Day 37 - Pau at York Beach, Maine

30 years ago Kathryn & I spent Labor Day weekend at York Beach.  We brought our family here in 2005, and returned today riding the bike.  It was great to finish at a place we have such nice memories.  Thoughts for the day (and on the whole trip):

1. The wind was a great friend today.  We rode southeast through New Hampshire and along the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee (largest lake in NH), and angled through the rolling green forests to Maine.  The 120 miles seemed like 80 with the 18 mph winds from the NW.
2. The forest green continues to amaze me - my western roots are not acclimated to green trees everywhere.

Maine boggy swampy

Almost there

I was very happy to finish the trip & complete a goal I had thought about for over 20 years. I also felt somewhat sad; I was getting used to life on the bike; we just ran out of country.  I am a list maker so here is mine of the key takeaways on this trip:

1. Kathryn is amazing, selfless & a true example of supporting your spouse.  I am so happy I could share this adventure with her.
2. We were very blessed with great health, protection from traffic, almost perfect weather, lack of car or bike problems (2 broken spokes was all), and great support from friends & family - thanks for all the calls, emails & comments.
3. This country is grand.  The diversity of geography, natural beauty, depth of natural resources for energy and food production seem endless.  I wish we could be more efficient to help those in need.
4. The freedoms we enjoy make this country fantastic.  We can travel anywhere, buy & sell real estate, vehicles; start businesses, live where we want, do what we want.  Watching people at work (mainly farmers, ranchers, road crews, truck drivers, food clerks, construction workers, and train engineers) was fascinating.
5. 99.5% of people were kind & helpful to us; 95% of drivers were courteous to me.
6. You have to really, really like biking to do this.  Fortunately I really do.
7. I was very impressed with the folks we met that open up their extra barns, basements, community centers, and home extensions to meet a need they saw.  These people are doers & make a difference.  I want to follow their example.
8. Swimming & a hot tub are great complements to biking all day.
9. Blogging is an adventure too - I think I am done with it for now.  Aloha.