Season 2 Episode 3 (9/10): Stockton Springs to South Thomaston

Season 2 Episode 3 (9/10): Stockton Springs to South Thomaston –

43 miles. 2,345’ climbing. 

Ok I may be an idiot and may have been wrong! Just maybe. And maybe not. 95 miles and 6,500’ of climbing on the first day yesterday was bound to cause issues. While bending to get dressed last night, I suffered sharp cramps in my hamstring causing me to cry out Heather’s name for help. The cramps turned out to be the least of my worries and were fine this morning. 

After last year, Heather and a few of my friends warned me to change my bike seat for this year. Four days before leaving, we bumped into my amazingly kind dermatologist with the most congenial bedside manner (featured in season 1), and even she gave me a disproving look when learning I’m using the same seat. 

Maybe I’m stubborn. But what I don’t understand is how I had zero problems (zero!!) during the last five months of riding. And now one mere day and voila - a saddle sore has appeared. It wasn’t excessively hot, so I guess It’s the additional pressure from 1) so much climbing and 2) the added weight on my fully loaded bike. In training, I loaded up to 16 pounds in my panniers (combining hand weights and cans of food). On this trip, fully loaded I carry 24 pounds. 

Well, just like all those facing medical issues including those for whom we fundraise, one must carry on. So it’s time to use some of my medical arsenal, the 13 salves, ointments and creams I’m carrying and start the night and morning treatments. Fortunately, today’s ride was on the shorter side.

We departed from the simple but clean and safe Yardarm motel about 9:15 a.m.  

Yardarm Motel

After 3/4 of a mile, Heather “pulled a Mark” in two ways. First, she realized she forgot her water bottles so cycled back for them. Then she tried to blame me for why she forgot them. Both moves so unlike her and much more like me. I have to hope she doesn’t become more like me. 

The geography of Maine is some thing I hadn’t considered before and is like other coastal areas. There are many pieces of land that extend into the sea, like fingers, with long inlets, coves and bays separating them. That’s why the interstate or major roads are more inland. But for coastal communities to connect, there are many bridges for cars, and in some cases only pedestrians and cyclists. We found one about 7 miles in at Belfast. 

Heading into Belfast

We were impressed with how smooth the roads were, and in many places fresh blacktop with the new lines not even yet painted. A cyclist’s dream surface. I wondered how a poor state has such amazing roads?

Fresh blacktop, cyclist’s dream. But no lines yet so where is the shoulder?

After 28 scenic miles with frequent glimpses of the Atlantic on our left, we came upon the charming town of Camden. It enjoys a picture perfect setting on Penobscot Bay. We entered the Camden Deli on a packed Main Street, planning for a quick, light, healthy lunch. That was until I saw the dessert display window, of course right where you order. Cinnamon Bun Cheesecake was so dreamy and packed with moans in every bite. 

I’d drive back to the Camden Deli just for this!

Even Heather agreed the crust was irresistible, and we marveled at how firm it was.

It was the antidote to any cramps and soreness from yesterday!

We resumed riding and I was in a post-dessert blissful state that got immediately shattered when a driver yelled at us to get on the F…ing sidewalk! 

Fortunately, the rest of our ride was calm and peaceful. We felt strong so we added a scenic loop through Owls Head on route to our destination in South Thomaston. We arrived to find a town center with only 3 buildings. 

Post office indeed the size of a postage stamp as guest blogger/rider Jacques in season 1 coined the phrase.

Ordering take out dinner in one of the other two buildings, I asked a single, short, polite, simple question: what vegetables are in the veggie omelet? Even Heather admits the counter woman glared at me with a death stare as if I’d asked an intimate personal question. It was the kind of look that made me think if this were a movie, she’d be the one coming to kill us in our B and B just 2 buildings away. I honestly took an extra minute to calculate the risk to my life if I asked for tomatoes instead of green peppers. I hesitated to ask but found the courage to do so and survived.  

 

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