Notes from Maine - 2021/05/23
It’s summer here now. We’re supposed to have temps in the 80s today (26º C plus). Unfortunately, we’ve had no rain. The grass isn’t growing and the horses have eaten the pasture down to nothing. Oh well. I can’t think of anything to do about it except wait.
Back in the 90s, I used to ride my bicycle a lot this time of year. I was getting ready for a fundraising event called The Trek Across Maine. About a thousand bicyclists would convene at one of the ski resorts in the western mountains and over the course of three days we would ride down to the ocean. At about 60 miles per day (100k) it wasn’t that strenuous. There were hills, but also tons of rest stops run by volunteers who would provide snacks, drinks, and a chance to take a break. The Trek goes on, but I stopped riding when I bought this house. I didn’t feel like I had enough free time.
Bicycling through Maine was enjoyable, but that wasn’t the best part about the event for me. I liked the fact that for three days my only responsibility was to pedal the bike. Someone else was dealing with where I would sleep, what I should eat, and even my entertainment options. I had no decisions to make. I just got on the bike and rode the bike. Every year, we raised a bunch of money for the American Lung Association. It seemed easy to collect the pledges needed to participate. Tons of people were willing to donate to a good cause if I would just ride my bike for three days.
In order to feel ready to ride, I would get out a lot on my bike every May. The Trek is just long enough that you want to make sure your body is calloused in the right places before you give it a shot. Twenty-five years ago, it was difficult to find decent training days. Back then, it seemed like May was always filled with 40º~50º weather (5º~10º C), and it rained every other day. I remember checking the calendar against the weather predictions and trying to find a string of three decent days where I could ride consecutive days. It was tough.
We were lucky if it was good weather by the middle of June. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem this year. The temps and weather right now are comparable to late June/July weather of twenty-five years ago. Of course, the Trek has changed a lot too. They don’t go from the mountains to the ocean anymore, and I believe the event is virtual again this year.
My mother came up and rode the Trek well into her sixties. Maybe I’ll pick it up again some day, but I doubt it. Back then, I appreciated a break from my life when I could cast aside everything and just ride a bike. Now, I’m so attached to my home/horses/dogs that I barely enjoy being away for more than a few hours at a time. I’m not trying to escape from anything these days.
A few years ago, I wrote a book called Stay Away. I like to start out writing a book with a number of distinct ideas in my head and then I bring them together to see what friction will appear. With Stay Away I wanted to present a family that’s trying to stay together but keeps falling apart. Adding to their misery, I gave them a “wishing tree” where they would get what they asked for, but not what they wanted. I really enjoyed the result, and I hope you do as well.
