Century

Those of us who live in New England at this time of year take for granted the crisp, clear days, the fiery foliage, the shimmering lakes. Or maybe we don't take it for granted, especially after the dismal summer we just came off of. Whether you take it for granted or not, one sure way to enjoy a September day is to ride a century bike tour. The best of them is the Northeast Kingdom Century Lakes Tour in memory of Ben and Terry Classen, presented by Orleans County Citizen Advocacy.

A century tour is a 100 mile bike ride that takes place all in one day. Yes, you ride your bike 100 miles in a day. The Northeast Kingdom Lakes Tour begins in Barton at Crystal Lake State Park.
This group of enthusiasts has been coming back year after year from Littleton, NH.


This is Frank and Debbie Daigneault. They've been doing the tour for a few years now. Frank also happens to be Wayne's soccer coach. I guess this is why soccer practice was moved from Saturday to Sunday this weekend.
OCCA provides lots of yummy baked goods and energy bars to get the riders going up those Vermont hills.

Cole samples. You know he has a sweet tooth.

Riders who are not quite ready for 100 miles, needn't be scared away. They can choose a 25, 50, or 75 mile route instead. They're all mapped out to provide a beautiful ride through the Vermont countryside and past well known lakes in the area.

We just popped in to visit Joanie and see how things were going, but Wayne insisted on bringing his bike, and rode his century right in the park and parking lot.

Here's just a handful of volunteers who make it all come together: Andre, Nicole, Joanie (the mastermind behind it all), and Cindy. There are several more rest stops along each route, manned by more volunteers providing support, mechanical help, and more energy foods.

Cindy and Joan take a moment to pose with Heather.

Joan goes all out with the decorations.

She's worked hard enough to take a break. I think this is what she plans to do in her retirement - ride around in a little red convertible.

Crystal Lake - one of the main attractions. Whichever route you choose, they all come back to Crystal Lake State Park. In the afternoon, as riders return, there is a barbecue with hot dogs, corn on the cob, salads, and I saw a table absolutely covered with pies for dessert. This year the Senior Meals group did the food.

Cole enjoys the water.

Wayne, done with his riding, finds a salamander while digging in the sand.

Like I've said before, no one throws themselves into a project like an Alexander, and for the past I-don't-know-how-many years, Joanie has thrown herself into this one. All the riders agree, the Northeast Kingdom Lakes Tour is the best. It's been a wildly successful fundraiser for Orleans County Citizen Avocacy, a group that matches volunteers from the community with individuals living with disabilities in one to one relationships.