2024 D2R2 105K to Rowe

 August 17, 2024

Team Karl’s Sausage Kitchen rides again!

We decided to ride the 105K route again because it only shared the lunch spot with the 165K route. All the other routes had a combined lunch at the Covered Bridge in Guilford, VT and that was always a shit show.  We go out of our way to stay clear of the routes that end up there. 

Accompanying us today were two more members of our D2R2 crew, Mike and Scott. I first met them a few years back when Will and I were riding the 180K route and I ran into them on the Patten Hill climb. I loosely knew Mike from interactions on Twitter but that was the first time for a face to face meeting, ironically while he was struggling up the infamous Patten Hill climb. 

First Dirt was a few miles into the route when turned onto Hoosick Rd but it was short lived as more pavement was yet to come. 

Orcutt Hill started out paved and it was steep

and when it turned dirty it got steeper!

You see some of the weirdest things out here, like a wooden mock up of M-1 Abraham’s Main Battle Tank

Crossing over the Deerfield River I felt my hamstring grab again, just like last year, and stopped to stretch it out. 

Looks like some sort of MTB race going on today

First time seeing a train at the Deerfield River crossing

Turning onto 8A I was able to get past the point where I cramped up last year. 

I was able to hang with everyone despite a few hamstring grabs along the way. 

The cows were cheering me on. 

At the lunch stop I went right for the pickle brine and then I consumed a bottle water with Gatorade. 

Then I had the tastiest ham sandwich with tons of mustard and pickles

If it were a little hotter I would be tempted to go for a swim 

And then we were off again. I was feeling great. I’m fact, I never cramped up for the rest of the ride. 

In Heath, we rode by this pond that was on both sides of the road

Last major climb on this route was the venerable Patten Hill

It’s a tough climb, one of the hardest of D2R2

and I made it without having to put a foot down!

More cows along the way

The last bit of fun was Hawks Road and the Bobsled Run

Then we were done

and blessed relief!