Mean Irene

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While I was off playing in Ireland, the east coast of the U.S. was dealing with the full fury of hurricane Irene. It was a common topic of discussion in the pubs. From Irish surfers buzzing about the potential waves it could generate,  to American and Canadian singlespeeders worried if there were going to make their flights home as scheduled.

When I finally was able to log on to my e-mail, my inbox was full of messages from friends and family in New York. Its seems that my home town in upstate NY was severely damaged when the Mohawk river reached record flood levels. I went through a quick mental map of town and thought of all the buildings and homes of people I know, that were now under water.  Then I got to the email from my cousin that just contained one picture.

guyparkmanor

In the foreground is where the main road in town is supposed to be. About a half mile to the right of this shot are some of the trails where I learned how to ride a mounatin bike.  That building with the hole in it? It has been there since 1773 and it has stood the test of time for centuries. I cannot convery how sobering this image is to me.

Over in Ireland, I had the good fortune of meeting Mandy from the Bike29 crew. They are based up in Vermont, only a couple hours from where I grew up. I know the area well and I have rolled many a mile on the trails up there.  Unfortunately,  they also received no mercy from Irene. I asked her if she would write us some words about the scene right now in Waterbury and this is what she had to say:

On most weekend afternoons, Main Street in Waterbury, Vermont is lined with cars covered in bikes, sporting plates from Quebec, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and farther. Drawn to town to ride the technical rocks and roots of the Perry Hill trails or road ride through the scenic notches and valleys, riders cap off the day with a hoppy pint and some sweet potato fries at The Alchemist on Main Street.
This weekend was very different. Cars, none of them with bikes on the roof, fought for parking spaces between piles of soggy, silt-covered rubble, dumpsters, and hazmat disposal trucks. Last weekend the heavy rains from Hurricane Irene caused the Winooski River to jump its banks and drown hundreds of homes and businesses in downtown Waterbury as well as neighbors in Moretown and Duxbury.
While the Perry Hill trails weren’t damaged by the flood, any unsuspecting riders pulling into town looking for a good time would be highly disappointed. The venerable bar at the Alchemist was submerged by the flood waters and all of the beer destroyed, the entire building is completely gutted. It’s just one of the businesses and homes affect by the flood and it really is as bad as the National media is reporting. On the plus side, it’s heartwarming to see the entire community rally to cleanup and rebuild Waterbury.
Most areas of Vermont were almost completely unaffected by the storm. Because our state relies heavily upon visitors for our income, it’s important that cyclists continue to visit and by doing so will support the rebuilding of Waterbury and other flooded towns. And until the Alchemist is open again, you can grab a can of their Heady Topper at the cannery in the unflooded part of Waterbury.
If you want to help support the rebuild of Waterbury, consider a donation to the Waterbury Good Neighbor Fund (www.facebook.com/Waterbury-Good-Neighbor-Fund) or spend some hours volunteering in town.

Thanks for reading, come up and ride!

 

redlinefloodmud

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There ya have it.  If you are reading this from the north east, take a drive up to ride and maybe even lend a hand. If you are in the mid west or the south east, think about taking a road trip before the snow comes. The Kingdom Trails were untouched by the floods and should really be ridden in the fall for the full experience. This is also the same area where Single Speed USA 2012 is being held. I can’t make it back home until November, but I will be sure to head up there and check it out.

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About dirty biker

I am a fan of singletrack, singlespeeds, single women and single malt. Currently in Carbondale, CO Follow on Instagram @dirty_biker

8 Replies to “Mean Irene”

  1. I feel for ya db. I’m in northern NJ. My town escaped the storm but there was serious damage all around. Some people are still without power.

    Sad to see.

  2. Another good reason to go to Waterbury, VT – Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory Tour, ride the trails then go get fat, (or fatter as in my case).

  3. I feel for the residents of central and N. NJ, as well as those in NY and VT. I have spent most of my life on the jersey shore. I got lucky this time as it made landfall 7mi SE of me, and was no worse than a Nor’easter, only water warmer to walk through. I have friends in VT and should be heading up soon to help them and their neighbors. I wish everyone the best and hope insurance doesn’t jerk them off.

  4. I live in the catskills, been posting here a while.
    Shits like nothing I could ever imagine.. The only way I could get around was on a mountain bike for a few days. I’ve been hearing stories of houses washing down stream with people in the windows screaming around Windham NY, Margaretville too. Feeling for your peeps dirty. It took me a few looks to see the corner of that old Dutch Stone home gone in the pics, almost looks like a shadow.
    Nature is a fierce furious mother fucker! Climate change?? What’s thet?

  5. cool well anyone in those parts if you need help diggin out. Ill be flyin in on wed with my bike for two weeks. Just let me kno. I have two empty hands to help. Anywhere in VT or upstate NY.

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  7. Looks like my backpacking trip in mid October is going to require some rerouting, sad for me, tragic for those affected at the present time.

    Speaking of carnage, here’s a bunch of pics, and a video at the bottom of the page, from Johns Brook Lodge in the Adirondack mountains. The gentleman is an ADK staff member, and stayed behind to watch over the property during the storm.

    The hiking in the area that contains most of the highest peaks in the state saw over 100 new major slides on summits, all the trails are closed for the known future, Marcy Dam’s bridge is gone, wow.

    The video speaks to the fury, such a bummer…..

    http://www.brendanwiltse.com/Photography_Site/My_Albums/Pages/JBL_-_Hurricane_Irene.html