North Conway

Goooooood Mooooorning North Conway! I am excited for our last ride into Portland today. My routine is on automatic, alarm, tea, tidy up, check weather, Theragun once over to loosen up. I won’t have to do this tomorrow, I won’t have to mindlessly put on my kit, check tires, fill water, get out the door. I know this is quite the feat, a vast distance, a long time. It hardly makes sense that I just did that. That we had Oregon wheat fields in Condon, that I was there and then we passed through Three Forks, that we pedaled our way across expanses of fields, the Midwest and Amish Country through rain and now the Adirondacks, Vermont and New Hampshire will also be behind us. I’ve never been to Maine and Honza waits for me there just as he has in Missoula, Rapid City, Madison and Corning. This was our feat and we did it together. He is my spine, he keeps me upright, gives me strength and support to do these crazy things. He should be an honorary Van Doos! I’m relieved it is nearly done and now we can rest.

Thanks to Steve for the ride along the past two days. This is beautiful country and deserves a return trip, but NOT on a bike! Yesterday we rode through the White mountains and up three climbs. The second was 10 miles long and the traffic was BANANAS! Everyone was out peeping leaves and vistas, stopping to pull over for photos and hikes. Folks- fyi don’t attempt on a weekend. I passed miles of traffic, including Brent in our van and I was 2 miles from the summit making awesome progress and hoping to get in between 4 and 5. We left that morning at 6:30 in fog and chill at 36 degrees. Then, all of a sudden, BAM! A flat. No cell service. A few of our riders pass but don’t know how to use plugs and even more curious I didn’t see any sealant spill out and make a mess in these tubeless tires. So eventually, I see Brent in the van, he pulls over and lickity split switches out my back wheel. And off I go. Traffic lets up and I was able to finish the 105 miles and 7800 feet of climbing for the day. Turns out the puncture was on the side wall and unrepairable. Whew. Could have been a much longer day if there was not that traffic. Whew.

Time for another tea, Earl Hrey, Hot. Some breakfast and to get this Van Doos to Portland! Here I come!

Allez, Allez!!