We made it! 621 miles total round trip, and to think that at about mile 100 neither of us thought that we would make it. This trip was for sure an adventure. Way harder than either of us imagined. We had great days of perfection, terrible days of "I hate you and everything around", beautiful experiences and more. Adventures are not easy. They are work, hardship, and strife, but what awaits at the end, the middle, and all the good times, are moments in life that few ever get to experience. To takle such a thing takes a lot of guts and courage (and a touch of craziness), an amount of character that few are courageous enough to ask of themselves, however the few that do are rewarded with memories for a life time. We all have this ability. It is not something posessed by the few, it is just that only the few tap into the heart to make the attempt. For these reasons the girls (Ashley and Julia) will forever remember their trip and they will be different people when they return. They have done it, just as Daniela, Damiano, and I have done it, albeit on the other side of the continent.
Our Maine and Quebec Adventure
Daniela, Damiano, because he has no choice, and I have all decided that this was the hardest bike tour we have ever been on.
Why?
1) The weight of our bikes was more than we anticipated. I have calculated that I was pulling a 100 pound sled around, and Daniela's was not too far behind having to carry most of Damiano's stuff.
2) The terrain. Nothing in Maine is flat. Everything is a rolling hill. Think Craycroft hill over and over about 75 times a day. No joke. The Adirondecks are old mountains that have been worn away over millions of years and they are cut everywhere by rivers, so you end up with never ending rolling hills. All day: up, down, up, down.
3) The weather. We made it up here and left Bar Harbor just in time to experience a heat wave of the kind that old ladies in the pool said they had not experienced in 20 years. 90 degrees plus everyday with super high humidity. Every day by 9am I was soaked in sweat, the kind where your whole jersey is stuck to your back like you jumped in a pool. Every time I took my hand off the handle bar sweat would just pool off my hands. GROSS!!
4) The wind. Oh yeah we littery had a head wind 11 out of the 12 days we road. Not just a breeze but flags standing straight up sort of thing. By day 9, it was at such a point of humor that we stopped caring at all.
The Trip
Day 1 July 3rd Bar Harbor, Maine to Prospect, Maine 46 miles
Of course it was hot, head wind, and hilly, but a pleasant day. We stopped in the old Town of Bucksport and watched Spain play Paraguay. Great game. Camped at a beautiful spot along the Penobscot river. A little isthmus that jutted out into the river. We were practically in the middle of the river.
Day 2 July 4th Prospect, Maine to Palmyra, Maine 39 miles
This was my lowest day. I stunk mentally. I was complaining up a storm and was not fun to be around. I did not think I was going to make the trip on this day. It was crazy hot, the hills were insane, and I was not tour strong yet. I really did not think I was tough enough to make it on this day. The 39 miles were really all I could muster. I could not have ridden 40. On this day though at camp Daniela and I realized that our lives have changed in a dramatic fashion. When we used to camp we would always try and find the most secluded spot. With no one around. No services? Who cares. We really just needed a spot for our tent and that was about it. However, with Damiano we now seek out the people. We want campgrounds with people and kids, pools, and games. Christian and Lori camping, this is not.
Day 3 July 5th Palmyra, Maine to The Forks, Maine 59 miles
Things got better today. We started to get our tour legs. But today Daniela had a tough mental day. Worst part was the section between the towns of Solon and Bingham. We were told to take the rails to trails path along the river. Of course this sounded great and we listened. However no one told us it was going to be sugar sand the whole 8 miles and heavily used by ATV's. We were choking on sand and barely staying up right because of the sand. By the time we hit pavement we were a different color of brown and we were not talking to each other. So up the road we went until I saw a swimable lake, made the u turn and 20 minutes later we spoke for the first time in about 2 hours. Leaving the lake we were desperate for something good to happen, and well it was anwered. In the Forks, Maine (population 30) there is a campground/river expedition company/ brewery. That's right, the campground was home to the Kennebec brewery, a pool, and showers. Salvation.
Day 4 July 6th The Forks, Maine to Moose River, Maine 35 miles
A short day because the Netherlands was playing Uruguay, the insane hills and headwind and this was the last camp spot before we were to enter Quebec. At the camp ground we met the same group of kids that the girls met on their adventure. Just these kids were riding from Portland, Maine to Quebec City. Two weeks totally self contained. No vehicular support for a group of 25 people. None of the kids were cyclists yet all of them were riding between 35 and 60 miles per day with fully loaded bikes. Pretty cool and inspiring to see.
Day 5 July 7th Moose River, Maine to St Joseph de Beauce, Quebec 70 miles
The difference between Maine and Quebec is topographically vast. In Maine you are in what is often called the green tunnel. All you ever see is trees all around you. However, once in Quebec the land opens up and you can see for miles. Much like out west you can see space. The difference was starkly realized as soon as we crossed the border and much welcomed. Spain played Germany on this day and so we stopped in Beauceville to watch it. Yeah they won and thank goodness we stopped, it was crazy hot this day. Our camp spot took us to our first in Quebec. Camping in Quebec is surely not USA style. There it is all about getting close to people, creating a little community and hanging out. We arrived at this spot and it was bumpin. The pool was packed, grills were blazin, and just about every adult had a beverage. It was a party and we partook. Also Damiano met his first camp girlfriend. A "petit blonde" if you will.
Day 6 July 8th St Joseph de Beauce, Quebec to Levis, Quebec 45 miles
We came to the province of Quebec 3 years ago on a bike tour and discovered the Route Verte. A sort of bicycle highway system. It connects, town, cities, and villages, together through a network of off street paved paths, gravel paths, and lightly traveled roads. When we were here we promised each other that with our children we would return because it is so awesome and safe. Well three years later we are back and on this day we road most of the way on this network. Totally awesome.
Day 7 July 9th Quebec City
From our camp ground we were able to ride the city bus to a boat that then took us into the heart of downtown Quebec. A fantastic old city with old world European charm. We spent the day walking the streets, swimming in the park pools, and enjoying the live music of the summer festival that was happening just this weekend. A beautiful day that ended with all the humidity of the last 7 days coming to an end in a fantastic rain storm. One like we have not seen in a few years. It just let loose.
So now Daniela and I have been to Quebec twice together. The first time I got sun burnt and she almost had a heat stroke and broke out in hives. This time it was so hot that on this night we had a whole tub of ice cream for dinner.
Day 8 July 10th Levis, Quebec to Notre Dame Des Pines, Quebec 60 miles
Yeah baby!! This was a great day. We had a tail wind, the only day, strong tour legs, not too crazy hills, the Route Verte most of the way off street style and a day of rest behind us. We flew today. We were fast, and got to camp with plenty of time to enjoy the 5 star camping experiece Quebec style. This campground was incredible. It had a pool that could fit 900 people it said. With slides, lake style entry, water falls, every thing. 500 camp sites, a playground with swings so big Daniela was screaming like a little kid, and a mini golf course. This place was huge and packed with families. Some places were so set up they had extra fridges on the porch and some had extra sheds. Most of them were totally full with beer. Really at these places the kids run around like crazy playing, the parents mostly sit around play cards, drink, and eat. We were taken in by a super nice family and got to partake as a good Quebecer.
Day 9 July 11th Notre Dame, Quebec to Moose River, Maine 51 miles
We again rocked the ride today because we had to. Spain played in it's first ever world cup final and there was no way I was going to miss it. They won of course and very interesting the grocery store in Maine accepted my Canandian money and even returned to me change in US dollars. Not bad, try that in Tucson with Pesos.
Our Maine and Quebec Adventure
Daniela, Damiano, because he has no choice, and I have all decided that this was the hardest bike tour we have ever been on.
Why?
1) The weight of our bikes was more than we anticipated. I have calculated that I was pulling a 100 pound sled around, and Daniela's was not too far behind having to carry most of Damiano's stuff.
2) The terrain. Nothing in Maine is flat. Everything is a rolling hill. Think Craycroft hill over and over about 75 times a day. No joke. The Adirondecks are old mountains that have been worn away over millions of years and they are cut everywhere by rivers, so you end up with never ending rolling hills. All day: up, down, up, down.
3) The weather. We made it up here and left Bar Harbor just in time to experience a heat wave of the kind that old ladies in the pool said they had not experienced in 20 years. 90 degrees plus everyday with super high humidity. Every day by 9am I was soaked in sweat, the kind where your whole jersey is stuck to your back like you jumped in a pool. Every time I took my hand off the handle bar sweat would just pool off my hands. GROSS!!
4) The wind. Oh yeah we littery had a head wind 11 out of the 12 days we road. Not just a breeze but flags standing straight up sort of thing. By day 9, it was at such a point of humor that we stopped caring at all.
The Trip
Day 1 July 3rd Bar Harbor, Maine to Prospect, Maine 46 miles
Of course it was hot, head wind, and hilly, but a pleasant day. We stopped in the old Town of Bucksport and watched Spain play Paraguay. Great game. Camped at a beautiful spot along the Penobscot river. A little isthmus that jutted out into the river. We were practically in the middle of the river.
Day 2 July 4th Prospect, Maine to Palmyra, Maine 39 miles
This was my lowest day. I stunk mentally. I was complaining up a storm and was not fun to be around. I did not think I was going to make the trip on this day. It was crazy hot, the hills were insane, and I was not tour strong yet. I really did not think I was tough enough to make it on this day. The 39 miles were really all I could muster. I could not have ridden 40. On this day though at camp Daniela and I realized that our lives have changed in a dramatic fashion. When we used to camp we would always try and find the most secluded spot. With no one around. No services? Who cares. We really just needed a spot for our tent and that was about it. However, with Damiano we now seek out the people. We want campgrounds with people and kids, pools, and games. Christian and Lori camping, this is not.
Day 3 July 5th Palmyra, Maine to The Forks, Maine 59 miles
Things got better today. We started to get our tour legs. But today Daniela had a tough mental day. Worst part was the section between the towns of Solon and Bingham. We were told to take the rails to trails path along the river. Of course this sounded great and we listened. However no one told us it was going to be sugar sand the whole 8 miles and heavily used by ATV's. We were choking on sand and barely staying up right because of the sand. By the time we hit pavement we were a different color of brown and we were not talking to each other. So up the road we went until I saw a swimable lake, made the u turn and 20 minutes later we spoke for the first time in about 2 hours. Leaving the lake we were desperate for something good to happen, and well it was anwered. In the Forks, Maine (population 30) there is a campground/river expedition company/ brewery. That's right, the campground was home to the Kennebec brewery, a pool, and showers. Salvation.
Day 4 July 6th The Forks, Maine to Moose River, Maine 35 miles
A short day because the Netherlands was playing Uruguay, the insane hills and headwind and this was the last camp spot before we were to enter Quebec. At the camp ground we met the same group of kids that the girls met on their adventure. Just these kids were riding from Portland, Maine to Quebec City. Two weeks totally self contained. No vehicular support for a group of 25 people. None of the kids were cyclists yet all of them were riding between 35 and 60 miles per day with fully loaded bikes. Pretty cool and inspiring to see.
Day 5 July 7th Moose River, Maine to St Joseph de Beauce, Quebec 70 miles
The difference between Maine and Quebec is topographically vast. In Maine you are in what is often called the green tunnel. All you ever see is trees all around you. However, once in Quebec the land opens up and you can see for miles. Much like out west you can see space. The difference was starkly realized as soon as we crossed the border and much welcomed. Spain played Germany on this day and so we stopped in Beauceville to watch it. Yeah they won and thank goodness we stopped, it was crazy hot this day. Our camp spot took us to our first in Quebec. Camping in Quebec is surely not USA style. There it is all about getting close to people, creating a little community and hanging out. We arrived at this spot and it was bumpin. The pool was packed, grills were blazin, and just about every adult had a beverage. It was a party and we partook. Also Damiano met his first camp girlfriend. A "petit blonde" if you will.
Day 6 July 8th St Joseph de Beauce, Quebec to Levis, Quebec 45 miles
We came to the province of Quebec 3 years ago on a bike tour and discovered the Route Verte. A sort of bicycle highway system. It connects, town, cities, and villages, together through a network of off street paved paths, gravel paths, and lightly traveled roads. When we were here we promised each other that with our children we would return because it is so awesome and safe. Well three years later we are back and on this day we road most of the way on this network. Totally awesome.
Day 7 July 9th Quebec City
From our camp ground we were able to ride the city bus to a boat that then took us into the heart of downtown Quebec. A fantastic old city with old world European charm. We spent the day walking the streets, swimming in the park pools, and enjoying the live music of the summer festival that was happening just this weekend. A beautiful day that ended with all the humidity of the last 7 days coming to an end in a fantastic rain storm. One like we have not seen in a few years. It just let loose.
So now Daniela and I have been to Quebec twice together. The first time I got sun burnt and she almost had a heat stroke and broke out in hives. This time it was so hot that on this night we had a whole tub of ice cream for dinner.
Day 8 July 10th Levis, Quebec to Notre Dame Des Pines, Quebec 60 miles
Yeah baby!! This was a great day. We had a tail wind, the only day, strong tour legs, not too crazy hills, the Route Verte most of the way off street style and a day of rest behind us. We flew today. We were fast, and got to camp with plenty of time to enjoy the 5 star camping experiece Quebec style. This campground was incredible. It had a pool that could fit 900 people it said. With slides, lake style entry, water falls, every thing. 500 camp sites, a playground with swings so big Daniela was screaming like a little kid, and a mini golf course. This place was huge and packed with families. Some places were so set up they had extra fridges on the porch and some had extra sheds. Most of them were totally full with beer. Really at these places the kids run around like crazy playing, the parents mostly sit around play cards, drink, and eat. We were taken in by a super nice family and got to partake as a good Quebecer.
Day 9 July 11th Notre Dame, Quebec to Moose River, Maine 51 miles
We again rocked the ride today because we had to. Spain played in it's first ever world cup final and there was no way I was going to miss it. They won of course and very interesting the grocery store in Maine accepted my Canandian money and even returned to me change in US dollars. Not bad, try that in Tucson with Pesos.
Day 10 July 12th Moose River, Maine to Greenville, Maine 55 miles
A quiet day along the water. We road along the Moosehead Lake for most of the day. Really pretty and quiet with some very quaint towns along the way. An easy day because we were totally tour strong at this point. We were used to the heat, the head wind, the hills, and our heavy bikes.
Day 11 July 13 Greenville, Maine to Stetson, Maine 56 miles
This felt like a very workman like day. We know the tour is coming to an end and as though we are going through the motions now to finish it. We have no great destination left and only home to look forward to. Todays ride also had us on the worst road of the trip. Narrow, fast, with really crummy pavement. We did though have a nice stop in a small town Guilford at the library, where the internet speed was dial up quality 1995 style.
Day 12 July 14th Stetson, Maine to Bar Harbor, Maine 65 miles
Day 12 July 14th Stetson, Maine to Bar Harbor, Maine 65 miles
We got rained on pretty good at night so while looking at the maps in tent we decided that we could make it back in one day. So the day started with a big task in front of us. Luckily Daniela is super awesome and strong on the bike and we road incredible together. We worked really well as a team this whole trip together. We were similar in speed this time and could really help each other. It also helps that we really enjoy riding for sport and today we really did. I am very fortunate to have found such a partner in life. We rocked this last day and were in town at home (Kylee and Ryan's) before 3:30pm.
This was a brilliant adventure that we will never forget.
We will be home on Saturday night, don't know if I will make Sunday practice. I am really excited to see you all and hear your stories of this summer. I hope you have all been having fun riding with your friends and keeping good attendance.
Durango is less than 10 days away and hope you have all earned you spot for the trip.
Ignacio
2 comments:
Congratulations guys! Can't wait for even more stories. Good thing you are used to heat and humidity cause Tucson has it in abundance. Looking forward to your return. Lori and Christian
We are excited to see you!!! We are back on the 19th and Logan will be at practice on the 19th.....
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