| The Finish Line! Week eight New York to New Hampshire |
| Day 50 Sun July 28 Albany, NY to Greenfield, MA 78 miles Only two days left after today, which was a disappointing day for me. I have never been in the Berkshires before, and was looking forward to the ride in spite of the 5,280 feet of climbing we did today. The disappointment was that Mother Nature did not co- operate, and it was too foggy or misty to really see any of the countryside. In addition, we had some rain and got wet. Although it was not really cold, the wetness does not make for a pleasant ride. If one of the benefits of travel is to make one appreciate home, the lack of sun, and the rain and threatening skies make me long for the sun and dryness of home in the California desert. The only bright spot in the day for me was finding ourselves in the middle of a parade in one of the towns we passed through. Day 51 Monday July 29 Greenfield to Lowell, MA 85 miles A good ride today. Nice weather, good scenery, the excitement of the finish tomorrow is building. Over the past few days we have taken a more leisurely attitude toward getting through the day, and have a more relaxed ride. Tonight, after route rap, we had a recap of our thoughts and comments on the ride, which was emotional and heartfelt. We thanked fellow riders, the staff, and friends and family from home who have all made this ride possible. Tonight we dream of a flat-free ride and of staying vertical one more day! Day 52 Tues July 30 Lowell, MA to Portsmouth, NH 60 miles Our final day! What a great finish. The weather was good and the road was good and we were all full of enthusiasm and excited to be ending our long ride. The final day was a navigational nightmare, but I don't think anyone got lost. Andria and John had a minor crash, but nothing serious. For our final couple of miles we had a police escort after gathering at a school, and the excite- ment grew as we neared the beach. Many of the people there wondered who all of these crazy people were carrying their bikes across the sand to the water. After the dipping of our front wheels in the Atlantic, we enjoyed a barbeque lunch, and the ride was officially over. Many of us did a short ride into Maine to add that state to our roster, and then the departures began. What a great trip! Thanks to every one who has given me encouragement and feed- back for this web site. It has been a big part of the reward of this trip. |
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| Happy trails! |