Canadians Smuggle Illicit Smoke Into U.S., Boarder Authority Powerless To Stop It

   An eerie feeling I haven't had in years, since living in the Pac NW, on a beautiful, warm day, low humidity, yet the air is thick, smokey.  This morning I thought a neighbor was burning stuff, a perfectly normal way to spend Memorial Day here in Northern New England.  Perhaps a lot of brush, or a lot of neighbors, like a neighborhood burn day, all burning big piles of brush and broken furniture.  Turns out all the smoke is from Canada, which is apparently on fire in a serious way.
   My good intentions to leave by 9am on this first day in weeks I've had time to ride, were thwarted by my efforts to install a newer generation VDO  wireless cadence computer on the Langster.  The computer was given to (the shop I was working at) in an effort to convince we at the front lines of bicycle retail, that they had taken care of all the bugs they had been known for in the past.  At least that is my excuse.  Without the manual, the confusing VDO set up proved to be a momentum destroyer.  I started looking for support instruction PDFs or whatever online for the computer.  Not finding that, I somehow ended up on Craigslist looking for all the answers to other questions.   Add talking to Tom about his trip to Missouri, making a sandwich, making another sandwich and eating it, I rolled out at quarter to noon.
   Remembering a ride I had to abandon just outside South Berwick this last winter, I decided today was the perfect day to hit it.  Out past Spring Hill, to Blackberry Hill, Berwick, Long Swamp Road, etc.  After that I was lost and can only attempt to reassemble my route looking at the maps.  I got a little too lost, running out of water lost, wondering where the hell civilization was lost.  I made a few good guesses and found myself back on School Road Rte 9 headed back towards Berwick.  A few more guesses got me to North and finally South Berwick where I knew the Nature's Way market would most likely be open.  I limped into town and sure enough the OPEN flag was flying.  I ordered a sandwich, grabbed a banana and an orange juice.  Out on the sidewalk at a table, I took my shoes and socks off and ate.  It felt so good to eat.
   With the bottles full, I headed back out towards Emerys Bridge Rd.  I was pretty beat.  Ogunquit Rd would have been easier on the legs and head.  But Belle Marsh would cut miles off the final leg.  Belle Marsh it was, climbing, dirt road, Belle Marsh.  I did not allow the bike to scream down the descents.  Instead, I held back, resisting the momentum of the pedals turning to keep things manageable.
   Turns out I just got off a 74.25 mile jaunt through the countryside.  According to the VDO, I averaged 24.5 mph with a max speed of 38mph. I know better though.  At least the cadence was accurate:  Average 75rpm cadence with a max of 158rpm. 
   Check out the route, click here!