Computer ate previous work

Slept unmolested but scooted early before attention was brought to bear.

Drove to Seawall XG but closed.

Drove back up island to Blackwoods XG & paid $20 for park entrance fee & $20 for campsite but no showers as XG has no h2o system. Learned of showers just at head of road, $1.50 for 4 minutes.

Rode road bike around island roads, Beautiful day. Road bike saddle rubbed my crotch wrong way. Harsh ride, pavement rough.

Hiked a bit of Cadillac mtn trail, got above trees for vistas. Rocky w/ just little soil.

Drove back into town to Thirsty Whale for beer & ball game.

Slept well. Up @ at it.

Body has been giving me some concern, something like diabetis symptoms I thought. Have been putting off getting myself checked. Finally I decided to learn what’s up & checked into emergency room as it was only medical open on weekends. Wonderful staff: the admitting nurse, Chuck who drew the blood who is a naturalist & teaches chemistry, lot to learn from him if I had a chance, to Dave the PA-C who read the test results. All systems are fine except a little dehdrated. Age & bike riding are creating almost incontinence. When I got to go, I gotta go.

later I rode 23 miles of carriage roads just to be outside enjoying the weather and colors. Just beautiful: sun is lower in sky creating that soft light. Brilliant reds from maples.

Drove down to lighthouse to watch sunset and joined a few other people perched on rocks at sea’s edge. Beautiful sunset.

Shower at the $1.50 place.

Back into town for dirtbag camp. parked beside a bike rental shop just 75′ off Cottage street for dinner. Back to Whale for another ball game.

Back to van, decided to return to back parking lot of previous bike shop. Slept ok again but left early again.

Drove off island down to Bradbury SP for next to be great ST ride. Found park, just plugged by leaf peepers. parked at Pownal church. Rider shows up, we started a conversation: A Turner Spot rider. Told me of ride route on E side of road where very few hikers go,

Rode up road to follow his instructions. Saw 3 beautiful women riders & asked if I could join them. Said their ride would be slow but offered me a map. Darn.

Dropped in on ride. Ran into a group of riders who I learned have worked on the trails. I globbed onto their ride and put the route finding challenge on idle & just rode. Again, roots & rocks, w/ a bit of mud bogs thrown in. Rode some skinnies. Getting more confident.

Another rider joined us who knew several of the group. He rides an old Turner Burner. We talked a bit, he said he met Dave Turner & rode with him.

Finished ride back at TH. Group disappeared before I got back with my van.

The XG has showers just inside the entrance. I packed my stuff up & walked to shower. A camper said they were for campers only. I asked who he was, he said he was a volunteer and he said ranger was in XG and he couldn’t let me skate on shower. I found ranger and she said no deal: pay a camping fee for a shower. I left.

I drove back N to KOA I passed earlier on way down. $3.00 for unlimited shower. KOA are well appointed XGs.

I passed a gravel pit just outside entrance of KOA & drove in for a dirtbag spot. Gambling that I can leave tomorrow before the heavy equipment starts working. A gravel pit with sand. Imagine.

Beautiful day again.

Tomorrow is Patagonia Outlet if they are open. Might reride Bradbury trails and shower before shopping.

Took a flyer and drove up state to Sugarloaf ski area. John @ Kingdom Trails told me there was great riding there. Well, maybe if a local showed me the goods I would change my opinion. The Outdoor recreation trails are XC trails with a ST on it. I rode their mtn bike race course. I used less than a mile of ST, the rest on the XC trails that aren’t exactly cruiser trails. The short sections of ST would be hellish for a race as they are the tight rocky, rooty conditions. On the XC trails there were numerous bogs, some your bike would disappear in. Wasn’t feeling particularly spirited so i quit riding.

Drove further upstate looking for a ski town bar and conversation. Drove thru Straton that on the map appeared to be a large community. It was just spread out w/ nothing of attraction. Drove further N and stopped @ a XG looking for a shower. Closed for season. Sat there looking at my map figuring out next move. Guy in truck pulls up and tells me the XG is closed and offers a free camp site idea.

I follow his instructions and drive out on this beat up road to a campsite on Flagstaff Lake. Pretty spot right on shoreline. Lake looked almost tidal but it was from loss of h2o. Drove thru several mud puddles that fortunately were over hard ground but raised concern about getting stuck.

Quiet night. Overcast so it stayed warm. About 3:00 I was awakened by sound of rain on the roof. Up & out to cover bikes. Went back to bed and listened to rain. What if it rained sufficiently to make the puddles impassible to my Sprinter? I chickened out and bailed in the dark. I drove back to hard road & parked in in daylight was a snowmobile parking lot. OK. I slept unmolested.

Packed up & headed down to Acadia where there was to be lots of riding. Overcast day but pleasant drive.

Hit bike shop guy @ Sugarloaf told me of and asked about ST. He said not really, just old cart roads. A second bummer.

I walked around downtown Bar Harbor, just a tourist trap. Lots of restaurants serving lobster. I picked 1 & had a lobster special dinner. They serve lobster like hamburgers. Incredible amount of shell for such little meat. Tail is tough but the drawn butter was good. My taste favors Dungeness crab.

Found hostel in town & asked about shower. Host wanted $5.00 because it was something they don’t normally do. Another night w/o shower.

parked in back parking lot of bike shop w/o their permission. What will happen during the night?

Tomorrow I will visit Acadia and pay for a campsite w/ a shower.

Off back up town to Thirsty Whale for a beer and maybe conversation.

Maine is my 20th state to ride in.

Brian @ U- District said his eyes hurt after viewing my Speedo picture. I thought I was a sight for sore eyes and not a sight that caused sore eyes.

Maybe a dinner visit w/ Cal in Philly.

Slept way late. Chilly again.

Drove correct way to Red jersey cycling for ride info. Made it, guy very helpful sharing a ride idea. Bought map. Rode from shop. Rode Red tail Trail up. NEMBA did work on it making it mostly rideable for me. Roots & rocks but climb was still some walking. Really sweated up.

Where Red Tail trail joined into Connector the NEMBA work ceased allowing me to become a hike a biker. Some pretty nasty stuff. Good ride.

Woods have many old trails or remnants leading to several false starts down lower.

Rode back to Red Jersey & debriefed.

Headed back into town for shower at yesterday’s camp ground. Drove a little further & did wash.

Drove back to N Conway, hit grocery store for prepared dinner. And then drove back to Echo Lake camp spot.

Seems like NE still uses pay phones.

Why I did not attempt MT Washington:

Left knee is still bothersome.

Listening to Obama McCain debate. Listened to NPR prior to debate and learned that it is all so orchestrated.