This entry was posted on 5/14/2006 8:54 PM and is filed under uncategorized.
I came prepared for rain. I came prepared for sun. I came prepared for bugs. I came prepared for snow, although slightly. Clearly, I was not prepared for natural disasters of any sort.
So, it looks like I've moved into this house in Westford, Massachusetts. I planned a rest day here for Friday. Saturday, my aunt wouldn't let me leave, and since I'd have had to camp that night, I didn't argue. Today it was worse. Tomorrow, the rivers are supposed to reach their highest point. We just went to get Ice Cream at Kimball Farms, and the road was flooded out. I'll go out and take some pictures tomorrow.
I want to get back on the road, but I don't know which roads are closed, and which ones, you know, aren't. Plus, roads are flooded, and rivers are flooded, and the governer declared a state of emergency.
So, now I'm kind of on the fence. Is it cavalier or foolish to unicycle in the rain, with roads and rivers flooding left and right?
Anyway, I should update you beyond my first day of riding.
When I arrived in Westford on Thursday, I did a little demonstration for the daycare and preschool downstairs. I got asked what the most interesting thing I've seen is. I didn't come up with an answer, but that night, I decided.
The most interesting thing I've seen in my travels so far was a Post Office that sold golf clubs.
Sunday, my second day on the road, I'd busted my butt up and down the foothills of Western Maine to get to the state line. I went through Paris, Norway, Denmark, but I finally made it to New Hampshire. Funny, I thought I was heading into the White Mountains, but the hardest climb I've had was on the Maine side of the state line. Once I crossed into New Hampshire, everything flattened out. It was great for the end of the day.
I planned to stay in Snowville, NH, because it was a AAA recommended place to dine and lodge. So, even though I would be camping out, surely there would be a store I could get food for dinner and breakfast the next morning. Yeah, turns out I was wrong. I kept riding until I got to Eaton Center, but the only store in town was closed! It was getting dark, and cold, and I was getting hungry, so I was getting worried. I flagged someone down in a car, and found out from then there wasn't a store within 15 miles, but there was fine dining at the Inn. Great, I've got no money, sweaty, and dressed in bike shorts and a lime green t-shirt, and I have to go into the fine dining inn.
I struck a deal with the management, though, and they took great care of me. Thank you Tim at the Inn at Crystal Lake.
The next morning, I needed breakfast, so I headed back to the only store in town.
Let me demonstrate how small this town was. There was a banner outside that said "Phil's back and we're cooking!" There was a notecard posted on the bulletin board that said "Need yardwork done? Call Jeff." That's it. There wasn't a number because everyone knew Jeff's number. "Oh yeah, Jeff. I should ask him how his mother's doin'."
(I just found out they're evacuating some communities, and closing schools just east of here. They're not evacuating here, but my next stop is south east of here. Great...)
This was the only store within 15 miles, so naturally, they covered all the bases. They had the lunch counter, they sold basic groceries, they rented movies, it was the local post office, and they also sold golf clubs. And I was an alien in their midst.
Phil knew everybody, and everyone knew Phil. I entered, once again in cycling gear and my pink helmet, and conversation stopped. I got a muffin and a chocolate milk, then sat next to Captain Pasquale to eat breakfast.
A man asked me about the unicycle, and told Phil about it. Moments later, there was a crown on the porch asking me some questions about my trip.
I met the mailcarrier-slash-school teacher, and talked to her for a while before I went in to turn in the milk bottle to Postmaster/Chef Phil. He gave me a couple muffins for the road. Eaton, NH was very nice to a weary traveller like myself.
Take care, everyone. I might be held up here for a little more time. I can't wait to get back on the road, though. It's looking good!
UnicycleMax
, Cece.
