Kennebunk, Maine 9/25

Expecting a long day, we were up early.  Pat and Florence came down for a cup of coffee and after a quick photo op we were on the road.  We stopped and picked up some GatorAide.  Began to wonder about the day when the bridge over the Royal River was closed. We thought about riding down to the bridge to see if  we could make it over on bikes and just before we headed down the hill, we came upon a jogger. We asked him about the bridge...jogger said no way, so he saved us a ride back up a steep hill.  On down the road and asked a guy working in his yard for additional directions which got us back on track in Gray.  Looking for a snack, had to settle for a EggMcMuffin!  A town that has no motels, a decent restaurant and a bed and breakfast that won't answer its phone has a McDonalds.  It just dawned on me that if you enter an address in Google Earth and street view you can see where we are.  Enter Gray, Maine and take a look at the town. Weather was good and people were enjoying the late fall weather.  A lot of traffic around Sebago Lake.  We stopped for lunch at a sandwich shop at the corner of highway 35 and 114 in Sebago Lake. Kind of like the soup Nazi on Seinfeld.  Two young girls fixing sandwiches, no chatting, no smiles, just making sandwiches under the gaze of the boss.  After we ate, I thanked the boss and she growled, "Don't thank me, they made them".   A lot of anger.  While waiting for our sandwiches we chatted with a local who built his own steam boat out of a 26 foot life boat.  Twin paddle wheels about 6 feet in diameter.  He keeps it on Sebago Lake and spends the nights on it some times or tools around the lake at 5 mph.  I never thought to ask him what he used for fuel.  A lot of people stopping in for beer, ice etc.  Fire engines going by with sirens and lights, a happening place.  A couple bought some ice and offered some for our water bottles.  They were from Maryland and had been to a wedding in Portland, Maine.  On to North Windham where we picked up Highway 35, our route for most of the day  Some where along the road we stopped to chat with a group of people washing sheep in preparation for the county fair.  I will post a photo one day soon.  They put the sheep on stands, secured their heads and had a power washer (using Whisk soap, who knew) and Coors for the workers. I asked what kind of sheep they were and one of the guys standing there said, a variety. It appeared that it was taking about one Coors per sheep.

Sunday along the road in Maine is much like anywhere else, mow the lawn, go to church, wash the truck, go to the lake, do house repairs in anticipation of winter, etc.  About sixty miles into our ride, Rudy is talking about stopping to soak his feet in the next stream.  In stead we stopped in front of a house where a young couple were painting their porch.  I asked if we could use their nice homemade bench in their yard. No problem,he works in Massachusetts for his father in law as a piano tuner.   We asked about motels in Kennebunk and they said they were right by I 95 as you come into town.  We rolled into Kennebunk, one motel by the interstate and no eating places in sight.  We headed on into Kennebunk to US 1 thinking we might find an old motel.  Nothing in sight,  so stopped to chat with Alex just getting ready to back out of her driveway.  It was her birthday, (35th) and was feeling old but quickly acknowledged she was not going to get any sympathy from us. She gave us suggestions for lodging and dining and called up a number on her iphone for the Econolodge.  We arrived  just as Jason was coming on for a 12 hour plus shift and got checked in.  Jason's primary means of transportation is a bike so we chatted a bit.  Gave him the web page for Adventure Cycling Association, who publish the maps we use.  Then walked up town on hwy 1 past a big garden center with nice displays for Halloween to Duffy's right next to a nice stream running through town.  A new bridge is being built over the river right next to Duffy's and just before it opens, they are going to have a big party, perhaps with dancing on the bridge. (we were invited, but declined).

74 miles on a warm day but feeling good. New Hampshire tomorrow.