Florenceville to Fredricton

Drenching and wet and soaking would pretty well describe this day.  Thunder storms during the night had cleared by morning and there was enough of a lull in the rain for Andrew to put his bike together.  Olin gave him a big greeting but wasn't sure if he wanted to be touched by that beard!  Sou was joining the ride for the whole day.  Too bad it was going to be rainy.  A late start this morning after our late night arrival from Fredricton.  Olin and I had big plans to tour the longest covered bridge in the world at Hartland.  It's 1282 feet long and we not only drove back and forth but walked it as well!!  Shopped for some lunch then headed off in the rain.  Poor bikers!  We tried to set up lunch at a house along the way that had a covered balcony but no one home.  But the riders kept on going past us so we had to pack up and search some more.  At Nackawic we hoped for a restaurant but no luck.  I saw that the Fleweling Funeral Home had an overhang so went in to beg for permission to lay out our picnic there.  Not only did Wendell allow this but he offered coffee, tea and bathroom facilities as well.  He saved the day!!  After lunch the riders once again set off in the pouring rain.  Olin and I continued on to the Ramada.  The drive along the river is truly beautiful and I took it slowly with a sleeping boy in the back seat.  Lots of piles of tree branches and evidence of other damage in Fredricton as a result of tropical storm Arthur.  In fact, when we checked in to the hotel, the power was out!  It was an eerie feeling swimming in the pool in the indoor courtyard with no sound around us and only natural light.  We were in the water for ages, the power finally came on and we checked in.  Eventually the soaking wet riders arrived.  Olin and his parents stayed at he hotel and the rest of us stayed down the street at Pam and Peter's.  There was no more room at the hotel. Not only did Pam and Peter put us up but they fed us all a great dinner.  It sure felt good after that hard day in the rain.  During the meal, Andrew presented Ward and Gordon with team SKY cycling shirts--delayed birthday gifts for both.