A tailwind pushed us through the Mohawk Valley, along the New York State Barge Canal, to Syracuse, Little Falls and Albany. It only rained at night. The next day's route through Central Massachusetts was inelegant but direct, mostly on Route 2A, with a lunch stop in Westminster. And the final day's ride, from Chelmsford to Portsmouth, N.H., brought the scent of salt air at last. Low tide never smelled so sweet.
Some tour operators provide meals and a sag wagon.
A shorter but equally inspirational bike ride to the shore takes place next weekend. There are more than 100 Worcester-area riders on the roster. Benison lost a high school friend to cancer, and a company associated with that friend is a generous sponsor every year, he said. Sullivan, who lives in Paxton, still does the ride every year, too. Team member Matt Decanio won the 20-kilometer time trial in less than 26 minutes, taking 15 seconds off the national record.