Seacoast Century

[Crankin]

Wow, I can't believe you did the Amesbury/Seabrook portion last... We did it first, last year and got it out of the way. There was little traffic at 7:30 AM.
A very good description.

[PAP103]

We arrived in the parking lot at 7:15. The registration line was long and slow so we decided that we'd to the southern loop then come back. This was suggested by one of the volunteers. This loop is about 17 miles of flat, boring road. Most of it on a main road with a nicer loop down into a residential neighborhood. We got back to the start in about an hour. We checked in and used the facilities. While we were there another group of friends were arriving to start their ride. We decided to wait for them and all headed out together on the northern loop. I was time restricted and had to be back by 11:15 so I only rode another 10 miles out. The others went on and I headed back. There was a pretty strong headwind and there seemed to be nobody heading my way so I rode the 10 miles back alone. I flew out on the tail wind but slogged back at about 12 mph on the way back against the wind.

When I got back to the start, I checked in and then headed up to Ft McClarey to volunteer. I had a wonderful afternoon with the nice folks of GSW and chatted with riders from all over. I made enough peanut butter sandwiched to las a person a lifetime! I had a great day.

[indigoiis]

PAP, you did it right.
Next year, I'm doing as you and Robyn say and doing the southern loop first.

Top ten parts of the ride:

10: Seeing the trays of oreos, free for the taking.
9: Passing guys
8: The 360 degree left-turning curve outside of Portsmouth, with rosehips on one side, the ocean dead ahead, a slight downhill... wheeeeee!!!
7: Jimmy Eat World song "The Middle" coming on in my head around mile 50.
6: The roofers whistling and cheering the riders on.
5: Did I mention the oreos?
4: The ocean view I got a peak at as I drafted 21 mph behind Mister Speedy
3: A second wind at mile 94
2: Watching Mister Indy jump, bike and all, over a roadkill, while going 21 mph, and yelling "roadkill!" (I did not jump my bike over the roadkill, but politely swerved.)
1: Being alone for the last 5 miles, no other riders around, just me, the ugly honkytonk t-shirt shop lined road, the wind, and my head.

p.s. the peanut butter sandwiches were deelish. Thank you PAP and ALL THE VOLUNTEERS!!!! You guys rock.

[tygab]

awesome details, thank you! I really felt like I knew what you were going through [it doesn't hurt that I did the Salisbury MA to Kittery ME section at the end of August] on the ride. I hate the part around Hampton Beach too, once the traffic is coming in. It definitely detracts from the rest of the very pretty route.

Great accomplishment and congratulations! It sounds like you had a very good time on the bike, and after all isn't that what we really are after? And a century to boot, nice!