Hiya gang,
My riders did over 7,600′ of climbing today- and NAILED it!
They rode strong, and blew through 95 miles (While maybe not in “Hurricane form”, certainly in “Tropical storm” form.
We had a GORGEOUS day from NH to VT, and have another one lined up for the AM if the almighty weather-man allows.
I was hoping that the riders would finish, then get themselves some rest, as I was looking forward to a long, tired ass soak in the tub- Neither one worked out that way… So I’m just going to go to bed, and smell funny tomorrow…
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you.
GearMan

Tuesday, day 4 2:10 PM Capitol Plaza Hotel, Montpelier, VT
Hiya sports fans!
While I was waiting my turn at the front desk, the gentleman ahead of me dropped of three State-wide “Best of” awards from the local newspaper, the Times Argus:
Best Seafood
Best Sunday Brunch and
Best Hotel
(I’ve got to add that the staff is pretty great too!)
In all of VT- Not bad… Not bad at all… Hey, the State Senators stay here while they’re in session, so that tells you something… Everyone here is dressed in suits, or at LEAST business casual, and then there’s me, the dubba in the tank-top and flip-flops.
The truck is unloaded, and all the luggage is in the Governor’s Ballroom, where we’ll be eating tonight. There’s 6 or 7 riders finished, and the rest of them are tearing the pavement off the streets of VT- Literally… The VT DOT decided to repave about 15 miles of our route without even asking if we minded- They act like they OWN the road or something…
Well, I’m back to my truck to greet the riders as they finish.
More later!
GearMan

Just found last nights post- thank goodness for autosave… I’m in Montpelier, the first riders are about 45 minutes out, and headed fast- I’ll be back once I unload the luggage…
Stay tuned!

Monday, day 3,11:50PM Bartlett, NH
Hiya gang,
I’m prouder than a new father right now… Not because I didn’t think they could do it, but because I wasn’t prepared for how WELL they would do it! As one example, three riders went off-route to climb to the top of the Kancamagus Highway (It’s a mountain pass, somewhere around 3,000-3,500′ above sea level) and then ride back down to rejoin the route… So you see what I mean when I say my riders TORE the route UP today!!!
STRONG cyclists, blowing their way through the route, mere mortals massage their knees in fear at the very thought of such a feat-I’m so proud of them… Today was GREAT! We had one small detour around a very small construction site, but that was it.
On a sad note, we had our first MAJOR catastrophe today:
BOBBY SUE’S ICE CREAM WAS OUT OF COOKIES AND CREAM!!!!!!!
I was personally DEVASTATED when I heard the news, but I managed to focus, and remind myself that my riders get priority. I was forced instead to eat “Moose Tracks” and did so grudgingly- while delicious, it wasn’t my annual cookies and cream…
Dinner was delicious, stuffed fish, roasted chicken, vegetable medley… Just great!
In the meantime, I’m exhausted, and have my pillow looking at me longingly, with lustful eyes… I think she’s going too get lucky tonight.
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan

Last night, during dinner, I shared a poem with the riders to describe todays route. It was written by Robert Frost in roughly 1908, while on a trip from NH to VT…
It’s called “Stopping by woods”

The excerpt that struck me from one of my favorite poems, never occurred to me until one snowy day in February as I was reading it again…

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep
but I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.”
GearMan

Tuesday, day 4, Attitash Grand Summitt Resort, 7:46 AM
I don’t know what happened to the entry I typed up last night, but it’s not here… Maybe I did it in spray chalk too… I’ll have to re-do it later.
We have a long day ahead of us, evidenced by the fact that EVERY rider was at breakfast at 6AM, not just trickling in over the course of the meal. They were chomping at the bit, and most were on the road at 7AM- We only have a few still to check out, and then we’ll be gone ourselves.
More to come down the road…
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan

Greetings sports fans, we have a helluva day to tell you about… Stuff is still developing, so I’m going to summarize it later this evening, and then you’ll know everything I know- Which might not be as much as you’d expect…
We’re at roughly 90% riders in, just a few more that stopped for a swim (TWICE!) and a few that decided they would ride up to the top of the Kancamagus Highway, (Read, “Mountain pass”) then ride back down to make their day 100 miles-(A century).
Sick bastids…
In this video, you will see many sights that we have ridden past, and some that still lie ahead… I recommend full screen, with speakers on…
Welcome to my state, Enjoy the beauty of my state- even if it’s only in the virtual world.
I have to get back to my truck now, there’s work to be done…
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan

Monday, Day 3, UNE, Biddeford, ME 9:00 AM
Greetings fellow cyclists!
Well, the riders are out on the route (Including the one who overslept, and hit the road at 8:45, I just had the best shower of my life, and I’m out of here.
Today we head west, and away from the sanctity of the seacoast (Which was built at pretty close to sea level) and into the mountains, which are markedly higher in elevation.
The riders have a 2 hour head start on me, so I’ve got to run!
Keep the wind at your back, and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan