Day Fifty-one

The LAST state line..."Live Free or Die" baby!

A lot of us didn't really believe that Hurley was married and some people still think this Mary woman might just be his really good looking sister.

Whatever bike touring company you choose just make sure they have a staff that's this fantastic. Thanks to Alex, Michelle, Judy, Pam, and Gerard.

Bring it on home to me.

Don’t want to jinx things but looks like this could be a fairy tale ending.

Just another PERFECT riding day now that the front has moved through and we have bright skies again with low humidity and the strong west winds that were always promised and it looks like a repeat for Tuesday when we’re supposed to find the Atlantic Ocean.

Anything under 100 miles doesn’t seem to faze us now and after a successful day climbing yesterday no one was particularly concerned about the New England hills…until we hit the two snot busters just outside Keene this morning (24% grade on the Garmin). Robb and I remember these climbs from 10 years ago when we rode with America By Bike on the NE Tour. We both had the same dreadful feeling literally as soon as we turned onto Old Concord Road at the bottom of the first climb. Robb remembers having to walk part of it last time. Well he made it this time so either he’s a lot stronger at 60 years or he has better gearing. Only his bike mechanic knows!

Great riding through quaint NH towns like Antrim, Bennington, Greenfield, New Boston, and Francestown. And at the end we get to stop by Blakes in Manchester for the best ice cream of the trip.

Lots of family and well wishers at the hotel this afternoon and evening. Our old high school classmate and friend, Gordon Nichols, even drove all the way up here in his ’57 Porsche to wish us well. Robb's brother, Craig, and his wife Mary also stopped by. We just finished a nice farewell dinner so all that’s left is 53.8 miles to the beach and I too will be an EFIer.

I’ll try to post late tomorrow but can’t make any promises because there’s a lot going on and it’ll be the first time I’ve seen my wife in way longer than it should be. So I’m apologizing now if I’m late with the final post but I promise to close things out within 24 hours at the most.

Today’s ratings: (the higher the better or easier)

Scenery: 9

Road conditions: 4

Grunt factor: 3