September 24, 2023

Cycled 45 miles

Our ride started under cloudy skies with the threat of rain.

At mile 16, near the Town of Charlotte, we crossed the Holmes Creek covered bridge built in 1870. It’s 41 feet long, 12 feet wide “to allow the passage of a load of hay, high and wide.” It’s also the shortest covered highway bridge in use in New England.

At mile 23 we stopped at Fern Bridge Farm where Kelly Otty, owner and shepherdess raises Shetland sheep for their wool. A very fun visit ’cause we got to go into the pen and pet the sheep. These small sheep are called Primitive sheep as they have been “unimproved” by the introduction of other breeds.

The sheep farm is very close to Ferrisburg. (My maiden name is Ferris.)

This will give you an idea of what the countryside looked like on most of our ride today. They had a very wet and rainy summer here and everywhere you look you see lush green fields.

We are now settled in the quaint little town of Middlebury.