Let it rain

It was a cold and wet day.   We got to try out our rain gear that we had been carrying around for the past week.   We made it to Augusta and walked around in the cold.

We went to Hallowell, Maine and ate lunch and sat but the River.  The sun came out and we put all our wet clothes in SCHLEPP.  

I had a little trouble with my bike so we stopped at a shop.   Apparently I had bent my derailed hook.  

Late in the ride dads bike started making a terrible noise.   Tony and him rode ahead and were able to get it fixed.  He had gravel in his Barings.  

Dirty SCHLEPP from the rain. 

Back country cycling

The heat finally broke today and we had some cooler weather.   We rode on some back country roads from Bangor to Waterville.   We made it in time to have ice cream play mini golf and eat dinner.  

We walked across the two cent bridge and walked around town.   Our B and B is comfortable and it was a great day of seeing cat tales, cows and goats.   

On to the Queen City!

We managed to stay long enough for breakfast this morning and got on the road about 9am.   It rained the night before and moms seat was soaked!  I wrapped a plastic bag around it for her.  

We stopped at an animal reserve but it was by reservations only. So  our plans changed and we had a picnic under a tree in Lucerne, Maine.  

We made it to Bangor early enough to wash clothes and relax. 

We had to buy a new pump at this shop.

Bad shot because of the sun but this is the largest Paul Bunion statue ever!

The Penobscot River.  We crossed over this river many times the last few days. 

A day of rest.

This day of rest in Bar Harbor was much needed.  We were all tired and it was definitely hard pushing up the hills the night before.  

We walked around the tourist trap of Bar Harbor and ate good food.  Our hotel was just off the shore path so we were able to enjoy a walk along the ocean.   

Tony and I had great ideas to hike on the park but we were too tired to do that.   We took a light house tour and the highlights were seeing some seals and porpoises.  We learned more about the island saw some cottages owned by famous rich people and enjoyed the ocean Breeze.

Later we went to thunder hole in the park and also the Jordan Pond tea house for Popovers.   Yum!!!  

Back on the bikes tomorrow!  

This is supposedly the ugliest lighthouse in Maine. 

...wow, and I thought yesterday was hilly!

Today was FULL of large hills.   We also were dealing with a painful knee, irritated skin, and tired bodies.  

We ate a hearty breakfast and headed out.   Dad had his compression sleeve on to start the day, he also rubbed tiger balm and took some pills to help.   We made it to Ft. Knox and the Penobscot observation bridge.  

Dad was really struggling and we thought he may call it quits, but he found a way to ride that didn't hurt.   We made it to Ellsworth and ate lunch and stopped at the Walmart for a knee brace.   We then headed on the hard hilly trek to Mount Desert island.   WOW!   I had been hauling SCHLEPP and this was rough.   I didn't walk but I wanted to.   We arrived early enough to hang out and for mom and dad to eat some lobs tag. We stay for two nights.   Everyone needs to rest.

Mom kicking butt up the hills!  So proud of her! 

The Down Easter Inn

Of course I pick the bed and breakfast two miles off the course up a few hills at dusk.   We had arrived and were very excited and hungry.    There was no way we were riding our bikes back to town.   The owner of the inn was kind enough to go pick up an order of sandwiches for us.  This woman made our night.   Without her there wouldn't have been dinner.

60 miles of what? Oh yeah BIKING.

Today we had a long day of travel along with wanting to see some things along the way.   We started off about 7:15am looking to have breakfast on the road.  We stopped at this awesome diner called Deb's. While on the road we stopped for beer in Rockland and walked around a bit.   The highlight was definitely the breakwater walk to the light house.  Dad has really wanted to see some lighthouses but this has been difficult because they are extra miles off the path making it hard.  

One of our goals has been to be at our next stop by dinner.   We rolled into Belfast after 6pm with six miles to ride.   We could not stop long but went over the bridge near  harbor walk that looked really cool.

About a mile from the hotel dad's knee gave him trouble.   To the point that he had to get off his bike and walk, he was limping noticeably.    

In was 8pm and nothing but the grocery store was open.  Tony and I rode our bikes to get turkey sandwiches.   This is the second night in a row we have had to eat sandwiches at our hotel.