TUESDAY 12 AUGUST

Dear Folks:
After today, only 3 to go - amazing that these 11 heroes have been riding six days out of every seven for the last seven weeks, and have clocked up nearly 4000 miles.
Today we did 96.6, from Rochester, Vermont to Lincoln, New Hampshire. It was a fast day for Arek and me, as he had people to meet in Lincoln. At one point I hit my highest-ever speed on a bike - 51.9 mph. It was a very good, smooth road surface with no seams or expansion joints, so it felt safe enough (but maybe you shouldn't mention it to Maisie!) There were other, steeper hills, but oftentimes the surface was so poor that you couldn't risk letting yourself go.

An interesting encounter today at a rest stop just after Arek and I had pulled out - a truck driver had a rant about riders riding on the car-lane side of the hard-shoulder line to some of our guys, ending by telling them that whilst he didn't hope for them to be killed on the road, he hoped they would all become paraplegics. I wonder how he will end up? Right after lunch, rain again, so once again, we were riding whilst soaked. Hard climbing again - 5446' in total, after yesterday's 5943'. Hosted tonight by St Joseph's Catholic Church in Lincoln, and had a good chat with some of the Confirmation class: Nat, Joe, Amy and Merissa. Serious talk with Amy about her own faith.

A much better encounter was along the road with Candace (Kandis?) from Seattle, who was doing the same route as us, but unsupported. She had been with a girlfriend, who had had to go home when a close friend died. Now she was travelling with an older couple from Montana, and making very good progress. We invited her for a sag with us to refresh her water-bottles, and in fact they caught up with us at the lunch stop.


Staying tonight + Tom & Dan with Robert & Monika Haley and their daughter Britta, who at 17 drives her own red Mustang. Ron and Monika are both ex-New York cops, with accents to match. Very hospitable and kind - and Monika is LOUD! She was a sergeant, so I guess she has plenty of practice.

A couple of minor accidents today, at the same place. Arek came off about 200 metres before the end when he got caught in train lines crossing the street at an angle. An hour later Bryan did the same, and Paul L, right behind him, had to abandon ship to avoid Bryan. Arek is the sorest - knee and wrist.Apologies, but better quit now. Coming towards 11, and am shattered. A huge hill tomorrow, after which nothing too scary.

A final "lesson for life" from the Ride: it doesn't matter how fast you're going if you're going in the wrong direction. Sooner or late you will realise it and will have to come back.Goodnight and God bless. John D