An eventful day today. Well, maybe not really eventful, but definitely a full and tiring day. We left Westborough following the Adventure Cycling route and whoever designed the route just loves to climb. The rhythm of the day was climb, climb, climb, climb, descend, climb, climb, climb, climb, descend; repeat ad infinitum. Still, the route took us along pretty country roads and we enjoyed it completely. It was just the heat — 90 degrees and wickedly humid — and the hard work that made it trying. And we know that we’ll ride ourselves into better shape as the tour goes on.
We stopped at a diner in Oxford, MA for a great second breakfast, and it’s a good thing we did because we didn’t pass another place to eat for hours and hours.
After about 50 miles I was bonking pretty badly and Jodi slowed down to try to baby me along and help when she could. There were some wickedly steep and long hills and I walked a bunch of them. Finally, about 6 miles east of Stafford Springs, CT we came upon a bait and tackle shop at the top of one of the hills and pulled in to see if they had any cold drinks, which they did. The shop was run by a wonderful family who keep a book for passing cyclists to sign, which we did. In addition to cold drinks and snacks, they had ice and water to fill our water bottles. Heaven. Without them I am not sure if I would have made it the last 6 miles into Stafford Springs.
We stopped in Stafford Springs to buy food for dinner, then headed north out of town climbing 3.5 miles to Mineral Springs Campground, where we are now. Just as we were leaving town a thunder storm rolled in. At first we thought we might escape with just a few drops from the edge of the storm, but before we made it to the campground it was raining mightily and we were thoroughly soaked.
We asked the campground hostess for a tent site and she filled out the paperwork and told us where our site was, then told us she wouldn’t charge us anything since it was raining. How nice!
We cycled down to our site and then the heavens opened up even wider and we were in a deluge. We took the panniers off the bikes, piled them up, and covered them with a small tarp I always carry. Then we scurried over to our neighbors RV and asked if we could sit under her awning while we waited for the rain to ease up. We chatted for 5 or 10 minutes then the campground host drove up and came over and handed me a key and told us to go down to Cabin #2 and use that for the night. Wow! That was so nice. Campground cabins often go for $40 – $60 per night in this neck of the woods, and she had just given us one for free! Our total cost for this evening’s lodging is two quarters for the showers.
It’s 7:40 now. We’ve showered, cooked and eaten dinner, had a cup of tea and a pleasant walk around the campground (it’s stopped raining), and now I am going to settle down and read my book until I fall asleep, which should be about 5 minutes.
Oh, just in case you’re curious, we covered 53.5 miles yesterday, and 59.5 miles today, putting us 113 miles from home. We climbed about 2400 feet yesterday and about 3800 feet today. Maybe that’s why we’re tired.
Goodnight all!
Allen Freeman
allen@allenf.com
www.allenf.com
