Author: Rich

RA92: Coast of Maine

Brunswick ME to Camden ME – 66.7 miles Great stars last night with an interesting overlay of clouds.  Then some pretty cirrus clouds to start the morning.  The Thomas Point Beach campsite had been very quiet and isolated – a good spot. Jack and I selected Friendly’s for breakfast this morning.  While we enjoyed some good food, the store’s manager greeted us, then asked with real interest about our bicycle travels, wanting to know details.  Christine expressed a desire to try a bicycle tour like this, even describing a dream she has had about pedaling to California to reach the

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RA91: Rolling

Raymond ME to Brunswick ME – 71.2 miles This morning I was very pleased to see blue skies.  Winds were swift from the ?south or ?west but there appeared no sign of further rain, and the forecast from 2 days ago suggested that the winds would die down quickly today.  Time to get on with our tour. There was still no power in Franks’s house in Raymond ME.  I arose about 6:30AM and jumped into my daily riding routine, packing up my bedroll, pulling on cycling clothes, and preparing the panniers.  Jack saw me and groaned.  “You don’t even know

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RA90: Tropical Storm Irene

Raymond ME – 0.0 miles Periodic heavy rains greeted us this morning as we all (except for Roger and Jack) piled in to Frank’s car and rode off  in search of breakfast.  We soon piled in to Danielle’s Sebago Diner and enjoyed an excellent breakfast.  I hate to say it, but I’m definitely addicted to caffeine again after this tour, and getting my morning fix is starting to feel pretty good.  We also hit the WalMart for supplemental food since many of the guys plan to stay at Frank’s house for 4 or 5 days more. Back at the house,

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RA89: Finally Into Maine

Jigger Johnson Campground (east of Kancamagus Pass) NH to Raymond ME – 63.2 miles The group got up early this morning and all followed Frank on a beeline on US highways to his house, but I don’t quite know what they were smoking. The scenery is so breathtaking around here that, in my opinion, taking the backroads is a necessity. Jack and I rose last, gathered our crap and started down the mountain.  The continued descent made it chilly but the scenery was magnificent.  We followed the AC turn onto Passaconoway Road and discovered one of the prettiest passages yet. 

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RA88: Kancamagus Pass

Orford NH to Jigger Johnson Campground (east of Kancamagus Pass) NH – 64.2 miles When we met Nancy yesterday, she asked where we were staying tonight, and when we told her she remarked, “You’re going to do Lincoln Pass and Kancamagus Pass both in the same day?!”  On paper, today’s ride looked challenging, 60 miles that finished with a couple of 2000 foot climbs. Jack and I started out on a different mission, though, to get a proper “Welcome to New Hampshire” photograph for our collection.  We found one just north of our campsite back across a bridge into Vermont

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RA87: And Into New Hampshire

Gaysville VT (White River Campground) to Orford NH – 44.7 miles The entire gang stopped at Creek Cabin Diner about 4 miles north of camp this morning and tanked up.  I think our ravenous appetites actually increase in these hilly areas.   We enjoyed a fabulous ride along the White River flowing in our direction.  It occurred to me that water always rolls downhill – so it must be a lot be smarter than touring cyclists. The road continued a general downhill all the way to Sharon VT.  There we met a lady named Nancy in her car who’s done a

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RA86: The Green Mountains

Ticonderoga NY to Gaysville VT (White River Campground) – 69.2 miles The guys all left early but Jack and I lingered as usual at the Ticonderoga Super 8, and eventually rolled over to the Hot Biscuit Diner in town for breakfast.  We then pedaled down to Lake Champlain for a ferry ride.  While waiting we talked to a number of families who seemed really interested in our bike trip.  It is kind of fun to get so much attention from nice folks. You know what’s next… Our 13th state!  It’ hard to describe, but right away Vermont was different than

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RA85: Ticonderoga NY

Rest day in Ticonderoga NY – 2.6 miles Late night last night watching those great old movies, so late rise this morning.  Super 8’s super breakfast was a humorous attempt, but I did enjoy the coffee.  The team, including Jesse but minus Roger, convened in the breakfast nook and yucked it up for more than an hour.  It really felt good to be taking a day off. A roll to downtown Ticonderoga to the laundromat.  We put our clothes in and strolled over to the Corner Café for a more proper breakfast.  Unfortunately, our order for French toast and burrito

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RA84: Adirondacks Mountains

Newcomb NY (Lake Harris campground) to Ticonderoga NY – 49.3 miles There was lots of hushed and urgent talk last night and this morning about our transgression of tenting in the edge of the next site, talk of being fined or of being thrown out of the park.  Jack and I were glad no one called the National Guard.  We packed up and departed without incident, punitive or otherwise. The longer I am on the road and in a camping mode, the less and less I see a need for finding an organized campground.  We pass by dozens of signs

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RA83: Adirondacks Lakes

Thendara NY (Singing Waters RV Park) to Newcomb NY (Lake Harris campground) – 72.5 miles Nice evening of sleep last night. There was no grass at our campsite, so I learned that when you pitch your tent on the dirt in the rain, its floor is not only hard, but the tent bottom is really muddy when you go to roll it up.  Ah the little things we learn. First thing out this morning a doe came prancing right in front of us across the highway.  Just like ten feet away! We just stopped and admired her – it didn’t

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