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Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Brunswick, ME
Hello from John Fischer; the long-distance
bicyclist is back! To all the readers who faithfully followed the accounts of
my bike trip across the US last summer, and to new readers who might have
missed that saga, here is another chance to follow in my tire tracks as I again
ride my recumbent for a good cause: the American Lung Association of Maine.
The ride this year is a combination
circumnavigation of the great state of Maine and a traverse of the state via
the Trek Across Maine. The latter, of course, is the premier fun-raising and
fund-raising event of the American Lung Association of Maine. The former is an
idea I developed to try and ride the perimeter of the state. This was a fine
idea, but there were some snags along the way. Between Madawaska and Jackman is
the North Maine Woods. This 3.5 million acre area is privately owned land that
extends to the western border of the state. The association that controls
activity on that land has a stated “no-bicycle” policy. Therefore, it isn’t
possible to do a perfect circumnavigation of the boundary of the state.
The other issue people have wondered about is
how closely I’ll adhere to the coastline. In calculating the coastline distance
of Maine, I think there is something like 3,000 miles if one includes islands.
The ride will not be glued to the coastline perfectly. For example, I won’t be
going onto Mount Desert Island and down some of the more scenic peninsulas.
That coastal ride can be another ride unto itself.
The ride will be about 1,500 miles including the
Trek Across Maine. I’ll do the ride with no frills; tenting, cooking meals on a
camp stove and pulling a trailer with everything needed for an expedition bike
ride. There will be no support vehicle following me for the part of the ride
before the Trek itself.
I plan to send commentary and photos to the
website and to the Times Record on a daily basis so that people can follow the
adventure..
With two days to go before
embarking on this new adventure, it is a challenge to keep a positive outlook
on the trip. As you, my readers know, it has been raining for, what seems to be,
weeks. Last year it wasn’t a peak experience to bicycle in the rain. This year
is no different. There is one positive difference though: last year when it was
raining going up Logan Pass (on the inaptly named Going-to-the-Sun Road) it was
40◦.At least it shouldn’t be that cold in Maine in May during
the day.
The past few weeks have been a rush to complete
several organizational aspects of the trip, such as, campgrounds or lodging for
all the nights before the Trek Across Maine. Just yesterday, May 24th,
I finished pre-ride fund-raising, having raised $18,646 for the programs of
ALA-ME. My goal was $20,000. I’m hoping that, with proper publicity, people
might contribute along the way. /p>
It has been a successful fund-raising
time; this is my 10th anniversary of raising money for the Lung
Association. Over ten years, I have managed to raise just over $107,000. A good
run, I think. This has been possible only with the consistent and generous
support of hundreds of sponsors who deserve high praise and great thanks.
Between today and Friday I still have to
evaluate what to take, pack it, grease up the bicycle, get lots of plastic bags
to protect things, finish making reservations, pay bills, pet the cat and do
laundry. Though this isn’t an exhaustive list; it certainly is an exhausting
one.
The greatest challenge of this ride this year
might be the rain, but there is another equal challenge: I’m traveling through
a state that I am familiar with. There are some areas of the state that I am
very used to. To do justice to the ride and to readers, I’m hoping to be able
to see these areas with fresh eyes and clear thought.
It’s just a hope. For now, it’s back to packing.
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