Day 5
Great end to a perfect ride.

DAILY DOINGS: Well, another ride has bitten the dust...or shall I say, come to an end.  After yesterday's iffy weather, today was absolutely stunning.  When I got up, the weather forecaster said it was overcast, but I think he should have stuck his head out the window...there wasn't a cloud anywhere to be seen.  The sun was shining and it was a brisk morning...just perfect for a wrap up day of leaf peeping.  With the sun glowing in the eastern sky, the color was brilliant all day.  Especially the fire red Maple trees that stood out form the other hardwoods that were some shade of yellow or brown.  There was just enough green still around to complete the color scheme of natures palette. 

Last night we stayed in a beautiful motel just outside of Edgecomb ME.  Edgecomb lies right on the Sheepscot River and we had to cross the bridge into Wiscasset to start our ride this morning.  The bridge had a 7 foot shoulder and was easy to negotiate.  The early part of the ride was well out in the country with quiet roads and a few rolling hills.  As I said, the fall color has gotten better every day and today was the best yet.  Hopefully, next week when we go into Massachusetts, it will be a good week for color too.  The back roads were interrupted for a short stretch when we entered Bath and rode by Brunswick, but then we were on colorful country roads again until Freeport. 

The day wasn't without incident as I planned on parking the van and riding a few miles myself.  Just outside of Bath, about 13 miles into the route, I parked and started riding toward the rear of the riders to check things over.  I met up with Karen and we were just passing the final riders when I got a call on my cell.  It was rider Barbara.  "I must have gotten lost, I'm somewhere on hwy 1," she said.  I looked at our map and instructed her to just follow hwy 1 to Bath and she would be back on route.  Meanwhile, Karen and I jumped on hwy1 and started riding toward her.  We finally passed her as she was coming out of Wiscasset...didn't we leave from there?  Luckily, all the back roads we were on all fed back into hwy 1 so a minor miscue on navigation would dump one back on the hwy.  Hwy 1 was bike friendly with a wide shoulder all the way to Bath, but the back roads were stunning and much more interesting.  She didn't see the back roads, but she was back in the flock none the less. 

The rest of the day went well.  I got to ride to Freeport where everyone had stopped and done a little shopping.  Karen drove the van to Freeport and then I picked up the van and supported the route the rest of the way.  The final riders, Team Iowa, got in about 4:00.  Another ride in the books...all the flock was in safely.  And it was brought to my attention, that this ride didn't produce 1 flat tire...that's a first!  Not one flat the entire ride.  I'm glad I brought all those spare tubes! 

After one last meal at Chili's, we all said our good byes.  Some are staying in the area for a couple days to do some more leaf peeping.  Barbara will continue to ride with us next week.  I hope you've enjoyed following our adventures and seeing the color.  I just wish the photos would do justice as to how beautiful it is up here this year.  I think it may be the best I've seen in the last few rides.  Anyway, I've enjoyed bringing it to you and hope you'll join us again next time as we take on another adventure on our bicycles.  Until then, keep the rubber side down.  M

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