The Atlantic Finish

We all rode in the rain for the last 8 miles, again very scenic and memorable.  We all dipped our tires in the water for the 2nd time this trip and then headed out for lunch and drinks..Thanks John!!!  Photos will follow.....

Next stop and side note to this amazing trip. Ray, Mike and I ended up at the motel 8 in Sanford/Kennebunkport.   Actually Sanford is more like it but the later draws the attention.  Settled into our room I began to do the laundry.  This has been one of the few chores of the trip that always ends up to be interesting in one way or another.  While going back for my many visits to do laundry I found Ted.....Clearly Ted is a homeless man, looks to be in his 70's or more.  Head down, sitting at the table provided for folding and eating a bag of potato chips from the vending machine.  I tried to talk and he was slow on eye contact and/or words.  Next trip to the laundry Ted is still eating his chips slowly and I asked if he needed anything.  No real response.  Another trip back and this time with a $20 bill per Ray's suggestion.  I handed Ted the bill and said please go get something good to eat. I then asked if he needed a sleeping bag.  He looked up and said yes.  Margie's bag is now in Ted's old truck along with the pad, old tent, two chairs and left over dried foods that we could come up with.  So many wonderful people on this trip that were helpful and gracious.  Nice to be able to end this trip with this small gesture.

Yes, it was raining!

Thanks Ray for all your planning and organization.  Amazing job....Love you

69 DAYS and NO MORE COUNTING!!

Arrived Atlantic Ocean! Thanks to Butch and Clair and John and Johnny for being our welcoming crew! Hard to believe we have finished. Big thanks to my brother Ray for planning and executing our journey. I said in the beginning, he turns left and I turn left! Lol  Half the time didn't know where I was but he got us everyday from point A to B ..a good brother. 

5:46 am Day 69!

Last day of the ride.......36 miles to go!  We are in a motel in Rochester New Hampshire on the border of our last state to ride, MAINE!  Yesterday's ride was one of the easiest and also one of the sweetest of the trip.  It seems we went by one lake after another and the cutest little towns with the occasional covered bridge.  Yes there were still some heart pumping hills to climb albeit short.  Ray and I had a great dinner last night with our Friends Tom and Cindy from Coronado. Tom has been Ray's biking buddy for the last several years and my quasi bike instructor on my Coronado rides when I began training.  Ray and I are hoping we may catch up with Tom and Cindy again on our trip home.

Rain is in the forecast for our ride today so it will be an early start to our final day.  Claire and Butch, Ray and Margie's cousins have flown out from Washington to see our final tire dip in the Atlantic.  They  joined us in Florence, Oregon for the start of the trip so wanted to be here for the finale!  Facebook photos show them eating Lobster in Maine last night.  Lobster is on my mind for dinner tonight......

We have one of the John's driving the last five miles for us today so we can all ride into Saco today.  (Margie's husband John and son Johnny)!  This story will be continued.......

New Hampshire Here we are!

We arrived in New Hampshire today and will be here tomorrow.  Friday is Maine and our last day on the road for this incredible journey.  Four of us are huddled in a hotel tonight.  All sharing the same room and watching District 9.  Well, Mike and Ray are watching District 9.  Suppose to be rain and lightning tonight so camping was not a good option for anyone.  New Hampshire is lovely and different then Vermont.  People are friendly and excited about our ride.  Hard to believe we are down to the wire.  We will be in Alton tomorrow night and Saco on Friday.

Covered Bridge in New Hampshire

We rode off the main road for a short distance today and came across this registered covered bridge.  The trees are so thick it is hard to see but the bridge was quite long and was built alongside a stream.  Beautiful ride and lots of down hills today but as always enough hills to keep you working.  

Easy Does It!

First impression of Vermont was just that, easy ride, beautiful views and then you find yourself in just enough hills to get the heart pumping.  Enough beauty to take your breath away!  As Mike would say, "Vermont has the market on quaintness."  Another night of camping and hoping for a dry night and morning.  The camping is getting pretty old by now.  It is a drag showering in old bathrooms, musty rooms and pay as you go showers.  Looking forward to Hotels!!!!

Our ride today included a beautify historic farm and a brief stop at a swimming hole.  Actually a rock quarry that Ray, along with the locals stopped for a swim and dive off the stacked like blocks slate rocks.  All of this on the side of the road on hwy 30.  Vermont is called the Green Mountain State for good reason.  Adirondacks were also green but the name definately suits Vermont.  This has to be one of my all time favorite states.  Lovely vacation homes all along the many lakes.  Dream rides in Vermont.

Ray in the quarry.

Beautiful camping area but a little rocky on the ground.  Thank goodness for the bigger air mattress.

Church in Vermont......

Quarry

Historic Farm

Lovely Vermont Home....White with shutters is the look.  Loved the lavendar door and the wreath.

Beautiful!!!  Lovely little town of Dorset along the ride in Vermont

More Quarry

Swimmers ready set go!

Back on the road!

Fort Ticonderoga New York

Riding bikes in the Adirondacks has been great for the most part.  We had no idea how much of a resort area this all was going to be and how impossible it was going to be to find hotel/motels on the fly!  Camping has been interesting in this neck of the woods as the weather looks great one moment and next thing you know you are swimming in a lake or lying in a mud pit.  My favorite spot that would be worth returning to and staying at would be Lake George.  Some great little towns around the lake and wonderful looking B & B's.  Marking this down for future reference.  Mostly the riding has been rolling hills with bigger hills or climbs really to keep you on your toes.  I have a feeling Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine will all be much the same but as we leave over the ferry tomorrow into Vermont we soon will know!  Only 4 days left of riding for us until we reach the Atlantic in Saco Maine on Friday.  We will spend one day exploring.

Ray finally found the perfect Margarita.  The Best Western Hotel/restaurant in Ticonderoga made the perfect drink.  It seems every where we go he orders and gives instructions and the weirdest concoctions come back at him. Food was pretty good too and lots more than we could eat.  Seems like we have a collection from the last few days.  Lunch on our rest day should be one less decision we will have to make.

The Erie Canal.  Mike, Ray and I camped out right here on the canal for the night.  The welcome center gave us the okay and the keys to the bathrooms and showers.  No charge!  Beautiful spot and lovely town.  

On the road in the Adirondacks.  

Camp site at Selkirk outside of Polaski New York.

Lake Ontario

Beautiful skies

Sunset on Lake Ontario

Ferry Ride from New York to Vermont

We always seem to find the welcome signs for the state we are leaving!

Just across the Ferry on Lake Champlain

It was cold and this was another night of camping and getting rained on.  Quick tear down of the tent in the morning and I think some of our gear is still wet a week later.