”Are you visiting Middlebury? If you are a visitor to Middlebury, tables at Rosie’s are for eating but, counters are for eating and visiting. So set yourself down here at the counter and share you story!” That was my introduction to Doc, and the ways things are done at Rosie’s Diner. During our 45 minute “visit” I learned Doc truly was a doctor and had retired at age 75 as Chief of Surgery at the Middlebury Hospital. Doc served the community of Middlebury and the surrounding area because he “Liked the people, countryside, and the small time feel of Middlebury!” We shared stories about our families, Alaska, exercise (He shares many of the same philosophies as my good friend Alex Monterrosa) and life in similar communities! I reluctantly pried myself away from Doc, paid for both our hearty meals and gave him my web site address! He just had to have a photo of me on my bike and we bid a fond farewell! Doc is one of the reasons for this Journey!

As I pedaled westward, I decided I should maybe take some time off and visit Fort Ticonderoga! After all, this Journey is more than an enlightened, white haired man riding a bicycle 50-60 miles a day. I ended up spending 3 hours at the fort taking in all the tours offered during my short visit. As I left the Fort, the sky darkened and it started to sprinkle, thus cementing my plan to take Wednesday off! It rained most of Wednesday, but I still walked the streets of Ticonderoga! While eating breakfast at Libby’s Cafe, I noticed a huge pencil hanging from the ceiling as part of the homey decor! As a former elementary teacher it all came back to me in a flash as to the real reason I think of Ticonderoga! The yellow, #2 Ticonderoga pencil with the black bands around the brassy looking eraser holder! That is, and always will be my most vivid image of Ticonderoga!

Now George enters the blog! George is a local business owner and chief entertainer in “Ti!” George escorted me through his small Adirondack Furniture “store” and chatted about the same topics as Doc the day before. I learned he was, and still is, a power lifter! While showing me an old photo of himself pressing a barbell he said, “One day a kid at my gym asked me why I continue to lift at age 80. I told him that I wanted to look so good at my funeral, they won’t be able to shut the lid of the coffin!” He drew himself in the picture he is holding after his knee replacement surgery! If you can’t read the message, it is written out below!

“I wanted to same money on my knee replacement so I asked our local veterinarian if he could do the surgery! I saved a lot of money, but now I can’t pass a fire hydrant without lifting my leg!” Oh the memories I will carry in my heart and mind regarding George and Ticonderoga!

I have rambled long enough, but with no WiFi in Ticonderoga and camping last nigh, I wanted to catch everyone up on my journey. My days while riding are filled with magnificent scenery, interesting local residents and sounds that can only be heard pedaling along at between 2.7 and 10 mph. I was so slow today while climbing a super long pass, I was able to stop talking to my OMJSN picture and share stories with “Mable Sicklefork,” a gorgeous yellow and black butterfly. Eventually she decided I was going way too slow and flew off, but not before wishing me a safe journey!

Thanks to all for reading my excessively long dissertations, and your heart warming comments! (Inlet, New York)

Greg