Sunday, July 19, 2009

Blessed in Belfast











7/14/09 ~ 
For the first time on the trip, after a great night around a campfire, we decided to sleep in. We did not set an alarm clock and slept on the couches in Christie's house until we naturally woke up. This was fitting to the spirit of the trip as we were in the relaxed mode now, knowing we were close to finishing and just trying to enjoy every moment of the final few days. We finally woke up around 9:30, said our goodbyes to our great host and pounded down a dozen donuts at Dunkin Donuts. 
After breakfast we did the shortest ride of our trip, a 30 mile trek along the Maine coastline to our planned out destination of Belfast where we had a cottage waiting for us. In a similar to Kansas-esque fashion of hosts calling ahead to the next town to host us for the evening, Mark and Kathy in Placerville, Colorado called ahead to Kathy's mother Jean in Belfast, Maine and told us we would be coming through. I still cannot get over the fact that us randomly knocking on a door in Colorado led us to a cottage in Belfast, Maine, but nonetheless we rolled into the quaint little fishing town with a home already lined up. 
Upon pedaling into town, Charlie (Kathy's brother in law) called us up and told us to come to his café the "BayWrap" for lunch and we enjoyed a free meal of wraps. If you are ever in the Augusta or Belfast areas, I would definitely recommend a stop at the "BayWrap". After visiting with Charlie, he gave us directions to his mother in law Jean's cottage and we headed over there. Jean an energetic woman whom enjoys bike touring herself showed us to our own oceanfront cottage. We spent the afternoon relaxing on the porch swing, overlooking the vast expanse of the ocean. 
That evening Jean prepared a big spaghetti dinner, and we enjoyed an evening listening to Jean's stories of her canoeing down the Colorado River and bike tours and listening to Charlie and his wife Liz talk about their six month honeymoon in which they spent a month hiking in the Himalayas. It is truly amazing to hear the crazy things that people we have stayed with have done and learned from their adventures. They not only encouraged us and our adventure in many ways but they put ideas in my head of future endeavors. Before we knew it, it was time for bed and we all retired to our own rooms and beds feeling truly blessed for all that we have been given.

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