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Day 144 - Thursday 6-6-02 - mileage today 55.0 - climbed today 2,850' - MILEAGE TO DATE = 5,619.25
From Harvard Square to Newburyport, Ma
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH

Beth is a longtime very dear friend of mine.  Today is her very special 40th birthday. Sorry Beth for telling the world your age. Beth lives in California with her husband Chris and her children Cassidy and Connor.

Today we once again will attempt to get on the road. We quickly realized that today is a very special day for Harvard students. It is GRADUATION DAY. There were thousands of people in milling around in Harvard Square. WOW what a sight and special day for those who worked so hard for this one day. Riding out of Boston was some of the worst riding we have done yet. If you plan to visit Boston be aware that cycling is not easy. The frustration was the bad roads but bad sidewalks, potholes, glass and rain. It started to rain and it didn’t let up all day. The frustration was getting to both of us. Myron got to the point where he had to let it out; I got it with both barrels. We stopped for a cup of coffee at Newburyport. It is a beautiful town. While we were having coffee Nancy walked up to us and asked if those were our bikes out front. We said yes. She introduced herself and told us she owns a bicycling tour company "EASTRIDERS" They run tours in Europe. Nancy herself has been on several long tours herself, including a trans America tour. Nancy invited us to stay with her and her husband, Jim and their dog, Jasmine. Myron and I were thankful to have a warm dry place to sleep. We really enjoyed staying with Jim and Nancy. We had fun talking touring.

Day 145 - Friday 6-7-02 - mileage today 24.1 - climbed today 1,040' - MILEAGE TO DATE = 5643.35
From Newburyport to Exeter
Good Bye John

It is with sorrow we say good-bye to John. John has decided to continue on his own. We really enjoyed having John cycle with us. John and I really had a similar sense of humor, however he was quicker than I am. We will miss you John. We did have another cyclist, Chuck join us today. Chuck is a 63-year-old man who lives in Troy, NY. He is into all sorts of hobbies, cycling, kayaking, and hiking and cross-country skiing.  We had planned for Chuck to join us from the beginning. Chuck road with us two years ago across the United States. Chuck is planning to stay with us until we finish in San Diego. On the way to pick up Chuck in Exeter Myron took a nasty fall. He is ok but he is sore and moving a little slowly. He is skinned up but handling it very well. I was concerned that he might go into shock. I watch him closely. We rode on to meet Chuck and the only complaint Myron had, was that he was hungry. When he said I'm hungry, I knew that he was normal. Myron and I would like to take a moment to thank and say good-bye to" THE SKILLS LAB CLASS" They are a high school class who has been following us on the web. They write us weekly. Some of the kids will be going on to college. Others will be going on to start their carriers. And still others will enjoy their summers and come back to school next year. Myron and I have really enjoyed corresponding with you. We hope that you will continue writing us this summer. We also want to encourage you to follow your dreams. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU SET YOUR MIND TO.

Day 146 - Sat 6-8-02 - mileage today 42.2 - climbed today - MILEAGE TO DATE = 5,685.55
From Exeter to Kennebunk, Me
WE FINALLY REACH MAINE

Myron slept pretty well last night. He said it was a bit hard to get comfortable, but he slept anyway. He cycled well today, better than I thought he would. He is a real trouper. He took the lead of this rag tag group for a while. We couldn't keep up with him, so the fall hadn't affected his cycling. He can't walk well but he can cycle. We had the good fortune of riding into Portsmouth, NH while the town was having a festival. There was a lot of good smelling food and live music. Some of my favorite things.  We had just finished breakfast otherwise I would have gorged on BBQ sausage. We soon crossed into Maine. I have been waiting for this. I have never been to Maine. It is what I consider to be our halfway point. I'm ready to start heading towards home.  We are camped in the woods behind a rest stop just outside of Kennebunk, Maine. We have a very observant and smart reader. Al Dieffenbach emailed recently with a correction. Al wrote saying that Wilbur Write died of Typhoid Fever in 1912 not Tuberculosis.

Day 147 - Sunday 6-9-02 - mileage today 62.6 - climbed today 2,430' - MILEAGE TO DATE=5,748.15
From Kennebunk, Me to Bath, Me
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY

Mike is a friend of mine from the Trans- Am trip two years ago. Mike is my age and at the time at the same place in life. Mike is the one we stayed with in Boca Raton, Fl. Mike and his girlfriend, Joyce is in the southwest cycling for his birthday. I can’t wait to ear how their trip is. We had a great day cycling in southeast Maine. I'm surprised to see road signs in residential areas that read, "Hunt with shot gun or black powder only". I have seen several of those signs. We rode in wooded areas today. We are about a mile off the coast. I can’t wait to see the coastline of Maine. We stopped by the huge L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport. Maine has more outlet stores than anywhere I've ever been. You can be riding along thru the woods with no homes or towns around, and all of a sudden you will see a Dexter outlet or another outlet of one kind or another. Maine defiantly has a character of its own. We are camped at Thomas Point beach campground near Bank, Maine. We could camp wild but it has been several days since I've showered. Hopefully we can camp wild tomorrow. It is cheaper.

Day 148 - Monday 6-10-02 - mileage today 56.7 - climbed today 3,090' – MILEAGE TO DATE=5,804.85
From Cooks Corner to Rockland

We woke up to clear blue skies. Which was not supposed to be the case. It was forecasted to rain last night and today. It was a picture perfect day on the central coast of Maine. I sitting on a park bench enjoying watching people and cars go by. I'm in a small town named Thomaston. I rode with Chuck most of the day but I continued on when he stopped for some Ice Cream. Myron has been enjoying his days relaxing in cafes and cycling on to the next one. He usually catches up to us later in the evening. He does have to find a mechanic to drill out a bolt that was broken off when He fell the other day. He has been riding with a broken pannier rack. Hopefully he can get it fixed today. Maine has been beautiful. It is a very green and wooded state. The trees aren’t very tall but they are very healthy and green and very thick. The towns are just the way you picture them small, big parks, old buildings. Large houses and an old center of town built of brick, usually with a statue in the town square. We are camped in a clearing along hwy 1 about 5 miles out of Rockland.

Day 149 - Tue. 6-11-02 - mileage today 55.5 - climbed today 3,840' – MILEAGE TO DATE=5860.35
From Rockland to Ellsworth

We stayed in a clearing of the road last night. We all got started at different times. I usually get up early and am ready to go in no time at all. I found my match in Chuck. Chuck is up and packed and most mornings done a hike before I've even seen the light of day. Since we get up and get going at different times we have been riding separately. We have a meeting point already decided upon the night before. Chuck was the first to leave this morning. I was second. I took the opportunity to look for some food and a used book. I have been looking for a book called, " A walk in the woods by Bill Bryson". I have been to several new and used bookstores but nobody has it. I found a huge bookstore today. I thought that a store this big, they must have it. Dripping wet from rain, I walked in. There was an older lady at a counter in front of me.  I said hello. The old lady without even looking p from her book said, " terrible day out huh". I said, " No, it’s a beautiful day".  She stopped her reading, looked up, and shot a stair at me that said she very much disapproved of what I said. Sensing I said something wrong. I thought to myself she must think I'm being factious and making fun of her.  She just sat there glaring at me. I confirmed my position saying," Really I like this weather, its beautiful". She turned her attention back to her book and without looking up; said," maybe for reading a book. I didn’t want to make an enemy with the only person I've met in this town. So I agreed with her by saying," If I wasn’t riding I'd love to be reading a book". Maybe you can help me find one?  She put her book down and looked at me much more accepting now. She got up and walked around the counter. I looked at her all hunched over from Osteoporosis. She was much older than I first thought and in pain obviously. I said, that’s ok, just point me to where I might find the book. She said that it would most likely be in one of three places, actually it could be almost anywhere, she later said. As I was bent over looking for the book she asked me why I was riding on a day like this? Excited that she asked, and recognizing the opportunity to make a new friend, I stood up and walked over to her and told her about the trip. She was unimpressed, and factiously said," sounds nice", as she buried her head back into her book. Finally I found the book but, it was used and the price was the same as the new cover price. Thinking there must be a mistake I took it to the counter and said that it was used but the sticker says the same price as the new price. She said that it is the correct price and that she can’t discount it. I said sorry but I will pass and bid her a fond farewell. Just as I was walking out of the store Myron and Chuck both rode by. We rode together for a while. Chuck stopped for an ice cream and Myron for coffee. I continued on. Myron had a flat. And in the rain patched the tube. He and Chuck caught up to me later. I told Myron that his tire was still low and needed more air. He said it was fine. It was late afternoon and we were headed for Patten Pond Campground. Chuck and I went a head Myron was having a hard day. There were a lot of hills. Chuck and I checked in to the campground and were ready to set up camp when Myron road up. He looked beet. Chuck said what took you so long? Myron said that he was just tired today. I said Myron your tires flat, maybe that is why you’re so tired. He had ridden the last ten miles with a tire with about ten pounds of air. We camped at the Patten ponds campground about six miles from the Town of Ellsworth.

Day 150, 151, 152 - Wed, Thurs, Fri. - June 12,13,14 - mileage today 33.6 - climbed today 2,346' – MILEAGE TO DATE=5893.95
From Ellsworth to Bar Harbor
HALFWAY POINT

Hot-Damn we are at the half way point in the trip. We are tired and need several weeks rest. We cant do that, but seeing the halfway point really is a moral booster. Myron is just as weary as I am. He is doing remarkably well for a 70 year old. The trip is hard for the youngest, fittest person. Yet, Myron a 70 year old is hanging in there. He would like to take a break but he realizes that we have to be over the cascades before snow closes the pass. We did spend a few much needed rest days in Bar Harbor. It is such a beautiful place. It reminds me of the north coast of California. When I look out over Maine’s rugged, rocky, wooded coast, shrouded in a light fog with the smell of a wood fire; I get homesick. I miss my family and friends. I wish I were on the California coast riding with them. Don’t get me wrong I love where I am and what I'm doing. Riding with Myron. But it just isn’t the same as being at home with family and friends. While in Bar Harbor I received a care package from my mom and one from my sister. I received a birthday card from a wonderful friend Tom. Tom is a longtime friend, whom I have shared many great times with. We are long time scuba diving partners. We have well over one hundred dives together. We also enjoy playing golf but he has never let me win a round yet! HINT-HINT. I'm a bit sad rite now I'm sitting listening to John Denver. Anybody who knows me knows how much I love his music. It is raining out and I have a very soft comfortable feeling. The kind that you get when it is raining out and you’re in a cabin with a fire and good book going. I have to say I love this feeling; there is something very secure and comforting about it. I wish I had a special someone to share it with. I lead a very exciting blessed life, but I have no special someone to walk hand in hand in the rain on the beach. All in good time. While we were in Bar Harbor Myron and I ordered some new raingear and new tents. My tent leaks and I wake up in puddles of water. I have been contacted by numerous people, asking for an equipment list. I have failed to produce one yet. Please be patient, I will soon. We have put a lot of equipment to tough tests and have some recommendations as well as products to avoid. We are camped at, THE NARROWS TOO Campground. Nan, the manager has been very kind to us. Our tents are soaking wet. It is still raining out so, she let us set up our tent in a big party tent. We have been there for several days everybody at the Narrows Too has been wonderful to us. If you are ever in Trenton, ME stop in and stay a while. They will take good care of you.

Day 153 - sat. 6-15-02 - mileage today 47.7 - climbed today ??? – MILEAGE TO DATE=5,941.65
From Bar Harbor/ Trenton - to Searsport
CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME, RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM
Almost:

We started out for California today. We stopped to have all you can eat pancake breakfast sponsored by the Trenton Volunteer Fire Department. After meeting some nice folks and having our fill we set out for the west coast. Finally I'm heading home. We road separately Chuck took one route and Myron and I set out on another route. I rode ahead of Myron. He caught up with me in Ellsworth. I went to an outdoors store and he went to a ……… you guessed it a COFFEE shop. I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. I caught up with Chuck in Searsport at a WARD BOY'S remember that name. I had just come from a truck stop where I sat and wrote and had coffee. I took off and found Chuck five minutes up the road. I figured I would stop and say hi. He had just ordered a pizza and was getting ready to eat it. He invited me to join him. There were some local people who were part of a car club. They were at the table next to us. They told us to help ourselves to some brownies. I started to talk to them about the trip and went give them some cards when I couldn’t find them. They were with my wallet. I just had it fifteen minutes ago. Now I'm worried I cant find my wallet. It isn’t anywhere. I must have left it at the truck stop. I had it to pay for the coffee, so it has to be there. I got my rain gear back on and road back to get my wallet. I made a phone call just after paying for coffee. Maybe I set it on the payphone. Maybe it will still be there. I rushed in dripping wet and quickly went straight to the payphones. Nothing, I asked all the employees if anybody had turned in a wallet. No. Now I've gone and done it. A stupid mistake and I've lost my ATM card, driver’s license and 150 dollars in cash. I rode back to WARD BOY’s remember that name. Chuck was waiting, hoping for good news. Nothing I said, “It’s not there.” Chuck said sit down and eat. It’s getting late and no sign of Myron. We need to find a place to camp. The state park we were going to doesn’t allow camping. Chuck checks his cell phone messages while I look on a map for possible camping. Myron had called Chuck to say his bike broke down and that he was back in Bar Harbor. WOW, what a first day heading home.

1. It rains all day and were cold and wet

2. The state park doesn’t allow camping

3. I loose my wallet and have to cancel cards.

4. Myron is broken down 50 miles back.

5. Its getting dark and we don’t have a place to sleep.

Do you want to know the cool thing about all this???

Its Ted, the owner of WARD BOY's subs and pizza in Searsport, Maine phone 207-548-6560. Ted felt bad for me and he gave me twenty dollars to help me out. He also drove me around showing me local places to free camp. This is a fine example of how wonderful AMERICA is, and how good her people are. When Ted and I returned, Chuck and I went about 3 to 4 miles back and camped on a wooded bank overlooking the ocean in the rain.

Day 154 - Sunday 6-16-02 - mileage today 60.7 - climbed ??? – MILEAGE TO DATE=6,002.35
From Searsport to Alna
HAPPY FATHERS DAY

We woke up to cloudy skies. It rain most of the night. My new tent didn’t hold up to well in the rain. It is a single wall Eureka and it holds moisture in. I'm still dryer though than the other tent. We got a hold of Myron he had broken the spleen on his new bottom bracket. He made it to Sandy point, which is not too far from where we camped. He will meet us for breakfast in Searsport. Today is Fathers day, a great day for dads everywhere. My dad, James La Clear Stout Sr., lives in Copperopolis, California. He is the reverend at the Church of the Ascension Episcopal Church in Copperopolis. Now if that ain’t a mouth full I don’t know what is. He is also the Chaplin at for the police and fire departments as well as the local hospital. He has his hand full. I'm proud of him and Love and miss him very much. HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD!! Today was a nice ride. We were on good roads and it didn’t rain. It often looked as if it would pour at any moment but it never did. We all rode separately today. Chuck and I would leap frog each other at different time during the day. We did see Myron once in Camden but after that I didn’t see him at all. I start to worry when it begins to get dark and there is no sign of him. He often comes in late just as it is dark. He enjoys sitting in cafes. But giving the bike troubles he has had, I'm worried tonight. He hasn’t tried to call us and he doesn’t keep his phone on so we can’t reach him. I have to assume that he is ok otherwise he would have left a message. We left a message of where we are camped. Hopefully he shows soon.