White, Green, and Beyond!

Well, I posted the last blog in Maine, so that is where I shall begin. My two days on the Maine coast were very nice. There is something about the sound of waves on surf that allow one peace and thought. It would comprise my only day rest day of the trip. After leaving Westport Beach I cycled to Freeport and visited the world headquarters of L.L. Bean. They had some tempting gear, but as I did not want to carry it I only bought a needed canister of fuel. Soon after Freeport I turned left and head to the West and home.
That evening I met a 'road angel' in Turner Center who provided me with a warm place to stay, laundry (this was much needed!), shower, and the best breakfast of the whole trip. It was most excellent! From their house I cycled into New Hampshire's White Mountains along the Kancamagus Highway. I cycled up to the tour's highpoint just below 3,000 feet and then cruised down into the ski town of Lincoln. Then it was more short steep climbs for the rest of the day. Then the following two days were nice and sunny as I cycled the quite backroads of Vermont's Green Mountains. Straight from the Green Mountains I entered the Adirondacks of New York. Since it was a state forest I was expecting lots of public land, but a fair amount along the roadside was private and posted. This is also where winter caught up with me. Temperatures dropped near freezing and rain was falling. It was survival and each little town became an oasis and place to warm up. I was surrounded by mountains, but the rainy mist kept them hidden. I cycled hard for lower elevations and in three days was on the shores of Lake Ontario. This is where the hills became endless and really exhausted me. I got a room in a flophouse in Wolcott, did laundry, and had a wonderful pizza from a local pizzeria. The last few days have been difficult, but I am exiting the mountains knowing that I've got some powerful legs to put to use.
Palmyra, New York was really nice. Here I joined the flat multi-use path along the historic Erie Canal and also saw some sights around Hill Cumorah of Latter Day Saint notoriety (it's where Joseph Smith got the plates and had other religious experiences). I was cycling three days in beautiful weather along the quite banks of the canal before entering Canada at Niagara Falls. Here I stayed in a hostel and the next morning visited the Falls. Then the ride across the farmlands of Ontario commenced. 200 miles in three days along nice quite roads. It's great weather and excellent cycling!

Fall colors along the Erie Canal

American Falls from Niagara Falls, Canada

At the Falls

Ontario Farm