Cycle Across America – Day 103

Rockport to Stoneham

38 miles / 1,372ft climb

We had a false start for our penultimate day today. By the time we had left our hotel room, pedalled round the corner to reception to drop off our keys, the sky had become black, the heavens had opened, the thunder and lighting had started and the rain was torrential. All within seconds.

We sheltered in reception until the storm passed before starting again an hour later than planned. We sheltered again in a tiny corner shop when the same thing happened en route another hour later and yet again in a Greek restaurant when the storm returned in the afternoon.

We spent nearly as long evading the rain today as we did actually cycling and despite our best efforts to evade the rain our bikes, our panniers and ourselves were soaking wet and muddy when we reached our destination for the day.

Sunshine forecast for our last 30 miles tomorrow. We have an unusually early start tomorrow. Something to do with Newcastle, football and the start of the new football season.

By the time we reach Marianne and Steve’s home tomorrow, just outside Boston, we will have completed every one of the 4,500 miles we pledged to cycle.