Happy Independence Day

Day 94, July 4, 2011, Happy Independence Day

Route from Brookwood Campground to Fort Ticonderoga, NY

0 miles, averaging 0 mph

Worst Moment – How could there be any worst moments?

Best Moment – It was a rest day.  I got to replace the handle bar tape that has been in pretty bad shape for the past several weeks.

Today Neita and I took off on Rocket to tour Fort Ticonderoga.  The fort was originally built by the French and played an important role in the French and Indian War.  Construction began in 1755 and Montcalm used Fort Carillon to attack Fort William Henry.  In 1758, British General Abercromby led 17,000 British soldiers against a much smaller French force.  The battle was deadly for both for both sides, resulting in more fatalities than in any subsequent battle fought in North America until the Civil War.

The British captured Ft. Carillon in 1759 and renamed it Fort Ticonderoga.  In 1775, Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold and the Green Mountain Boys captured the fort as one of the first rebel victories of the Revolution.  The fort played an important role in the defense of the Americans against an attack by the British from Canada.  However, later the British overpowered the forces at Ticonderoga, but only they held the fort for only a few months before evacuating and mostly destroying the fort.

In the 1820’s William Pell purchased the land Ticonderoga was on and built what became a resort for tourists coming to the area to view ruins from the Revolution.  Before the Civil War, many southerners would spend summers at the Pavilion (the hotel) to avoid the heat of the South. The Pell’s also restored the very beautiful King’s Garden.  It is fun to imagine being a tourist and seeing the grounds in their 19^th Century glamor.  I think that our yard in Guerneville will resemble these gardens. 

Touring the fort and the gardens gave me a real sense of awe for the struggles for our Independence and the great rich history of our country.  Happy Birthday USA!

Ticonderoga is located in an especially scenic area of mountains and amazing vistas. 

If you would like to donate to my ride, my link for the Lance Armstrong Foundation is http://grassroots2011.livestrong.org/billsbigride197.  I really appreciate your support.