Bar Harbor, ME July 2 and 3

We got an early start to climb six miles to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. This is the traditional road to run, hike, bicycle or drive up in order to get a 360 degree view of Acadia National Park. Unfortunately we only saw fog, but we had to do it to complete our trip which was 4,223 miles on my odometer. Luckily we were able to buy postcards to show us what we would be able to see on a clear day.

Then we rode to the bike shop to turn our bicycles in to be shipped home. As Carol's friend, Donna Ikenberry said, "You've just shipped away your identity." Not so fast. We were having lunch when a young couple approached us to ask if we had bicycled across the country. They had seen our bicycles at the bike shop and identified us by our grease stained yellow rain gear and bicycling shoes. We felt like celebrities as we answered their questions about our trip. They told us they have three months and are contemplating buying bicycles to make the same trip themselves. We wished them luck and exchanged addresses in case they have questions.

Our last day in Bar Harbor we toured Acadia National Park by bus and foot. We dipped our feet in the Atlantic, took photos of the coastal rocks and trees coming down to the Atlantic and even enjoyed watching a seal frolicking in the surf.

Our great adventure is behind us and maybe not too soon. Our tires are wearing thin and our hair is bushy. Our bicycling clothes are looking tired from daily use and many washings. Our bicycles have been well used and beat up through rain, mud, grit and gravel. And we are more than ready to return home to reconnect with the people whom we love and who have enthusiastically supported us along the way. But we are especially grateful for the moving memories of all the people along the way who started out as strangers and became our inspiring, supportive friends.