miles of road and over 5000' of climbing, but it was also beautiful - good weather, about 25C, a light headwind. We arrived at the sea at the picturesque wee town of Rockford, and Tom, Paul B and I (who I think were first in today) went down to the marina and sat for a while and took photos. These guys deservedly have a sense of achievement. What they have done is amazing. 
No-one pulled out, no-one stopped permanently communicating with anyone, and there were no serious injuries. While Tom went off to try and get some wheels mailed home, Paul and I treated ourselves to a celebratory ice-cream. 
Tonight we are being hosted by Chestnutt Baptist Church in Camden, which is also on the coast and at first sight seems like the acme of chic and cool. The bay has hundreds of boats, the streets are crowded with beautiful people and cars, and there are terrific shops and restaurants. However, Dan, Stuart and I are staying in a house owned by the boyfriend of Katrina and his business partner, and she says Maine feels like "about the end of the earth" when you are brought up here. Long winters, sea mists, storms - I guess it could get tedious. The church gave us a very good pot-luck supper, and quite a few people turned out to hear the why and the wherefore of the Ride. This distinguished-looking lady was at our table.
Lobsters are the big thing here - every restaurant seems to be a seafood one, and apparently you daren't come here without trying one. Since I only had my first lobster ever about three weeks ago in Dundrum, and wasn't overly impressed, I have a fresh experience to compare it with. Used to get great lobster soup at the old Highwayman restaurant in Comber, but that's the closest I've got until now.
Did a really dumb thing today - left my wallet and bible at the pastor's house in Oxford where we stayed last night. They are kindly doing an overnight mail to me in Bar Harbor.
Wish I could describe Maine to you. The scenery is quietly and understatedly impressive. Nothing too grand in the way of mountains, but long wooded hills, lots of lakes, wooded all around of course. Looks a bit like County Fermanagh in places. The roads are OK, although where they are narrow the shoulders tend to be sinking into the ditches, making riding on them very difficult. Also, a lot of trucks, some of which feel the need to pass you at the same moment as something coming the other way. One truck carrying an extra-heavy, wide load of portable stone-crusher scared me to death this morning when he hung on his air-horn cord and gave me a good blast when he was a couple of hundred yards back and before I'd even heard his engine.
Must go to bed now - shattered again, as today was far harder than we thought it was going to be, plus the accumulated effects of not enough sleep and 5.30am alarms. Finishing tomorrow with about another 100-miler, so not over yet. Keep praying that we will all finish well and safely, and that I'll give a good word from the Lord as we have the closing dinner.In his love and grace.John D
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