August 2012 – Ride for Water

Day 71 – August 13 – Camden, ME to Bar Harbor, ME – 84 Miles

We did it! It was foggy and cool for our 7:00 AM start from Camden. Like all our days so far in Maine we had yet to see the sunshine, this morning was not an exception. Forecasts called for clearing today. We had hoped to make...

Day 70 – August 12 – Brunswick, ME to Camden, ME – 61 Miles

Today we were going to try to get to a location where our ride to Bar Harbor would involve relatively low mileage. Belfast would have been ideal. I already had some doubts about making it to Belfast given the issue we discover last evening with...

Day 69 – August 11 – Fryeburg, ME to Brunswick, ME – 78 Miles

Rain was forecast again for today. There was heavy overcast, it was cool and there was no rain. A check of the radar showed no showers in the area. We got our start at 8:00. Our goal for the day was Brunswick. It would put...

Day 68 – August 10 – North Woodstock, NH to Fryeburg, ME – 46 Miles

Today Ride for Water lived up to its name, well sort of. We could actually call today, “Ride in Water.” We woke to a steady rainfall, lightning and thunder in North Woodstock. By 9:30 the rain had stopped and it looked clear enough to start....

Day 67 – August 9 – Sharon, VT to North Woodstock, NH – 65 Miles

Today turned out to be a big challenge and significant accomplishment. We woke at 6:00 and were on the road at 7:00. We stopped for coffee, juice and homemade donuts at the Sharon General Store. We were climbing the grade outside of Sharon by 7:30. ...

Day 66 – August 8 – Middlebury, VT to Sharon, VT – 60 Miles

Today we started our climbs over the Green and White Mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire. Over the next few days we will tackle some of the steepest grades of the trip. From the advice we received yesterday we opted for taking the Brandon Gap...

Day 65 – August 7 – Ticonderoga, NY to Middlebury, VT – 26 Miles

Today turned out to be a sightseeing and short mileage day. This area has a wealth of history and scenery. Fort Ticonderoga was right on route to the ferry to Vermont so we decided to stop and visit. We were early enough that there were...

Day 64 – August 6 – Blue Mountain Lake, NY to Ticonderoga, NY – 73 Miles

Today’s start was the coolest we have had since we were west of the Rockies. Cool dry Canadian air had pushed into the area and it felt like a beautiful fall day. I wore fleece under my rain jacket until our lunch stop at noon....

Day 63 – August 5 – Boonville, NY to Blue Mountain Lake– 63 Miles

Today started with some anxiety. We needed to make it to Old Forge, NY where we could get Joe’s bicycle serviced. In between were 30 miles of hills that would test the temporary fix as well as Joe’s ability to climb in a higher gear...

Day 62 – August 4 – Orwell, NY to Boonville, NY – 41 Miles

Day 62 – August 4 - Orwell, NY to Boonville, NY – 41 Miles Things did not go as planned today. The dreaded 4-H’s have returned. It was hot and humid with temperature in the mid 90’s. The hills and headwinds plagued us all day. The...