Tour 5: "Vacationland" The license plate for Maine hit it right on the nose - my slow trek across New England and into Atlantic Canada was the perfect vacation after the hectic pace I set earlier in the trip. With a full three weeks to cycle just 1453km I had plenty of time to rest and enjoy myself. My first stop was Burlington, Vermont, a pleasant little city on the edge of Lake Champlain where I stayed with a Couchsurfer named Rebecca. The next day I rode on to Lake Bomoseen where I spent a couple days with my old friends Joe and Karen. From there I crossed New Hampshire and reached the Atlantic Ocean at Portland, Maine. Just north of Portland I stumbled into a great situation. I stopped to visit a ceramic art centre in Newcastle called Watershed where I was invited to stay for a few days in exchange for a little volunteer work each day. There were some great people there and we spent more than a few hours around the campfire telling stories. After a six day stop I got back on the road and headed for Canada. I had my first breakdown of the trip (my rear derailleur fell apart) in Calais, Maine, within eye distance of the border crossing, but I had no trouble getting to Sackville on schedule. Everything about this ride was fantastic - the Adirondacks, the Green Mountains, the Atlantic Ocean, the foggy mornings, the forests, the charming New England towns and the pleasant Acadian accents. This is one that I would definitely do again. | |||
