Saturday, 20 May 2006

Hidden Valley to York Beach

It rained in the night but was a bright and sunny morning. I wasn't eager to get up as it felt a bit cold and I had slept somewhat fitfully for my first night in a hammock. Trying to sleep on my back will take some getting used to. I had some wierd dreams - being attacked by dogs in my hammock (me in the hammock, not the dogs) and a separate dream about being attacked my a guy with long blond hair and a Terminator style metal hand. Bizarre. Must be some subconcious fear of camping alone in the woods.

After a leisurely breakfast I was packed and on my way by 8:45. I passed through Danville and after 13 miles came to Kingston. Again the library had free internet so I updated my blog and then went for a cup of tea to catch up on diary writing (chores, chores) it's so good to have free internet access so available (so far) as it makes keeping in touch so easy. How quickly we forget how things used to be - it's difficult now to imagine life before the internet and mobile phones.

It had clouded over by the time I set off cycling again and was cooler but at least dry. Saturday is obviously Yard Sale day and everyone was out passing on their bric-a-brac to someone else. I saw a couple of skidoos for sale - a sign of global warming? There were quite a few recreational cyclists on the road, this being a Saturday, but no-one else foolish enough to be hauling 30 kgs (rough guess) of luggage around.

From Kingston the route was pleasant but uninspiring. I did pass a road called Pickpocket Drive which made me laugh. Exeter is the biggest town I've passed through so far since leaving Boston and it looked quite pleasant, but I didn't stop. I did stop a couple of hours later for a Latte at the Red Ginger Cafe at Foyes Corner. Portsmouth is even bigger than Exeter and like its English namesake has a naval base. The route bypasses most of Portmouth however and in crossing the Piscataqua River on the Memorial Bridge I also crossed my second state line, this time passing from New Hampshire into Maine. I was now on the Atlantic Ocean coast and from Kittery Point to YorkBeach I was cycling along the coast road. I could smell the fish and chips as I rolled into York Beach.

Just as I arrived at the York Beach Camper Park it started to rain. I pitched the tent in 'configuration 2' (long and thin) as I think that might currently be more resilient to the rain. It's not so convenient to use as it's much lower, so it's more difficult moving around and doing things inside. We'll see.











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I passed a few very big churches today - and I mean big. Like factories, and I guess they are; churning out the next generation of brain-washed zombies. (I'll be keeping that opinion to myself) (BTW: Have been cycling along and heard the sound of automatic rifle fire!) On a lighter note: my favourite road-sign so far is the speed limit sign that says "Thickly settled, 30" - always makes me think of a neighbourhood of Homer Simpsons.

Distance: 51.7 miles
Cycling time: 4:47
Total distance: 159.5