Heavy truck traffic on rt 165 woke me early.

This software /  hardware is really unstable. Loosing much of what I type.

Shorter story: Went searching for a trail map in Wyoming village & Forest headquarters.

Drove to TH just down road from where I crashed. Beautiful day: Deep blue skies & fall reds. Arcadia is just off the ocean by maybe 25 miles. Elevation is 200′.

Just before leaving a car pulls in and a guy rider, Frank, exits. He knew these trails from 14 years ago and just started mtn biking, currently a roadie. I joined with him.

Trails here have way more sand. This area was glaciated and the sand is from the crushed rock. Can’t believe the miles of stone fences in the woods. The fences were left from all the abandoned farms. Now regrowth is what remains of the fields. Small areas fenced and big rocks. Lots of work was expended to clear land for tilling.

Wandered around on the trails.

RI requires everyone in the woods from 3rd Sat of Oct to some time in spring to wear at least 200 sq” of orange. I learned that people not complying are ticketed and, if on bikes, they have been confiscated . Tomorrow starts the orange and hunting. OK to have left after 1 ride. Arcadia is big and worthy of several days of riding.

Short drive into Connecticut. Still looking for a shower and after 2 days of riding it is well needed. Drove into small town. Canvased the local True Value Hardware for knowledge. The woman said the only 1 she knew of was Strawberry resort. I called them and asked if I could buy a shower. The woman said just come on up and take one. Too good to be true? Asked how much, she said free. OK enjoyed a free shower on the up and up. Big resort for camping.

She gave me directions to Rose City Cycles near Norwich, CN. Drove there and asked for ride info. Learned that there are good rides w/in 1 hour of town. Received info on 2 and invite for Sunday ride on 1 of them. Even allowed me to crash in their parking lot.

Going to ride here Sat & Sun and then work thru state up to Northern Western Mass for IMBA epic at Savoy, then work my way around NYC to Philly.

Frank is a young buck and took off sprinting several times. I quickened my pace in sort of an attempt to keep up. Bad for knee. Still liking the lowered seat.

Not everyday do I have inernet access.

I rode local trails at exeter with the newly lowered seat. man, what a difference it made: right up there with the custom tuning of the shock. I am a victim of reading info and maybe not bouncing it against veteed knowledgeable people. My saddle was too high which kimited my pedal leaving me with no power at the bottom of the stroke. I rode rock gardens and root farms and had way more fun and had umph to muscle a move.

Knee pain is lessened when not walking or sitting still. When i pedal there is no pain.

Drove into Mass to Charles Parker SF NW of Boston. XGs closed, found parking lot for sleep spot. Biker riders came and went riding with lights until about 9:00. Several said the Forest closed at dusk but they had never been hassles and could not testify that anybody staying overnight would be rousted. I chose to take a risk. I didn’t fall asleep quickly, awaiting the feared Roust. ABout 12:00 I was awakened to voices and lights flasked thru the windshield. Might have been the man and if it was he let me stay. All I had to do was wait out sunrise and I could sleep in as I would be legal then.

Geared up for ride. Again, knee feeling good riding. Found first ST off gravel road and took it. Another dose of rocks, this time the rocks were sharp edged making a fall a more painful stop. I still walk but am getting better especially with my lowered seat. Local riders are having a ride: Wicked Ride of the East and the route was marked with small yellow squares nailed into trees along the way. Got lost again, couldn’t find exit off loop and rode some of the trail 3x. And then I got really lost inside a big box. EDGE helped. Found road and rode roads back to van.

Stepped in dog shit at the TH somewhere. Smeared some goodies on carpet. Cleaned shoe off. Went for ride, came back, walked in woods again and found the same stash again somehow. Dog shit stinks. Found car wash with carpet shampoo machine and made smell go away.

Looking for shower. Tried 2 XGs that were advertised on I-495, neither would sell me a shower.

Now in Rhode Island heading to Arcadia area.

Rode Mass for 21st state. Will probably work my way back to it after RI and a ride in Conn. Conn rides appear hard to find.

Slept unmolested. Early in the AM cars would pull thru the parking lot. I figured it was a traffic bypass. i learned later that it was a drive thru Starbucks. Up @ 6:00 in dark to be able to leave.

Left knee is very painful, burning in joint. Decided to take rest day & do computer work. Took Aleve & iced it w/ frozen gel pack I brought along. A bit better.

Heavy drizzle in AM.

Parked in grocery store parking lot X the street for internet. Grocery stores for most part in East do not have bulk water filters. Sell bottled h2o with a 5 cent deposit on gallon jugs. Wonder what drives resource intense retailing of bottled h2o vs a bulk filter.

Half heartedly attempted to drive in to a bike shop to check my bike fitting. Caught 1 @ Dover but they lacked the fine tuning skills I sought. They recommended Exeter Cycles in Exeter. Received directions that I misinterpretted & started N on road. Stopped @ Rite Aid & looked up phone number from phone book. I called and learned that they are schooled & skilled in bike fitting. Good for me.

Made it there before closing. John coached me on setup. I was way too high on seat, cleats far back, seat far forward. Saddle way shorter that now makes for a real powerful stroke. Knee pain way lessened. Going to ride local trails tomorrow to check out fit.

Historical town. See next post for continuation