Photo: Kathy, Karen and the lupines
Published: June 2023
Let the bike ride begin! Steven and I picked up Tom, Kathy & Liam on June 20 at the Portland Maine airport and we made our way to Bar Harbor to begin the ride. We dipped our bike tires in the Atlantic and I began my 3 days of riding with the group. I will also join them for the last 3 weeks of riding starting in Eastern Montana on August 17.
Liam performed magic and got us a next day reservation at a famous farm to table restaurant called Primo in Rockland Maine. The chef owner is Melissa Kelly, a multiple award winning chef and we had a phenomenal meal! Because there were 5 of us willing to share plates we feasted on many items on the menu. It was a beautiful night of eating and looking at the Atlantic from Primo’s porch.
My 3 days of riding were hard (for me!) and although i rode most of what Steven, Tom and Kathy rode the first day, I rode less than half in elevation and mileage of what they rode days 2 & 3. These three have strength, and have clearly trained well for this ride, but mostly they have grit! I mean real, TRUE GRIT! I am in awe that after i parted from them two days ago they rode 86 miles and 5700 feet, and yesterday 71 miles and 5400 feet!
