Saturday, June 27, 2009

Pedal Day 52 - Finish!

"The best things in life are the people we love, the places we've seen, and the memories we've made along the way."
-Plaque in Cottage Designs, Ocean Park, Maine

"Enjoy the journey. Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
-Plaque in Cottage Designs, Ocean Park, Maine

The bikes are now loaded on the Explorer waiting for the ride home to Georgia. Like horses that have been ridden hard, they are now headed for the barn for a well-deserved grooming and rest. My bike will go directly to Sunshine Cycles in Athens for a major tune-up when I get back. I have a feeling Jonathan's bike will show up there as well.
Our ride this morning was about ten miles longer than expected thanks to Maine D.O.T. (They don't spend a whole lot of money on road signs here.) and Google.maps. It was still a good ride even though it got us to the ocean about an hour later than planned. Ocean Park is the town where we finished the ride.
At Cottage Designs, a great gift shop in town, we met Nancy and Cliff Kenney who own the shop. They were very interested in our ride so we talked for quite some time. They gave us a super welcome to the Atlantic Ocean and Ocean Park, Maine. Thank you.
Jonathan, Barry, and I cleaned the salt water off of our front tires, loaded the bikes, and came back to the Wyndham Hotel in Portland to get cleaned up and off to lunch and whatever else we decided to do today.
Today we visited the L. L. Bean Outlet in Freeport. Wow, is that a big place! They have anything a person could imagine too: canoes, bikes, shoes, knives, guns, shirts, candy, rope, whatever! We did buy a few things and the prices would make you envious.
This evening we went to The Lobster Shack on Cape Elizabeth. It's a small, small place right on the ocean but the crowds are large and the food is some of the best we've had. Jonathan has been talking about lobster for the whole trip and tonight he met his match. He and Barry took on the challenge of eating lobster and they enjoyed each and every bite! I think when we get home we may all sign up for Weight Watchers!
Sometime tomorrow we will drive to Boston for a few days and then zigzag home through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky (and all the states in between).
Today I thought about the ride and all the things for which I'm thankful. There are many things on the list. Everything from pedaling through God's creation to the people we've met. There's also food, fun, mountains, oceans, wildlife, snow, your comments, and the list goes on almost without end! It will be an extremely long list whenever I do it.
"No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Sorry, no photos this evening. The technical stuff is not responding. I'll try later.
Be thankful. I am.

6 comments:

  1. Barry, congratulations. Your blogs have been wonderful. The spiritual applications have been great. Have a wonderful and safe trip home. I'm proud to say I know you!!!!! You amaze me.

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  2. Kittery Trading Post in Kittery, Maine is an awesome independent sporting goods store if you get close to them. They have alot of camping, hiking, biking, etc.
    Newick's in Dover, NH is a great place to eat lobster. It located just outside Rochester,NH where one of gun plants is located. It is beautiful location on the water and lobster is awesome. I have eaten there a bunch.
    Legal Seafood in Copley Square, downtown Boston is good too. If you shop at Sam's you find the clam chowder from their restaraunts in their stores. They are now a chain and have several locations in Boston.
    Try the north end of Boston for some of the best italian you will ever eat, since italian immigrant families settled there and family recipes have been down to current store owners. There are also wonderful italian grocers and markets for shopping.
    Have fun, you will love Boston as it is one of the cleanest and easiest major cities to navigate.
    There is no sales tax on apparel in MA, so shopping is fun. When you drive,you will get ticketed if you talk on your cell without a handsfree device in MA. S&W's home office is there so I spend a lot of time in the area. It is awesome this time of year. Enjoy!
    I was not sure your route to Boston

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  3. Up to 139 Followers at the Finish. Now begins your journey home. Please continue your blog at least till you get to Statham, Ga.
    I will miss it very much. It makes me sad thinking about it. It is the BEST DEVOTIONAL I have ever read, and it EVEN has pictures.
    Have fun on your new adventure as you head home. Make some memories and don't forget we are
    all waiting to hear about them.
    **Be safe and remember you are being prayed for today.

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  4. Congratulations Berry !!! you finished faster than I thought you could !!!

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  5. Barry,

    I have known Sarah through Dr. George for a good number of years. She mentioned your ride the other day and I wanted to congratulate you on a great endeavor. I have always wanted to go across America on a bike and this is very inspiring. Thank you so much for sharing this.

    Jake Brindle

    www.systemjake.com

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  6. Congrats! Pleased to see you made it all the way to the Atlantic and on time, to boot. If you still need an Ohio plate, let me know and I'll see about finding one for you. As I said previously, I'll miss you daily blogs . . . they were better than my daily devotional. Take care and God Bless!

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