Biking New England in July

[Juliana]

Hi Everyone! I'd like to cycle in Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine in July.
I'd like a combination of coast, farmland, small towns, and woods
I have a hybrid bike with upright handlebars, and a rack for paniers.
I can bring a tent with me, to sleep outside.
Here are my biggest challenges:
- I work a full time job (remotely)! So 9-5 M-F I need a roof, electricity, and phone reception and to look presentable on Zoom!
- Weekdays I can ride 6-9am and 5-8pm. On weekends and July 4 I can ride all day. Not super in shape and I don't have a speedy bicycle, so 20 miles on weekdays and 40 on weekends?
- What are the best practices regarding coronavirus? For food, lodging, and riding.
- What's a good loop? I can see that there are three relevant routes: Atlantic Coast, Green Mountains, and Northern Tier. I'm trying to figure out where I can leave my car and get back to it. I'll be driving to the area from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Thanks everyone!

[zzzz]

Hi Juliana:

The enthusiasm in your post pops right through, so I really hate to say this, but the parameters you’ve laid out make it (I believe) just about impossible to do this trip as described.

Better to wait till you can get a block of time off and the pandemic situation has sorted itself out.

I do have one possible suggestion if you can go to 1/2 time while on your tour. When you are riding on a workday get out on your 6:00 start time and ride to 11:30 and arrange for early check-ins at a hotel along the way. Then you can clean yourself up and make yourself presentable enough for Zoom and you can use the hotels wifi from 12-4. This would require careful planning and pre-arrangement with where you will be staying each night. The 5 1/2 hours of riding time this allows means even you are not in great shape and have an upright bike you can get 30-40 miles a day in.

As for your route choices, hopefully someone w direct knowledge of all 3 will write in. And right now no one knows the answer to your question about touring during the pandemic. These are uncharted waters for all of us.

Best,
Pete

[staehpj1]

It sounds tough to make that work with check in and check out times and other complications.  Maybe it would help if you can arrange to work somewhere other than in your room for the pre-noon hours.  The motel/hotel may let you use their lobby and their wifi before and or after check-in and check-out.  Also maybe you can manage to work from other establishments.  I don't know how possible that will be with limited openings and other limitations during the pandemic.  It is hard to predict what you might encounter.

Personally I have questioned when I might find it suitable to tour again without the complications of trying to work on the road.  It sounds like a tall order.  I hope you manage to make it work, but I am doubtful.  How flexible is your employer regarding your punctuality and making all of your hours?  If they are sticklers I can see this ending badly.

[David W Pratt]

Good for you.  On CGOAB there are a couple of entries that might help.  One is short rides in southern New Hampshire, and the other is day trips out of Boston.  If you can get a support vehicle to come retrieve you on Sunday night, you could do a series of week end rides, leave the bike, or retrieve it and deposit you again the next Friday night.
Good luck

[pkeibel]

Your biggest problem in northern New England will be lack of broadband and cell phone coverage. Check the maps before planning your trips

[Juliana]

Thank you to everyone for all your tips! Hugely appreciated. The breaking news is that due to the economic crisis brought about by the pandemic, I LOST MY JOB! Enormous layoffs at my organization. So the downside is no salary and an intense need to do a job search. I should be sending out a million resumes and doing informational interviews, etc. But I also can take a vacation. So the upside is now I can cycle all day without needing to be at meetings. Wifi/cell reception would be good so I can stay in touch and work on my travel blog. Also, I now have an even higher preference for free or low cost camping over inns and hotels.

I have another question: is there such a thing as a kayak one can bring on a bicycle? How does that work? I know there are inflatable rafts that can go in backpacks...

Much gratitude to this awesome community!