Evan Malinchock
Photos by Brian’s wonderful father and Bike Loud’s official photographer Ted Richardson
Sleep was so very needed this past night after our slog through the white mountains. We woke up by habit before the sun fully rose to Brian's dad pulling into the church parking lot. Mr Richardson's fresh presence was a welcomed addition to the trip as we were fairly exasperated from the previous few days of long milage with no breaks.
Early wake-up in Conway
After the reunion we made our break for the final border crossing, and into Maine. It was here that we got a few photos taken and had a mini celebration before continuing on to breakfast at Fair Grounds Coffee in Fryeburg. The coffee was wonderful and the hospitality was fantastic as we were gifted granola bars and cookies from the owners.
Last state border!
Fair Grounds Coffee
The riding in Maine has been a lot more of the same but in a smaller magnitude. The hills are some of the steepest of the trip but very short thanks to the bizarre craggy geography of the land. The scenery was stunning though, everywhere we looked there were stand alone mountains with lakes and lush evergreen forests. The towns were all quaint little hamlets that you would expect to find in any Stephen King book (well at least at the beginning of each book). And the temperature was amazing, we were no longer drowning in the humid heat, and for a change we could both confidently say that the weather was comfortable while we rode.
After 75 or so miles (and a woopie pie later) we found ourselves in Brunswick ME, a very nice college town on the coast of Casco bay. The architecture of the town is classic New England with tall brick buildings and Victorian mansions lining pristine streets, and smaller but well put together cape houses adjacent to them.
We spent the evening wandering Bowdoin's campus and napping before a massive Indian feast downtown. The rain is beginning to fall now in a precursor for the day to come, but with the blazing heat still a fresh memory it is a welcomed sight to Brian and I who look forward to the coastal highway the next two days.