RAILS TO TRAILS, BONKING
Yesterday’s lay-day was wonderful. I was with Harry, Nina and Emily (uncle, aunt and cousin). Emily lives in London so it was icing on the cake for her to be there. We had a morning swim and an afternoon kayak on Lake Nubanusit, a quintessential New Hampshire lake. On the sunny afternoon kayak outing we found blueberries, hanging from the vine like bunches of little grapes, overhanging the lake edge. Nothing like getting your fill of fresh blueberries without ever getting out of the kayak.
I left Hancock about 8:45 and was on back roads for the first third of the trip. The Goffstown Rails to Trails (RTT) started about 20 miles into the trip. Like other RTT in NH it was a gravel trail.
The trail carried me to Manchester NH where I crossed the Merrimack River. The Merrimack used to power many mills, mostly textile mills particularly in Lowell Mass, a bit further downstream. From the 1820s until the Civil War, Lowell was the textile capital of the country, at great environmental cost to the river. Link below.
The Merrimack in Manchester
Since this was a Saturday I reverted to what I used to do on Saturdays and listened to Car Talk, a former NPR radio show. Unfortunately it is no longer on; I did enjoy it. Link below.
After Manchester, which I passed through about noon, I was on the Rockingham RTT, more gravel and a bit rougher, but the steel steed handled it just fine.
There were a couple of low clearance underpasses, about 5’6”, which required a very stooped walk.
A problem with the RTT is that many towns are bypassed by a short distance, perhaps a few blocks. But since these small towns are only a few blocks long, I miss them. Upshot - I ride on promising myself to stop for a bite to eat at the next town; didn’t happen.
Today’s high temp 88. Humidity, “way high” compared to the west. Around mile 55, recognizing I was tired and bonking, and had had nothing to eat since breakfast but some M&Ms and not much to drink I stopped. Leaning against the power pole I noticed it was spinning.
Warren haven’t you learned ANYTHING?? You must eat and drink!
Fortunately I had some Gatorade (though I should have drunk it long ago) and homemade granola (thank you Sally!). After a bit of a break the pole stopped spinning and I continued on to Exeter and the home of Marshall and Becky, classmates at Harvard and ‘76 Henley boat mate. Their son Davis, his wife and grandchildren were here, great to (re)meet some of the family.
By the numbers:
Dist 65.1 miles
Elev Gain 2,338 ft
Elev Loss 2,954 ft
Moving Time 5:50
Total Dist to date 3,798 miles
Est miles remaining -33 (Revised to 145)
You're getting so close, Warren! We've all been following your posts nearly every day, and we're so impressed with everything about your journey.
ReplyDeleteNo Bonking! But at least you had trail, even if it was rough sometimes. Better than narrow roads with RV's and semis roaring past.
ReplyDeleteThat underpass looks spooky, like something from the underground railroad. You were kind of like the camel going through the eye of a needle.
On my tours, we always loved the small towns, more prevalent east of the Mississippi. Always good for a second or third breakfast and best of all, homemade pie with bottomless coffee. If you can see where the towns are, take the time to visit. I bet they all have pancakes and pie. Rmember, the only thing you want spinning is your wheels.