Author: gearman0326
Day 6 is in the History books
Hiya cycling fans!
What a day! It started off like any other day this week, ice the water and gatorade for the riders to fill their bottles, load luggage into truck, drive away… Well, there was a Truck detour on our route today- everyone else was fine, but I got sent out and around and back on an excursion that kept me behind the pack all the way to Rest Stop 1, and I’m typically just shy of mid pack by then. Hurry and rush as I might, a shortcut here and no stop for supplies there weren’t enough to get me back on schedule and the first two riders arrived before I’d even unlocked the cargo doors on the truck.
While it took a whole lot of hurrying, and some help from the cyclists and a couple of the volunteers who came in early to help, I finally got caught up by the time roughly the first third of the riders finished. Their assistance actually gave me a chance to take a break and rest an increasingly sore knee- that turned into a couple short naps that gave me the energy to get through all the hectic stuff that followed… Final night dinner and awards ceremony, finding “The Rock”, digging out the Cornhole stuff, the raffle prizes, the Kokomo Bullshirt contest, reloading the truck for overnight security… The last night is a lot of fun, but a labor of love.
We managed to get everything done at the reasonable hour of 9:30 or so, and then it was a few needed deep breaths, some trash duty, and now, updating you.
Tomorrow is our last day, and then we all head home to you, our loved ones. I can’t speak for the person you lent us this week, but I’m going to sleep all day Saturday… And I’m going to sleep right now, too.
Goodnight Sports Fans,
Keep the wind at your backs and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
Weather for Killington, VT and Keene, NH
Because the Summit rocks!
Hiya everyone!
A BEAUTIFUL day was had by all today- temps right around 70F most of the day, morning showers that dried up into sunny skies, and it was the shortest day of the week… And people needed the break.
We maxed out our northerly and westerly travels yesterday, and started today on aiming ourselves back towards home. Southeast from the VT state capitol of Montpelier, to Killington, and tomorrow, to Keene NH. Tomorrow is an interesting day- the riders spend the morning descending into the Connecticut River Valley, cross the river, then spend the afternoon climbing back out of it… It’s a day of a lot of ups and downs and after 5 days it’s a challenge, but for the most part, they put the toughest climbs behind them yesterday.
We had a lot of fun after dinner tonight, horseshoes, cornhole, washer toss, (Bocci and shuffleboard were available, but I can’t say if anyone played). Our cornhole tournament went long and will have to be finished tomorrow as people either went to bed, or went to the other side of the property for the raffle.
Ok, my eyelids are doing that droopy closey thing again, I’m done.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
Weather for Montpelier, VT and Killington, NH
Day 4, Enter: Fatigue
Good evening sports fans!
Today, Day 4 lived up to it’s reputation as “The hard day”. 97 miles through Crawford’s Notch, over two mountain ranges, multiple river valleys, and a tough new route to a new hotel… It was tough on the riders, but all did well, everyone is in and safe, and some of them are still even talking to Tim. The end of todays route was three tough choices at the end of a long day- Long and tough, shorter and tougher, or shortest and toughest- Otherwise, “You can’t get there from here”. The decision was made to go with the shortest and toughest option, using the “Ripping the band-aid off quickly” thought process… But we can’t build our own roads, move mountains, or reinvent topography, we can only play the cards we’re dealt. He had to make a tough choice, and he did what he thought was best. It was tough at the end of a long day. Tim will not be allowed to join in any reindeer games until further notice. However, tar and feathers have been averted, and the Russian judge has rescinded the call for his execution.
There were a couple of short doses of rain today, ranging from barely a sprinkle to a brief cloud burst- but no lightning, so everyone was able to stay safely on route.
Dinner tonight was at the Applebees next door, at your desired time, with gift cards, a slightly different dining experience, but there were others at nearby tables to chat with.
While it was a tough day for the riders, it was also a tough day for the volunteers, this one included. The idea of being in bed before 10:00 and sleeping (If insomnia lets me) until 6:00 sounds better than having John Henry pick up my bar tab after a Sox game that went eighteen innings.
If you guys will excuse me, I think I’ll go cuddle with my wife and sleep as late as I can.
Until tomorrow.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
Weather for Bartlett, NH and Montpelier, VT
Day three? Stick a fork in it.
Good evening everyone!
Wow, what a beautiful day it was traveling from the Maine Seacoast to the mountains of New Hampshire. We had a scenic route through farms, woodlands, rivers, state parks, steep cliffs, historic sites- and then we arrived at Attitash Grand Summit Hotel. After arrival, many riders opted to make an appointment with the on site massage therapist, and they filled her schedule- So, our very own Tara, also a massage therapist, broke out her table and started to do short massages for those who couldn’t get an appointment with the in house provider.
During dinner, we had a rare vintage treat- One of our riders Tom brought along an old video from a Cablevision show from I believe 1993, one of the first years the New England Classic existed. It was great to see a few familiar faces, and to look at the old bike technology as well as cycling equipment. After that, another rider, Tyler had also brought along a video he’d made- a GoPro camera mounted to his bike and recording as he rode- it was almost like being on the bike with him.
Some announcements about tomorrow’s route were made, still mostly Route 302 (If you get lost you’re an idiot) but with some changes at the end because we’re staying in a new hotel this year… Well, not a new hotel, we’ve stayed there before… but we’ve never ridden there, because we were bussed over from another hotel… because we finished and had dinner at one hotel and slept…
Oh, never mind- Let’s just leave it at “It’s a new route that we haven’t ridden before”.
ANYHOW, there’s a couple good climbs added to the end of an already tough day- Don’t quote me, but I believe it’s 97 miles tomorrow, the first 15 are up and over Crawfords Notch, past the Mt Washington Resort Hotel, and into Vermont- and as the saying goes, “Vermont ain’t flat”.
OK, tomorrow is a long day, and I’m not doing myself any favors by not getting to sleep, so bye for now.
Keep the wind at your back and the downhills in front of you,
GearMan
Always nice to feel welcomed.
gearmansays 