That's How We Roll: Another Plan B!

Everyday I am seeing more and more fall colors. My initial plan was to start this bike trip early enough before the fall colors were out so I would not be competing for accommodations and I would not have to worry about traffic and drivers focused on foliage and not focused on the bike they are about to overtake. But, like I said, every day I see more color. You can see it in my photo journal. So, I think I need to go to Plan B. I need to start embracing the colors. Oh boy! This is going to be trip through New England during fall foliage, how lucky can I be? I feel better already. Plan B is working.

Also, in the spirit of flexibility and new plans, I might just take rest days when I find cheap lodging, lodging that's not sketchy with horizontal mirrors on the wall. My lodging tonight is $47/night with tax. I called a friend of mine from high school, Shari, who has family in this area, and she told me all the places I should see. So tomorrow I am going to be a tourist in the Kennebunk area. Actually the Wells, Ogunquit, York area, and I will start riding again on Thursday. Tomorrow's pictures will be tourist pictures, stand by.

People were wondering if I was going to have any more mechanical problems. Well, I did have one I did not report. I have a nice, classic touring leather Brooks saddle. I was wondering if it would give me problems riding it every day. Well after 4 days of riding, I was getting a couple of saddle sores. I could tell you where one of them was, but I can only tell my wife, Dennie, where the other one was. I thought this might be a problem, so I actually packed another saddle. So, before day 5 of riding, I changed saddles, and everything is better. My buddy Jim said, "You packed two saddles!?!" I said, "Yes, and after a week, if everything was good with the Brooks, I would ship the Selle home. But if the Brooks was a problem, I would ship the Brooks home. And yesterday I shipped the Brooks home." He agreed that was a good plan. So I lose a few aesthetic points for the trip, so be it.

Today was a great ride. I was thinking that I have shot enough green and water pictures, so I would just ride today ... but I found myself applying the brakes, pulling out the camera and shooting all day. Today I rode a half century and it felt good. Tomorrow I play tourist in this area.