Sunday, July 3, 2011

Bucksport to Bar Harbor, ME


We woke to fog on our last day of riding.  The time we left Bucksport the fog had lifted.  It was a cloudy overcast day.  Which is ok by me.  It was cool and had a little breeze for most of the ride. Yes there were hills.  Short and sweet.  I started the morning out with Jeanette, Mary, Bev.  Jeanette had asked me to ride with the group. We came to the road that was supposed to be the worse road of the whole trip(SR 172).  Lucky for us they had just laid a new road.  It was 10 miles of the best road of the whole trip.  I rode with them til the first sag stop.  I was the first rider out of the sag.  Not long after the sag there was construction.  It went down to a one lane road.  I got there just in time.  It was our sides time to go through.  It was a long construction site.  I was able to ride on the opposite side of the cones so traffic could go fast and not have to wait on me.  I didn't see another one of our riders til they all got to the hotel.  About 10 miles from the construction site in Ellsworth there was construction again.  Went down to one lane road.  The traffic had to wait on me to get through the construction.  To top it off,  The construction ended at a top of a hill.  I'm sure the traffic behind me was not pleased.  After all that the roads were mostly country roads.  Smooth prettty flat roads, little to no traffic at all til I got to SR 3 not far from Acadia National Park.  It was foggy as I started to get closer to  Bar Harbor.  I stopped to put my rain jacket on just so people would see me better.  Just as I was getting to SR 3 there was a small shopping area.  As I approached this station wagon,  started to back out.  The driver didn't see me.  I thought how bad would that suck.  Make it the whole trip and be taking out 5 miles from the Atlantic.  I was able to go around her.  After the close call.  I turned into the Acadia National Park.  Our route took us on part of the Park Loop Raod. Never matters what National Park you are in they are always beautiful.   Oh yes it was up hill.  Could we expect anything less.  It was worth the work.  There was a very nice down hill that went straight into Bar Habor.  After arriving at the hotel.  Sue, Patty and I went to lunch while waiting for everyone to meet at the Hotel at 2pm.  It started to mist.  But never rained.  After lunch we went back to the hotel to get ready to ride to the water for our last group photo.  We rode single- file to the water right down main st.  Everyone stopped to watch us go through town.  I made it to the water as my rear wheel began to rub.  I need to have it trued yet again.  After all the photos, off to the bike shop we all went.  I rode my bike to the Bar Harbor Bike Shop even with my tire out of wack.  After getting squared away with the bike shop I walked back to the hotel.  I pack one of my bags with things I could live without for a couple days. Then went and shipped it home.  Only have to worry about one bag at the airport.  Got back to the hotel,  I weighed myself.  I lost 30lbs.  Not bad for not trying.  Helped Patty clean out the van, so it would be ready for the next tour in Fargo.  With most everything done we all got ready for dinner at Parkside.  Most everyone had lobster.  I had salmon.  Some of said jingles, some gave things out, some just had kind things to say.  My last roommate of the trip was Laura


Fog from my hotel in the morning  

Bev
Hille up ahead



The smooth road we all loved
Jeanette and Bev

First sag stop, and my last for the day.








 ggggg
Bike touring person taking a picture



This is where I decided to put my rain jacket on so people would see me better
Acardia National Park
Up we go
Still going up
Never ending hill
Yes still going up




Finally for the fun part
Sue waiting for Patty to pull in
Main st in Bar Habor.  A lot of tourist
Grouping together for our ride down to the Altantic



Our last ride together down Main St



Bettye, Bev and Mary joining us.  They were not at the hotel when we left




Dipping our tires into the Atlantic.  A tradition of Epic tours

Jeanette






Picture time.  The two guides load up with everyones camera
WE MADE IT!!

Jan and Patty
Laura checking her bike out
Jeanette, Bev and Cathy
Rhonda, Kathryn, Jan, Patty, Sue and Mary

Patty and Mary
The WOW's group photo
Rhonda
The WOW's (Wrinkles on Wheels)
Sue, RoseMary and Patty

Rita, Mary, Cathy and Bev
Bev
Gathering for our last dinner




Dinner time




Jeanette, Sue and Patty preparing for dinner

 Donna and Bettye

 Celebrating Rosemary's Birthday

 Donna, Cathy and Bettye

 Mary and Jeanette