Lessons Learned

Some lessons I've learned the first few days:

1.  Don't put sunscreen on your forehead.  When you sweat it gets in your eyes and really stings.
2.  When your chain comes off don't fix it with your bike gloves on because when you wipe your eyes (from            the stinging sunscreen) you'll end up with a nasty mixture of sunscreen and chain lube in your eyes.                (yes I did that!!)
3.  The wind is always in your face and never at your back.
4.  Temperature regulation is a big issue.  It's cold in the morning so you wear a windbreaker.  But within a                few minutes you're going up a hill and sweating.  Then you go down hill and freeze.  Very hard to                  maintain a steady body temp.  Even worse when it rains and you're clothes are soaked all day.
5.  I don't think there is a flat section of road in Maine.  You're either going uphill or downhill all day!
6.  I'm carrying too much stuff.  I will unload a few things when I get to my parents home on Long Island.

(I will update this list as time goes on and I continue to learn what I'm doing!)

Breakfast

Here's some pictures from a few days ago.  It was a cold start to the day so I rode for about 2 hours then stopped at a roadside park and made this terrific breakfast!!

September 19

Another long day of rain, rain, rain. Even with a raincoat and rain pants on you're soaked from the perspiration.  Biked 54 miles today and stayed with a very nice couple in Harvard, Massachusetts.

Rode a little on the Nashua River Trail:

This is not the elevation chart you want to see after already riding a wet 50 miles but you just keep going over the hills - slowly!

Got to the town of Harvard before my hosts were home so I got some hot chocolate and a piece of quiche to warm up at the Harvard General Store.

Stayed the night at the home of John and Julie.  John recently rode across the country on bicycle with his 3 daughters.  Julie prepared a fabulous dinner and apple crisp for desert.  And John is originally from Pottstown, PA where my oldest son, Brian is a school teacher.  Crazy stuff.  Super nice people.

September 18

Long day slogging through the rain.

Made it 66.5 miles which I was very happy about.  Left Maine behind and entered New Hampshire into Portsmouth.

I had no place to stay that night so I pitched the tent in the woods.

Also  was just about out of water so that meant no cooking.  Had an apple and a banana for dinner and went to bed.  The heavens opened up around 3am with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain but the tent held up nicely.

September 17

Last night I camped in North Yarmouth,Maine in the backyard of some nice Warm Showers hosts, Steve and Peggy.  They surprised me this morning with Buckwheat blueberry pancakes and coffee.  What a great way to start the day.  That's me packing up my wet tent in the morning.

Rode past Sebago lake.  It is the deepest lake in Maine and the second largest.

Total miles was about 53-54 miles to Kennebunk, Maine where I rode into town and did a load of laundry before heading to my hosts for the night, Jay and Lara, and their affectionate dog, Maddy.
A very windy ride today.  Took about 6.5 hours.

Some colorful, Hi-viz laundry.  Yes I put all the colors in together!!

 Maddie the beagle.

Moose Lodge

A warm hello to my college friends gathered today for the annual "Moose Lodge" picnic.  I miss you guys and hope to be there next year.  Stay well.

Nice People

Last night I had no pl ace to stay and so biked a little over 40 miles and started looking for a place to pitch my tent in the woods.  I found an appropriate spot but it was too early to set up camp so I decided to just ride around.  Well, a little ways down the road I spotted a house with a big piece of property and a large motor-home in the driveway.  I figured if they're campers maybe they will let me tent on their property.
Sure enough, the guy, Gerry, was happy to give me a place to camp, offered me a shower and food.  Then his neighbors (John and Joan) came over and they asked me over for dinner.  I was expecting a quick microwave meal but John prepared Ratatouille, oven fried potatoes, peas and carrots, and a wonderful piece of white fish.  Dinner also came with some excellent discussion.
What a pleasure it is to meet people like this - so kind and generous.  Truly a wonderful thing and I'm so grateful for their kindness.