On Thursday July 2 I left my home in St. Johnsbury VT with the intention of riding solo, self supported to my summer home in Weare NH to celebrate Independence Day with my family. The route I had mapped out followed the Vermont Super 8 course clockwise on the Northern Lobe (the opposite of the normal way) towards Montpelier, then jumped on the Southern Lobe in the accepted direction. I was planning on exiting the course around Brattleboro then heading east to Weare. Total mileage planned was 250+ and the S8 is anything but an easy ride. Mostly gravel, with not much pavement, the cornerstone of the ride are the class 4 roads.