Road Scholar Award Stripped!!

Hey all:

In a stunning blow to Michigan, the National Academy of Highways and Bi-ways has stripped the state of its Road Scholar award for the worst cycling roads on the Northern Tier! In a last-minute decision, the award has been given to the State of Maine for the narrow, shoulder-less, and crumbling-edged surfaces they dare to call passable roads. "This was a difficult decision for the Academy," stated Dean Walters, Academy President. "Once we give out an award we are very reluctant to take it away. But the conditions of the secondary roads in Maine, specifically those chosen by Adventure Cycling for their Northern Tier, cross-country route, were too horrendous to ignore. In the end, it was a unanimous decision to give the Road Scholar to them.To the State of Michigan we say - There's always next year!"

So, this is our last riding day. We survived (sort of) the Maine roads and are in a hotel approx. 50 miles from our final destination (Bar Harbor). It is raining, so the last ride will be a bit soggy. Our bikes are starting to tell us that, they too, are ready to be done. Jake's chain broke. We fixed it. Then Jake's chain guide broke. We fixed that. Now it makes a noise that can be heard in France and is fighting him every inch. My bike likes to throw off it's cargo every time we hit a significant bump (which is every 23" here in Maine). Gatorade bottles, pumps, panniers- all have decided at one point or another to take a dive off the back of the trike.

What a long strange trip it's been. I can't believe it's almost over. Susan is driving our Subaru from Vermont today and we will rent a trailer in Bar Harbor to get us and the trikes back to Guilford. We're going to stay an extra night in Bar Harbor, so hope to be home on Thursday. I'll blog at least a couple more times in the next few days and then again when we begin our fundraising appeal in earnest.

Thanks for following along.

Take care,

Rob & Jake