26 Miles to Santa Catalina
Our route out of Boston on Saturday took us past MIT and Harvard, then back onto the Minute Man Bike Trail. We enjoyed the easy miles and stopped at a lemonade stand for refreshment. When we told the 8 year old running the stand we had come from Florida on our bikes he pretended to faint and fell over in the grass. We traveled back through Bedford, waving in the general direction of Gary's house as we went. We left the official route at Bedford, opting for a more direct route to Nashua, New Hampshire, where we would stay that evening. This lopped 20 miles off. Shortcuts are wonderful.
As we entered Nashua we spotted a Costco. For those who have not been to one of these wonderful places: Costco is a grocery store where everything comes in bulk. Of all the grocery stores, it is truly the most American. Of course, we didn't actually want to buy anything in bulk. We wanted to visit their food court to get a giant slice of pizza and a smoothie. You need a membership to get into Costco, which we didn't have. In southern California this doesn't matter since the food courts are usually outside and anyone can visit. However, in New Hampshire I guess the weather is not always conducive to eating outside and they put the food court inside where we couldn't go. [Expletive deleted]. We went to a gas station instead. We go to way more gas stations on a bike tour than we do when we're living our regular lives. If gas stations want to increase their profits they should really lobby for more bike touring.
On Saturday night we stayed with Warm Showers hosts Tom and Linda. Tom had done a bike tour to Florida earlier in the year and had stayed with Richard in Titusville shortly after we had been there. Tom and Linda generously took us out for dinner and beers at Martha's Exchange in downtown Nashua then let us sleep in their spare room in the most comfortable bed of the trip so far. Many thanks to them both for their hospitality!
[Note: As I write this, Mike went to drop off the trash and just got dropped back at our campsite in a golf cart. Lah dee dah.]
The next day we began with a very leisurely breakfast (veggie sausages!) and exchanged many stories before setting off. After hearing about our sailboat and trips to Catalina Island Tom serenaded us with a rendition of 26 Miles (Santa Catalina) by the Four Preps. We decided to do a short day today to try and rest up a bit before continuing to Maine. We went past various rivers and forests and saw a lot of chipmunks. The terrain was definitely flatter than it was a week ago but I don't think anyone would actually call it flat. Our ride ended at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Park. We have not used the golf course but did take advantage of their camp store for some ice cream and individual beers.
Today: another short day as it is supposed to reach 94 F (34 C) later today and we would prefer to spend the afternoon in a pool rather than on the bikes.
As we entered Nashua we spotted a Costco. For those who have not been to one of these wonderful places: Costco is a grocery store where everything comes in bulk. Of all the grocery stores, it is truly the most American. Of course, we didn't actually want to buy anything in bulk. We wanted to visit their food court to get a giant slice of pizza and a smoothie. You need a membership to get into Costco, which we didn't have. In southern California this doesn't matter since the food courts are usually outside and anyone can visit. However, in New Hampshire I guess the weather is not always conducive to eating outside and they put the food court inside where we couldn't go. [Expletive deleted]. We went to a gas station instead. We go to way more gas stations on a bike tour than we do when we're living our regular lives. If gas stations want to increase their profits they should really lobby for more bike touring.
On Saturday night we stayed with Warm Showers hosts Tom and Linda. Tom had done a bike tour to Florida earlier in the year and had stayed with Richard in Titusville shortly after we had been there. Tom and Linda generously took us out for dinner and beers at Martha's Exchange in downtown Nashua then let us sleep in their spare room in the most comfortable bed of the trip so far. Many thanks to them both for their hospitality!
[Note: As I write this, Mike went to drop off the trash and just got dropped back at our campsite in a golf cart. Lah dee dah.]
The next day we began with a very leisurely breakfast (veggie sausages!) and exchanged many stories before setting off. After hearing about our sailboat and trips to Catalina Island Tom serenaded us with a rendition of 26 Miles (Santa Catalina) by the Four Preps. We decided to do a short day today to try and rest up a bit before continuing to Maine. We went past various rivers and forests and saw a lot of chipmunks. The terrain was definitely flatter than it was a week ago but I don't think anyone would actually call it flat. Our ride ended at the Hidden Valley Golf and RV Park. We have not used the golf course but did take advantage of their camp store for some ice cream and individual beers.
Today: another short day as it is supposed to reach 94 F (34 C) later today and we would prefer to spend the afternoon in a pool rather than on the bikes.
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| Outside Tyngsborough |
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| Thank you to Tom and Linda! |
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| New Hampshire |
Next time you are at a Costco, find someone who is walking in and tell them your story and your need, desperate, compelling need for calories and lots of them. Then go to the food court and eat Churros, and Smoothies. Find the folks who let you in and give them the cash to buy a tub of chocolate covered whatevers, and Cliff Bars and Nature Valley Bars, and granola. Calories with impunity. It will be just a slight subterfuge, not real criminal mischief. Think of the calories! Do it!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear you are resting in the heat.
ReplyDeleteRide safely.
Cheri