28 August Saturday Orford, NH – North Woodstock, NH

Starting Point: Orford, NH
Ending Point: North Woodstock, NH
Via: Piermont, Haverhill, and North Haverhill
Mileage: 38.5   
Time: 4:14   
Mph: 9.1
Terrain: extremely hilly (grades of 10%, 12%)
Vertical climbing: 2,138
Temperature High: 78
Temperature Low: 52
Lunch: turkey/cheese sandwich
Dinner: restaurant
Weather: sunny
Lodging: Maple Haven Campground
Cumulative Mileage: 4,078
Miles to Go: 122
Projected Distance: 4,200
Days completed: 84 (including 9 rest days) [includes North Woodstock rest day]
Distance Completed: 97%
Days to Go: 3

To pledge: http://pledgejohn.lungne.org

     We prolonged our stay in Vermont in the morning by biking over the bridge to Fairlee and eating breakfast there.

Connecticut River Valley: The Border between VT and NH

New Hampshire Farmhouse and Stone Wall

As I was getting prepared to go in a couple of guys in a pick-up truck started asking about my recumbent and the ride. One of them was named “Hap” and I never did get the other one’s name. We had some things in common: we were both “from away”, in other words, transplants from Connecticut. We both have, how shall I put this kindly, varied work lives.
     I knew it was going to be a hilly day, but the weather was again perfect and the woods were just full of light and shadow. The woods beckoned me, but I kept on pedaling, putting off hiking until a different moment.
     North Woodstock is a very touristy town – we had to wait 40 minutes to get seated in a restaurant. We could have, of course, cooked at camp, but today was the beginning of the group’s second-to-last rest day and my LAST rest day before Brunswick. We chose to eat at the Woodstock Inn which also doubles as a tavern.
     Tomorrow will be a day of relaxed walking and riding. It is supposed to be really hot outside so I’ll have to seek out some cool shelter somewhere – maybe a movie theater.

New Hampshire Woods - White Mountains

White Mountain Road

Beaver Pond near Lost River Gorge

A note about Sunday morning...Joe treated us to pancakes with blueberries and Vermont Maple Syrup at camp. He and Dan prepared them in very fine fashion.