a couple of miles further we came to several more fields and i thought of stopping for a picture. will snapped the first one in the short field. i went across rt 10 and took a 'selfie' in the tall field. i hatched a plan to document corn fields along our route and somehow weave a blog around them.
we passed several corn fields between orford and piermont and i decided that there were just too many to stop and document each one, but i still liked the idea. beyond piermont and heading into haverhill, we started discussing alternative routes off of 10. will knew a way on brushwood rd off 25. i got to thinking it would be fun to check in on ken and lesley over in newbury and see if ken wanted to ride up to the dmv and back. if we went over to the vermont side here and rode up rt 5 we could cross back and come back down rt 10. we crossed.
when we pulled into ken and lesley's door yard, things looked quiet and sure enough, nobody was home--"back to the drawing board". taking advantage of shade and a lawn, we had a snack, drank some water, and stretched a bit. back on the bikes we continued towards wells river on a freshly paved rt 5. the ultra-smooth ride made me think of all the different pavements i wheeled over last year...
that section went fast and soon enough we went back over the connecticut into new hampshire at woodsville and cut back on a side road to rt 10 heading south now. the dmv is in the court house in a mix of state buildings and we parked the bikes in the shade and went in. when i asked for the office, the security guards told me i didn't need a license to operate a bike. about a half hour later, i was back outside for a second snack, water, and some more stretching. we packed up again and pedaled away.
soon enough, we were passing plenty of corn fields again, until i saw a really short looking one and stopped. within a mile or so we came to a fairly tall one and stopped once more. i wondered if it was soil composition, water availability, or just the timing of planting that made the difference in height. will mentioned that the forecast for the next stretch of weather was for sunny and warm. corn loves sun and heat and with a week of that ahead, there was a good chance the short stalks would shoot by the old.
back in college plant physiology though i had read that a field of corn transpires an enormous amount of water on a sunny day. corn is one of the highest of all the farm and garden plants--54 gallons a plant / season. that said to me, unless we get some substantial rain with that sun, these plants won't be growing as much as a farmer or gardener might wish--"don't count your chickens before they hatch".
we took the river road leaving haverhill and snuck back into vermont at bradford. i was hoping to get some more fresh black top but will informed me that there was about two miles of grooved road that we would miss heading that way. before we got to fairlee i saw a sawyer road sign and after a quick look for will behind me, i braked hard and stopped for a picture--and a bathroom break.
we crossed back over to new hampshire at orford and then took off on the river road again. when we hit the lyme bridge and started climbing up to town i had to whistle will to stop as i could feel some cramps coming on--"a stich in time saves nine". i figured a rest, some snack, water, and stretching would forestall that. we took off again and stopped shortly at the lyme store where i got a sports drink and will got a cold coffee.
fueled up for the final leg, will chose goose pond road, it only had one steep section! i dropped it down to the granny gear and made my way up, slowly but with no cramps. we came on to goose pond and spotted helen, will's wife (and mother of two former students--the younger, michael, was an active outing club member!), out for a walk and watching a baby loon. the chick was rising up out of the water and flapping as we watched.
we crossed back over to new hampshire at orford and then took off on the river road again. when we hit the lyme bridge and started climbing up to town i had to whistle will to stop as i could feel some cramps coming on--"a stich in time saves nine". i figured a rest, some snack, water, and stretching would forestall that. we took off again and stopped shortly at the lyme store where i got a sports drink and will got a cold coffee.
fueled up for the final leg, will chose goose pond road, it only had one steep section! i dropped it down to the granny gear and made my way up, slowly but with no cramps. we came on to goose pond and spotted helen, will's wife (and mother of two former students--the younger, michael, was an active outing club member!), out for a walk and watching a baby loon. the chick was rising up out of the water and flapping as we watched.
a mile more down the pond will split off at his and helen's house. i had another three miles, mostly flat until the steep, but thankfully short hill up to our house. back down on the granny, i chugged my way up and pedaled right past the drive choosing to ride a bit on the flat before dismounting. i stopped and chatted with bob and midge some before heading home for some snack, water, and a bit of stretching--to "make a long story short" it was a very fine day!
