What the Kancamagus and and an Anaconda have in common.

An Anaconda and the Kancamagus Highway are more alike than you think. I thought about this a lot today, as we sweated up a 2,500 foot pass on untried legs.

Both wind to and fro in the most discomforting manner. Both are beasts that are at once majestic and horrifying. They seem to go on and on, longer than anything ought. Both seem set on one’s demise, not caring that their victim struggles and gasps. Both are beautiful. Both have a hard C in the middle of their name. And luckily, both have a beginning and an end.

For Oakley and I, the beginning started with instant oatmeal, seasoned with fresh, Maine, low-bush blueberries that surrounded our campsite. We awoke early because we had no fly on our tent and the early morning sky does not stand for slug-a-beds.

The middle of the day was filled with mountains and forests in thick carpets that spread from horizon to horizon. Above them spread a startlingly blue sky with towering Cumulous clouds that fought to give us a break from intense sun. Yes, it was hard, but Oakley reports that we are stronger than last year and I think he is right. We pedaled for 54 miles and were cheered on by various passerbyers, from motorcycles, cars, RVs, hawking tourists and fellow bikers. Nothing boosts you up a hill like that.

And then it was over. Here we sit by another beautiful river, the East Pemigewasset. We have swam and now feel loose and relaxed. This river is not sandy like the Saco, but rather coated with stones ranging from egg size to elephant size. They are graphite,pink, lavender, burnt-orange and blue. The big ones and great for plunging from, the littles for rolling in your palm.