Retracing My Steps - Just Thinking (September 20)

The Penobscot River from the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Parking Lot.

Today, I rented a car in Bangor, Maine and drove to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to visit some friends. I didn't go by the crash site, but I did go by the roads I should have ridden on (Highway 1A on the west side of the Penobscot River) - they had less traffic and better shoulders.

I was riding, however, into the sun, heading west, on a country road (though with a shoulder) and I just put the sun shade down to make sure I could see what was ahead. My point is that the truck driver has a responsibility to not hit me. If anyone noticed in the newspiece (see the last day's post), the sheriff implied that I was somehow responsible for being hit. Come on. A driver of a vehicle has a responsibility not to run someone over. These are day light hours we are talking about.

Phew...

As for the drive today. I returned to Bucksport where I visited Fort Knox, a Civil War Era fort that was never used because the government didn't have the funds to complete it. But it makes for a nice visit. At Fort Knox, I met two 20-something bike tourists. They were also on a small tour of Maine. The following are pictues of the fort. The first picture is the breezeway between the inner and outer walls. If an invading force got over the outer wall, they could be shot at from both sides of this passage way.

This is the passageway inside the outer wall.

I also stopped at the tour of the bridge across the river.  This bridge spans the Penobscot Narrows. It is only one of three bridges in the world that has an observatory in it.

Downtown Bucksport

Verona Island

New North Portland - A Chance to Feed the Cows (September 18/19)

After the mishap on Day 46, I will stop at my Cousin's farm for a few days. I am finishing my bike tour. It is over for now. I will travel in the East Coast for a few days before heading home to the San Francisco Bay Area.

I spent two days at my cousin, Gabe's, farm - Cold Spring Ranch - in North New Portland, Maine. Yes, it seems strange that a kid from Berkeley, California would choose to farm, let alone farm in Maine, but that's what's happening. He sells good Beef, natural Beef, that would be considered organic.

View of the house and barn from the stream that leads to the nearby lake.

The cows following us through to the next pasture. Gabe led them, I wasn't too comfortable with the cows because of the flies. Oh the flies!

Here's Gabe waiting for the last cows. They have just entered a new pasture and the grass is nice. So they don't travel very fast, stopping frequently to sample the new grass. They might be saying ",Oh boy! Oh boy! New grass!" In Gabe's hand is a bucket of grass cube treats for the cows. The cows are generally clueless about what is in Gabe's hand, but if you feed the first cow, the rest of the cows will follow. That first cow, by the way, is named "Donut" for it's love of fatty, fluffy pastries, with a hole in the middle.

Do the cows destroy the Dutch Elm? No, in fact, the Dutch Elm is doing just fine. It is separated from the other trees and seems healthy. The leaves don't seem wilty and yellow.

Gabe has wonderful farm that he is bringing it back to its former glory. I like it's classic Maine farm look. The house and the barn form an "L", the house is painted white, the grass is moved around the house, there is a small vegetable garden near the house. Classic.

Sunbleached white farmhouse walls.

The neighbor from "Procrastination Camp" stopped by to pick up some of Gabe's beef that he had purchased. I commented that the weather was wonderful. It had been foggy in the valley in the morning, but after the fog burned off it was 70 degrees and there was a light breeze. The neighbor said it would get better in a couple of weeks. How better could it get? Do the dancing wood nymphs and wild turkeys come out in a couple of weeks?

The farmhouse - front side.

Farmhouse - backside.

Day 46 - Bar Harbor to Bangor, ME (September 17)

Warning: This is NOT a joke. This post contains shocking material.

Later on in the post, I describe being hit by a truck while riding. I'm okay, but my back tire is damaged - there are multiple fractures where the spokes attach to the tire...and I have a few scrapes and bruises.

So anyway...The days started nicely with a ride on Acadia National Park's Carriage Roads (no cars allowed!).

The carriage roads wound up and around mountains, under nearby roads, over roads, and passed by mountain lakes. A very enjoyable journey.

This is the view from Jordan Pond's tea room and restaurant.

After Bar Harbor, I headed north to Ellsworth, where I passed this sign for FamilyBibleChuch.com. Either intentionally or unintentionally, the sign keeps with the current political season when it declares, "God Loves You...and He Approves This Message." If only Bob Dole were running, he might say a few words about God's approval of using Viagra.

I stopped at the Maine Grind to check some email, upload some photos, and get a bite to eat. I stopped here two days ago when I was heading to Acadia National Park. It was a nice place to hide from the rain.

After stopping to mail some junk back home, I found myself in Bangor.

End of the Road.

Don't read if you don't like stories about cars hitting bikes.

I left Bangor and headed west on Highway 2. The road had a narrow or non-existent shoulder. It was commute hour. I was heading into the sun. Stopping in Hermon, I got some gatorade and water at the local store.

Continuing on, the road remained shoulderless. I climbed a hill I would later find out was called Miller Hill. Speed limit 45. Two lanes - one passing, one for slower traffic. Initially traffic stayed in the passing lane, but the hill was long. So eventually, the traffic was riding two-by-two up the hill. As I just got to the place were the sun shined right into one's eyes, I was hit by a pickup truck. I was flung off of my bike and into the bushes on the side of the road. The side of the road was a hillside that went uphill. So I didn't get flung down a cliff. The wind was knocked out of me and I was momentarily shocked.

The driver of the truck stopped and came over to see if I was okay. Another guy wearing yellow reflective clothing waved traffic around. I asked him not to risk his life if he didn't need to. I said this because he was standing in the same spot where I was hit and I didn't think drivers could see him.

Shortly thereafter the commander of the Hermon Volunteer Rescue and First Aid Squad arrived and then shortly after that the ambulance arrived (also owned by the local emergency group). Although I did not know it at the time, I didn't have any large gashes. I had been flung off my bike and I had some sore spots and bruises. Because I thought that I had a gash on my rear and because I had been hit by a truck, I decided it was best to go to the Eastern Maine Medical Center emergency room.

While at the ER, I saw my rear in the mirror and was shocked that I only had an abrasion across it. I had only bruises, some srapes, and an abrasion across my rear. Basically, I was very fortunate that I wasn't hurt any worse.

The head of the Hermon rescue squad later brought my bike and bags to me and he drove me to the Days Inn where I spent the night. I was picked up my cousin the next day.

This is a picture of my torn shorts and riding shorts.

Here is the local news story and video. I was very lucky indeed. The gentlemen in green was driving the truck that hit me. The guy in the grey sweatshirt is the head of Hermon rescue. Later on you meet the Sheriff.

Day 46 - Blackwoods to Bangor -71 Miles

Day 45 - Acadia National Park (September 16)

It is cold after a storm front.

I decided to cycle to the top of the mountain, Cadillac Mountain (to the right), in the background of this photo to try to see the sunrise. I was a few minutes late, but it was nice to see the early morning sun and to get up early. It was really cold up there. I had to ride in that cold for at least 20 minutes as I descended the mountain. When I got into Bar Harbor, I tried to look for a sunny place to warm up. It was much warmer in town. I sat and watched a cruise ship come into port. It took me almost 20 minutes before my hands were warm enough to operate a zipper.

After warming up, I found a place to eat and got ready for the rest of my day (in other words, I did my laundry).

I then caught the Ferry to Schoddic Point. Where I discussed politics with a Republican from Massachussetts. We both agreed that the nation seemed to collectively holding its breath until Bush II leaves office.

The ride to Schoddic Point was glorious. Nice weather. Sun as far as the eye could see. It was nice. A two-lane one-way road. I took up an entire lane.

At Schoddic Point, I convinced myself that Maine has surfing potential. The problem is that most of the coastline consists of shelf. The land just ends at the water and there is nothing to make a wave break except the shoreline. The land just drops right off into the water so there is no sloping beach slowly getting deeper into the ocean.

These type of cliffs are typical. They just drop right off into the ocean which doesn't make for good surfing conditions.

Bar Harbor is a popular place for cruise ships to stop.

On a hike later on, I noticed these strange mushrooms.

View from the top of the Beehive.

View of Sand Beach from the Beehive.

Beehive. You can hike straight up the side of this mountain. The National Park Service has place ladder rungs into the cliff. Not for those who are afraid of heights.

Beehive from afar. The ladder rungs are attached to the side of this mountain.

Almost to my campground and I passed by this calm lake. No moose in sight. Darn!

This day, I met a British cycle tourist, Gavin Crump, who was just finishing his 3,000-mile ride from Florida following Adventure Cycling's Atlantic Coast Route (although his website says the southern tier - from Florida to San Diego - he changed his mind when he found out how hot it would be in Texas and the west). Along the way, he raised 4,000 pounds (almost 8,000 dollars) for an organization that supports those with Parkinson's Disease. He's British and lives south of London. When I first met Gavin, he was just riding into Bar Harbor. It was the end of his trip.

We chatted for a while, along the way finding out that we had a lot in common: a father with Parkinson's, we have worked as environmental consultants, and we both cycle tour. Later on, we had drinks and got a bite to eat. Unfortunately, it was too calm that night because it was Sunday, but it was nice to actually stop and swap adventure stories with another touring cyclist.

Acadia National Park - 42 Miles

Day 44 - Bucksport to Bar Harbor (September 15)

A day riding in the rain is...cold. Very cold.

Stories I heard along the way (maybe not entirely well developed stories, but stories none the less).

The guy who runs the laundromat had a lot to tell me. For example, his Dad used to live in San Francisco. Maybe Vallejo, I keep meeting people formerly from Vallejo. Why Vallejo?

His father, was a long distance athlete. Someone who I could appreciate. He first crossed the country in a wheel-barrow race. I guess he won, because he ended up in Maine. I have nothing about Maine. In fact, I've really enjoyed my visit here, but I'm not sure I would want to be here during the winter.

When he got to Maine, he began to race. In six-day running races. This is similar to the six-day cycling races that they held in the late 1800s, except, with wheelbarrows...and no bikes.

Story #2: Laundromat Stories, Part 2. I guess the owner of the laundromat was complimenting me about my good laundromat etiquette. He told me about many people who came in the rain or snow and dried their...something. Laundry, I guess. When it really snows in Maine, sometimes, someone just wants to warm up and get out of their wet clothes. And at other times, it rains and then the customers also use the laundromat. But there is also a guy who just wants to clean his boots. The problem is that he tends to forget the washing part and every now and then, the laundromat owner gets clean out the mud and grease. It is a mystery who is cleaning his boots. It's only a small town, the town of Bucksport, but he still can't figure out who's doing it. This boot cleaner didn't clean his (or her) boots at the same time each day. So the mystery continues...who is the dirty boot cleaner who uses the Bucksports laundromat?

Story #3. Wait for it.

Day 44 - Tales of Nothing

Day 44 - Bucksport to Bar Harbor - 44 Miles

Day 43 - Rockport to Bucksport, ME (September 14)

Climbing hills, sitting by the ocean...

Today, I ran into two actual touring cyclists. One who wasn't touring and then another who was touring, but only lightly. The first grabbed me in the RiteAid in Camden, Maine. He had ridden the Northern Tier Route in 2005 and had really enjoyed the experience. The other cyclist I saw coming out of Camden Hills State Park. He was from Toronto, I think, and he was just touring around for a couple days. It is interesting to see the gear that other cyclists from other countries use. His gear looked like space gear. The handlebar bag, and front panniers had hard sides, but flexible fronts to allow for expansion when just one more extra cliff bar was shoved into them. And speaking about panniers, I found out that I carry way to much stuff. My front food pannier may weigh as much as 17 pounds!

I ran into another would be touring cyclist in Camden Hills State Park. This gentleman, from Maryland, was really excited about doing a tour. I hope he gets out there soon. My experience is that it is worthwhile, and especially enjoyable riding in Maine.

In Camden Hills, I rode to the top of the Mt. Battie Auto Road to see the views. There is a small tower at the top of Mt. Battie.

After that, it was a climb to the Ocean Overlook near Mt. Megunticook. A 1,300-foot mountain right next to Penobscot Bay. The road to the top of Mt. Battie was at least 12% at times.

This is a photo of Mt. Battie (look for the tower). To the right is the steep road to Mt. Battie.

Camden Harbor. Look for Clipper Ships.

A nice place for lunch...

I turned off of the main route, Highway 1, and followed roads right on the coast. For a while, the houses looked like they were straight out of Mayberry. The houses were too cute. Almost like Disneyland for Adults.

A row of houses overlooking a park and the ocean.

Leaving Disney for Adults, I continued on to the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport. Unfortunately, I was there at just 45 minutes before closing, so I was only able to look at the color and black and white photos of the boats and the ocean. They also have an archive of old glass plate photos. It's available online. Stunning!

A new bridge over the Penobscot River leading towards Bucksport.

Near Bucksport is the new bridge, Historic Fort Knox, and a huge paper mill. I won't show you the paper mill.

Day 43 - Rockport to Bucksport - 50 Miles