I was apprehensive about today. On paper it was the toughest since Missouri with 125 miles and 8,250 feet of climbing through the Vermont and New Hampshire mountains. And the ride did not disappoint! It was indeed a long day, and the climbing exhausting....but good! The highlight was a 5 mile climb with a grade ranging from 6% to 10%. I rode with Bart all day....and early on we were entertaining ideas about going for a stage win, but that idea was quickly snuffed out when the fast riders zoomed by us shortly after the 1st SAG stop. It was another 3-state day: woke up in NY, rode completely across Vermont, and now spending the night in Keene, NH. It is my very first time in Vermont as wel as New Hampshire. We had great weather again. Tomorrow is our last day as we will reach the Atlantic ocean around 3pm....but rain is forecasted to start around 11am. We have not yet had any extended rain on our trip....but if our luck runs out, we may have 4 hours in the rain as we reach the Atlantic. And to avoid the rain as much as we can, we will start riding an hour earlier tomorrow....which means my alarm will be set for 4:30am to have breakfast at 5am and be ready to start riding at 5:50am....I'm glad it is the last day of our cross country trip! As I have said before....I have very mixed emotions about the end of our trip. I very much look forward to being with Teresa again and to waking in my own bed....and sleeping in a long as I want! Yet, I will very much miss the comraderie and the Quest that we 15 riders have had for the past 33 days....it has been special and something that I will always remember.