I'm sorry about your dad.

The NY-Montreal-Vermont ride sounds lovely. I've never done any bike touring and don't expect to do any in the near future, but if I ever start I would like to tour in upstate NY.

I've known people who had major injuries or health setbacks in the spring but were still able to get in 5000 miles for the year. So you never know, you might end up reaching 3000 more easily than it seems now. I hope your riding buddies help you get back to the level of enjoyment you've had in the past.