I've turned into a weenie

645 measly kms today. And, although we started out in a 2-degree temperature, we DID hit a balmy high of 8 degrees in Maine! The really good news is: not one drop of precipitation and I actually rode some of the way with my sun visor down. To our credit, after yesterday's 9 hours of misery - consistent drizzle, rain, snow and/or fog - we weren't in a big, fat hurry to get on the road this morning, so we didn't leave Danbury until 1005h.

We had looked at distances and gave ourselves a time budget based on possible poor road AND weather conditions, anticipating we'd make it at least to Portland or Augusta. As it turned out, we made serious tracks - with yours truly in the lead since Mark likes riding the speed limit (not that there's anything - much - wrong with that!). We reached Newport (just south of Bangor) in a little over 6.5 hours and about 600 kms. Compared to the 602 kms yesterday (VERY well done, actually, considerng the conditions) in some 9 hours. We had dinner in Newport and discussed the feasibility of staying in Bangor versus riding the remaining 150 miles in pitch black with nothing - and I mean NOTHING - but deer and moose to keep us company. There's not even traffic north of Bangor! The POS Zumo WAS successful in getting us to the Econo Lodge in Bangor where we got the last 2 rooms. Gentleman that he is, Mark took the room with 2 beds that cost 10 bucks more ;-) And as I write this, I'm thinking I may put on my bathing suit - that made the trip to NC but didn't see the light of day - and go for a dip. Hmmmm.....

The ride today. Well, there was ONE photo and you're looking at it - taken at our first GPCB (gas pee coffee break) north of Hartford. No photos yesterday, for obvious reasons. Although the scenery yesterday would have been stunning - the foliage colours on the hillsides along the highway reduced to many shades of ochre mixed in with the evergreens As we rode along 81 N, we could look to our right and see the mountain range that we'd ridden days before. Even the frosting of snow on the trees was lovely - kind of.....

The fall foliage in CT and farther north is past its peak and the trees are losing leaves now. Coming toward Bangor after dinner the sky was gorgeous. It actually reminded me of the sky the night Jim and I rode into Sault Ste Marie from Wawa - our 1205km day. I was awestruck then by the colours and cloud shapes. I knew that neither (my) camera nor words would have done it justice. Same as tonight. The sky was all shades of lavender, lilac and blue - with some pink and coral tossed in. All of this was in stark contrast to the greens, browns, yellows and oranges of the foliage - and the red tail lights of the traffic ahead of us. Who made the "rules" about what colours go together? We just have to look to Mother Nature to see what "goes together". That, by the way, is the same rationale I use for my own garden and ITS organization - or lack thereof ;-)

As usual, I think of LOTS of blog material while riding but when it comes to actually talking about it....well, I guess I get blogger's block.

ps - I didn't make it to the pool.