Day 49 -- Going Up!

August 7, 2005

ROUTE: Brattleboro, VT to Manchester, NH

DISTANCE:  86 miles WINDS: SW at 8 to 10 mph

WEATHER: Couldn't be better--chilly in am, low 80s in pm

TERRAIN: High hills and green mountains
TOTAL CLIMBING: 6,130 feet

RIDE OVERVIEW: By the time all was said and done yesterday at our final dinner together, I could not get to this posting. Now that I have returned to construct it, I sit here trying to recall yesterday's ride. It is amazing how the days sometimes morph into one fuzzy pedal spin interrupted only by a remembered pothole or two--metaphorically speaking, that is.

Let's see . . . I know I drove White and Jim C. (of the broken collarbone) was with me acting as my trusty navigator. Click! Okay now I have it. The theme of the day was, "Going up?"  If the riders liked yesterday's climbing, they absolutely loved  today's. We spent most of the day going up and down. Only 1 mile from the motel, the road started to go up right at the New Hampshire state line. When we woke for departure, it was chilly, and fog sat on the hilltops surrounding the motel. Because of all the climbing and an 80+-mile day, we loaded at 6:15 and ate breakfast at 6:30 for an early start on this strenuous day. As it turned out, the fog lifted and three miles from the motel it was beautiful. Sunny skies and comfortable temperatures greeted the riders as they entered New Hampshire, our last state. This was the day riders accumulated the most elevation gain--141 feet more than they earned on the day we climbed Teton Pass and dropped into Jackson Hole . . . or, to put it another way, they pedaled the equivalent of 1 vertical mile plus 850 feet! And . . . riders earned every inch as the grades were tough. Mike estimated the three biggest climbs as having grades of 12 to 15%.

While the terrain is hardly ever flat around here, most of the climbing was on the three challenging hills mentioned above, two before SS#1 and the last one, Joe English Hill, about 10 miles from the finish. And then there was Pitcher's Mountain right after SS#1, which took us to the highest point of the day . . . 1,880 feet. Riders soon caught on. If the hill has a name, watch out!  Even though it was a strenuous day overall, the route was beautiful when it was out in the country. At the top of the second climb, we rode along a tree lined road that provided much needed shade. The tree tunneled, twisty roads of the east are a far cry from what we had in South Dakota, say, where we could see the road unravel in a straight line for miles and miles, where we could look 30 miles in any direction, and the climbs were usually graded at 7% or below.  Here, you can't see farther than 50 yards in any direction for all the trees, and the climbs go up sharp and straight at 10% to 15%.

Tonight's activities included our final dinner together as a group--salad, lasagna, chicken parmesan, with cheesecake for dessert. After dinner, Mike acted as emcee, gave riders their final packets, and gave each person time to express their feelings about the ride and what they got from their x-country experience. As the riders began to speak, emotions ran high. Some used humor while others were more introspective when expressing their feelings for each other and how they felt about their accomplishment. One group put on a skit:  Bill K. played St. Peter, Dave played a recumbent rider, Thomas played Mike Munk, and Jim Park played another recumbent rider. When the cyclists crashed, they each went to heaven and St. Peter assigned them a room.  Because he had been "very sinful," Jim looked into his assigned room and saw a homely woman; "very sinful" Dave looked into his room and saw his two ex-wives; but Mike Munk (Thomas) looked into his room and saw . . . Bo Derek! Wow! At this point, St. Peter looks into the room and says to Bo, "Bo, this is your punishment for being very sinful." Lots of laughter. 

Mary and Opie, both Wisconsinites--cheesehead neighbors of the "you betcha" state--sang the "On Wisconsin" song. Bob sang a clever ABB song to the tune of "Yesterday." Fred awarded tees to each of the members of his riding team (variously called The Fossils, The Flying Dutchmen, and the Sonja Chasers). He also awarded polka dot climber's "jersey" (a red polka-dot piece of lingerie) to Duane (right). Don, Bill K's roommate, awarded Bill a Superman tee; the Dairy Queens found purple tees that read, "The Queen is not amused." Opie was very generous in his praise and declared that he would have liked to have grown up in the 50s and 60s . . . a fact that was proven, he thought, because he got along so well with those of us who did. Photographer Paul (one of the pups), on the other hand, was amused, amazed, and admiring of riders' strengths because "You're all so OLD!"

Mike made special awards from the staff. Bill K. was presented with the ride map, and Opie  was presented with the precious bottle of Pacific Ocean water, which he is to empty into the Atlantic tomorrow. Josh had also made an award for Bright Bike Bob, who had the dubious honor of being the person with the most flats on the ride (11 or 12 I think), though Murray still holds the record for most flats in one day with 8.

Riders got through the toughest part of the route with flying colors today. We've come across the country and ridden on all kinds of terrain and in all conditions . . . flat open spaces, tough mountain passes, S-curves, shouldered and unshouldered roads, urban streets, unlined country roads, detours, road construction, tailwinds, rain, shine, humidity, and cold. But today is the type of day riders will remember when they talk to their friends when they get home. They won't remember where they were when they were on flat ground with nice conditions, but they will remember the tough days as the ones that developed the character of the ride and gave them the most sense of accomplishment. It takes all kinds of days to make a trip, but the "character building" days are the ones that make us uncomfortable and make us dig deep to finish the the day.

Everyone had a different reason for doing this ride, and I'm sure there were times they all questioned their sanity for even thinking about doing such a thing.  But now that it is nearing an end, all riders, both segment riders and x-country riders can be proud of their accomplishment.  Mike told them on day 1 that they would stretch their comfort zone beyond their imagination, and they did that.  They have joined the elite fraternity of riders who have crossed the US on a bicycle, and I salute them all for their grit, good nature, and final success.

Our final thoughts of the evening were for those riders who had to leave the ride early due to injury or necessity. But for those remaining, tomorrow we press on to the finish. Mike reminded riders that we were not through with our journey yet and to stay focused for another day.  He also reminded them to savor the day and to take their time to enjoy the the last miles of their incredible journey. It's hard to believe we are only a day away from our journey's end. It seems just like yesterday that we left Astoria as a group of strangers, yet now we are about to finish a group of friends, bonded by the experience. Some people think it's a long way from Oregon to New Hampshire . . . actually, it's only a bike ride. After tomorrow, riders will be getting back to their "regular" lives, and this adventure will be over, but tonight we rest for our last assault on our destination.  Check back and share in our jubilation tomorrow.   See you then.
                                                                                   Susan

EPITAPHS OF THE DAY FROM A CEMETERY NEAR SS#2: [This was a very old cemetery behind the 1802 Meeting House, which was opposite the SS in Francestown. Jim Critchfield and I explored it a little. Many of the tombstones were smooth slate and were hand-carved with weeping willows, urns, and puritan-type faces framed by angel wings. There were stones dating back to the 1700s.]

Friends an physicians could not save

My mortal body from the grave
Nor can the grave confine me here
When Christ my savior does appear.

Behold and see as you pass by
As you are now so once was I
As I am now so you must be
Prepare for death and follow me.

Children dear dry up your tears
Here I must lie 'til Christ appears.

HEARD ON THE ROAD:

• "Geesh! I nearly got my tongue caught in my spokes that was so steep." 
• "I've changed my mind! I don't want to ride across country anymore!" 
• "No whining." 
• [Matt on climbing hills twice:] "Climbing's easy. Just put it in low gear and spin." 
• [Chips:] "What if you don't have a gear that's low enough?" 
• [Rider to Chips on strenuous long climbs:] "Go to your happy place."[Chips:] "My happy place is the front porch overlooking the ocean with a gin and tonic."[Rider:] "Well put yourself there then . . ."
•  "I think I can, I think I can . . ." 
• "Legs don't fail me now." 
• "I'm fond of quoting that legendary philosopher of the 70s, Dirty Harry: 'A man's got to know his limitations.'" 
• [This after this rider got off his bike and walked Joe English Hill.] "This hill is Hell!" "Who is this Joe English anyway? I don't like him very much."

PHOTOS OF THE DAY:

Riders take up the sport of barrel racing on a section of road with a newly paved shoulder

Marie couldn't get enough air at some of the summits we conquered today,
so gave herself a direct infusion at the sag stop.

Don, Dave L. and Mike R. enjoy the sag table offerings
in the shade provided by the bay of an old carriage house
adjacent to the Francestown Academy and SS#2.

Mary dons a dress and her long gloves (arm warmers)
for the final supper. She looks coolly elegant.
That's her husband Dan to the right.

Riders cross a bow truss bridge before climbing
to the "Welcome to New Hampshire" sign.

Shum-body's had o-o-one too many at the party?