Subaru Bingo

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New England has a lot of cars made by Subaru. We have joked about inventing "Subaru Bingo" as a way to pass the time. We haven't created the game yet so I guess we're not that bored. Yesterday we left the farm campground and continued north through Maine. We stopped for lunch in the town of Wiscasset, a sign named it "New England's prettiest town". Well, we'll be the judge of that. We judged it wanting. In a bakery we heard a customer insisting that she wanted a "panino" and not "panini" as panini is plural and she only wanted one sandwich. I'm not sure the girl working there really wanted a lesson in Italian singular vs plural but she got one anyway.

Seventy two miles of hilly riding took us to Camden where we stayed with Davis, Tessa, and Rhubarb who are hosts on Warm Showers. Guess which one is the dog. They prepared an awesome dinner of quiche and fruit then took us for a tour of the town. Thankfully we went in their car! Davis grew up in Camden and had only recently moved back. We got ice creams at Camden Cone. Mike ordered a double scoop before realizing that their servings are generously sized. He managed to finish it, much to Davis' satisfaction. Many thanks to our hosts for a great stay!

Today we only had 12 miles to ride so we began the day with a leisurely breakfast at a local spot. As we began packing up the bikes Mike discovered that he had a flat and then discovered that his rear tire is worn and needed replacing. We found a bike shop about a mile and a half down the road (unfortunately in the opposite direction to where we intended to go) and bought a replacement. It is now sitting pretty on Mike's bike.

About a month ago in Washington DC we met some cyclists by the Lincoln Memorial. We chatted and discovered that we were all planning to be in Maine around the same time. They were renting out a house for a week for a birthday celebration and family reunion and invited us to stop by. So here we are 800 miles later in Northport, crashing Don's party. Everybody has been very welcoming, although some people were initially confused. "What is your connection to the family?" Fair question. We joined them for a lobster dinner (there was a "loser" option for the vegetarians), followed by s'mores around a camp fire. Thanks to Don for inviting us way back in DC and to his extended family for being so welcoming.

Tomorrow: Final day of the first leg.

Sunset at Wolfe Neck

Maine

Lobstah

Roadside flowers

Thank you to Davis and Tessa!

Camden Harbor

Comments

  1. the Old GuyJune 22, 2018 at 7:32 PM

    You made it! 70 miles-- that has to hurt.
    Generally, what is your average speed?

    Rode again today. About 25 miles, some hills. A flat again. I have an offset spoke hole back rim which is supposed to reduce the dish on the rear wheel. I think I found the problem. The rim strip tape had slid down to the bottom of the inside of the rim where they usually sit, or as Rach says, "Where they usually live." Only a tiny, tiny sliver of the spoke hole was exposed and I thought that couldn't be it. But when I put a repaired tube in, the patch was right on top of the area where only a hint of the rim hole showed. My best guess is that after I have pumped up the tubes, they are very tightly pressed against that little tiny area and after about 10 or 15 miles, it simply "bites" through the tube and causes the flat, which are always rimside, never road side. I used the multitool that Mike gave me and which "lives" in my backpack. I pulled up the rim strip and moved it up off the bottom center of the rim and was sure to completely cover the rim hole. I hope that gets it. If not, I am throwing that bike away because I an thoroughly sick and tired of repairing a flat every time I ride (or crashing in a mucky gutter). But other than that, I love to ride. And you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mikeroddyJune 24, 2018 at 4:47 PM

      Average recently has been around 11. That's funny because that's exactly the problem I was having until I finally installed a replacement rim strip.

      Delete
  2. CheriJune 22, 2018 at 10:10 PM

    I loved all the boats in Camden Harbor -- reminded me a bit of Baltimore in Ireland. Did you see any Pearson's?

    Ride safely.

    Cheri





    R

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mikeroddyJune 24, 2018 at 4:47 PM

      There certainly could have been some. Bit of a distance from the shore to pick out the models but a much better chance out here on the east coast than back in California.

      Delete
  3. Debbi StevensonJune 22, 2018 at 11:55 PM

    Woohoo. Nearly doing that first left, well done, amazing job. I cant decide which is more amazing, cycling that far or writing such an interesting daily blog.
    We used our bikes for the first time in a year, made it to the lake and back, no flats, totally mileage - 1!! Maybe we wont join you.
    I love the thought of family gate crashers🌝

    Happy pedalling

    Love Deb

    ReplyDelete
  4. Debbi StevensonJune 23, 2018 at 12:21 AM

    The lobster crawling over the roof looks like the stuff of nightmares. If I ate there I'd be glancing up at the roof checking it wasn't going come crashing through to get its revenge.

    After a year of non use, I dusted the many cobwebs off the bike and pumped up the tyres. Hopped on ... couldn't reach the pedals! 'Going the way of Stevenson males, still shrinking.

    The Other Old Guy (and still struggling with the Blogspot application. Now neither of us can reply using the iPad, it has to be on Debbi's mobile or the laptop signed in as Debbi. Where's an offspring when you need one?)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownJune 23, 2018 at 2:00 PM

    Wow all over again, fantastic achievement. Hope you're looking forward to the next leg as much as we're looking forward to hearing about it. Take care and love to you both, S & P xx

    ReplyDelete

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