We would have posted last night but the reception in Chateaugay is selective. We rode an abbreviated trip through Vermont and far upstate New York. The air was redolent with holsteins and the sounds of 4-wheelers. We stayed with George, who was a complete gentleman. We arrived an hour late and he delayed his plans to accommodate us and feed us dinner. Roasted chicken with rice, corn on the cob, and steamed vegetables. It may have been the best meal I've ever consumed. He told us about his excursion into SAG bike touring and all the related heartache with vehicular support. On top of that, he woke up early to make us breakfast. What a guy.

We had a long day today, in fact the second longest by mileage of the trip. Apparently we ended at 139 miles and we felt every last revolution. We ended near Watertown where Nanci and Tony gratefully received very late and fed us chicken and rice (collusion?!?), salad, and fresh bread. It may have been the single best meal I've ever eaten. They showed us their homemade indoor wood-fired pizza oven and regaled us with stories of their hiking trips around the country. My faith in the world has been restored.

💋💋💋💋