For the eighth time in nine years, Ted and I leave our homes to hop on our bikes for the great unknown. This time it is a cris-cross through northern Vermont with a brief visit to Canada. We will be biking nearly 250 miles over five days on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail (LVRT) and the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail (MVRT).
As was the case last year, I pick up Ted in Bridgeport, CT, at the ferry terminal and we make a bee line north on I-91. It is a cool and rainy day, a sharp contrast to the last few where we both were toasted by the extreme heat. Making our way though Connecticut, Massachusetts, and finally Vermont, I am reminded of all the trips I used to take as a youth with my best friend Brian with whom I canoed a large part of the Connecticut River.
Approaching the beginning of our journey, Danville, VT, the hills become more extreme and rolling. Many wildflowers, including the deadly wild parsnip, decorate the sides of the highway. We stop at an overlook of Comerford Dam, which I had portaged with Brian nearly 50 years ago.
We arrive at our B&B for the night, the Danville Inn and Restaurant. It is a quaint old building on Main Street near the village green, library, and Methodist church. Our rooms are small but comfortable and we go down to the dining room for dinner. We had read about the tasty meals provided here but were amazed when the first morsels were consumed.
We experience one of the best meals we have ever had in our travels together. We both opt for the buffet dinner and like gluttons sample nearly every fare on the menu. The “worst” dishes are merely very good and the best are indescribably delicious. Washing this all down with an excellent Pinot Noir, we are stuffed, but leave enough room for me to order carrot cake and Ted maple cheese cake.
We need to take a long walk. Not a bad way to start our adventure.
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Does the Danville Inn do home delivery?