toward Berlin.
One last long hill, and we arrived back at our start in the hospital parking lot. Great ride on a beautiful day.