Lake Shirley to Durham, NH

I was excited when Christie and Bill informed me that there was a paved rail-trail I could take for the first bit of my ride and even moreso when Bill said he would like to join me on his bike.  We rode together most of the way to Nashua, and I enjoyed spending a bit more time with him (especially as it took awhile to warm up and rain was threatening).  My legs were certainly feeling a wee bit shocked from the hill-iness of the day before, so it was simply a day of trudging.  Content trudging, certainly, but I'm pretty sure I took in more of the scenery than an observant tortoise would.  I took a nice long break at the Derry Public Library for lunch, partly as I could do some wifi-using and enjoy the indoor warmth, and partly because a mid-day rest was much needed.

One of my close friends, who I know from university, had put me in touch with her family in New Hampshire and, based on the status of my leg-energy-juices (low) and the impending rain/sleet/hail (forecasted for the late afternoon), I wound up picking her parent's home in Durham as my destination, which meant about ten miles less riding than it would be to get to her sister's place.  It started to hail about twenty minutes from Joanna and Steve's place.  When I decided to take a short break and see if it would pass through, I happened to run for cover under some trees and, lo and behold, the man who's property I was on was standing right on the other side of the fence!  He, too, had been outside smelling the roses and was now huddling quite close to them to avoid bruising his bald head.  We had a nice chat, I got to verify my directions, and I was on my way much cheerier than before.  

I wound up spending two nights at Joanna and Steve's.  While it was prompted by the sleet that showed up outside the day after I arrived (no winter tires on Nancy), they certainly made hanging around an easy decision for me!  Getting to spend time with the two of them, Lyddie (the resident hound), and Zoey's sister Haley who came over to visit, it was a lovely rest day in Durham.  I sometimes make jokes about my loaded bicycle being one of my 'homes' at the moment, there's nothing better than being welcomed and being made to feel 'at home' in a new place.  Thanks, Joanna, Steve, Haley, Zoey, and Lyddie, and see you all soon!

Nashua rail trail

The Derry Public Library...perhaps my longest solo lunch stop yet at nearly 2 hours

Steve and Lyddie accompanying me down the road the morning I rode out