To Byfield, MA

Another successful stage of the tour came to a close Friday afternoon when I arrived in Byfield, MA about 3:30 P.M.. I started out from Manchester, NH where I spent a fabulous night playing games with Alex, Jo, and Ray. Game nights go on for a long while, so I didn't get to bed until 1:30 or later. Consequently, when I got up in the morning I was not as rested as usual, and didn't leave until 11:00 A.M. because I was updating these pages and picking a route southeast to Byfield.

I hit construction about 20 seconds into the trip, but the man directing traffic said I could go through that street on my bike. I was very pleased! After that, I just felt very tired for about 20 miles. I felt like there was a lot of uphill in that stretch east out of Manchester, NH, as well. I was beginning to worry if I was biting off more than I could chew, this whole trip containing weeks of biking long distances.

On top of my worries, I was having some difficulties with the route I was on. The map I had was pretty crappy for the areas I was passing through, so it was little help. I was trying to go a way that was clear on the map, but was in fact not a highway, and therefore not marked to me. I knew that might happen, so I had a back-up plan all set before I even started the stage, but I was frustrated that I had to use it. About this time, I stopped at a little post office and jotted out a postcard and sent it off to my friends back at State Street Deli (and Fruit Store). Did you folks in the Deli get it? Mike? Of course, it might not come until Monday...

But in the middle of the ride, not long after the postcard was mailed, I started feeling better and perhaps the terrain started sloping down to the ocean. All in all, I dropped about 500 feet during the ride that ended five miles from the ocean. I didn't even need to stop for a meal, because I ate several "energy" bars at the start of the trip. Even towards the end when I was riding on roads designed only for cars (though bicycles are not prohibited) like Route 1 through Newburyport, I was still feeling happy and content on my bike.

I was worried that with the extremely late start I would end up getting to Byfield later than Madeline got home, but I beat her home with time to spare.

You know, I thought that these bike trips would be more exciting, somehow. Perhaps I need to stop at attractions along the way; museums, shops, and natural beauties would be nice. But, the tour overall has been very exciting because I have been visiting my family and some of my best friends, and I'm doing it BY BICYCLE. I'm doing it on my timetable, by my routes, and under my own power. I'm under budget currently, and I'm feeling well. What more could I want?

Total trip distance: 50 miles
Total ride time: 4.5 hours
Net elevation change: -500 feet

On to Stage 6: To Tamworth, New Hampshire

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