Nik and I spent Memorial
Weekend biking from Boston to Ogunquit Maine and back. This trip felt like a
fitting last practice ride as it was on this weekend last year, that I really
feel hard for biking touring. I
specifically remembering the hill I was coasting down when I distinctly thought
to myself, “This is AWESOME. I must do more!”
We left early on Saturday
morning and biked a scenic route up along the Massachusetts and New Hampshire
coastline into Southern Maine. Well, the scenic part starts when we are
actually on 1A (the old highway we take all the way from Peabody to Ogunquit),
before that it is a very different type of urban beauty that only places like
Revere and Saugus can offer.
1A is great from a few
reasons;
1.
Not a lot of
traffic (95 is so much faster)
2.
Big shoulders for
bikes
3.
Hugs the coast
which is gorgeous
4.
Most importantly,
it brings you right past White Farms Ice Cream, possibly the best ice cream
ever and we stand by this even as people who had JP Licks ice cream cake at our
wedding
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| Nik biking into Hampton Beach |
We stayed at an old farmhouse
owned by family friends the Fortenbaughs’, who generously let us use their home
with a liberal frequency that makes it feel like our own. It smells like my childhood (in a good way).
Then, we went to Ogunquit
beach.
This is really where the
relationship breakdown occurs between Nik and I.
I am a beach person, while Nik,
is sadly in some sort of misfortunate, sickened state right now where his body
and mind are not able absorb the beauty of a good beach day. A day where all
that is asked of your is to bask in the sun, dip in refreshing water and maybe
part take in some quiet reading time or a leisurely walk. Please know that
Nik’s inability to appreciate this is not his fault, it is a disease that
forces him to feel “restless” when surrounded by these elements.
Thank you to Tyler, a good
friend of mine from Boston who drove up to meet us at the beach and bring the
ultimate beach game, Fresco Ball. This is a Brazilian paddle ball game. Think
Bad Minton, but with more oval paddles and a smaller ball. Tyler, also
generously chauffeured us around to pick up BBQ supplies, a task admittedly
easier when you succumb to the conveniences of a motor vehicle.
BBQ back at our place. Old
fashion Memorial BBQ of hot dogs, hamburgers, grilled eggplant grilled corn, Smore’s.
and a good portion of a slowly dwindling Harpoon stash. Sparklers, poker, good
times.
Monday we were back on our
bikes headed to Boston, after a blueberry pancake power breakfast. Century
number two for the weekend. On the way back I felt like I was actually getting
better at biking. The long ride forces
me to pay attention to nuances in my form.
I found that by pushing harder on my pedals with my legs I use more leg
muscle and rely less on my always aching shoulders (especially the left one).
This will be our last
practice ride not so much because we don’t need more practice but because there
are limited days left to spend time saying good bye to our friends in New
England. We plan to spend the rest of our weekends here packing in the Boston
Love.
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| Governor of New Hampshire's House |
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| Portsmouth |
