Day 10--Button Bay Camping, VT

Day 10—Monday, June 21,
Montreal to Vergennes, VT
418 miles


Our very circuitous route out of Canada and to our Vermont campsite

We said our goodbyes to Luke who had to be at McGill and in Montreal by 7:30 am.

Suz and I packed up the car with some difficulty. Luke’s street is one way, so first Suz went up the street to get the car and then drove it around the block to park it across the street and closer to Luke’s apartment. Then, we two cleaned out the car and put the bike rack on it. Then Suz brought all of the luggage down Luke’s curving wrought iron steps from the second floor—Charlotte running up and down the steps too. Suz had to bring the luggage because my tailbone is still an agony and even without carrying anything I have to take the steps like a baby—slowly and with both feet on one step.

Because of her injured wrist, however, Suz could not get the bikes down so I managed to shoulder them down. Mine is light and was okay to heft onto my shoulder, but hers with its rear rack I carefully bumped down one step at a time. Finally we had the bikes and gear loaded. Got off about 8:30 am, with Suz doing the city driving which she doesn’t mind but I dislike. We headed out without hooking up Suzette, our new GPS. We had Google printed directions to Burlington, VT and then directions from there to Button Bay on Lake Champlain where would camp. Peter & Sonja are in Costa Rica or we would have stayed with them.

Well, we sailed 35+ miles past out turn south on US-87. When we discovered our error, we got off and headed south on Hwy 243 to 245 and crossed the border north of Newport, VT, via a tiny border crossing.

Entering Vermont from Canada

Desperate for a bathroom and needing gas we stopped at a station and got gas. The station had no bathrooms, a theme prevalent in VT. Very few of the general stores, gas stations, or shops have public toilets.

Groceries and gas, yes; public bathroom, no

So, we stopped at the first roadside picnic tables we found and used the "green door." The picnic tables were beside Route 5 and pretty noisy but we didn’t mind as we wanted to stretch and enjoy some crackers and cheese.

Suz enjoys crackers and cheese at a roadside pitstop

I called Peter & Sonja several times but got only the answering machine as they must still be in Costa Rica.

We arrived at our campsite about 5 pm after a full day in the car driving bootless extra miles but enjoying the beautiful drive through the green mountains. Our timing precluded all but a very short 5-mile ride before putting up our tents and getting dinner. I hope we can get in more riding, but the weather and the time seem to prohibit same.

My tent; I didn't take my ultralite Hubba Hubba because I needed more warmth in these northern climes

Suz enjoying dinner at our Button Bay campsite

Suz blowing bubbles after dinner; we needed a little inanity after this long day

For dinner we had noodles Parmesan with tuna and the green salads Hansi had fixed for us. The salads were still surprisingly fresh and crunchy. We ended the meal with bite-sized Oreos and coffee.

After dinner we took another ride, this time out to the point at the recommendation of the duty ranger. To get there we had to pedal a dirt/gravel track through the woods. It was hot but very beautiful at the point which was across from a small island and covered with flat rocks that stretched into the water. We searched for the small button stones for which this area of Lake Champlain is famous, but the Ranger told us that campers had long ago collected the last of them.

Internet photo of Button Bay "buttons" returned by the Girl Scouts after many years

When climbing the mere three steps up from the rocks at the point, I had a brief bawl. How was I ever going to ride in Newfoundland? I was in agony with my spine and had to crawl up the rocks. I was thinking about our third day in NF—a day reserved for hiking Gros Morne Park. I will not be able to do it if this pain does not subside. I cannot walk or climb without breath-catching pain. 

In the tent I made myself as comfortable as possible and almost finished reading Outside Boy. Spent a wakeful, uncomfortable night.