Christmas is for family. This year, my daughter Sarah wanted us to come out to visit her in California. You see, she got engaged in September 2021 to Nate, 5 years after they met. At that time they were both immersed in school; Sarah pursuing her teaching degree and Nate becoming an RN and massage therapist. These endeavors would come to a conclusion in the spring of 2023, so the wedding celebration was set for July 1, 2023. We, the rest of the family, really had not been able to get to know Nate’s mom, Mary Miche’. Thus, Christmas plans were made to fly to San Francisco and then rent an AirBnB near Yosemite where we could explore the park and spend time together.

My ex and I flew out to SF on the 21st. Timing was perfect as Sarah picked us up, we went to have dinner and our son Alex arrived just afterward. I stayed at one of Sarah’s friend’s house – across the Golden Gate bridge in the Marin headlands. I was dropped off accompanied by her e-bike, which I rode back to her apartment the next morning. Fun! Thursday we explored the city and ended the day with a wonderful dinner at a Korean BBQ restaurant. Friday we were off to the AirBnB in a borrowed van. The next day, we drove to the valley of the park and took several hikes to waterfalls, lakes, and up the side of one of the surrounding granite walls. Back at the AirBnb, we enjoyed the spaciousness of the house, playing games, soaking in the big hot tub, great homecooked meals and walks to the lake below. Returning on Tuesday, I had a little more time to spend time with Alex and we took advantage of nearby Golden Gate Park where we saw an amazing interactive light installation and toured the Conservatory of Flowers. Finally, the two of us had a red eye flight back home on the 28th. Truly, it was a great week filled with good memories and new experiences!

We made it! 26 miles back to our cars, about half of that in the rain. Followed the Androscoggin River along a dirt road and then a newly paved road. It seems this “adventure” trail had plenty of variety to offer in terms of scenery, road and trail surfaces, weather and towns. The three of us were wet and tired when we arrived, but happy!

Today was gonna be a scorcher, so we decided to hit the road early. 6:45 am, not too shabby! 4 miles to Littleton and a down home breakfast at The Coffee Pot cafe.

Then it was a good bit of road riding, but with a full lane of bike shoulder. After lots of zigs and zags, we arrived at the Presidential Rail Trail. It’s the main event for New Hampshire and is being added to and improved upon. We started out in the Pondicherry district which was a national wildlife refuge. Beautiful lake and some cool beaver lodges. It was uphill all the way to Bowman, then a sweet, fast 10 mile downhill to our accommodations tonight… Moose Brook SP.

It’s hot today-93 degrees, so a cool shower lifted our spirits. It also happens to be CJ’s birthday today, so we wanted to go to the only brewery in Gorham to celebrate. Well, no Uber drivers, no taxis. I volunteered to ride into town for salads and beers. Thus ends another good day on the trail. Actually our next to the last day before we return to Bethel, ME where we began this adventure 6 days ago.

Saturday was sort of a tough day. We left out of Stillwater SP on a smooth, hard packed trail skirting the lake. After 15 miles, we reached the state line at Wells River, VT. Crossing into New Hampshire we went through Woodsville and got on the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail. What a difference a state makes! ATVs are allowed on this trail. This made for soft, sandy areas impossible to ride through. Or rough, gravelly areas that bumped you off your bike. Throw in the ATVs kicking up dust and the 93 degree heat…. Ughhh! Sooo, there was a KOA campground 4 miles down the road offering a campsite by the river, a dip in the cool water and a shower. Ahhh! Even had an ice cream social! After that, we snacked for dinner and hit the sleeping bags.

We woke up at our WarmShowers house after a good nights sleep. Coffee was waiting in the kitchen and good conversation with our hosts. After a group picture, we took off down the steep hill that we had the fortune of walking up the day before. Leaving Montepelier, there was a new rail trail that followed the river. For much of the way, we have been following and riding on US Route 2. It’s a fairly busy highway but does have a good wide shoulder.

We stopped in Plainfield for cold drinks and then proceeded through Marshville where we took a rail trail. It started out very sandy… Not good. But it improved. Marshfield lives up to its name as we were riding through marshy areas with lots of lakes and even saw a beaver lodge. The trail eventually took us to Stillwater State Park, which is where we are camping tonight.There are three state parks around this lake. They are nicely developed. The general store run by the campground, surprisingly, carried alcoholic beverages. Guess they’re a little more liberal up here.

Tomorrow we leave Vermont and enter New Hampshire. We don’t have a planned overnight, so we’re winging it. This is the first time Sunny has ever cycle toured, everything is new to her. So perhaps we will introduce her to stealth camping. A grand adventure!

Rode today from Richmond to Montpelier, VT. Threat of rain, but it held off until we were 15 miles down the trail having breakfast in Waterbury. So, drink coffee and wait it out.… Long rides on back gravel roads following the Winooski River.

Tonight we are staying with Gretta and Jacob, WarmShowers hosts extraordinaire! Such welcoming and gracious hosts. And, to top it off, we discovered that they were directors at the Quaker center in CA where my daughter Sarah will be getting married next summer. And they personally know her fiancé, Nate! Crazy, huh? Big world, small family.

So, today started early. At 5 am it was light and I needed to get Sarah to the Bangor airport and myself to Bethel, ME. About 4 hours driving in order to meet two friends and take a shuttle to Burlington, VT. The plan is to ride the Cross VT and NH Adventure Trail. It is a patchwork of backroads (paved and gravel), rail trails and single track trails. We rode all three today. It was a hoot! Beautiful farmland, big barns and old houses. Tonight we are staying at a WarmShowers host in Richmond, VT. WS is a website where hosts offer a place to stay and a warm shower for cyclists. Deborah was most gracious opening her house and yard to us tonight. Tomorrow we’re off to Montpelier and another WS host. Feels good to be back in the saddle again!

Quintessential Maine… I just twisted, broke apart, forked and devoured an entire lobster! Yum! Delish! Sarah and I worked up an appetite today by taking the ferry to Little Cranberry Island and exploring it on foot. A nap on a warm rock by the sea was in order as the sky was a deep blue and the sun brilliant. Tomorrow it’s off for Part 2 of this adventure. Stay tuned!

A transition day here as we took Alex and Jess to Bangor to catch a bus back to Boston. That was after the kids hiked to the top of Mt. Cadillac and I drove up. Sarah and I then moved to a new campground on the less popular side of the park. We were able to have a nice walk along the rocky shore, visit a lighthouse and the fishing town of Bass Harbor.

Sort of a misty rainy day, but that didn’t stop us from having a great Father’s Day. A hike around Jordan’s Pond, up to Bubble Rocks, popovers (muffins baked at high temps that expand from hot air inside to make them hollow) at the Pond House, and a card game and a beer in Bar Harbor.