Prostate Surgery

Opa is having Prostate Surgery this week, so Jim flew up to Dover, NH to be there during his recovery.  Of course Jim sent a bike ahead - you wouldn't want to miss a chance to ride in 70 degree temperatures after a summer of 99+!!! 

Rick and Matt got the bike ready and boxed up - took about 10 minutes to unbox and reassemble in Opa's garage.  Jim has been riding Shimano's Dura Ace wheels for a year and is riding the new tubeless tires for the first time, in NH!

For an cycling adventure today you have to have GPS navigation and mapping.  Can't wait for the new Edge 705 to come out this December so these 3 units will be condensed into 1.  Above left - Palm phone with mapping software.   Above right - Solar powered bluetooth GPS receiver.  Lower - Garmin 305 GPS bike computer.

In San Antonio we have Diamond Shamrock/Valero.  In New Hampshire you see alot of Irving Blue Canoe convenience stores.   This brand was not around when Jim lived in NH 20 years ago.

When you stop to pee you get to see a hint of early leaves changing colors.  Jim was riding in Southern NH and further north you find more foliage color changes during this time of year.

One of the estuary areas leading towards Hampton Beach - the main NH beach.  (NH only has 7 miles of coast)

The seagulls enjoying picking up a meal during the low tide.

NH has 7 miles of coast line and Jim rode along the entire coast today.   Not quite up to the topless beaches in Mallorca, but a few people seem to be out enjoying the last beach days of 2007.

Heading back towards home Jim went thru Portsmouth.  This should be of interest to the McDonough Twins (New England natives) with their sons actively involved in baseball...

For reference I95 is the major North - South Interstate on the East Coast.  US1 is the major US North South route.  1A - 1B are estuaries off US1 which take you by the coast and interesting areas.  

Wentworth By the Sea - famous resort/hotel where James Pierce began a long tradition of international heads of state meetings.

Smartphone Map keeping Jim on course.  About to cross over the Portsmouth Bay.

First Jim had to wait for the bridge to be raised and lowered to let the taller ships in and out of the bay. 

The ship is about through - notice the gate keeping Jim from riding into the bay.

Into Maine and about to start to head back home to Dover, NH.

On the way home Jim pulled into Cocheco Country Club - where he golfed in High School.  Opa gets out there just about every morning of the week.  With about 10 miles to go to get home Jim pulled in and refilled his water bottles.

Rather than going to Interbike this year, Jim decided to go to NH since Opa (Jim's dad) is having his prostate removed.  To prevent Jim regaining the weight he lost riding across the U.S. this summer Terri sent his bike to Opa's.  So Jim and Opa sat down and planned some rides.

Today Jim left Dover and went west towards Durham (home of UNH) then south towards Exeter (home of Exeter Academy) then east towards Hampton Beach.  Hampton beach is nearly the most southern point of NH and starts the 7 miles of NH coastline.  After riding North along the coast line he went thru the historic town of Newcastle and into Portsmouth, across a bridge into Kittery Maine, then West back towards Dover.

The ride ended up at 65 miles.  The weather was super hot - nearly 80 degrees - by NH standards, but the humidity was pretty low and after riding in 100 degrees across the U.S. and in San Antonio for the past 3 months this was a pleasant change.  It's amazing how much less water you need when it isn't so hot.  

The roads were all pretty much secondary 2 lane roads without much shoulder.  They are very nicely paved and lower speed zoned than TX roads it seems, so the cars seemed less menacing as they passed.  Mostly sedans not trucks which probably made a bit of a difference also.

Jim is riding Hutchinson tubeless for the first time and reports that they absolutely rock.  The future is here for sure.  You ride these tires at 90 pounds rather than 120 pounds which makes the ride so much more comfortable and is supposed to be just as efficient.

Well Wednesday is surgery for Opa, wish him well.  We'll see what other rides Jim can get in over the next few days.