October 1st: Campbellton, New Brunswick to Saint Agatha, Maine

Well I made it to the most North Eastern point in the United States and took a couple of photos there -- Matawaska, Maine.

I have one more day to ride and I should be at my Dad's old Farm in Mapleton, Maine where I will end my trip. I'm almost there.

Campbellton, New Brunswick to Saint Agatha, Maine -- Thursday, October 1st (86 miles)

I started heading toward Saint Leonard and was grinding back up the mountain feeling sorry for myself and whining just a little. This part of the mountain was pretty steep so I got off to walk my bike for a ways and a couple of nice Canadians stopped to see if I wanted a ride. Normally I would have said “No”, but I saw no reason that I needed to ride over the same road twice. I had already ridden down this road and I was just heading back where I had already ridden – Soooo .. I took the ride. 35 mile ride to Saint Quentin. That ride saved me about 5 hours of pedaling up a pretty tough mountain and helped me get back to Maine much faster. I still had to go about 50 miles to get to Maine, but it sure was nice getting that ride. Reginald and ReJean were their names. Very nice men heading to work in Saint Quentin where they were sheet rocking a house. Thanks guys for the ride.

My front tire continued to leak air since yesterday and I just keep blowing it up. I finally got back to Van Buren, Maine and there is a small bike shop there. He did not have a great selection of tires, but he had a few and I purchased a tire and tube for my bike and replaced it. It is a medium grade tire. 85 psi tire, but it will do for a couple hundred more miles. I hopefully will get rid of my stupid leaking problem. That is tire # 6 for this trip. I did not realize I would need 6 tires for this trip. I will know better next time.

The Most North Eastern Part of the United States – Madawaska, Maine. It has been raining a little this afternoon, but not terrible. It is pretty cold and the rain makes it a little worse. I continued on to Madawaska, Maine. I did not know this till I got here but Madawaska is one of the 4 corners of the United States. It is the most North Eastern point of the United States. It was a little too dark and it was raining, so I did not get any photos of Madawaska other than a photo of the City Sign. I met a man in Madawaska named Gary from Gary’s upholstery. He was very helpful and helped me pick a route back down to Mapleton for tomorrow. I am sure with his help, my route will be a little better than the one I was planning. Thanks Gary.

I kept riding up Highway 1 till I got to Saint Agatha and it was raining and I was wet and all my gear was wet from sleeping outside last night. There is a little hotel here in Saint Agatha and they only wanted $54 for a real nice room, so I stayed at a hotel again. I am getting spoiled but at least I am dry and clean again.

I think I can get to my Grandfather’s Old Farm in one more day so I will try and get there on Friday. My trip is almost over. If feels kind of Sad to me. I always knew I would get here but it always seemed so far away. I think I am about 70 to 80 miles away now and I think I can get there tomorrow. I am kind of glad, because my Rear End Is very sore I don’t think it will take much more punishment. My skin is raw. I am a little tired and my legs are sore. But I still feel good and I am almost there.

I got up and was eating breakfast at the Hotel (Complimentary Continental) and the owner Arlene was there and began to speak to me. Her and her husband Ken have a Honda Goldwing that they ride every summer across the US somewhere. Ken came out and was speaking to me and he had to go to Matawaska so he took me there to get a photo in front of the 4-Corner US Monument. That was nice. Thanks Ken. Arlene was being nice so she told me that she was waiving my Hotel fee and would not let me pay the Hotel fare. That was very nice of them to do that.

I am getting a late start with this email and the ride to take a photo in front of the monument, but I will make it anyway. Just a little later.

Just a little more to go.

Later,
Dan

St Leonard N Brunswick Sept 30 Oct 1 to Campbellton to St Agatha 32