Day 106 Newcomb to Ticonderoga 77km

Today saw us climb up and over the rest of the Adirondack mountains. We awoke to a mild morning, after having slept well on a comfy bed if thick pine needles. At this middle point in the mountains the towns seem to be dying, with every second property for sale, the forest begins to reclaim the buildings. We are running a bit short on supplies, but with the population dwindling the general stores are closing too. The tiny hamlets of Severance and Paradox, offer only the curiosity of their names, I was also much amused by Lazy Street and Whits End Place. Finally, with our tummies growling for food, we find the Adirondack Bison Farm Store, complete with a herd of bison. We find the festive pumpkins promising and pull in, hoping.



We are rewarded with not only home grown veggies, but also some home baked treats and locally roasted coffee. After scarfing down the raspberry shortcake and the chocolate cheesecake we take a pumpkin cake for the road and, in an effort to balance out the food pyramid, some veggies too. Feeling much more content, we can face the remaining hills with fortitude. But much to my disgust, even all the way over on the other side of the country, our predilection for descents in the rain continues. Descending at break neck speeds, well probably only a maximum of 30mph in my case due to my excessive braking, on wet, often poorly repaired roads that you aren't familiar with, is my personal idea of hell. Kerstin waits for me at the bottom, totally unfazed. On the plus side we decided that if it was raining when we reached Ticonderoga we would stay at a hotel, say hello to hot showers! So by 5 o'clock we were comfortably situated, busily trying to figure out how to get across Vermont, as so many roads and bridges were damaged by flooding from cyclone Irene. We at least know we can still cross into Vermont from Ticonderoga, the ferry over Lake Champlain is operational, and the bargain price for cyclists, two bucks each! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPad