Archive: Around Town

Earlier this year, Troop 48 of Lansing were preparing for a week-long bike trip in Vermont. We learnt about the main components of a bike, and what to do and how to deal with turn signals, flat tires, etc.  We started training rides in April and built up from 10 miles to 38 miles.

It was Monday, the 1st of July. Twelve scouts and seven adults were in the group.   All of our practicing back at Lansing had lead up to this. <insert cheesy motivational music> We all mounted our bikes as we sped off into the Vermont wilderness where we cycled a loop of 25 miles near Kettle Pond State Park.  We had mild weather with lots of forestry to look at, but two punctures, one broken derailleur and a group that got lost.  The rain started as it got dark, but that didn’t stop us having smores over the fire.

We awoke the second day to continuing rain.  We packed our tents and left Kettle Pond in cars, stopping at Cabot Creamery for a tour and a collective bag full of free samples. It stopped raining, so we finished that soul rejuvenating cheese and cycled the 32 miles through the countryside to Elmore State Park.


The next day, the planned route took a road that didn’t exist (thanks Google Maps!) so some rather hurried route planning was necessary.  We cycled down to Stowe for lunch and ice cream in the rain.  The route back to Elmore State Park was via Lamoille County to see Moss Glen Falls, a very useful break during a thunderstorm!  Even after a 40 mile day for many of the boys, a group hiked up to the firetower on the mountain over a thousand feet higher than the campground.  The hike ended up over five miles long and we returned after dark and slightly muddy.

On the fourth day, it was supposed to be mostly downhill, but turned out to be one of the most demanding days with a grueling 28 hilly miles before lunch in hot weather, but everyone was rewarded with a tour of the main Ben and Jerry's factory, and some of us were lucky enough to buy a monstrosity of an ice cream called the Vermonster. Legend has it that it contains 20 scoops of ice cream, hot fudge, banana, cookies, brownies, walnuts and other toppings of your choice. It is ranked 46th out of 50 of the fattiest foods in the United States according to health.com. The energy gained from the ice-cream allowed some of us to extend the 36 mile ride to 50 miles while dodging a thunderstorm.  The rain was so heavy that it washed out the local 4th July fireworks (and some local roads and bridges!).  Instead of cooking our own dinner that night, we retreated to a restaurant for pizza.


On the last cycling day, we did a loop from Little River State Park, with the mid-point (and lunch) at the Rock of Ages where we had a quarry tour and learned all about methods of mining. There was also a granite bowling alley.  Some rode out and did 28 miles, some back (38 miles) and three (Brad, Ryan and Ian) made the whole 66 miles. Well done!

We were all pleased with how the trip turned out overall, and thankful for all the adults who made this possible.

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