Best day so far!!!

Weather: pretty damn awesome! Little wind from the east, but bearable. Blue sky's with spotty clouds all around. 

View looking north from salisbury beach reservation.

That's right, I started my ride looking back at this. Had a conversation with a cool old guy who had done a similar bike trip but through-out the EU. 

The next step was to navigate to and through Newburyport. Almost got on Highway 1( could've been scary) then saw a frontage road where I stopped, looked up where I could pick up Hwy 1A got on it and really got going. From Newburyport, first went through Rowley, saw this historic landmark 

Very cool! Made me happy to be able to witness/ experience this. Got backon the   road- went through Ipswich next( Ipswich  is a lot bigger and busier than I expected), then went through Essex. iPad a steady food pace going otherwise I would have a funny picture to add here. The city signs (leaving Ipswich)(entering Essex) were a foot from each other. If you blinked you would definitely miss them, especially driving instead of riding. 

The next step was getting to Gloucester. I was on the straight and narrow to getting there and then I suddenly found myself on Hwy 128 with traffic going 60 mph. I was probably going about 20 something- got off at the next exit, and was a couple miles away from my destination. Crazy fun hills but controlling my bike with all the gear on it while on H128 was exciting! 

Rolled to the intersection where gloucester city limits are. WOW!! The view of the harbor, waterfront, and endless ocean was crazy awesome!  Missed the picture opportunity because of traffic but found my way through town, stopped at a laundromat to check directions, then founders of the coast along Atlantic St. (Jan this is where I was when I sent you those pictures)

Found my way back through town, stopped here to get directions from my phone to my campground.-->

After reaching my camping destination, set up camp and then went to the beach. Took my beach gear with me, didn't get in the water because I just wanted to sit and watch the boats going through the channel to the ocean, and past the lighthouse. Gorgeous View...

 

Except for the feet, still needed to wash them for the day. 

After 45 minutes sitting on the beach, went back to my tent, planned my route for tomorrow, then had the beat lobster dinner I have ever eaten. Scarfed down the Caesar salad as politely as I could, devoured the lobster, as finished it off with a coca cola and French fries. Loaded up on carbs and protein for tomorrow's ride to Boston! 

Overall ride time: stopped keeping track after getting onto the wrong highway.

Days mileage = at least 40

Words of wisdom: plan your shit and follow it when you know it's right- otherwise make adjustments when and where necessary. Appreciate the culture you are able to experience.

Dos Dias!

Yesterday (Day 3)

Miles traveled on my bike: 49.5miles

Travel time: most of the day- had a late start but it was well planned this time.

Start: Tilton, NH

End: some RV/tent campground S. of Raymond, NH I made a reservation with.

Today (Day 4)

Miles today: 24

Time riding: 3 to 4 hours

Weather: rain and wind. Too much wind for me. 

Didn't want to plan as I go as Wong it finding a campground in a town I might make it to... So I stopped where I knew one was for sure on my original route.

Start: campsite S. of Raymond, NH

End: 

It's too cold to keep writing this while waiting for my phone that charge outside underneath a tree here ag the campsite in Salisbury. To everyone who reads this: keep warm! My guess, I'm layered up more than a bum. 

Day 2: Warren, NH to Tilton, NH

Mileage= 54 miles

Riding time= 8 to 9 hours

Cities I rode through= 

*Warren

*Wentworth

*Rumney

*Plymouth

*Ashland

*New Hampton

*Gaza

*Sanbornton

End point= Tilton, NH

So today was off to a good start, except packing up camp in the rain. No big deal, just obnoxious. 

I've told a couple people this already and I still cringe when thinking about it. Starting my voyage this morning my intention was to be in Lincoln, NH then east towards Fryeburg, MA. Well that didn't happen. Just under 6 miles up the road from Warren on Hwy118, I turned around. What I did not know/ research was the topography of the road: 7% grade. After cussing, yelling at myself, and giving into crying, and being mad with myself for being an idiot, I decided to turn around and head back to Warren, regroup and get a plan together. 

So, I purchased a better NH state map and made my way south to Tilton, NH. 

On my way to tilton, in between North Sanbornton & New Hampton, I found Hermit Lake when I accidentally almost ran over a turtle trying to cross the road. By the time I turned around to get a picture of the turtle, he had gone back into the woods, so I took this cool picture of the lake.

Day one ride- knocked out!

First thing. I don't know how regularly I will post but it will be at least a couple times a week. 

Ride length= 48 miles. (10 miles less than I wanted to do today. Probably could have done it but my he's and legs were telling me to stop. 

Ride duration= 7 hours( with stops to readjust gear, replenish water, etc.)

Start point= South Royalton,VT 

End point=  Scenic View Campground just south of Warren, NH. 

Super nice people who run the Scenic View campground. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, the weather is telling me there's a 50% chance of rain when I checked an hour ago. This might suck in the rain! I'll learn tomorrow. Need to look at my itinerary and see where my next destination is. I think I'll be close to the NH east/ME west border. Not sure. When I walk back to my tent I will check and will update this post. If all goes well this week, I should be in Boston, MA this coming Sunday or Monday. 

So I checked my map and directions. I am shooting to be in Fryeburg, MA by the end of my ride tomorrow. My bottom line for tomorrow is be in Conway, NH.

All loaded up and getting leaving South Royalton, VT.

Day 1: Why am I doing this?

Bicycling has always been a way of life for me- as long as I can remember. What I really want to know is how far can I push myself? 

I could say I'm doing this ride for a cause(I.e. breast cancer awareness, or whatnot), but this is just for me. 

My intention is to have fun, meet new people, get reacquainted with friends and family I haven't seen in a while, and simply do something awesome.

As I'm writing this right now I am on my friends air mattress. I can only envision more moments such as this when I will be camping solo whoknowswhere, or staying with a friend, or with a friend of a friend. 

I have no clue as to how far I will make it on this voyage (hopefully to the end- San Diego, Ca) before I consider stopping. Cheesy as ever... The sky is the limit, but my actual limit, not sure what that is(

yet. This is the view from my friends guest bedroom this morning. The weather was supposed to be nice (nicer) but I think I'm in fit some rain to start off my trip.

Sleep a couple more hours and then I'm on the road. Hopefully be in Lincoln, NH tonight, or just outside the town.