Best day ever. We did just over 70 miles today, and it felt great. My butt will definitely be sore tomorrow morning when I get in the saddle, but for right now there’s no pain.
We rolled out of the parking lot in Portsmouth, NH at 7:15am and made it to the ocean by 8. A couple of reporters and well-wishers snapped shots as we waded into the water, lifted our bikes above our heads and then placed our bikes on the sand, back wheels touching the incoming tide. Behind us the white lighthouse stood out against the misty grays and greens of the rocky beach and sea. We pointed our bikes West and pulled away. Thirty-seven miles, two energy bars and lots of beautiful scenery later, we stopped for lunch. In between we passed a lily-covered pond shimmering in the late morning sunlight.
Only half of the riders made it to lunch because our van got lost, had trouble turning the trailer around on the narrow New Hampshire roads and missed the designated spot. Almost all of the bikers took a wrong turn or two as well. My group got off easy, with only five extra miles. One rider added 25 miles to the 65-mile day! When we rode into Concord, NH we raised our arms in the air and cheered, then promptly dropped our bikes and sprawled on the grass. One day down; 68 to go.
Now it’s 4:30pm, and just one rider still out. Enchiladas for dinner tonight (provided by the kind ladies of the church where we are staying) and another early morning wake-up tomorrow. Donations today: 115 dollars, one jar of apricot jam and two tubs of peanut butter.
Photos: Kevin poses in Queechee, Vermont.
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