September 12, what a good day to get lost........

Yesterday we only made about 26 miles.  With the head wind, breaks, and just enjoying the country side it was enough.  Not to mention getting drenched mid day, then drying out and a new rain shower about 3.  So it was time to Call it.  Basically a day off (although we have been only going about 35 to 40 anyway - did have a 48 mile day).  With all the gear and pictures to take and pastry shops to stop at that has been enough, so far.  Of course there is that training part of which we did very little compared to last year

Today we were up and at it, coulda left by 9:00, but Barbs water bottle holder broke and we needed to get a new one.  A bike shop was nearby, but not open until 9:30, so that is what time we were there.  Here is a bike that Barb was sizing up.  She might need it if we don't get out of here by winer.

 I met a guy in the hallway at the hotel this morning.  he had biking clothes on so I started talking to him.  He is from Surry BC and had started his ride in St John New Brunswick.  On his way to Florida.  Then off. 
Well we caught up with him after about 25 miles.  He was loaded down with 4 paniers and a Bob, like me.  We basically travelled with him on and off the rest of the day, with as the day got longer was more on than off.  We eventually found out he had a name, Kelvin.

Nice day, sunny, high 60's maybe into the low 70's. Enjoy the pics

Town of Exeter, home of famous boarding school (not that I knew anything about it).  here is a premier looking nursery, kinda like a Wodinville Molbaks. 

And a few pics of where I didn't send my boys to school .  Although I admit Woodinville High has bricks too (wonder if it was started before 1871.....)

 

So about mid day, Kelvin had gotten ahead of us.  Next thing we knew we came upon him talking to a  nice fireman.  Guy was real willing to help out......now I digress.  We have been using the Adventure Cycling maps for our journey.  For the most part they are very helpful, they find less traveled ways, if possible, they also seem to find hills that the main route does not have.  Now for the problems..... the maps are laid out to show as much of the route as possible.  To do that, they move the north arrow all around.  Not really a problem, unless you forget :>)   Then of course on a cloudy day with the sun hidden you really don't have  a sense of where north is anyway.....Compass.....whats dat?  Enough about that, NOW a brief note on how New England seems to be laid out.  There is a town, say Windham, with a non-labeld central part then an East Windom, West, North and South accordingly.  That is, unless those areas were never developed, then there might only be a Windham and a West Windham.  Of course there are not necessarily straight roads between them, and of course West Windham does not necessarily lie west of Windham, just kinda.  This all looks worse with the north arrow pointing to the right......  Did I mention that at street corners they only show the cross street?  my guess it is assumed that you already know the street you are on.  of course these cross street signs aren't always there either. 

 

 

So, back to the fireman.  The map didn't make sense to him with north pointing right, and all these little streets and road name he wasn't familiar with (I can see why they don't always label streets).  We showed him we were going to West Winham and he tried to give us better directions than our map afforded us. At the end of which he informed us that there was this "very nice" rail trail that went the Windham and was paved.  So off we went in search of this very nice trail, getting lost about 3 times on the way.  Well, we found it.  And of note, Kelvin was with us about full time by now.  So enjoy the "nice trail", as it was very nice.....    

Now that we finished the trail, we found out we went past Windham about 3 miles.  Then when we got back to Windham, it was only an old refurbished train station.  Then it was to our phone gps which is hard to read in sun.....and did I mention no roads go straight anywhere?  they just curve around.  When we left the trail, we did find what the locals called Windham....it was a pub.  After much consternation, we got back on track and made it to West Windham.  of course this was rush houdr time on roads with and without shoulders.  I must say we didn't have problems with the traffic, it just worked.

Kelvin has one of those GPS units that has an app that you can get directions to places....like hotels.  So we followed him through all this rush hour traffic to a hotel that doesn't exist.  Kinda like a Harry Potter type thing, and I must say at this time I was ready to run into a brick wall to get to the other side.  Well Barb and I using our two GPS maps we found a Holiday in about 5 miles away.  so off we went, over the bridge that spans the Merrimack river and into South (as it were) Hudson.  Kelvin put it in his GPS and we blindly followed him.  AND WE MADE IT!!!!!!!  Total of 65 miles today.  Best shower of the trip!!!!!!  slept well.  so Adios for now.    

Oh by the way, it was a NICE TRAIL and we were glad to have our adventure on it!  so thanks to the nice fireman.