After missing out a year, we are finally going back to the Bike Barn... For the last few years we have faithfully been going with a group of friends to the Bike Barn in East Burke, Vermont. With the Covid pandemic we missed both the Memorial and Labor day weekend in 2020.
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The world is slowly opening up, with more and more folks getting their vaccines. So we decided to go again. And it must have been karma, today I paid our deposit for the Bike Barn. And guess what? I managed to schedule my vaccinations today as well. April 7th and 28th which means I should be Covid resistant by Memorial day weekend. Paula just got her 2nd shot today and will soon be a Covid proof teacher.
Even though by the time we get to the barn, most if not all, our friend group should have been vaccinated, there will be a smaller group this time. Hopefully everyone can join again for Labor day weekend.
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By now you may be asking; what is the Bike Barn? The Bike Barn is a vacation house in East Burke, Vermont. It is a converted barn with 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms, 5 bedrooms and 2 full baths. With a nice porch that overlooks the Kingdom trails. The Kingdom trails are a large network of mountain bike trails at the foot of Burke mountain.
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The area is a bike paradise. Besides mountain biking on the Kingdom trails, there are many gravel roads. It makes for beautiful hilly gravel riding in every direction.
![](https://blog.henryvandenbroek.com/content/images/2021/04/henry_on_burke.jpg)
Also Mt. Burke is calling us every morning for a race up its flanks to the peak. A hard effort of around 25 minutes, climbing a total of 2400ft in 4.7 miles, with the infamous Wall, a 1 mile section, averaging a 15% grade. One weekend I went up every morning before breakfast. Yikes.
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For the rest there is plenty of lounging, maple creemees (not creamies apparently), swimming, paddle boarding in lake Willoughby. Ah can't wait. Anyway if you have a chance check out East Burke, the Kingdom Trails and if you can... Stay in the Bike Barn.
![](https://blog.henryvandenbroek.com/content/images/2021/04/maple-creemees.jpg)