Today’s Route: Route 1 to 90 to city streets to Camden to Rte 52 to Belfast to Rtes 1 & 3 to Orland.
Today: 60 miles. Total miles: Riding time: 5 hrs 15 min
Elevations: Waldoboro: 72’ Orland: 197’
Total ascent: 3837‘ Total descent: 3664
Calories: 3784 Avg speed 11.31 mph Max speed 33 mph
Lots of climbing today, as evidenced by the total ascent and descent figures above! Some at a very steep 10% grade! Route 52 is one of the worst, if not the worst and most dangerous, road I’ve been on all across the country. Several locals have expressed surprise that Adventure Cycling routes cyclists on that type of road – absolutely no shoulder, bad pavement, and a constant up and down grade – when “a better route is available!” (a phrase we often hear from our truck’s GPS!!)
After breakfast at the diner, I headed out for Orland. Jeanne stayed behind and checked out Moody’s Gift Shop where she heard an incredible survival story from clerk Cynthia Hilton: Cynthia’s grandson-in-law, an officer with the Waldoboro PD, was intentionally run over by robbers at a roadblock a few years ago and severely injured. After an intense recuperation period, he continues to work for Waldoboro PD. Also had an interesting conversation at the gift shop with Lt. Bruce Pollei, Utah Highway Patrol. It’s amazing how many people connected to law enforcement we have met all along the way!
Really glad to finally arrive at our friends’ home in Orland, Maine, where they had dinner waiting! One more riding day from here to Bar Harbor! Dave and Flora Costigan, longtime friends from our old hometown area of Ballston Lake, moved back to the Orland area about 10 years ago. They’ve been getting the word out locally about the ride and we were greeted by a great sign at the Grindle Insurance Agency on Route 1 in Bucksport (see pic)!
Jeanne went on ahead and parked the trailer at Costigans, after which she and Dave met up with me in several spots between Searsport and Orland for photo ops!
Legendary Moody's Diner in Waldoboro, ME!
Boondocking by the pond at Moody's Diner!
Cynthia Hilton, clerk at Moody's Gift Shop - a shop not to be missed if you're in this neck of the Maine woods!
Another great gift shop across the street from Moody's Diner!
Angels at Burnham's!
Took this pic at Burnhams today and then saw the same quote on the wall at our friends' house in Orland!
More fall blooms!
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Jim and friend Dave Costigan from Orland!
Crossing the Penobscot Narrows Bridge into Verona! Cool bridge!
Welcoming us to Bucksport ME! Thanks to Grindle Insurance!!
Not yet! Three more miles to go today!
Arriving at Costigans!
Idyllic Maine setting - our last camping site on this journey! Great to be with friends!
Quote for the Day: “I have always known that at last I would take this road, but yesterday I did not know it would be today.” Narihira