Hot and Hilly

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What a difference a day makes! Sunny skies greeted us this morning, a marked change from the 1.5 inches of rain and mist that dominated yesterday. Laura kindly restocked our snack supplies, which was much appreciated. We said goodbye to Laura, Dan, and Freeman and set off to rejoin the route. Google Maps took us on a dirt road and over a lot of hills that made us glad we had purged some belongings two days earlier. Among other things, we got rid of the frisbee we found in North Carolina, Mike's party shirt, and a headlamp. Today had a European theme: we rode through Paris, Norway, and Sweden. In Sweden we visited a farm shop that had pizza and sugar snap peas that Mike described as "remarkable". Shortly after we rejoined the route we passed a touring cyclist who gave us a hot tip about a B&B in Middlebury, Vermont, where we'll be in a few days. Unfortunately we had no hot tips for him.

We crossed into New Hampshire in the early afternoon. Dark clouds gathered overhead and it began to rain as we entered a gas station to resupply for the rest of the day and tomorrow morning's climb (we'll have nowhere to buy food from tomorrow until 25 miles into the day). Thunder boomed overhead and we took shelter at a gazebo in a park. Thankfully it was just a short blip in the weather and we soon had sunshine again. The rainwater steamed off the road as we entered the White Mountain National Forest. The highway parallels a beautiful river and we enjoyed the scenery. We came across a swimming hole at Lower Falls and splashed around in the water to make up for not having showers tonight. We're wild camping a little ways off the highway tonight. For dinner we cooked couscous with beans and bell pepper. I think we'll have couscous again if only for how easy it is to cook.

Today's mileage: 66

Thank you so much to Laura, Dan, Freeman, & Fred!

At the top of the hill at the Pie Tree Orchard Farm

Don't eat these ones

Plenty of climbing today

Big views

The Swift River

Wooden covered bridge

Lower Falls

On the Kancamagus highway

From the campsite

Comments

  1. CheriJune 30, 2018 at 9:41 AM

    Thanks for today's photos. You are seeing so many lovely sights.

    Ride safely.

    Cheri

    ReplyDelete
  2. the Old GuyJune 30, 2018 at 9:43 AM

    Nice photos! Hope it flattens out for you. Got the lightened load package in mail, it's in your old room. Worked all day yesterday at Yorkshire. No word on condo we are trying to buy. Weather is warm, getting hotter. Stay safe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Debbi StevensonJune 30, 2018 at 10:35 PM

    Amazing scenery. I hope most of the hills today are downwards! Well i can hope. Pete says the views are much better if you have to work for them! I have always contested this statement🌝 Off on holiday today in the Midget, i think we have the same amount of stuff as you, hurray for engines. We're going via Avignon to see the bridge of childhood songs and then onto Cassis and the sea. We havent seen the sea properly for a long time, it doesn't count from a plane. Have fun, keep pedalling and eating. Love Deb

    ReplyDelete
  4. CheriJuly 1, 2018 at 6:19 PM

    Me again -- Weather forecasters are predicting triple digit heat. Take some siestas and reduce the miles if you need to.

    Ride safely.

    Cheri

    ReplyDelete

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