Day 3: Freeport to Salem

The ride started with some fairly industrial scenery as I went through Southern Maine, crossing into New Hampshire after lunch. Today was mostly on the road but a few miles of gravel helped break up the morning.

Southern Maine and New Hampshire seem more affluent and less rugged than Northern Maine. They do have lovely trees though. The countryside is not wholly dissimilar from that of England but interspersed with strip malls and houses that look (to English eyes) like huge garden sheds. Even the mansions are huge garden sheds with towers and Roman columns. Wood is pretty entrenched in the building market and culture.

Drinks were at the Windham Restaurant with a lively bunch of theme park owners, financial advisers and electoral officials.

Much of the conversation was dominated, understandably, by a series of fires and explosions in a town nearby caused by the gas supply. The problem apparently leapfrogged through the gas system causing buildings to spontaneously ignite or explode. Scary stuff.
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There have been primary elections going on recently and dismay was shared about the low turnout in the election, only around 3,000 of the 22,000 registered voters in the town having voted. To be honest, I'm not sure how much turnout we would get in the UK if we were required to turn out as often as the American people are with the primaries, mid-terms, elections for local officials etc.
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We also discussed immigration and of course, the Queen. It's a really nice bar with a bunch of local regulars who enjoy a good discussion.