Warning: Vermont Rt 17/App Gap

[Rossco]

I as a VTer, I do not support tourism as the primary industry in the state. Considering the majority of the land in VT is owned by out-of-staters, and then the state taxes all the full time residents up the asshole, us regular citizens never see a dime of any of that supposed money.

I'd just assume see VT throw out all the vacation home owners as well as the entire state gov't (who is also made up of mostly out-of-staters unfortunately).

You can only get so much revenue from Ben & Jerry's.

[Garandman]

No just the ones that are assholes.

I know the feeling. The state of VT got 13.4 million tourist visits in 2005. Boston alone gets 18 million. NH plates shouldn't say "Live free or die" they should say "I'm going to put on my LH turn signal in the left lane, then make a right turn...."

Nah, just the Massholes.

You prefer New Yorkers to the 12 people from MA who visit VT every year?

My native VT relatives don't complain about tourists. The ones who moved there "from away" do. So my guess is you are also a transplant?

[Slyder]

My native VT relatives don't complain about tourists. The ones who moved there "from away" do. So my guess is you are also a transplant?

Technically everyone up here that's not native American is a transplant. The majority of people that settled VT came from where? MA and CT.

[RandyO]

Technically everyone up here that's not native American is a transplant. The majority of people that settled VT came from where? MA and CT.

I dunno where I came from, my great grand daddy lived on a dirt road in South Starksboro that is now called Route 17

[rpiian]

The App Gap's curves are enough to take down several motorcyclists each year; these cracks and bumps take the road from challenging to downright dangerous.

--mark

Last year when I rode it it definitely was rough.

My Kawasaki's front springs fully decompressed when I launched off a piece of heaved pavement in a turn. Down the Mad River (East) side. I almost lost it at 65. A road biker down the hill just stared at me as I kept going. Good times.

[Doc]

Technically everyone up here that's not native American is a transplant. The majority of people that settled VT came from where? MA and CT.

Flatlander!

[NobodySpecific]

Technically everyone up here that's not native American is a transplant. The majority of people that settled VT came from where? MA and CT.

Native Americans didn't just spontaneously appear out of thin air one day, they migrated here from somewhere else. By your definition nobody is ever from anywhere. What does it take to be a native? For you to be born in that place? For your parents to also be born in that place? Grandparents? Where do you draw the line?

[catamount]

You prefer New Yorkers to the 12 people from MA who visit VT every year?

The New Yorkers and NJers stay in Southern Vermont. Where I don't have to see them.

my guess is you are also a transplant?

You guessed wrong.

[kbroderick]

Native Americans didn't just spontaneously appear out of thin air one day, they migrated here from somewhere else. By your definition nobody is ever from anywhere. What does it take to be a native? For you to be born in that place? For your parents to also be born in that place? Grandparents? Where do you draw the line?

I believe the standard in Vermont is that if no one in town can remember when your family moved to town, then you might be from here.

I'm not from here, but I try real hard not to let it show.

[Garandman]

The New Yorkers and NJers stay in Southern Vermont. Where I don't have to see them. /

Oh, where do you live - Redbud?

Do not go to the Costco parking lot, or the Shaws across the street or you will be sad.

A V-Strom buddy lives on the E side of 17 and has many tales of motorcycle carnage. I've never been there on a weekend but last Fall we saw a string of Ferraris go by, then a string of Miatas, then Subarus, so it appears to be popular with car clubs as well.

Saw an Ariel Atom on Route 100 the same day.

[tonyd]

So no warnings about the other 14,122 miles of rubble VT calls roads???

[markbvt]

So no warnings about the other 14,122 miles of rubble VT calls roads???

No, those are just bad. 17 is dangerous -- not because it's bumpy, but because of the giant wheel-swallowing cracks that have opened up.

--mark

[markbvt]

Update: T** Rd pavement is still in very good shape. It's very dirty/sandy at the moment, so don't go drag knee, but there are no major cracks and only a couple of frost heaves.

--mark

[Uncle Snake]

Thanks Mark!

[Kitt]

Update: T** Rd pavement is still in very good shape. It's very dirty/sandy at the moment, so don't go drag knee, but there are no major cracks and only a couple of frost heaves.

--mark

did you guys go up 22A this afternoon, 5:30/6ish?

[TIMMYDUCK]

So no warnings about the other 14,122 miles of rubble VT calls roads???

You are correct on total miles but,

Only 6000 miles of those 14K are suppossed to be paved.

"Vermont has about 8,000 miles of unpaved roads -- just 6,000 miles are paved -- and only 600,000 people. When small-town Vermonters give directions to their homes, there is always this part: "And then the pavement ends."

The rest look like this.

[markbvt]

did you guys go up 22A this afternoon, 5:30/6ish?

Nope, wasn't us. We took back roads from the former/future bridge to Vergennes, and it was closer to 2:30 or so.

Did see quite a few bikes out today though.

--mark

[Stromper]

Poor Vermont lost population

After the civil war

After the end of milk price supports in the 1950's and the rapid growth of mega agriculture elsewhere.

This left a great deal of under utilized low cost real estate.

The loser hippies from NY etc flooded in and now are the

Self Righteous Defenders of the Realm.

Oh and you are not a native until your Grand mother was born here. True of all New England

[KingCast 650R]

Hey man thanks for that warning.... and I thought I should tell you I just sat on a white XC here in Boston.... how long till yours comes in?

[catamount]

The loser hippies from NY etc flooded in and now are the

Self Righteous Defenders of the Realm.

Truth.

[markbvt]

Update, June 2011:

The App Gap is no longer as bad as it was in March and April -- a lot of the frost heaves have gone down and the resulting cracks have narrowed. It's still bumpy, and there are still a few cracks that could cause major pucker moments if your wheels end up in them, but the road's no longer as dangerous as it was a few months ago.

Still, proceed with caution.

--mark