Day 7 Wednesday

Madawaska, Maine from the 2008 4 Corners Tour

Day 7...one week in the books.

Today Terry rode from Waterbury Connecticut to the 2nd corner in   Madawaska, Maine on the US and Canadian border to Houlton Maine.  The roads are different on the East coast.  Lots of traffic and many on the road.

I asked him if he could bring me back a red leaf or two.  I can only imagine the change of colors being stunning.  He said that the full spectrum has not turned up as far as he has seen, but he would try to remember to get me some.  He laughed and said he had been dodging them, as it has turned windy and cold, with lows hovering around 42 and highs in the mid 50's.

He checked in at Madawaska, ME around 4pm, did the paperwork, gassed up and put it all in the mail (ride rules) and as soon as he released the envelope, remembered that he did not put the mileage on the ticket, part of the requirements.  I will email them to give them that piece of information.  He then continued on to Houlton, ME for the night.

Houlton, ME

Tomorrow, if the shop is open, he will stop to get the oil changed in Portsmouth, ME at Street Cycles.

He made the appointment before he left.  It was the same place he stopped in 2008.

Ride stats:

Total miles:  697

O/A miles:  55.7 mph

moving avg:  64.5 mph

max speed:  90.4

total time:  12.30

moving time:  10.48

rest time:  1.42

route for tomorrow: Houlton, ME to Portsmouth, ME to Lebanon, KS

And that's it for tonight...sleep tight all....Especially you my dear Terry...

Day 6 Tuesday

End of Day 6, sorry about the incorrect day for yesterday....didn't catch it until someone pointed it out this morning.

Welcome to Waterbury

He has finished the day at Waterbury CT.  Said there is allot of road construction and authorities monitoring the 65 mph limit.  So the miles are not so easily attained.  He was ready to turn in after our chat, a 3 hour difference now from me.

At one of his 2 nap stops, (didn't sleep well last night) he met a man that asked him where he was from, and when he said California...San Luis Obispo, he said "you mean SLO town?"  Only the locals know that!  Turns out he is from Sonora, both a long way from home.  

He was up and awake, not intentionally by 4am and hit the road by 5am, hence, time to turn in to get a good nights sleep.

Today's stats:

Overall avg speed:  55 mph

Moving avg speed:  67 mph

Max speed:  88 mph

Total time:  13.15

Moving time:  10.56

Stop time:  2.19  (2 naps, gas, eat)

Total miles covered:  732.8

route for tomorrow Waterbury CT to Madawaska Maine

Day 5 Monday

Just a quick note.  Terry called around 6:45am pst and he had continued east.  Still uncertain of the day.  His back was better than expected, but cold & wet conditions.  He said he would call at his next stop.  I will keep everyone posted....Keep prayers and good thoughts going in his direction.

Brookville, OH

Day 5 in the books.
Attitude adjusted, back doing much better = good day

It is now 3 hrs different from home, good talk, time to get off the phone and prep for tomorrow.  Rain is expected.  Nice to have options of different routes to skirt around some of the weather.
He was able to replace the camelback tip, so water is accessible all day once again.

He mentioned that he did his good deed for the day by putting out a fire in the hotel's mulch outside the lobby.  Somebody had tossed their cigarette into it & off it went.  Another use for the camelback!

Used his McDonald's certificate that he has been hanging onto since we were in Moab UT last year!!  He was so proud of himself  :)

Today's stats:

O/A avg speed:  60.6 mph
Moving avg:  68.6 mph
total time:  11hrs 41 min
Moving time:  10hrs 20 min
stop time:  1hr 21 min

miles traveled......708

All in all...a good day

Day 4 Sunday

Rawlins, WY to Marysville, KS

First run through the geographical center of the USA was today.

outside of Lebanon, Kansas 

Not much to report, approximately 660 miles today.

It will be decided in the morning whether to continue or head home.  The side stand gave way which caused a tip over...no crash...was standing still.  But in picking up the bike he hurt his lower back.  We will see what shape he is tomorrow and whether he will continue or not.  If in pain, no need to proceed at this point.  

The only comment other than going over his physical condition, was that there is "corn everywhere!"  I would love to see the country he has covered this far.

His health and well being are first priority...we will see what the morning brings.

Until then...

Day 3 Saturday

 Hermiston OR to Rawlins WY

Hermiston, OR

 Day 3 down and in the books.  In his words "got hung out today".  I think doing the 839.5 miles seemed longer to him (seems long to me) ....just little things to adjust to.  His back is challenging him, not bad but constant.  Found a rip in the leg of his rainpants, though they weren't tested today. He felt the back of his leg getting wet and realized that he had  lost the mouthpiece on the Camelback.  He keeps it in a soft cooler strapped to the passenger seat for easy hydration.
Tomorrow, a mere 552 miles to Lebanon, KS for the first pass through.  Then head north east to Madawaska, Maine. 
 Not too much chit chat tonight.  We are an hour different and he still had things to do before he could turn in.

Missin him....

Rawlins WY

Day 2 Friday

 End of day 2.  There won't be any pictures by Terry until he gets home.  We have contact by phone, but he opted for only a phone and a gps, no smart phone, no computer.  Simpler that way, and as the sticker on his helmet says...OLD SCHOOL.

He made it to the first corner,    Blaine, WA     this morning.  Did his paperwork at Bay Cafe, which consists of a gas receipt, the time, location and date.  He has to mail it from the locations.  And take a picture.

He grabbed lunch and gassed up and continued on to I84 and stopped for the night around 5:30pm at  Hermiston, OR when he was getting wet enough to either stop for the night or continue for another 100 miles.  He stopped.  After all he left at 4am this morning!  Time to get some sleep.

So we checked the weather, had a good chat and time for both of us to wind down.

He rode 781 miles today with an average of 63.7 mph.

Yesterday was 798 miles. With an average of 62.4 mph.

He has no idea that I have a poll on the blog, this data will come in very handy.

The gps gives me more information than I can use.

That's it for tonight, night all...

Day 1-The Journey Begins

With much planning and a short delay the journey begins.  Terry is celebrating his 60 years with living a passion he has had since a young man.  Many hours will be spent in the saddle, many more miles will be covered and a lifetime journey will be made.

This says it all..."It's not the destination, it's the journey".  And "OLD SCHOOL"

Day one started early.  Pulled out of the driveway at 5:15 am.  800 miles later, up I-5, he called it a day in Eugene, OR.  Ready for some dinner and a night's rest.  I will try to keep up with him, on paper, and share his experience with all who want to tag along. 

Cockpit

Suiting Up

And away he goes...

In The Beginning.....