Day 46

West Lebanon, NH to North Conway, NH

• Miles: 105 mi

• Elevation Gain: 7,181 feet of climbing

• 3 states in one day - again (kind of)!

Well… I can hardly believe it — Day 46, our penultimate day! The one we’ve all been talking about for weeks, because we knew it was going to test us. No smooth sailing into Portland (that’s for tomorrow). Today was 105 miles from West Lebanon to North Conway, NH, with a whopping 7,181 feet of climbing — and let’s just say it was a day I’ll never forget.

We started by backtracking five miles — yes, really — back into Vermont, only to turn again and return to New Hampshire. Not the most encouraging start! Within the first 20 miles, we hit gravel roads that rattled us to the bone, then stopped briefly at a covered bridge before the real climbing began. Somewhere around mile 48, in the middle of a five-mile climb, my Di2 shifting battery died (our gears run off these). The guides are supposed to keep them charged, but mine was somehow missed. That meant 12 long miles of awkwardly spinning at 120 RPM, barely hitting 11 mph — I looked like I was auditioning for Dumb and Dumber: Cycling Edition.

Thankfully, my friends Marc, Tony, and Karen stayed with me the whole way, laughing through the chaos. By the time we reached lunch on the Kancamagus Highway, a world-renowned scenic byway for fall foliage, I was just grateful to stop pedaling. Unfortunately, “scenic” also meant bumper-to-bumper traffic with cars, motorcycles, and no shoulder — the kind of conditions that make you question your life choices. A few of us came dangerously close to being clipped by cars reversing into the road (to the driver of the Jeep Cherokee with New York plates… I will be watching for you tomorrow - I will have my bike gang with me), I think it’s safe to say this section will definitely make it into my post-ride feedback!

Eventually, we made it off the highway, climbed a bit more, descended a lot, and finally rolled into North Conway — tired, dusty, and deeply thankful to be in one piece. The traffic noise alone could drive anyone mad! But then, there was Steve, waiting for me — a little disheveled, but the sight of him completely turned my day around 💕.

We wrapped up the night with dinner at Sea Dog Brewing, swapping stories, laughing about the chaos, and feeling the incredible mix of exhaustion and disbelief that comes with realizing: tomorrow… we ride to the ocean. 🌊