DAY 21 - BUMPS RACE DAY

SUNSET ON THE MOUNTAINS!

MR PORCUPINE OUT FOR A STROLL!!!

MT ASCUTNEY HILL CLIMB

Penquin Bicycle Shop in Brownsville, VT is a custom builder of bikes, made to measure.  The Flying Penquins Bicycle Shop is hosting the BUMPS (Bike Up Mountain Point Series) #5 at Mt Ascutney.  It is a bicycle hill climb ascending 2300’ in 3.7 miles with grades averaging 12% some 19%.  They expect about 300 participants.

On Sunday they are hosting the Ascutney Mountain Run, same course up the mountain.  This is race 6 of the USATF-NE Mountain Running Series.

So we will be busy here at the park with both events going on along with day use, etc.

Bicycles started arriving around 7:30AM…many of the racers camped here last night so were ready to go.  Our Endurance 100 campers left very quietly around 3AM to get to their start line by 4AM.  Since it’s a 24+ hour race, probably won’t see them for dinner tonight!

WASN'T SURE IF HE WAS GOING TO RUN WITH HIS DOG!

HARPOON BREWERY IS BIG INTO BICYCLE RACING.  THEY HOLD A BREWERY TO BREWERY RACE (BOSTON TO WINDSOR VT) AND IT GETS SOLD OUT EVERY TIME.

TANDEM BIKE GOES ZOOMING BY!

FIRST GROUP OF RACERS ... MARK'S IN THAT HEAT

It was very organized down below.  Cyclers were biking up and down the hills to warm up.  At precisely 9:00 AM the first class of racers (20-29 yrs old) took off.  Our very own Ranger Mark was in his heat. 

 MARK TAKES OFF UP THE HILL!

Second up were the 30-39 year olds; then the 40-49 year olds; then over 49 and tandems.  There was one tandem but no uni-cycle!

 0903 - THE SECOND GROUP TAKES OFF

BY 9:06 - THEY ARE ALL GONE!!!!

LAST GROUP TO TAKE OFF!

They were gone in a flash and up at the top for about 90 minutes.  I heard times of +- 45 minutes and then awards, snacks and the ride down. 

 HERE COMES MARK .... AND HE'S SMILING .... I THINK!

MT ASCUTNEY'S VERY OWN ....

 Everyone who passed us was smiling and thanking us!  By 11:00 it was all over….except for those who went back up the hill again for a second ride. Or….while they were here, they hiked up the Futures Trail….so much energy to burn. I LOVE IT!


The afternoon was quiet with most of the campers out hiking, biking, participating in the Endurance 100 or sleeping.  The temps are gorgeous and make you want to be doing something outdoors.

Evening comes and Mark has set up a campfire down by the house and is playing his guitar.  

Dogs are enjoying getting to know each other.

We drive up to the top of the mountain to clear it for the night.  It is peaceful and quiet.  On the way up there are messages on the road for the bicycle races.

CLIMB WITH JOY!

As we headed back up to our campsite for the night, I noticed all the empty (but occupied) campsites.  These were the folks still out running the Endurance 100.  It was about 8:30 PM and they had been running since 4:00 AM.  While I could hardly put one foot in front of the other .... I wondered how all of them were managing!  Running for 24+ hours straight.  Now that takes perseverance. Expect they'l be rolling in around dawn!

All is quiet on the mountain.  Sun is getting ready to set on another beautiful day at Mt Ascutney.