July 20 - The Kancamangus in NH and Highway 100 in VT
Well today was certainly an adventure. As I rode my bike through the eye of a storm this evening heading towards shelter without power or water, I passed a street called “hardscrabble.” I had just spent an hour pleasantly holed up in a local Vermont pizza take out business while severe thunder and lightning boomed and flashed, and stormy winds shook my bike and nearby businesses. The sound of police, ambulance, and fire trucks echoed down the street while the smoke that had been thick all day still permeated the air. I had hoped to get some epic pictures of the White Mountains but had settled for shots of vistas lower in the horizon.
Leaving Alton New Hampshire this morning I took backroads north to Conway New Hampshire, near the base of Mount Washington. I was planning on riding the infamous and uniquely named Kancamangus Highway or the “Kanc” as the locals call it. Since there was a thick haze in the air, I decided to bide my time in Conway by getting lunch and visiting the local Harley Dealership, in hopes that the air might clear in time for a good ride on this scenic highway 112 through the White Mountain National Forest.
After an hour with smoke still heavy in the air, I decided to head west on the Kanc and focus on the beauty lower in the horizon – the multitude of lakes, rivers, and streams visible from the route as well as the thick foliage along the way. Much of the route on this highway followed the meandering curves of the Swift River and beautiful water views abounded. The dense canopy of trees covered the road in many spots, and I could see the bases of the white mountains in the horizon.
At the end of the Kanc I proceeded west on highway 302 through Montpelier to highway 100, a scenic byway in Vermont. I traveled north on highway 100 to Stowe and South to Rochester, marveling at the abundance of green – green hills and valleys, farmlands and fields, forests and mountainsides. This route had so much to offer, even without clear views of the mountains. I swooped and curved along this relatively well-maintained road through many picturesque villages and farms as it skirted the edge of the Green Mountains.
Arriving in the small town of Bristol Vermont for the night, I had just ordered a pizza for dinner when the heavens let loose – a major storm front hit, and I knew I would not be able to go anywhere anytime soon. While I was waiting for the worst of the storm to pass my Bunk a Biker host called to let me know he had lost power and water. Many unexpected challenges have come up on this trip but at the end of the day I am still much happier on the road than almost anywhere else.
