All smiles after a cup of good coffee

Some things haven't changed over the course of the past 112 days. For example like feeling a lot better and happier after a good cup of coffee. It may still be served in a paper cup and it may be enjoyed in a simple country store - surrounded by noisy refrigerators and convenience food items - it's just one of the most valuable components of a good start into a day of riding.

Another important ingredient of a tasty day on a bicycle tour is humor. And we are amazed that we still have these little funny things happening to us that make us laugh out loud. They may not be as funny to the readers but we thought the following little anecdote is worth sharing. It falls into the category 'what are the chances?'.

Some months ago I picked up a favorite kids summer vacation car trip game in a tourist information magazine which is nothing more than a listing of all 50 states with a little box next to it. If you see a car with a certain number plate you can tick the relevant box. Sure we would have a good chance to get all boxes ticked, I thought. The hunt for US number plates was almost successfully completed at the Niagara Falls, where we ticked Massachusettes and Rhode Island, but we were still missing Delaware. I had given up hopes for finishing the tour with 'all boxes ticked' and almost forgot about the number plate hunt altogether. Until yesterday when climbing up Kancamagus pass, Louise brought up the subject. She had just finished the sentence 'I wonder whether we are going to find that Delaware number plate' when a big fat BMW zoomed past us with guess what number plate..? All boxes ticked, I say.