At 6:30 p.m., I ended up in Rockland, a little over 40 miles from last night’s stop in Belfast. Both cities lie along the southern coast of Maine. It was a difficult day. My route took me through rock formations that probably account for the name of this town, Rockland, as well as the next town to the east, Rockport. Rocks like this make the area scenic, but they also make it a difficult place to ride a bike. To make matters worse, it started to rain just after noon and the rain kept increasing in intensity for the rest of the day. I traded in my windbreaker for my rain jacket by mid-afternoon, but by that time, I was already pretty soaked.

It was raining pretty hard when I took this photo, but you can see typical grey/brown rock on the side of this hill. This was along the shores of Megunticook Lake, which appears to be an upscale community of lake homes where I saw license plates from nearby states like Massachusetts and Vermont. The Cellardoor Winery and tasting room was nearby. But I am not on a luxury trip and had many miles to go. Wine-tasting was not an option for me! I saw quite a few people through the window of the tasting room and was extra-careful around drivers in the vicinity.

Megunticook Lake:

Not for me!

This morning, near Belfast, I noticed a commercial/industrial building with a brass marker on a big rock. This seemed unusual, and I rode over to take a look. The plaque commemorates Mathews Brothers, a company that celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2004, making it now nearly 170 years old. Originally a sawmill, the company has around 140 employees and is engaged in manufacturing, distribution, and retail sales of wood, vinyl and composite window systems and other products. The plaque commemorates the company’s success in prospering through all types of business climates, and attributes this to its customers, employees, and suppliers.

The photo below shows my bike shoe-drying operation. They are propped in front of the air conditioner in my room. I’ve also worked on my shoes, socks, and other wet items with a hair dryer. The weather report for today says there is a flood watch until Midnight, but the rain appears to be predicted to let up by noon tomorrow. If it continues to rain on tomorrow’s ride, I will hopefully be smart enough to put on my rain gear (including some waterproof shoe covers I bought at REI) before I get drenched again.

Trudi stopped to say hello late morning, but then drove a couple hours away to see her brother Terry and his daughter Rosita. Terry has a cabin in Parsonsfield, Maine, and Trudi will spend the night there.