Day 6: Portland

Day 6: Portsmouth, NH

June 18, 2016

Miles: 61

Average Speed 10.1 mph
   
Portsmouth to Portland


We started our day early about 7:00a.  We were eating breakfast by 7:15a.   Our first breakfast at the Hampton Inn.  As you can see we started our day right!

 
We were on the road by 9:30a.  

We had an eventful day.  It was a long, beautiful ride that featured many different scenes.  Lots of oceanfronts, lots of bridges and lots of trails. We even had time to stop at a farmer's market and make a few adjustments to our bikes. 

This is Steve on the bridge that leaves Portsmouth.  Steve with a big smile on this beautiful morning.  The next picture taken from the same bridge.

The sun reflecting off the water was spectacular.

It wasn't long before we reached the NH and ME boarder.  Our third state in six days.

We met Chuck at the farmer's market.  He encouraged us to take the more scenic route that basically hugged the coast.  We were a little hestitant to backtrack to 1A, which we had passed about a mile ago.  We decided to take some back roads; we repeated about 1/2 mile. Not too bad!

Before we left the market we needed to do some maintenance on our bikes.  Steve needed to lift his seat and then he lubricated our chains.  We knew we would be taking the Eastern Trail for 30+ miles, which is a hard packed sand trail. 

Fourth adjustment to Steve's seat height trying to get it just right

Lubricating the Links

This is the first beach we encountered.  We were on Ocean Road so we saw the oceanfront from many vantage points.  The ride through this area was beautiful, a great place to ride.  Other than it being a little hilly, it was just perfect!

Steve being sneaky

This stretch of the route went about 10 miles with various oceanfronts.

Rock Beach

Sand Beach

A chilly breeze was coming off the ocean, so I stopped to put on a long sleeve shirt.

Another beach, but this time with many more people.

Mix Rocks and Sands

Still near the beaches, but moving toward the town centers.

Another big smile

 We stopped in Ogunquit for a nosh and iced coffee.

Happily in love

We stopped in Kennybunk for lunch about 1 hour later.  Steve ordered a roasted turkey breast sandwich with spicy mustard.  I ordered the same but wrapped in lettuce.  It was better and more filling than I thought.  I will be ordering this again!

Here's me having a bad hair day

We entered the Eastern Trail about 2 miles outside of Kennybunk.

  

The Eastern Trail reminded us of the Cady Trail in MO.  The trail that brought us to St. Louis.  We were almost expecting to see Michelle and Brian at the end of the trail, but they were no where to be found.  I guess we will just have to wait to see them in VT later on the ride :)

Still on the Eastern Trail.  Entering a very different scene.  This area of the trail was called the Scarbourough Marsh.

Di in the middle

Steve in the middle

Di in front

Steve in back

The view from the bridge.

We were closing in on 50 miles at this point.  It was a long day so far.  It was about 5:30p at this time.  We still had about 11 miles left to go.

We are just outside Portland crossing into the town.  The Garmin was acting funny saying we needed to make a U-turn, so I checked google map to make sure we were on track.

View of Portland in the distance.

We made it to the Hampton Inn at about 6:40p.  We checked in and took showers and relaxed a bit.  Then we searched for a place to eat dinner.  Steve wanted a place with live music.  It wasn't long before we came across the Long Wharf Inn. We enjoyed the company, music, food and beer!
 

A high protein meal

Steve stil hydrating

We are staying an extra day in Portland so we can explore the town and rest up for the next segment of the trip!

Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there!

Day 5: Portsmouth

Day 5: Portsmouth, NH

June 17, 2016

Miles: 48

Average Speed 10.3 mph
 
Manchester to Portsmouth


We arose at 7:30am and went to the hotel lobby to enjoy the complimentary breakfast. I've found that as a rule, complimentary breakfast is never as good as a purchased breakfast.  The selection of the complimentary breakfast is limited and and the quality is inferior to its purchased counterpart, but it does have the advantage of being complimentary. For me, the complimentary aspect is enough to tip the scales in favor of the free breakfast.  The fact that Di pays for the hotels and I for the food plays no part in my decision to favor the complimentary over the purchased breakfast.  Okay, perhaps a small part.

Di enjoying her delectable complimentary breakfast

We were on the road at 9:20.  It takes longer to get on the road after a rest day because we have more time to ensure our stuff is strewn all over the room and then it takes time to collect it all and remember which bags it all goes in.   If it wasn't for this fact, I'm sure we would have been on the road by 9:15.

Rolling out of Manchester

There was a good sized hill out of Manchester (or as they say out west, a 'little pull out of town').  In fact the first half of our ride today was hilly.  It was actually a fun type of hilly, the kind you enjoy biking over.  Not too steep, not too long, and corresponding downhills (without the dreaded stop sign on the downside of the hill).  

Di after her little pull out of town

We were on all 'green' roads today (green roads are biker friendly, or at least not biker hostile).

Di on a green road

Di on a green and blue road

Me on a green and brown farm road

Di on a really green road

We stopped at Lexie's Test Kitchen restaurant in Exeter.  I was disappointed in Exeter because it appeared to consist of a dozen or so buildings and only two restaurants. I had assumed it was bigger, but at least we had a place to eat.   Di and I ordered root beers, french fries, and veggie burgers.  It hit the spot.

Just me and my root beer (and stranger)

 We resumed riding at 2pm with only 15 miles to go to Portsmouth.  Its always good to take lunch with more than half the miles behind you. After riding about a quarter of a mile we came to the real town of Exeter, which is rather large.  It looked really interesting but we were so annoyed that we had stopped at the faux Exeter that we rode right straight through while trying to project an air of indifference.  We pulled it off, but no one was interested in our indifference.  We resumed riding.

Me, resuming.

 The last five miles into Portsmouth were on a great bike path - well paved, wide, and smooth.

Di goes over the interstate and another good sign

And then, at long last, the Hampton Inn entered our lives again.  I don't know if I should be worried about Di's love affair with Hampton, but there is no denying the happiness Hampton brings her.

Di looks happy with Hampton.  Too happy.

I must admit, I find a lot to enjoy in Hampton's presence.

Mmm, cookies.

We strolled around Portsmouth for awhile and marvelled at the number of shops. Who is buying all this stuff? Well, people like us, I suppose, because Di couldn't resist buying a few things before we settled on a place to eat.

Yes, that's Di making a purchase

Scene from a Portsmouth street

Another scene from a Portsmouth street

Another scene from a Portsmouth street

Another scene from a Portsmouth street

Another scene from a Portsmouth street

Why? I don't know.

We ate at The District, a restaurant serving local beer and food from local farms. Di and I both had a beer and the slider platter.  My sliders were lobster, barbecued chicken and tuna.  They were excellent.  I don't know what Di's were, but I do remember she got hers on gluten free tacos. But, you probably could have guessed that from the picture.

Tomorrow we are off to Portland!  The ride there will be over 60 miles, so no doubt we will get an early start.  I'm sure we will be on the road no later than 9:10.

Day 4: Manchester, NH - Rest Day

Day 4: Manchester, NH - Rest Day
 

June 16, 2016
Miles:  7 
Manchester


Continential breakfast was served between 6 and 9am.  Since we woke at about 9:30a this morning we missed breakfast. Luckily we could still get coffee.  Steve went searching for it; he returned to the room with two cups!  

We did what we normally do on our rest days - laundry, visit the local bike shop, explore the town and of course eat lots of food and rest too. We even took time to successfully book rooms for the next three nights. 

First, we went to the bike shop to get new brake pads for my bike. Brett, who runs the shop, talked me out of getting new brake pads; said I didn't need them.  I really hope I don't regret this decision :).  Jake's Bike Shop, a neighborhood shop with a lot of appeal.  Steve especially liked the outside bike stand.  Below is Brett and Steve.

1st Bike Shop Encounter

Manchester is the largest city north of Boston with over 110,000 in population.  What used to be an industrialized city, the old mill town has charm and lots of great restaurants.  We had lunch at the Republic Cafe.  Republic, the restaurant's brand, represents 'a place for citizens to join together to debate and converse, but not critisize or judge'.  It was a great little place located on Elm Street. 

Another sunny day!

Since we skipped breakfast this morning, we needed to make up for it. Steve had a veggie burger w/spicy mustard and hand cut fries, and I had an endive salad, beet and quinoa salad, pickled veggies and white bean dip - so good!

And lemonade too!

We went back to our room after lunch to take care of a few things, like doing the Garmin route to Portsmouth for tomorrow and check on laundry.  Steve took a nap and I relaxed a bit. We wanted to rest up for tonight because my friends Colleen and Tracy invited us over their place for dinner.  They live in Goffstown about 7 miles from Manchester.  They live in the woods, says Colleen, in their log cabin. A perfect place for the perfect people. This is Colleen and me on the front porch.

In the woods

Tracy made us a wonderful meal. Dinner featured barbecue sirlion tips - yummy, white rice, broccoli and a great tasting salad and chocolate ice cream for dessert!  Steve especially like the chocolate ice cream! 

Marinated grilled steak tips

Here we are eating dinner.

Ready to feast

The three of us and Leo their puppy below.

Leo admiring the scene

I met Colleen in middel school and Tracy in my twenties.  Although we haven't seen one another is a while, when we started reminiscing about the past it felt like it was just yesterday. Colleen and Tracy showed us a great time and provided us with a wonderful meal before we set off on the road again! 

Colleen and Tracy in their cabin

Before we left Colleen gave us gluten free Kind Bars to replenish the stash that we carry on our bikes. Tracy offered us bananas, water bottles and so much more. They both wanted us to leave with everything in their refrigerator, but we insisted it would be too heavy to carry on our bikes :).  Thank you Colleen and Tracy for visiting with us and making our time in Manchester so special!


Tomorrow we are off to Portsmouth about 47 miles and I am happy to inform you that we are booked at the Hampton Inn tomorrow night!