Carrabassett Valley Outdoors Association

OK .. so Kathy Gagne did not deliver on her promise of sunshine for the third annual Tour de Gagne.

But she came through anyhow with a fun day for the 30 members of the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association who ignored the elements and had a grand time biking from Biddeford to Cape Porpoise and Kennebunk.

"Great ride," said Linda Trueworthy.

The bikers split into two groups for the 39-mile and 26-mile treks along the southern Maine coast, biking into Biddeford Pool, Goose Rocks Beach, Cape Porpoise and Kennebunkport.

As the first rain started to fall near the Clock Tower Farm, Kathy asked her 16-member "B Team" bikers if they wanted to continue to Cape Porpoise for lunch.

The vote was 15-1 to keep peddling and the ride went on.

"See. I told you it would get worse," said Glen Bickford, the sole dissenting vote as bikers arrived at Cape Porpoise in a drenching rain. Glen was monitoring the weather radar on his phone and warned that the rain would only get heavier after a brief lull. He was proved right.

After an indoor lunch, the group, sporting rain coats and garbage bags to protect from the steady downpour,  booked it back to Biddeford on Rte. 9, traveling 10 miles in 50 minutes without the usual stops for photos and socializing.

"10 miles and eight hills," said Linda. "I counted!"

Awards for best performance go to the husband/wife duo of John and Charlotte Pease.

John dumped his bike when he stopped abruptly to take a photo of a field of lupines, landing solidly and flattening the banana he was carrying in his back pocket. Charlotte hydro-planed from a puddle into a hedge and both biker and bike had to be extricated.

"We'll do anything to make the CVOA calendar," joked John, referring to the annual photo calender CVOA publishes each year. Charlotte also confessed that while she was biking through England one summer a truck hitched onto her pannier and took her for a ride. Best to stear clear of this couple!

Following the trek, the bikers retreated to Kathy and Danny Gagne's Biddeford home for hamburgs, hot dogs, salads and desserts.

After two straight years of rainy rides, "next year we'll have sun," predicted Linda.