Cycle Across America – Day 102

Salisbury to Rockport

36 miles / 1,368ft climb

With 4,398 miles completed by the end of yesterday’s ride, we clocked up another 36 miles today across varied road types and a variety of landscapes.

A real mix of bike paths, a brief foray along a highway, some gorgeous, quiet lanes and a twisting, turning and hilly ‘road’ which on day 102 must be awarded the worst road surface of the entire route.

All that is left is for us to cycle 66 miles to complete our target of 4,500 miles. Easily manageable in a day but we are spinning it out over two days to savour these last few miles.

As always, a big brunch and a late afternoon ice cream helped power us through the miles and it was a real luxury to only have 36 miles to cycle today. Of course there were hills! Quite a few of them. The route certainly couldn’t have been described as flat but my legs appear to be on autopilot, and just got on with them without complaining.

In my excitement yesterday of reaching the coast, I forgot to mention that we briefly entered Maine, returned to New Hampshire and today we reached Massachusetts, our fourteenth and final state.

We passed through Gloucester this afternoon and I remembered the waterfront and the drawbridge from when we cycled from Boston to Bar Harbour in 2019. Some of you will recognise these photos.

It was on this trip that we met Jim and Moss who were nearing the end of their cycle across America. Two gentlemen nearing their 70s with a trailer on their bike, a tent, a sense of adventure, a bucket load of determination and so many stories to tell.

I recalled that meeting them was when I first briefly considered that cycling across America might make its way on my 50 things to do in my 50s list. They have a lot to answer for. 

We spent the evening in Rockport eating fish and chips on a bench overlooking the ocean. There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that we know how to celebrate in style. 

Our view from the fish and chip bench!