Rain and visitors

Rain, rain, go away; come again another day – preferably after our trip to Muncie.

This past weekend, June 1, 2, 3, wasn’t conducive to training rides, at least for us.  The heavy rain and driving winds kept us inside planning, rather than outside riding.  Here’s hoping that the coming weekend is better.

The good news is that Nola was able to get our trip planned out with mileages that will be doable for old farts like us, as well as places to stay – either camping or taking advantage of the hospitality of members of WarmShowers.  It’s an organization of bicycle enthusiasts who have agreed to offer their homes’ accommodations to other cyclists, and in return being able to enjoy similar kindness when they tour.   Nola signed us up a few weeks ago and we had our first cyclists stay the night of 3 June.  

Dylan and Jon are making their way up the Eastern Seaboard from Key West, Florida, to Lubec, Maine.  These intrepid cyclists braved the nasty weather and made their way from Exeter, NH to Portland on Sunday, arriving at our house wet and cold.  Not sure we will have the same fortitude during our trip if the weather turns as ugly as it has been here the last few days.  Though, who knows, we may surprise ourselves.

We had a wonderful visit chatting and sharing cycling and hiking stories, as these two travelers have also through hiked the Appalachian Trail.  Oh to be young again!  Of course we couldn’t let our new friends pass through without a trip to Red’s ice cream in South Portland.  A Nor’easter from Reds makes even the worst weather tolerable. 

Monday morning dawned with the same miserable, wind driven rain, but Dylan and Jon made the decision to make their way up the coast to just outside Edgecomb.  As tempting as taking the day off was, they have a schedule to keep and fifty or so miles is easy for them.  A testament to the adage, mind over matter.  Good luck guys!

As for us we hit the wind trainers, tucked snugly inside the garage, once again in hopes of being at least some-what ready for our endeavor.  As the time for departure gets closer and the multitude of small details get finalized, or in some cases purchased as in patch kits and water repellent spray for panniers and other gear, we increasingly look forward to the spectacular sights and extraordinary people that await us as we make our way from Maine to Muncie.