The 2020 Vermont Thunder Ride, scheduled for this coming Sunday, May 24th is going to be different from previous years. Organizers have made modifications to the traditional route and onsite vending to comply with Coronavirus safety precautions.
A brief ceremony is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the Sharon rest area on Interstate-89 northbound. The ride leaves the rest area at 11:30 and will follow an all-interstate route to St. Albans.
This year, there will be no stop at Richmond. This year's ride is a direct ride to Enosburg, VT, where there will be another brief ceremony, concluding the event. The ride is approximately 125 miles, from Sharon to Enosburg VT and riders should be prepared with enough fuel. There will be no mid-ride fuel stop this year and no police escort.
This year's ride route is mostly on I-89. The route begins at the Sharon rest area and will follow I-89 until exit 20 in St. Albans. Riders who wish to join the ride along route can do so. The route passes four rest areas: immediately after exit 10 (Waterbury); before exit 12, (Williston); the pull off between exits 16 & 17 (Before the Milton exit); and immediately after exit 18 (Georgia exit). Riders who would like to join the ride in progress can wait at a rest area and
join when the ride come by.
Changes from normal include:
No mid-ride fuel stop
No lunch at the American Legion
No pre-ride staging
No staging at Richmond
There is no cost to participate in the ride. Vermont Thunder patches, pins and flags are sold to raise money. All donations and funds raised go to veterans and their families. If you cannot attend the ride, but would like to send a donation, send a check to: Vermont Thunder Inc. 9 Bushey St, Swanton, VT 05488.
Families and spectators are encouraged.The Vermont Thunder ride honors Vermont’s veterans from all wars. All types of bikes are welcome.
For official information and updates, see the Vermont Thunder Facebook group.
Directions to the Sharon Rest Area from the north:
Note: When riding south on I-89 (i.e. from the north) there is no off-ramp for the Sharon rest area.
Ride I-89 south to exit 1 US-4/Woodstock/Quechee (thiere is gas at this exit!)
Turn right at the end of the I-89 off ramp onto US-4/Woodstock Rd
Ride back over the interstate
Turn right onto the I-89 North on ramp
Travel 4.8 miles on i-89 to the Sharon rest area
The closest gas to the Sharon Rest area is off I-89 at exit 1.