Colchester Cemeteries Quest - Exploring History, Part 2

 
Like the previous outing, I set out to visit two more local burial grounds. The largest of the Colchester Cemeteries, the Village Cemetery sits behind the Burnham Library. 

It's also worth noting there's strong historical interest within our community with an active Colchester Historical Society. We recently went to a talk about a regional railroad line.

Thus, I was intrigued to immediately spot the Burnham name. But the library wasn't named for Herbert, but rather Etta. Upon his retirement in Massachusetts, they moved back to where she grew up, both serving the Colchester community. After Herbert passed, Etta lived a few more years. She willed most of her estate to “build, furnish, and maintain a library.”

The Leggett headstone is a sad reminder that parents, especially during wartime, often outlive their children. Only 2 of 4 children lived to old age.

The Nourse name caught my eye because there's a region where Bay Road meets East Lakeshore Drive, with a pretty view of Malletts Bay - still marked as Nourse's Corner on Google Maps. It was a snack bar hot spot in the 50's, and I recall my parents mentioning the place. George Nourse started the snack bar, which specialized in toasted hot dogs, and it ran for 20 years, though it didn't survive his passing. 

Regionally, Michigan-style hot dogs, split lengthwise, grilled, then topped with meat sauce and mustard squiggles, served on a toasted bun, were popular when I was younger, and still found today at Beansie's Bus in Burlington's Battery Park. Once in a while, I stop for this irresistible treat. 

Moses headed the Colchester regiment in the War of 1812.

The Moses stone is unique because the raised lettering is still visible on the marble stone. It's customary to see debossed lettering, like the right-hand gravestone, that, in time, marble doesn't weather well, especially in a harsh New England climate. Sometime over the past 200 years, stones were replaced with harder granite. Because of the differences, it's easy to spot older graves in any cemetery.

The older stones have interesting inscriptions: for example, specifying days lived or age at death. So much character in the old headstones!

I found an excellent, comprehensive online Colchester history resource, something I'll surely reference time and again.

The second stop was at the Old Methodist Church Cemetery, tucked away behind a firehouse on Main Street, formerly the Old Methodist Church site. At first, the grounds seemed neglected, sandy and barren, scrubby grass trying to survive. While a nice iron gate bordered the cemetery, it lacked signage, so I hope the colorful official marker is in the works. 

Upon closer inspection, I noticed the old stones were cleaned, and fragments pieced back together. There is a statewide Old Cemetery Association that helps communities preserve historical markers, with the help of volunteers.

 

Celebrating the life of Charlotte Johnson at 101 years old - amazing longevity for that time period. She outlived her husband by 40 years!

While headstones remain, trees and, eventually, stumps morph into headstones. 

Two more cemeteries to go!

Ideas for 2026

My goal in 2026 is to keep the cycling momentum by incorporating new trails and routes. Besides the  Colorado trip, I want to complete another weeklong bike tour - last year's was great - where is yet to be determined.

• In March, I'm heading back to the Philly Bike Expo, this time with my husband! I'm excited to meet up with cycling friends, ride with others, attend seminars, and, of course, attend the main event. It's also the 250th anniversary of the US, and we may stumble upon some of Philly's special events.
• Because bike touring in summer's heat was successful, I plan to do it again. It has its merits: cooling off in streams, packing less, and being able to bail on local adventures. Ideas include a 3-day Champlain Islands loop, an upstate New York adventure using the Adirondack Rail Trail, and a one-way journey using Amtrak. So many possibilities!
• With a front rack and comfortable bars installed on the Downtube Dyan, I plan to test its handling capabilities on an overnight. The long-term goal is to lower the gearing and try wider tires for more adventurous multimodal trips, but one step at a time.
• I'm heading back to Colorado, which has now become an annual pilgrimage, visiting family and friends in Fort Collins for more cycling/hiking fun. 
• We'll continue to explore more mountain bike trails. Ideas include Woodstock, Millstone and North Branch, all in VT, and Blueberry Hills in Elizabethtown, NY.

2025 Rewind

Adventures in Colorado.

2025 was a year when we made travel and adventure a priority. With maximizing vacation and my retirement on the horizon, it made sense to start the momentum.

 

An organized Philly Bike Expo folding bike ride.

Early in the year, attending the Philly Bike Expo, riding on plowed trails, researching a new folder, and a Colorado vacation occupied my mind and body. 

The adventures continued! A fun-filled overnight with Adele, buying a Downtube folder, bike touring the Cross Vermont and Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, and exploring trails around the Montreal region. My husband and I have become KOA converts: we love the dependable cleanliness, atmosphere, and occasional glamping in a cabin.

September and October were filled with more travel: Veloroute des Bleuets, and coastal time capped with riding the Cross New Hampshire Adventure Trail. I never let good weather pass me by!

We made an effort to ride more mountain bike trails. Vermont and New York are filled with trail networks. We only touched the surface of a growing system.

And of course, the annual Coffeeneuring Challenge. I made headway in practicing the Gouache medium, dipping my fingers into painting scenery.

We've had a snowy start to winter. By far the best surprise has been riding with my husband on snowy, plowed trails. He broke his hip while riding to work when we lived in Portland, OR, and since then he's avoided riding in the winter. Something clicked this year - available studded tires likely helped. Since the initial rides together, he's outfitted his preferred bike with gnarly 29" studs and can handle the trails much better than I can with narrower tires. With his 26" studded Bridgestone up for grabs, I'll be sure to explore better traction.

I'm grateful for all the 2025 adventures, plus I topped 3600 miles. Life is good.

Coffeeneuring 2025 - Exploring Scenery Painting with Gouache

This is my 14th Coffeeneuring Challenge! For the 3rd year, my theme has been to explore gouache painting, specifically scenery in 2025.

There are lovely beaches and riverbanks to explore.

Of all the 7 paintings, I like the fluidity of this one.

The fall colors were spectacular this year.

And, the finale: the coffeeneuring quilt, viewing all the paintings together. 

Mountain Bike Riding in 2025

 
My husband and I made an effort to explore various mountain bike trails in 2025. We have loved rail trails, and riding singletrack is another way to extend exploration, limiting vehicle interaction. Every year Vermont communities are building networks, taking advantage of public and private land, the latter due to a special Vermont law that absolves private landowner liability. The Kingdom Trails system - largest in the state - has a relationship with consenting landowners. While I didn't make my annual pilgrimage this year we aimed for new trails. Beside local rides in the Intervale and Colchester Woods - perfect for 1-2 hours - we visited Cady Hill in Stowe, and Slate Valley Trails in Poultney. Both are regions with enough beginner to moderate terrain that suits our riding style. Bombardier Park Trails in Milton is a good example of town maintained multi-use trails, perfect for an hour if you live nearby. We also returned for an afternoon at Saxon Hill in Essex. Without signage, it takes some navigation, but the easy and moderate trails are fun.

There's more to explore in 2026!

Downtube Dyan - a New Handlebar and Front Rack

Soma's Clarence handlebar, flipped upside down, allowed a comfortable hand position.

Along with the initial saddle and pedal swap, I also needed to address the handlebars, seeking something more ergonomically friendly in addition to adding a front rack, so I'm all set for Amtrak adventures.

The Bars

The slotted handlepost is exceptionally long, and while I consider myself on the taller side at 5'7", I still had to slam the post for the best fit. I knew a new bar could fix both problems. Like swapping bars on my mountain bike, I use the same problem-solving technique: determine correct width, rise, and sweep, room for controls - 7" in my case - and avoid recabling the bike if at all possible. The bar also had to be fairly compact and not affect the fold. Most bars with a forward arc and similar backsweep will work. This in-depth research, and paying attention to all measurements, is hopefully the correct solution the first time around. Soma's Clarence handlebar worked perfectly. I'm 2 for 2! 

Top-down view of the flipped bars. So comfy!

 

Front Rack

The goal with a front rack, was to have more storage when needed, be removable so the bike could still be folded, and be lightweight enough to lug around, connected to any bag and strap system. I attached a red "pig nose" bracket to frame connection. It's permanent (unless unscrewed) and doesn't interfere with the fold. The simple L-shaped Zizzo Front Cargo Rack slides and clicks firmly in place, released easily by pulling a hook in the red bracket. 

I'm pleased with both changes!

Downtube Dyan Preliminary Review

Unexpected bonus: the Downtube Dyan's rack can hold a standard-sized panner.

Meet my new folder, a Downtube Dyan! 24" wheels, modern components, and most beneficial, the bicycle is upgradeable.

I've owned and loved my Dahon Boardwalk. It was an easy entry into the folding bike universe. It taught me that small wheels allow versatile travel. I've done many Amtrak adventures, folded the bike into the front seat of a Miata, cruised around Montreal with Adele, stuffed it many times inside our vehicle, opening up the rear rack to handle family bikes. I've embraced its comfortable steel geometry - the main reason I've ridden it for 8 years.

I was eventually ready for new small-wheeled horizons, something that handles a touring load on varied terrain, yet still falls under Amtrak's reservation-free dimensions. I missed snagging a used Dahon Archer, checked specifications on a Dahon Briza, Tern Node and their multigeared 20" counterparts, and even investigated a Bike Friday Diamond Llama. The latter was on a 20% discount, but I still couldn't swallow the price tag. The used market is elusive. There are numerous budget folders - like the Boardwalk - or Bromptons and Bike Fridays fetching premiums. I've known Downtube's brand for a while - they make lower-cost, well-equipped folders because they market and ship directly from Greensboro, NC. After the Rivendell Clem fiasco, I swore I'd never buy a bike untested, and yet here I am!

The handle post is adjustable - I have it slammed, in the shortest position. Slightly curved with some rise, handlebars can be pivoted to adjust position, plus included bar ends, clamped in a removable faceplate stem should I need a bar change. It's the thoughtful features that sold me. Click shifting, included bell, rubberized grip area on the brake lever - very comfortable! The list goes on.

There's a top tube-mounted braze-on for a waterbottle rack, a head tube 3-hole mount for baggage or a rack, quick-release wheels, an included rear rack, and fenders. I've verified through our bike mechanic that I can upgrade the 1.5" rubber to 1.75", with existing ample fender clearance. 

This pannier has a velcro-type attachment, securing the bag to the fender stay.

I was pleasantly surprised to have a sturdy rack that can hold a full-size pannier without heel strike. The rack's large tubing, however, fits only panniers with larger hooks. I presume the rack is set up more for top loads because of one axle stay with beefy tubing. With wider hook bags, a J-hook could be added to the bolt support for a typical connection.

Oh yeah, there's a derailleur hanger too, and a 10x cassette. I have 3 gears lower than the Dahon, and I've been assured we can go even lower.

After one ride, I swapped out the all-metal pedals and wide saddle for the Dahon's fine-tuned, comfortable arrangement.

I think I did pretty well with this 24" wonder. I've ridden the Dyan several times. It's zippy!