View Larger Map
Yesterday was our first day in Maine. Usually a state line crossing means Margaritas, but since this is our last state, Michelle declared an open bar.
The fact that we were scheduled to ride 67 hilly miles today went a long way towards keeping us all in check.
It was a hard day.
For some reason, I have been tired every other day, and this was one of those tired days. The cumulative effects of 4,000 feet of climbing every day for the past week is taking its toll.
The day was overcast and a bit chilly when we posed for this photo after breakfast with our friends Marci and Michael, who came to visit last night and send us off this morning.
We rode on back roads, up and down, over and over. While I didn’t stop often for pictures, I couldn’t exist this one.
We went though lots of quaint small towns, including Naples, where I posed in front of the library.
And took a picture of the harbor.
But mostly we just climbed. It is a bad sign when most of the cued streets have “Hill” or “Ridge” as part of the name. I usually love to climb, but this was over the top. I must confess to some serious grumbling. It did no good.
But there were compensations, like this field of sunflowers.
As we got close to Bath, we got to spend 2.5 miles on a beautiful bike path, (essentially flat!)
Approaching town, I took this picture for my brother Will.
He spent a lot of time in Bath during his time in the Navy.
It is a really neat town, and I would have loved to explore it, but I was just too tired. Instead, Peggy and I treated ourselves to a real lunch of Maine lobster rolls right on the water. This fellow eyed our food with great anticipation.
In the end though, we managed to eat the whole thing!
