August 18, 2018 Durham NH to Gloucester MA The last day

Last night was the final awards night of the tour and there were quite a few awards, most of which involved thank you’s for the staff.  However one award was a real stand out.  The other Terry on the tour is a sketch artist and he had prepared little sketches of everyone on the tour including all of the staff.  It was really amazing.  He put a lot of work into it.

After meeting it was out to my tent and the last night in my tent until the next tour.  It has been a fun time camping this summer.  I have really enjoyed it and especially sleeping on my cot.  It was so much better than my self-inflating foam mattress.

The morning was gray and threatening but with no rain. The forecast was 80% chance of precipitation with potential for hail.  I packed the heavy duty rain gear into the trunk on my bike, and headed off to breakfast.  We only had 61 miles down to Gloucester so there was no real hurry but Bob and I didn’t fancy getting a soaking either.  The route took us down a lot of smaller back roads which had a surprising number of short but steep pitches.  We were in picnic by 10:30 Am where we caught up with Ken T.  Ken’s weather radar projections have been uncanny and when he said that there was a possibility of threading the needle between the rain clouds if we hurried there was no messing around Bob and I were off like a shot.  Ken was right and we cleared the remaining 24 miles down to Gloucester without a drop of rain.   We even stopped for an ice cream.

Crossing the finish line was great.  My third time with Cycle America and my 5^th cross the North American continent.  It was great to accomplish this with my friends Ken, Bob, and Martin and Beth as well as some of the other sectional riders who were on the trip such as Tom R and Dan O.   In addition there are all the new friends I made on this tour. 

I got busy and repacked my gear and dried my tent while I waited for the rest of the riders to arrive and for the final mile down to the Atlantic and the ceremonial wheel dip.  This wait would turn out to be a long wait as one of the riders was late.  In fact he was three hours late and in the meantime the forecast rain moved in and turned into a total deluge.

When the delinquent rider finally showed up we followed the police escort to the ocean and had the wheel dipping.  Some of the riders even jumped into the water.  I was content to simply dip the wheel and get a couple of photos. 

Bob, Ken and I were then off to enjoy a celebration seafood meal as Gloucester is known for its seafood. I had the fresh haddock which was absolutely great.

The evening’s celebrations with the riders was a harbour and margarita cruise.  It was a lot of fun comparing notes with the other riders and exchanging contact information.  I know that someone wrote a book saying that it’s all about the bike but I think it is really all about the friends and people.

What a tour and what an adventure but Dorothy said it best “There is no place like home.”

Terry hot biker  

August 17, 2018 Fryeburg to Durham

 

Last night was presentation of the plaques night.  Greg took the riders and staff who were completing a coast to coast tour to the bleachers in the fairgrounds where we are staying to hand out the completion plaques. It is always a fun evening of storytelling and reminiscing of the good and bad of the trip.  After a lengthy intro the handing out of the plaques commenced.  The first couple of people to receive plaques took it upon themselves to thank just about everyone from the staff and fellow riders to their mother and father, to the bicycle manufacturer, to their favourite butcher and just about everyone else.  This set the tone of the evening as everyone then had to have a go a thanking and prognosticating on their trip. To say that it was more than a little drawn out be an understatement.  I was the very last to receive a plaque so everyone had been thanked at least 20 plus times, so I simply took my plaque and muttered something about another one for the wall of shame. 

Today’s ride was 86 miles and 3200 feet of climb, and wandered between Maine and New Hampshire.  It was also the worst ride of the tour.  Ed, Bob and I got out of breakfast in good time and started down the road.  The road in front of the fairgrounds was horribly rough and pot holed, with no shoulder and busy traffic.  I was so glad to turn off of it in only a few miles.  The road was not busy however if it was possible even rougher.  There were huge 6-10 in wide cracks which were 3-6 inches deep.  There were a thousand turns left and right and even though we were on different roads they were all just plain terrible.  The road also had a tremendous number of really steep pitches. Although none of them were long they were all so steep you had to get into your very lowest gear to crest them. 

As the morning wore on the traffic increased exponentially.  By 10:00 am we have covered 30 miles and the traffic is just over whelming.  In addition it seemed like the traffic was coming closer and closer.  There was at least 4-5 times when a vehicle was with a foot of my handle bars.  It was really scary especially when you were grinding up a really steep pitch as the vehicles could not see over the crest of the hill and flew so close to you.

The highlight of the morning was passing the spot where in 2010 I caught Patrick D and scared him by giving him a big bark.  Patrick loved it and bought me a coke at the gas station across from picnic.  It was a great memory.

Picnic came up at the 46 mile mark and Jim had made pizza for lunch which was a really nice change of pace. 

After picnic the wind had picked up considerable and was now blowing straight into our face.  While not a big factor it was just another annoyance.   By time we reached the 52 mile mark I could not stand the rough road anymore and when Bob and I spotted Hwy 16 with a big wide smooth shoulder we took it. 

About 9 miles further down we couldn’t stand highway 16 which was bumper to bumper traffic going 75 mph so we jumped back on the route.  So here we were back on the busy rough road with wind in our face.  I had had so many close calls with vehicle that my nerves were totally shot.  By time we got to the 63 mile mark the van came by and I got in it.  I just wanted to get through the day in one piece.

Upon arriving at the school I took a picture of the last arrow that Ed had painted on the road. He claims that this will be his last arrow ever.  However I am somewhat skeptical as I am sure that when he gets the call in 2020 to come and be a router he will answer the call. 

Terry hot biker 

August 16, 2018 Littleton NH to Fryeburg ME

The rider meeting dragged on and on last night and by the time it was over Chutters was closed.  Chutters is the world’s longest candy bar.  I have been looking forward to getting several different kinds of licorice.  I should have gone in before the meeting started.  

The electric show started about 7:30 PM last night and several of us were sitting in these Adirondack chairs watching the show until about 8:10 when the first big drops came down and we scattered for our tents.  I barely got the zipper up when the skies opened up and it was a huge cloud burst.  The show continued until around 12:00 Am.  There were a lot of really huge flashes which seemed to last forever and then there would be an almost instantaneous clap of thunder.  I thought the ground would be really soaked but it was so sandy that it wasn’t.

The ride was only 64 miles today with 2550 feet of climb.  So Bob and I kind of lingered over breakfast this morning and had a second coffee.  The first part of the ride was along highway 302 which was a very nice road with great shoulders and smooth pavement.  Unfortunately that didn’t last long and we were routed onto Wing road which was incredibly broken up and rough. I thought the fillings were going to come out. It only lasted a few miles and we were back on 302. 

The highlight of the day was riding past the Mount Washington Hotel.  It is a grand old hotel which is a very historic place. It has been the site of many international gatherings and visits by many presidents.  Riding up and wandering through it was lots of fun.  I think I would like to put it on my bucket list as a place to come and stay. 

Back on the road we climbed up to the Crawford Notch at the 25.4 mile mark.  From there the road was a downhill ride all the way into Fryeburg.   Only the first 10 miles of so were really a decent but they were fun miles.  This took us into picnic at the Attitash Ski lodge.  In the summer they have lots of different downhill rides so it was quite busy.

The remaining 23 miles into the Fryeburg Fairgrounds were we are staying was pretty uneventful.  There was a nice tail wind which pushed us along and kept the humidity down.  We crossed into Maine and crossed New Hampshire off the list.  

The Fryeburg Fairgrounds are huge and we have pretty much the run of the place. 

Tomorrow is the last long day at 85 miles and 3500 feet of climb.  It is hard to remember it from 2014 but I think it was a nice ride.  With only 2 ride days left it is hard to believe that the adventure is nearly over.

Downhill with a tail wind, blue skies, nice temperatures, and great riding, it just doesn’t get any better.

Terry hot biker

August 15, 2018 Stowe VT to Littleton NH

Last night after we got back to the campground which was a mile out of Stowe the highway department set up a night paving operation on the highway right beside the campground.  They had huge work lights and all night long we were treated to the beeping sounds of backing up equipment and the rumbling and banging heavy equipment.  As the night fog settled in the work lights and equipment took on an eerie look of some sort of secret military operation or some such thing out of the movies.

Today’s ride was 75 mile and 4750 feet of climb so there were a three larger climbs and a lot of smaller climbs.   It was a very heavy fog in the morning so I put on my safety vest and made sure all of my flashers were turned on.  I rolled out of the camp round with four other riders down to breakfast as a group with the idea that a group of four would be more visible. 

Breakfast was in the motel were most of the riders and staff stayed last night.  It was a pretty good breakfast so Bob and I kind of lingered a bit waiting for the fog to lift a bit. As a result we were close to the last to leave.  

The first 25 miles disappeared pretty fast so we stopped for coffee in a little town.  Just as we stopped it started to rain.  So we lingered over coffee.  In 25 minutes it stopped and we rode on.  The first big climb of about 5 miles was right after coffee and about 2 miles in it started to drizzle again.  I decided I would be wetter with the rain coat on than without it. However when I got to the summit and started down the rain got heavier and I was forced to stop and put the rain coat on.  The rain continued all the way into picnic at mile 38.   I could see the blue sky behind the rain cloud so I just hung around picnic and sure enough it cleared off and Bob and I continued on our way. 

The second big climb of the day put us in a little town called Peacham which was founded in 1776.  It consisted of half a dozen houses and a huge white New England still church which was even further up the hill so I didn’t ride up to it. Bob and I stopped and had a drink of water and large work truck passed us.  I commented I was glad to be off the road when it passed us. From there we were treated to a 10 mile downhill which was a total blast.  It had a couple of little rollers in it which I crested easily and a bunch of fast down hills.  Close to the bottom I caught the work truck and passed a speed zone sign which flashed that I was doing 40 mph in a 25 mph zone. 

We left Bernie’s home state of Vermont and entered New Hampshire.

With only one more, big climb of the day to go we had about 17 mile to camp.  About half way up was a gas station so Bob and I pulled in and got a cold drink.  It was really refreshing.  The last few miles were put behind us and into camp.

The school we are staying at it 0.2 miles off of Main Street and those 0.2 miles are the steepest miles on the entire tour. 

In 2014 it was pouring rain and Earnie and I were the only two campers who set their tents up across the street in a neighbor’s yard with Ed’s invaluable help. This year it is chock a block with tents.

Only three ride days left.

Terry hot biker

August 14, 2018 Plattsburgh NY to Stowe VT

Last night we were in the dormitory for the New York State University at Plattsburgh.  The dorm had no AC and the rooms were well into the 90’s with close to 100% humidity.  Ken and I were in a slow cooker pot.  I decided to set my cot up and sleep on the floor rather than on the bed as it was cooler and I could put my cot with my head right under the window.   AN unexpected consequence of this was every time I moved it made all the little feet of the cot click on the floor and it sounded like a giant centipede running across the room. I never heard it but it disturbed Ken.  Sorry! I had no idea.

There was a giant storm forecast for 1-1.5 inches of rain during the next 24 hours with thundershowers after that.    Most of the riders and staff had booked a room in Stowe. Ed and I had a room but a couple of weeks ago I gave my bed up to Bob as his cot broke and his air mattress would not fit in the tent.  Ken and Don grabbed the last room so I was left to camp.   By 6:00 Am it was starting to rain pretty seriously. However it was still quite warm with temps in the mid to upper 70’s.   I decided to take but not wear my rain gear. It rained for about 15-20 minutes but by the time we got to the ferry which would take us across Lake Champlain it had stopped.

After the ferry it was about 35 miles up to lunch so Bob and I rode along under very heavy clouds which were slightly lighter off to the east.  No rain yet.  The road was tremendously twisty and narrow with a lot of rough broken up sections.  Although there wasn’t much traffic what was came really close and was quite unnerving as you could not see them coming, then suddenly there was a vehicle right beside you.  There were a lot of really sharp hills some of which approached 17% grade.  Most of the climbs were well under a half mile but you still had to grind up. 

When we got to picnic which was at the 43 mile mark, it was decision time.  The route took us over Smuggler’s Notch which was a 9 mile climb with grades up to 15% flowed by an 11 mile decent into Stowe with grades up to 16% and very rough and broke pavement according to the router.  It was probably a 2 plus hour grind up the hill and 40 minute decent into camp.  The alternative was to jump in the van and ride around the long way into town which was 25 miles.  At this point you could not see the mountain as it was total encased in heavy black clouds.  When it started to rain Ken’s ankle started to hurt, Bob’s backside needed looking after, Ed had had enough, and my desire to get camped before a major rain event, took over so the four of us jumped in the van with Vicky behind the wheel.

In Stowe the modellers were dropped off and I made to the campground and got my tent set up.  The big storm seems to have passed us by and we are living in the 10% chance of no rain.  There are still lots of big heavy looking clouds so we could still get a shower or thunder shower later but the blue sky is pretty nice. 

I kind of regret not riding up Smugglers Notch but then being in camp and it isn’t like I don’t have enough miles in.  

Only four ride days left.

August 13, 2018 Lake Placid to Plattsburgh NY

I really don’t know what was wrong with me last night but I could not get to sleep.  Ken and I turned lights out at around 10:30 Pm and then I tossed and turned until well past 3:30 AM.  I tried everything I could think of to get to sleep.  I do know I did get some sleep as there was some weird dream I was glad to be out of when Ken got up at 5:40 AM but probably not much more than a couple of hours.  It was a good thing that today’s ride was only 58 miles and 1800 feet of climb. 

This morning’s breakfast was back in the North Woods Hotel downtown so us hotelers had and extra 1.5 miles back to town for breakfast, but it was worth it as the bacon was extra crispy and served with good coffee and waffles. 

When we left the motel room Ken’s rear tire was flat but Ken thought it was someone’s idea of a joke as our bikes had been in a storage room in the basement. I pulled a stone out of the tire and was sceptical but who knows. Ken pumped his tire and rode to breakfast.  After we got out of breakfast it was flat again.  Auzzie Bob and I worked on the tire while Ken went and got a floor pump out of one of the vans.  We had it off and ready to be inflated by time Ken got back with the pump.  New tube in and we were off. 

The ride down from Lake Placid was very nice.  It was nice and cool and the road was smooth and predominately downhill. It was quite scenic as we were following along a river most of the way.  We stopped for a quick coffee and were on our way.  Picnic came up at the 37 mile mark at the Ausable Chasm.  It is really quite a unique spot where the Ausable River cuts down into the escarpment before entering into Lake Champlain. 

After picnic Auzzie Bob and I could see that it was 12 miles to Plattsburg via the highway or 22 miles via the designated route.  It was a hard decision. Go down the highway where there was a 10 foot wide smooth as glass shoulder with no hills and beautiful views of Lake Champlain or 22 miles of hills with crumbling roads and no views.  We decided to go down the highway.

After a two mile decent down off the escarpment to Lake Champlain it was postcard perfect.  The blue sky and lake dotted with white sail boats.  We were kind of sorry to have missed seeing more trees and the crumbling roads but we were enjoying the lake.  There was a very nice cool breeze off the lake which was actually a bit of a tail wind.  In places there were mansions on both sides of the highway and in places only on the one as the highway was right along the lake shore.  I picked out a very nice two story turn of the century brick mansion while Bob settled on this large white mansion set well back from the highway with columns all along the front porch.   

Upon reaching Plattsburgh we found a bike path which took us to within a half mile of our turn and then a half mile down Broad street right to the Plattsburgh State of New York University dormitory where we are staying tonight.  Bob and I rolled in just as the leaders were coming up the other way. 

Ken who had left Bob and I at picnic came steaming in as he had ridden the extra 9 miles and of his 21 miles 4 of it was through busy streets of Plattsburgh and he saw nothing but trees.   He was less than pleased.

If you add in the three and a half pints of cider I had after the rider with Bob, and Ken, it was a very fun day.

Terry hot biker

August 12, 2018 Rest day in Lake Placid NY

A much anticipated and much needed rest day had finally arrived.  So the key was to stay in bed as long as possible.  Unfortunately that was only about 5:55 AM.  Ken was up making coffee and reading e-mails on his phone.  

The breakfast in the Rodeway Motel was somewhat less than spectacular consisting of a bad donut in a plastic bag, a banana and an apple (I got the last one).   Breakfast out of the way it was time for chores one of which was cleaning up the gear and repacking all of the parts of which there seems like there are so many pieces keeping them in line is a full time job.   By the end of the week everything seems to be in the wrong bag.  Cleaning the bike was next on the list and as I had done that on Thursday it wasn’t a major chore. 

Ken and I met Bob and decided to head down town.  The free shuttle which runs up and down main street Lake Placid only ran once every 90 minutes on Sundays and the next one was 45 minutes.  Ken pulled his phone out and called Uber which showed up within 60 sec and hauled us downtown for $5.00. WOW.    It didn’t take long to walk the length of downtown Lake Placid and we finally decided on a nice quiet patio on Mirror Lake.  Bob and Ken had a pizza while I had a calzone.  I think I had the best meal as it was a huge affair packed with cheese, although I do have to admit that the pizza did look very good.

After lunch we walked to the second bike shop in Lake Placid and decided that we had everything we needed. Ken called the Uber driver and she showed up and drove us back to the motel.  

Check in and supper for the rider meeting for the upcoming and final segment was held in the North Country Hotel which is in downtown Lake Placid.  It is the premier hotel in town and while it is showing its age is still a very nice hotel.  The supper of baked salmon was definitely one of the highlight meals of the tour. 

Tomorrow is only 58 miles up to Plattsburg.  This is a new location for the tour as we have always gone around the south end of Lake Champlain.  This year we are going to cross the lake on the causeway at the north end.  It is pretty much downhill all the way. 

A great day in Lake Placid.   Not much for drama but then that is why they are called rest days.

Terry