Day 32, May 25, 2011, Amsterdam, NY to Keene, NH

124 miles and 7100 feet of climbing.  The 2^nd to last day is done and it was a real challenge.  I was on the bike at 7:00 a.m. and did not get in until 6:00 p.m.  I spent a little over 10 hours on the bike.  Shortly after leaving my left lower back tightened up and I could not get it loosened up all day.  It made it difficult to get on/off the bike and walking was very painful.  It did not seriously impact my riding ability, just made it uncomfortable.  That problem was compounded when I had to take defensive measures to avoid an IDIOT in a car, ran into a curb and crashed.  Fortunately it only resulted in a little road rash on my knee and the bike was not hurt.  Right now I am feeling quite disabled.  Laying flat in bed helps and I am hopeful that when the alarm goes off I will spring out of bed to finish this challenge!

The climbing we did today was unlike any of the big climbs we did out West.  Out there the roads traversed back and forth up the side of the mountains and there were areas that were “relatively” flat.  Here they go up and over the mountains on winding roads with inclines in the 8 – 10 % range.  The big climb of the day went on for a good 10 miles to get us to the summit of Hog Back Mountain.  It was brutal.  After that there were several short but very steep climbs.  I think I would rather do the climbs out West than these.

We left NY and entered into Vermont and then New Hampshire.  The scenery was incredible.  We are in the Green Mountains in the north east portion of the Appalachians.  The area is lush green rolling hills.  At times it seemed as if it were saturated with fast moving, Whitewater Rivers and streams.  I concur with Russ, this is a very scenic area.  It will make the list for a return visit.

The only bad thing about today was the traffic, or I should say the rude, obnoxious New England drivers.  I have never encountered such aggressive, uncompromising and generally hell bent drivers.  One of our fellow riders, Manny (from Boston) has been trying to prepare us for this and today we were thoroughly introduced.  I do not know what was more tiring; all of the climbing we did or being constantly on guard to keep from being run over.

So, tomorrow is it, the end of this challenging adventure.  We plan to be in Amesbury by 2:00 p.m. where we will all rendezvous and regroup for the final ride to the beach.  When we get there we will dip out front wheels into the ocean and empty a bottle of Pacific Ocean water into the Atlantic.  We will then go to the motel, where we will prepare our bikes to be shipped home.  There is a banquet in the evening with a meal and a program.  On Friday we will be transported to the Boston airport.  It is so hard to believe it is coming to an end and that I have done this.

#12 of 14 States.

Pic from the summit of Hog Back Mountain.  The view was spectacular.

One more State to go.  Bring on Massachussetts!!!