Near Bangor

Saturday night it rained a lot and continued to pour through most of Sunday. I always enjoy the sound of rain on my hammock but packing up or setting up in the rain is no fun. Around 7:30 there was a brief lull and I hurriedly packed up. Somehow water had ran down my hammock straps and into my hammock. I’ve been using an air mattress in my hammock for the added warmth it provides. It was enough that it kept me out of the water and I didn’t even know it had happened until I packed up and under my sleeping pad there was a half inch of water sloshing around! It had soaked a corner of my sleepin bag. I hoped the sun would come out soon so I could dry stuff.

I was on the road by 8. It continued to rain hard. I was on route 6 leaving the Moosehead Lake area and it was miserable. Traffic was awful. Everybody was on rt 6 leaving and most of them were huge rvs or trucks pulling campers. Every time one passed me I was hit with a wall of water.I hadn’t been riding very long before I decided I had had enough. I started looking for a decent campsite along the busy road that was out of sight. Before I found one though I saw a sign for Kineo View Lodge. Its been my experience if a motel has view, lake, lodge or mountain in the name then its usually out of my price range. With it being Sunday and everybody leaving town I hoped I could get a deal so I stopped in. At the front desk they were really nice and rented me a room for $110. It was only 10:45 am and check in was 3pm. I had to wait while the room was being cleaned but then I was allowed to check in. Maybe they just didn’t want me to keep making puddles in the lobby! The view was awesome.

I took a hot shower, made coffee and cooked a bowl of Ramen noodles. I couldn’t get warm and I actually turned on the heat. I watched TV for a bit and read the rest of the day. At dinner I cooked the eggs and spam the fellow at the campground gave me. I laughed thinking about when I hiked the A.T. I used a white gas stove back then, and whenever I would cook in a motel room I would have to duct tape a ziplock bag over the smoke alarm. Just another reason I love my Jetboil. No smoke or open flames to deal with.

I got all packed up and was on the road by 9 this morning. The motel offered a bit of a breakfast and I filled up on yogurt,toast and pop tarts. The sun was out and it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day. Route 6 was completely different today it was quiet and peaceful.

The miles rolled by pretty easy most the day. Im glad there wasn’t much traffic because the shoulder deteriorated around Monson. I was forced to ride in the traffic lane but every one was polite and gave me lots of room when passing.

I was looking forward to getting on a rail trail in 25 miles or so. I kept my fingers crossed that it would be nice and bike friendly. Maine’s idea of a rail trail and mine are not the same. The Newport Dover/Foxtrot was no different! It was rough slow going

I’m not complaining Maine has been my favorite state so far. I stuck with the rail trail all day. Im stealthed camped on it right now. It is getting a little bit urban and I went through a little town or two. I was already missing the deep woods. But then I saw the best thing about towns!

Although it was very rough the trail was beautiful.