Thursday, July 14th 7:55 AM, Summit Lodge, Killington VT

Mornin’ Everyone!
Sorry for no entry yesterday, the SNAFU threw us for a collective loop, and it was a hectic day to say the least. About 75% of the riders are out on the route, tearing down a 5+ mile stretch of 8-10% downhills, on their way into the Connecticut River Valley, and then back into New Hampshire. We’re staying at the Keene Best Western tonight, which is a new stop for us, so the riders will be denied their favorite uphill slog, past the Troy Fire Dept to Franklin Pierce University… It’s not the worst hill of the trip, just the most demoralizing. Just when you think you’re at the top, there’s more… And more… And MORE. The only bad part of spending your morning riding down into the valley, is that it means you’re going to spend your afternoon climbing back OUT of it!

I promise to post more later, but for now I have to beat feet.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Tuesday, day 4, Comfort Inn & Suites, Montpelier, VT 2:00 PM

Afternoon folks!
So far the riders are doing great, there’s at least four who have finished at the Capitol Plaza hotel in Montpelier-You ask: “But GearMan, if YOU are at the Comfort Inn and Suites, why then are the riders finishing at the Capitol Plaza?” Well, I’ll tell you… There was a bit of a SNAFU that happened… It appears bad penmanship caused the person who entered our reservations into the computer to misread the handwriting of the person who arranged our stay, and instead of scheduling us for tonight, scheduled us for next February 12th- Not exactly the peak of cycling season in Vermont… So there is no room at the Inn, and being short of mangers, they arranged for us to stay here. I will say that they HAVE been excellent in dealing with the problem, and have not only arranged our rooms here, but will be running two shuttles back and forth for riders at their expense.
I haven’t had too much time to check out this place, but the staff is friendly and it’s nothing to turn your nose up at either. I was just informed that our first group of riders are on their way over in the shuttle, so things seem to be working out right now.

At any rate, now that there are riders on the way, I need to get the truck emptied out for them. More to come later, check back soon!

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Tuesday July 12th, Attitash Grand Summit Resort, Bartlett, NH 7:25 AM

Mornin’ Everyone!
We’ve got a great day ahead of us today… The first15 miles of today’s route are up into a mountain pass known as Crawford’s Notch- It’s a long, gradual climb with a killer headwall for the last half mile or so. At the top, is a wide flat area with a nice little pond, and a nice view if the weather allows. We’re looking at a few clouds and a 30% chance of showers this AM… If we get a quick one, it will just be a little cool down. I was hoping that they’d be able to see the top of Mt Washington as they rode by, not sure how that’s going to work out, as it’s very rare that you can see the peak.

OK the truck is almost loaded and almost everyone is on the road, so I must go catch them, I am their leader!

Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Monday, Day 3, Attitash Grand Summit Resort, Bartlett, NH 10:30 PM

Buenos Nachos!
I have absolutely NO idea what happened to my post from this morning, but apparently it didn’t get posted… But there was a clever title that was contradicted in the text… A little tongue-in-cheek kinda thing… Didn’t work, I suck, sorry.

ANYWAY, I was probably just babbling on about what a beautiful area Biddeford was, how nice everyone at UNE was, and some other such nonsense that seemed important at the time.

What’s REALLY important to tell you: MY RIDERS ROCK! They BLASTED from the Maine seacoast to the heart of the central NH mountains today, and did it in FINE style! Everyone was in by 3:00, and with the exception of a couple flat tires, everything went slicker than wet ice!

On a day like today, when everything goes SO well, it gives you time to think of the people that AREN’T here… Not just the “Forever absent” friends that we’ve lost over the years, but the old friends and those we missed out on meeting- One that was sent home by an injury, and one whose trip was cancelled by a car vs. pedestrian accident just several short days before we started… You guys are in our thoughts, and are missed at our nightly family dinner tables- Feel better soon, and be well enough to rejoin us next year! All of our best wishes are with you for complete and speedy recoveries!

We’re at Attitash Grand Summit Resort… Talk about NICE digs… And a GREAT staff… The woman who works in the Black Diamond Grille… She told me she was going to make my lunch just like my Grandmother did, and boy did she ever! A great burger, sweet potato fries, sharp dill pickles… Wow!
Speaking of my Grandmother, Bobbie Sue’s Ice Cream (Rest stop 2) was out of my annual “Cookies and Cream”, so in trying to decide what I wanted instead, I saw “Maple Walnut” listed on the flavor board- That was my Grandmother’s favorite… So I had a Maple Walnut for Grammy… The rest stop itself was staffed by members of the local Rotary Club, who had made us all PB&J sandwiches, Home made cookies galore, AND had a whole big fat whoppin’ CASE of Granny Smith apples (My personal faves). The people from the Rotary Club were absolutely GREAT, and the gentleman in charge of PB&J sandwich manufacturing, production, and quality control was ALSO a lot like my beloved Grammy: You’re not eating, would you like a sandwich? I can make you a sandwich in no time at all… Would you like it to go? I can wrap it for you… It was absolutely awesome, and reminded me of days long past, with people dearly missed.

With riders like mine, and people giving of themselves like the members of the Rotary Club today, I ask you honestly… How could it get better? The answer: It Doesn’t.

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

If, on loading this website, you get a warning message saying something along the lines of “A script on this page is running and may cause your computer to become unresponsive”… Don’t worry, it’s just that big fat whonk o’ maps below- There is NOTHING malicious to worry about.
That comes straight from Todd, the most awesomest web-master since the creation of web-masters, and he knows his stuff.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Day 2, Sunday July 11th, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 9:55 PM

Evening sports fans!
Well, our two day riders completed their goal today- We loaded them onto a couple luxury motorcoaches, and sent them back to their loved ones- Thank you for lending them to us! We did have one medical issue today- A returning veteran got his front wheel into an argument with a pot hole hidden by shade from the overhanging tree… And the pot hole won. I could see the disappointment in his eyes as he took the bus back with the two day riders tonight. All our best for a speedy recovery, bud! You will be missed!

A hectic day for the volunteer crew, what with tractor trailers, buses, and the like, but our goal was to get the 2 day riders on the road by 6:15 so they could get home at a reasonable hour… the buses rolled out of UNE at 6:14. That’s the first time I’ve been on time since the Nixon Administration!

The hours are catching me, so I’m going to get a shower and some sleep.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Sunday, July 10, University of New England, Biddeford, ME 11:30 AM

Hiya Gang!
Well, after 45 miles of riding in near freezing conditions, I finally had to turn off the Air Conditioner and open the window… Crazy New England weather… I just got in 15 minutes ago, and as I was eating my sandwich, the first two riders finished, about 3 minutes apart… So they’re hammering their way along the coast right now! I’ve gt a truck full of their stuff that I have to get on the grass now, so I’m back to work!

Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Sunday, July 1oth, Portsmouth NH 9:00  AM

Mornin’ Sports fans!
Well, they’re off again! It sounds kinda redundant when I say that again, but ummm, that’s kinda what happens… We’re 100% out and on route, except for me of course- but the riders are the most important part. Their first rest stop is Nubble Lighthouse in Cape Neddick Maine- (Just above York Beach) “Picture-Postcard” kind of beautiful. They’ll wind their way along the coast, past the Estate of George H.W. Bush, past the house from the old TV show “Dark Shadows”, through it’s quaint villages and just plain beautiful, rugged Maine seacoast. We’ll be stopping at the University of New England, which this year is our only college dorm accomodations. The two day riders will finish, take a shower (Hopefully TWO!) eat dinner (Probably TWO!), then load their bikes onto a tractor trailer provided by UPS, and then load themselves onto luxury motorcoaches for the ride back to Woburn- They usually have a movie on the bus, this year, I think they’ll be watching “Speed”.

Anyway, I have many stops to make and supplies to pick up, so check back later!
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you
GearMan

Day 1, Saturday July 9th, Portsmouth, NH

Greetings sports fans!
What a beautiful day we had today, low 80′s with a nice breeze (That was, unfortunately, a head-wind for a little while) but my riders weren’t to be denied; they put their heads down, and pushed forward to reach the finish line here in Portsmouth. We had a beautiful route, and great rest stops, (Ummm, except the one that had to call for the septic truck while we were there) but overall, everything went great! No issues to speak of, couple flats, that’s about it… no mechanical issues, no medical issues, nobody exploring alternate routes… Just all around great day! We had a lovely dinner with great guest speakers, including a camper from “Camp CareFree”, a summer camp for diabetic children to learn how to live with diabetes, and how their lives are different from their friends’ in a setting where everybody has diabetes, unlike school, where they might be the only one. We also had a speaker from Team Type II, a professional Cycling team that’s been a big factor in the Race Across America (RAAM), and he told us how he went from a soon-to-be dad, to professional cyclist in just a few short months.
Then, of course, the raffle… We always have a raffle. Some sweet schwag this year, too much to list- but a few highlights include cases of wine, incredible pint glasses, and t-shirts from all over the country.

Your friends and framily, now safely abed at the Wynwood Portsmouth, are my responsibility, and I will return them to you safe. On behalf of the people affected by diabetes, and the children at Camp Carefree that are served by this ride, Thank you. I look forward to the day that we can do this ride as friends, and give the money we raise to another charity- Because Diabetes will no longer be a problem.

A quote I shared at dinner (that I butchered) from Massachusetts Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson:
It is not what lies before us, or what lies behind us, that are of consequence-
It is what lies within us that makes all the difference.

Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you
GearMan