177 miles

Total around the world bicycle miles 25,487 (41,017 km)

September 5, 2016

Yesterday I forgot to add that in Saint-Leonard we stopped for lunch at Phil’s Bar. Their specialty is wings and since we have eaten wings all over the world it was an easy decision for us. The bartender, I can’t remember her name, was very nice and makes a great wing with habanero sauce. Our favorite wings were in an Irish pub in Granada, Nicaragua and the wings from Phil’s are right up near the top. In fact, we ordered seconds. We had a good time talking with the bartender and Phil, no relation to the owner. Unfortunately, New Brunswick is another province like Ontario with very strict alcohol sales. Quebec was such a relief as after a long day on the bikes we enjoy a few cold ones. But once again in New Brunswick we are limited in time and where beer can be purchased. When we cycled into Grand Falls we found the liquor store with just minutes to spare. I was the second to the last customer so we were able to enjoy a cold one. The store closed at 5:00.

Today we left on another road less travelled and rode 32 very hilly miles through the Canadian Appalachian Mountains to the village of Perth Andover. On the way there a very kind lady, Eileen, stopped on the road and told us about an apartment she rents on a daily basis and really enjoys bikers and hikers. The village of Perth-Andover is on the International Appalachian Trail (IAT). We were headed to a campground but decided to spend only $20 more for a fully equipped apartment. What a nice find. Eileen took us to a store and once back at the apartment we cooked up a huge delicious dinner and then breakfast.

September 6, 2016

Eileen told us about a rail trail about 1 km from the rental apartment. It was a great find and another nice day riding the old railroad. We spent all day on this then crossed the St. John River and found a campground in Woodstock, New Brunswick. While preparing to cook our dinner a plastic piece on our MSR Whisperlite International fuel pump that attaches to the fuel tank broke. On reattaching this after a cleaning the plastic male piece on the fuel pump broke off on the female attachment nut and it now leaks gas. It has been a good stove as we have used unleaded gas around the world for fuel. We intend to send this to MSR. In the meantime, we will have to work around cans of food.

September 8, 2016

Yesterday we re-entered the U.S. after exiting from San Diego, California into Tijuana, Mexico on August 4, 2015. We cycled into the town of Houlton, Maine near the border to visit our next door neighbor’s mother who spends winters in Cape Canaveral. Jean lives on Lake Nickerson on a lot consisting of two cottages. Her daughter, our next door neighbor in Cape Canaveral, Andrea flew in the day after we arrived.

We have had a great time visiting with Andrea and Jean, enjoying home cooked and favorite restaurants in this small town. We have also enjoyed a different kind of transportation by exploring the entire lake one end to the other in kayaks and a canoe. What a nice peaceful setting that has been in the family for generations. Jean’s husband, who passed last year, called this lot Tranquility Point. It is full of history and mementoes representing this huge very friendly family.

September 11, 2016

Jean and Andrea have been wonderful hosts but it was time to get back on the road. They fed us breakfast and drove us back to Jean’s house in town where the bikes have been stored in the garage. The neighborhood is old Americana in a 200 year old town full of white houses and big yards. We said our goodbyes and said, “See you in Florida!”
We then got on U.S. 1 and headed southeast to Calais. The Maine scenery was beautiful and at the end of the day we found Greenland Cove Campground on East Grand Lake. We were immediately welcomed by our next door camping neighbors Colin and Jill. After we set up camp another neighbor, Ron, brought us over fresh cut tomatoes and four cooked ears of corn on the cob. Our stove is non-functional so this was very welcomed. We were then invited to Colin and Jill’s fire where we talked into the night. They are from Woodstock, New Brunswick and filled us in on some history of that area. A few days ago we had stayed in Perth-Andover. Colin and Jill told us how the town got that name. There is a downtown area then a bridge over the St. John River to another downtown area. Hence the town got the name Andover for the people on the other side – that part over the bridge.

This morning it started raining around 5 am. When we exited the tent it was still raining and Ron invited us into his trailer for breakfast! What a nice guy. Thanks Ron. We packed everything wet and cycled the 3 miles back to U.S. 1. In the increasing rain and wind, we found a break spot at the Waite General Store. The owner, Wayne, told us that a strong cold front was moving down. He showed us the weather radar on his phone and asked if we had shelter. We didn’t but decided to try and hitch a ride the 30 miles to Calais. That didn’t work so I asked the store clerk if she knew of anyone with a truck that could take us. At this point the lightening and heavy rain had set in so we thought about hanging out at the store until it passed. The clerk kindly called Wayne who had left and he returned and drove us to Calais. Wayne was a real “road angel” who picked us up out of the storm and to a motel in Calais. Thanks Wayne. We strung up our line in the motel room and hung out our wet tent and all clothes. What a mess but we were out of the dangerous weather.

Tomorrow we will cross the border to New Brunswick that continue to Nova Scotia.