We start the day with a screaming downhill out of the lodge straight down Mt. Killington. You can reach 50mph there if you try. Unfortuately, there’s a stop sign at the bottom on a very busy road, so you have to stop. No sliding through.

Speaking personally, the first part of the day, up the first rest stop is arguably the prettiest part of the trip. Idylic pastoral scenery right out of a picture postcard, courtesy of the Vermont tourist board. Plus, they recently repaved the road, so it was actually easy to navigate. (Vermont has terrible roads, and some pretty vicious drivers as well.)

The route follows the river and eventually crosses the Connecticut River back into New Hampshire where we head for some more significant hills. These hills, though, are of a different style than those in the White or Green Mountains. In those, roads tend to go up, then they come down. In the Monadnocks, the roads are not as steep, but they can go for miles. Miles and miles and miles.

From Keene, to where we end at Franklin Pierce College, there are endless very high grades. But now were at the college where they have one of the better cafeterias of the week. Tonight will be presentations, and saying good bye in preparation for the final day back to Woburn tomorrow.

People should start arriving on Woburn (at Chomerics, 77 Dragon Ct) somewhere around noon.

Since today is only about 50 miles, there’s a bit of time to get properly prepared and motivated for the day. It’s also a pretty day. Starting in Northfield, we head south for 50 miles to Mt. Killington. Most of the day is rollers, but it ends with a climb up Mt. Killington, a five mile slog, ending at the North Star Lodge at the top. (The way to get higher up the mountain requires a ski lift.) Let me tell you, it’s tough climb.

But since it’s a short day, most people eat lunch at a deli type place in Pittsfield, VT, or maybe visit the restaurant next to the lodge. There’s a pool and a spectacular view of the mountain.

Today is the big day. 110 miles, starting with Crawford Notch at around mile 20. It’s a tough day. Still, it’s a beautiful day, highs in the upper 70′s to low 80′s, low humidity and full sun. Be on the lookout for moose.

Tonight is Norwich College in Northfield Vermont, and everyone was thrilled they finally have their new cafeteria finished. For the last two years, it’s been a makeshift cafeteria in the cellar under the gym. TOP TIP: Never get between a cycling and food.

But it really is a very tough day. Estimates are roughly about 5000 According to a GPS, there was 8200 feet of climbing, with most of it coming towards the end of the day (Crawford Notch notwithstanding). The climb into Orange, VT is particularly memorable.

Tomorrow is shorter.

We are at Attitash Grand Resort and Conference center in Bartlett, New Hampshire and I have to say, it’s pretty grand.

We got rained on pretty hard earlier in the morning, but it dried out and turned into a very nice day. There were lots of flats, as happens whenever it rains (the rain washed all the crap to the side of the road, right in a bike’s path, so we tend to pick up all the crash debris, glass, and other things that cause an immediate flat).

We all arrived safely, if a bit sunburned. The place is hopping and we’re having a family style meal together tonight at 6:30.

Finally found a machine to update this thing.

We left Saturday morning around 8:45 and it was a picture postcard of a day. No incidents to speak of, and everyone made it to Durham just fine.

Tonight, in Biddeford, ME, we said goodbye to the two-day riders. So sad. They should be back in Woburn in about and hour and a half.

Bye guys!

Looks like we might be in for some rain tomorrow on the way to Bartlett, NH. Saco, ME, North Conway, NH, and Bartlett, NH, all expect rain. Bummer. But the rest of the week looks good.