Day 38, August 31, 2016 Claremont, NH to Tilton, NH

The Appalachians have both punished us and made us stronger. Today we went 50 miles, climbed 2,500 feet, and lived to tell the tale. Both John and I felt strong for most of the day. Our climbing skills have definitely grown.

Tilton is due east of Claremont, NH, and today we were actually able to travel in a more or less straight line eastward. Mountains run through most of New Hampshire. Since most of the roads attempt to avoid the peaks, we've been riding northeast and then southeast to get eastward. Our next short-term goal is Portland, Maine, and we will inch closer toward it with a stop in Rochester, NH, for our last night in New Hampshire.

The mountains continue. 

Today we climbed Ragged Mountain. A name that may well have come from the sawtoothed nature of the topography. While that necessitated a lot of climbing it also gave us some great descents. Frequently, we reached speeds in the low 30's, at one point reaching 37mph!

The Winnipesaukee River

One of the main features of Tilton, NH is the Winnipesaukee River. It is a fast running river that originates in the Ragged Mountains.

While there are less than 4,000 citizens in Tilton, it is a gathering point for shopping in the area. Most of the big name stores can be found here along with a variety of places to eat.

Michigan NEEDS this law!