Day 33 - July 19 - Plum Island MA

This is the last day of riding which is estimated to be about 60 miles. The plan is for me to be dressed to ride and take the Matt and Gary to the start point. We will get them ready and hang the spare on the back for me. They will carry extra GU, tires, and tubes because they will be unsupported as I go directly to the end at Plum Island. I will get on the red bike and travel back to Groveland to ride the last 15 miles with them. That’s the plan.



I took off from the start point and took pictures on the run for the record. I heard from Gary as he was delayed a little changing tires and tubes. I believe the record for the trip is Gary 11 tubes and 4 tires and Matt 2 tubes and 1 tire. They were in good shape since all this happened at a convenient coffee shop called Star something. Matt has admitted to his book addiction, I think Gary should review his affection for Starbucks.


I arrived at Plum Island, found a great parking place for $15 a day and jumped on the wheels to head back up the road. The wind was in my face and it was humid; a great day. I left Plum Island went through Newburyport toward the intersection of 97 and 113. I arrived and called Matt. He reported that he and Gary had taken the scenic route towards Canada and would be a little delayed. The lost time added 15 miles to the day. I headed up 125 and soon found them in good shape and we started toward the final goal. The picture of Gary at a house is on Center Street in Groveland Mass which I like to call the Roche Hotel; a five star establishment I have enjoyed in the past.

The ride on Center Street is the same final path that I had the good fortune to ride with Joe Roche at the end of his ride across America last year. It was just as fun and beautiful this time.


And the arrival at Plum Island; I will let the photographic record speak for this wonderful moment. Thank you Gary and Matt for making me a part of your great accomplishment. Congratulations and many more miles like these!

Day 32 – July 18

A day for riding 120 miles, climbing over 7000 feet, pictures of flowers and bugs and for fires by the road side. Not to mention this day and a wakeup to the big eastern pond. Gary studied the weather forecast and said we needed to be cranking by 6:30 am, because it was very possible to have showers in the afternoon. That’s a 5:15am wakeup. We woke, ate, packed and cranked on time. I stopped and stocked the kitchen for the day and caught them about 20 miles in. The climb was just ahead. Gary and Matt stopped for peanut butter and banana on wheat just before the climbs started. The day was warming and the humidity was growing.

When the guys climb I play leap frog between them so that they maintain their own pace. Matt is usually in front and I get ahead of him and trade bottles and give GU and then wait for Gary and take care of him. I try to pick a good spot for service and photos and am always amazed that I find such detail to shoot. That says the world is full of beauty even if you do not see it. Kind of like the tree when it falls and nobody is around to hear. The sound waves still exist and the flowers and bugs are still busy.

We were delayed by road construction and two fires. A log cabin was burning and later a jeep caught on fire and melted down. The fire departments were quick to respond and controlled the situation. It caused us to wait a bit but Matt and Gary put in 120 miles to make the last ride day an easy 60 mile coaster. ARE WE THERE YET?