CIA 2004 ... or ... Written memories of a dog

This is our last day to play along the road. We must enjoy it! Before going to breakfast, my boss takes down the tent. This was a good choice: during breakfast it rained! Yeah ... we have a dry tent! Most riders go back into the Penske to get their raingear out. I know my boss always takes it with her - no matter what! We haven't left town yet when it stops raining. The roadsurface in the beginning of the ride isn't very good. My boss keeps wonders when the 2-star climb will come, but we're already over the top of it! In Hiram the computer shows 5000 K. That's with all the riding on the duff days too. Wow!  In the town of Porter we meet with Brian and Meg, but my boss chooses to stop at the country store 3 miles further down the road. What a lot of people here! It's sunny and hot and when my boss stops, she starts to sweat. On the bicycle the sweat evaporates easily.  It's also the day of the graveyards along the road: old ones with croocked crosses! Especially ...

Although my boss claimed that she won't get up any earlier, she does... But... most of the other riders do the same thing - because yesterday was hard. It makes my boss feel rebellious!  She's at breakfast at 7 am and there is hardly anyone again. Well, time to read the news about the Olympics, she thinks! The first couple of hills show a 7% incline. This means hard work in the early morning. We notice the funny mailboxes along the road: Once past Bethlehem the riding becomes easier. Don't know about this, but isn't that Mr. Snowman sagging along the road? Here some residents make a clear statement about their choice for president: So far, I did not see signs for president Bush! Too bad the fog makes it impossible to see Mt. Washington clearly: Mt. Washinton Hotel looks very posh from the outside. And so is the inside, where my woman gets a cup of free tea. Its' kind of strange to see humans walk around in bike shorts in such a chic surrounding! The uphill to Crawfo...

It's foggy and  wet when I open the tent. Let's hope the sun will dry things!  It's again one of days where breakfast is in the ride. Already my woman is one of the last ones to leave the campsite and today I sense it saddens her a bit - always being the last one. "But," she tells me "Not one hair on my head can make me get up earlier - unless it is for a special reason!" Yes, we have some climbs before breakfast! And guess what: for the first time my boss passes a rider on an uphill! It takes another less steep hill to reach the breakfastplace - 12 miles in the ride. The Belgian waffles are not so great, but the fruit is good.  In Morrisville my boss stops because she likes all the flags along the road: As we cycle along the Lamoille river, we get the company of some one-week riders.  Suddenly my boss shouts "Aw!" Something stung her in the middle of the chest. A big bubble grows ... she only has insect repellent but not something to ease the ...