After the rest day, I sure felt good and was ready to get back on the road. Joe, from the Route 4 Deli, had suggested some back roads between Quechee and Woodstock, VT. He said US 4 had narrow shoulders, heavy traffic with a lot of trucks. I’m glad he made the suggestion. The back roads route was a nice relaxing morning ride along the Ottauquechee River.
Cleaning. That is what I did today. Cleaning myself; cleaning my clothes, cleaning my chain. Cleaning and relaxing. I slept in, took a nap and enjoyed the shade and breeze without feeling like I had to be back on the road.
I tried the rice with cinnamon and raisins again. A little less brown sugar, a little less cinnamon, and it turned out really good. Maybe it will become a staple of my diet. The rest of the day, I snacked on junk food and beef jerky. By he time supper rolled around, I wasn’t very hungry.
I slept a little late this morning. I felt good packing up camp, with plenty of energy and ready to go. Then I started pedaling and immediately knew it would be a long day. I had to keep telling myself to just keep pedaling and I would get somewhere eventually. I was in no hurry and could stop anywhere I liked, but wanted someplace I could stay a couple of days. I rode about 14 miles to a convenience store and took a break for about an hour.
Last night I think I stayed up too late talking to some hikers at the Notch Hostel. There was Dan, from Boston. He was in the mountains Sunday and Monday doing some day hikes. He also has done some bicycle touring in the past. Kaitlyn just recently completed hiking the 48 in a calendar year. The 48 are 48 peaks in New Hampshire that are over 4000 feet. It’s a thing for hikers in the area to complete them. I think it is pretty impressive that she completed them all in one year. Erin was also visiting for some day hiking. She through hiked the Appalachian Trail last year and gave me some good advice about eating and bears. Erin has a Instagram with some really nice photos from her hiking, including the Appalachian Trail (earthtrek80). [I don’t know enough about Instagram to link her account, but if you are on Instagram, you should check out her photos. They will make you want to hike the Appalachian Trail.]
I tried an experiment this morning for breakfast, rice with brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins. It tasted pretty good, but I don’t think I will make it a staple of my diet. I think I may have put too much brown sugar in it because it was awfully sweet.
Yesterday, I traveled mostly north. Today, I turned west. As I look down the highway, I see the whole continent laying before me.
My headphones have shorted out. I might be able to tape them so they work again, but for the past two days I have been alone with my own thoughts. That, and the creaking of my bicycle trying to carry my weight and the weight of the gear. It hasn’t been as bad as I thought and I might just continue this way for a while before fixing or replacing my headphones.
The traffic was intense along US 302 between Fryeburg and Conway, NH. Fortunately, there was a large shoulder. In Conway, the traffic heading east was bumper to bumper and they had trouble making any progress. It looked like they were fleeing a natural disaster. They were heading away from the mountains, so I don’t know where they were going.
I am going to try stealth camping tonight. I didn’t quite make it to the White Mountains. I’m about 15 miles away, just north of Brownfield, ME. I went about 50 miles and it is getting late. I feel like I progressed very slowly today. I found some snowmobile trails that went off the highway, went down one and turned onto another. I can hear the highway, but the brush is so thick, there is no way anyone from the highway can see me. Of course, the brush is so thick, I won’t be able to pitch my tent too far off the trail.
I had an impromptu day off today. I woke up sore all over and with tired muscles. I tried to walk it off, which helps sometimes, and tried a hot shower. Neither worked.
The people of Old Orchard Beach are busy getting ready for summer. There was a lot of repainting, cleaning and last minute repairs going on around town. Amtrak comes through this town, so I know if I ever want to visit again I can take the train.
I got a late start this morning. I overslept a bit and my back tire went flat over night. I didn’t notice the flat until I was just about to start riding for the day. My tires are very puncture resistant, practically bullet proof. I would have to ride over a bed of nails to get a puncture flat. Even then, I wouldn’t bet against the tires. I half expected to get all the way across the country without a flat. I have not paid as much attention to keeping them fully inflated and think I may have gotten a pinch flat going over a pothole. That would also explain the slow leak. Checking tire pressure will have to become part of my morning routine.
Today’s ride was mostly flat, so I kept pedaling until I was tired. It was a short distance to the Maine coast, then I started riding along the coast. For the most part, I could not see the ocean. The highway was a little ways from the ocean and wooded. There were a few places the ocean was visible, or I could ride down a short road to the beach.
I take back what I said about New Hampshire drivers. I don’t know if it was because of the rain this morning or because I’ve reached some more rural areas, but the drivers gave me more room today.
So far, I have had pretty good luck with the weather. There was a very brief thunder storm the first day, but that happened after I already reached camp. There was also a very light rain another day, just enough to dampen my shirt. Today, however, the good luck ended. It was raining when I woke up. I thought I waited it out, but after I finished breaking down camp and when I was just about to start to ride, the rain began again. It was pretty heavy at times. I found a gas station in Nottingham, NH, to wait out the heavier rain. Fortunately, it stopped at about 11:00.
I get the impression that not many people in New Hampshire have heard of bicycle touring, though that may be more common than I realize. It’s too bad because the state is quite beautiful, with gently rolling hills covered in forests and granite outcroppings. If you can avoid the traffic, it is a nice state to bicycle through.
I went through Dover, NH, today. Dover was settled in 1623.
This was a short day, which allowed me to stop at a laundromat to give my clothes a good wash. I have been keeping them “clean” by washing them in sinks or tubs. That works to a degree, but they needed a real wash.
Even if I am still trying to figure out routines, my legs have made their own. Once I stop pedaling, they are done for the day. After doing laundry, I still had about 5 miles to ride to the campground. Even though it was a short day and 5 miles is hardly any distance, my legs were having none of it. The pedaling had stopped, so they were done.
I crossed the border to Maine, barely. David in Hartford, CT, (the bicycle commuter, not the hostel manager) recommended riding along the Maine coast. I’m not too far from the coast, so will probably head that way for a day before turning west.
Pedaling America 