DAY 49
Brattleboro VT to Manchester NH
August 3
Arrival Eve!
Distance: 79 Miles Climbing: 4679 Feet Winds: Light and variable
Weather: Clear at departure, rainy in spots Terrain:  Hilly with two significant punches

Today's Report: 

I'm sorry for the delay in posting the final days.  Our schedule has been pretty packed over the past 3 days and even the president only has 24 hours in a day.  With the ride, end of ride logistics, and final banquet, I just didn't have time to drag out my computer to do a report.  I'm sitting in our van driving home in a pouring rain as I type the final pages.  Yes...it's pouring.  The weather Gods just don't feel they've had enough rain refresh the New England foliage.  For the most part, we pretty much skated around the weather,  but a few of us got wet from time to time.  Again, sorry for the delay...here's the report.

The theme of today was, "Going up."  If the riders liked the climbing yesterday, they loved today.  It was only 1 mile from the motel when the road started to go up at the New Hampshire state line...our final state on this trip.  It's hard to believe we've traveled all the way across the nation and are only a couple days from our journey's end.  It seems just like yesterday we left Astoria as a group of strangers and now we are about to finish.  Some people think it's a long way from Oregon to New Hampshire...actually, to us it's only a bike ride. 

I think the riders have been thinking about today ever since we got over the Continental Divide.  Today was scheduled to be one of our biggest altitude gains since leaving Astoria...and some of the hills are pretty steep.  I am always amazed at how much stronger everybody has become since we left Astoria.  I would say that most of these people wouldn't have been able to climb a couple of the climbs today when we started this ride.  Even though they are a little tired from the climbing the last couple of days, today's hills were nothing as they have legs of steel and lungs to match.  It's been fun to watch them get stronger throughout the ride.

Our route now is a little different than in the past.  Last year I drove out just before rap and changed the route to avoid a 20%  climb on Sullivan Rd and another long climb up over Pitcher's Mountain.  The change also eliminated about a mile of descending dirt road that we've grown to love over the years.  The road over Sullivan is a great climb, but the road is getting pretty weather worn and really bumpy.  I made the late command decision to change the route to follow hwy 9 all the way to our SAG.  The detour also made the route today about 8 miles shorter.  Now let's review...8 less miles, 1500 feet less climbing, smoother pavement...sounded like a win, win, win to me.  As it worked out, it allowed everyone to get in early enough to have a little time before dinner to relax and start their celebrations.  That made it a win, win, win, WIN. 

Our route today basically was hwy 9 to Keene and highway 31 about 20 miles farther down route.  From there we hit more back roads to Bennington and Francestown through rolling to hilly terrain.  Right out of Keene we popped out in the country for about 4 miles that included a 12% climb just to warm us up for the hills to follow.  Our last challenge was Joe English, a 15% pop up for about 3 quarters of a mile then it was up and down on shorter rollers all the way to Manchester. 

I rode with Karen until the first SAG.  We spent the time taking photos at the state line and a few others along the route before the SAG.  From there I jumped in the luggage truck and came straight in with Barb so I could get some work done before tonight's banquet.  As it turned out, we only beat the lead riders in by about 20 minutes so I didn't get started with my chores until after we took care of the motel stuff.  I only had about 2 hours to get everything done I needed to before dinner, but that was OK.  I enjoyed the time off the bike anyway.

We had another day of beautiful skies for awhile and then BOOM!  Most everyone got a little wet at one time or another, but there were a few that got in dry.  Stu and Cheryl were about 200 yards behind Chuck and they got wet while Chuck didn't get rained on a lick.  At least we didn't have anything severe on our "fun packed" day.  The motel had set up a bike cleaning station just outside the lobby which was well utilized by the group since we got them a little grimy with the rain today...the bikes would be shiny on the way to the beach. 

Our final dinner is our salute to the riders and the ride.  It was a chance for everyone to express their feelings about the ride and put a closure to the event.  Emotions ran high as riders shared their thoughts and performed a couple skits that really were entertaining...America Has Talent wasn't in attendance so the riders will not get their chance to go nationally, but I'm not sure anyone else outside our room would have understood anyway. 

The Not For Prime Time Singers led by John and Dan performed a rousing selection of songs highlighting the ride while Sandy mused about John S's thoughts about mosquitoes, chiggers, and ticks.  Two others entertained us immensely...Shirley did a limerick (what ever that is) about the staff and Paul read an essay he assigned himself (he was a school teacher in another life) titled "How I Spent My Summer Vacation."  I couldn't resist in printing some of his observations in the Photos and Such below.  Their efforts were enjoyed by all as they pointed out some of our little quirks and events that made the ride special to everyone.

After the banquet, we were pretty wound up, but tomorrow awaits.  One more day to focus on safely negotiating the roadways to the Atlantic.  Reluctantly, the riders have come to the realization the ride is all but complete...only 50 more miles...I think we can smell the beach from here.  Tomorrow we do it for the last time...check in and see how we do. 

PHOTOS AND SUCH


Obviously the stresses of ride leader are getting to me.  But more than that I was truly disappointed in our attempt to promote Rider Image Earrings.  It was a good idea, but they were too heavy.
 

IT MUST BE TRUE:

"I've never even walked in this much rain."

"What's the plural of moose?"
"Another moose."

"Surely my bottom bracket will make it another 50 miles."

"We were in a Zone of Verticalness today."

Things I learned in states we rode through, by Paul M.
"In Oregon I learned you didn't need to use sunscreen.  If you rub your body with chain lube, not only will you not sun burn, but you also will not rust."
"In Idaho I learned a good pace line will contain an orthopedic surgeon, a podiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a priest.  It can be improved by adding a bike mechanic.  I also learned Idaho is a giant sprinkler system."
"In Wyoming I learned about kidney stones, morphine, and riding in the SAG van all day.  After riding in the van a couple of days, I determined the kidney stones were a more pleasant experience." 
"In South Dakota I learned urologists think they are comedians.  My urologist in Rapid City told me to take off all my clothes, stand by the window, and stick out my tongue.  I said, "Why should I do that?"  He said, "I'm mad at my neighbor."
"In Minnesota I learned who ever paved the roads there should move to South Dakota and pave theirs.  Then I learned the paver should move to eastern Minnesota...the roads aren't very good there either.  I also learned Minnesota smells bad."
"In Wisconsin I learned the county roads are lettered.  This didn't make sense to me until I got to LS near Manitowoc.  LS means "Lake Shore."  Then I began to wonder if other route letters meant something.  Is Route A the first road or the best road in the county?  Was Route OO a mistake?  Are there high hills on Route HH?  Do large breasted women live on Route DD?  Are the porn shops on Route XXX?  I also learned that sometimes Wisconsin smelled as bad as Minnesota.
"In Ontario I learned that while the Provinces are very clean, the litter of choice is the Tim Horton's coffee cup.  I also learned their reaction to a blow out are entirely different.  In Riverton Wyoming I had a blowout in the middle of town and no one even flinched.  In Brantford Ontario I had a blowout and people came out their houses bearing pitch forks, axes, and hockey sticks.  They all thought President Bush had ordered the long awaited invasion of Canada."
"In New York I learned if you follow the cute girl walking on the bike path in Pittsford while wearing pink tights, you'll never get to Liverpool."
"In Vermont I learned the people there are very friendly.  They felt so badly for us riding our bikes in the hot weather, they threw bottles of water and buckets of water at us from their passing cars."
"In New Hampshire I learned that just when you think you can't get any wetter, you can.  I also finally learned that if your pace line isn't made up of physicians and clergy, good replacements are people with a sense of direction, accurate odometers, and the ability to read cue sheets without stopping to put on glasses."

Tracy and Ed received their honor as Flat Tire King and Queen with 13 and 12 flats respectively.  "We are speechless to be recognized for our efforts in researching which state had the most compatible air for tires," Ed remarked.  "Yeah,"  Added Tracy, "We determined we could have a flat in any state."  Valuable research for sure.




Wonder if this profile would look better if we turned it upside down.

 

Maio, our youngest rider, received the progress map.


This was Norm's second belt...he's a mere shadow of his former self.

JoAnn reminded us that we have but "one more day."

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