A dark, wet morning on the Greenway near downtown Portland, ME June 25, 2018 Today was a tough day of riding. We had a gusty headwind and near constant hills for most of the 62 miles. And bridges. I lost count after the fourth big one. It’s starting to feel like this last week in Maine and our first week in Florida are strange bookends to the trip. So far they share headwinds and bridges. Florida was miserably hot and the flattest state, Maine has been cool and the hilliest. There’s also something mental at play, I’m sure. In road races, 5K to marathon, I’m often a 90 percenter. I’ll be doing just fine, running a respectable pace until the last 10 or 15 percent of the route — and then I often fall apart and want to quit. I once interviewed a fitness coach about the phenomenon and what to do about it. “You’ve lost your focus,” he said, “and you won’t get it back by trying to force it. Instead, you should pick a new focus, like trying to pass the three people in front of you.” Which, by the way, never worked; if I’m tired at the end of a race chances are I won’t be passing you. But I think something like this might be going on now. Here we are in the last 10 percent of our trip, the last 250 or so miles of maybe 2,900 total. I’m afraid my head may be too focused on the end, which makes a tough day in wind and hills even tougher. There’s nothing like a headwind to make my odometer slow to a crawl. I’ve got to work harder on staying in the present these last few days of riding. A little sun and tailwinds would help, of course. Two nice surprises on the trail: Dee’s friend Jim, out for a walk from his Portland apartment, greeted us early on, then Dick Woodbury found us on the Greenway in Yarmouth. Even with my head down, all too aware of the wind and foggy mist this morning, I did catch sight of a grey pickup truck with the tip of a blue bike and orange kayak visible from the back. My kind of people, I thought. The truck also sported a round “I 🚲 the East Coast Greenway” sticker, which I called out to Dee, because it’s such a rare sight. Ten minutes down the road, a fellow was standing on the side of the road by old railroad tracks, wearing the familiar East Coast Greenway jersey: Dick Woodbury. The truck’s owner; he had spotted us and waited for us right where he hopes the Geeenway will go one day, replacing the railroad tracks and stretching to Portland. Dick joined the Greenway’s Board of Trustees in January. He’s an economist and former Maine state representative and senator and lives in Yarmouth. He took us a few blocks down the road to Clayton’s for coffee and breakfast. We talked about our route and how we are navigating, because Dick is going to ride from Calais to Yarmouth next month with his wife and 26-year-old son. We also talked state politics, given his background. We were tickled to learn that Dick chaired the committee that created the ranked choice voting initiative. We had just learned about this at dinner the night before. Maine is the first state to try such a thing, in which voters choose not just one candidate but rank them first, second, third — so that if no candidate receives a majority of votes, the rankings ensure a better determination of winner. Google it, I know I am not explaining it very well. But the Greenway is lucky to have this smart, independent thinker on our board, and we were delighted to be able to visit with him over coffee. Downtown Damariscotta, the front door of our Airbnb, and the river dock. We may stay here and skip the rest of the ride. We were weary pulling into Damariscotta but our gloom evaporated quickly. Our Airbnb for the night is tucked in back of an old house right on Main Street. It charmed us instantly: two cute bedrooms upstairs, comfy living space downstairs for $78. And we can walk out through the backyard to a floating dock on the Damariscotta River.
I walked around the corner to a little general store for coffee and seltzer this afternoon and came back “home” just as thunder rumbled and a light rain started. Here we are, just a half hour after finishing our ride, tucked cozily in our little place and not in the storm. Clean living.
16 Comments
Barbara Amodio
6/25/2018 02:19:53 pm
Always, always as Bev and I hike in the Whites or long distance (well not like you) bike on the ECG, we have moments when we ask ourselves, “Why? Why are we doing this?” And then along comes that AHA defining moment. Never fails. Enjoy your “home” tonight. Tomorrow you have sunshine and beautiful country roads. May the wind be at your back.
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Lisa
6/25/2018 02:37:19 pm
Thank you, Barbara! Sun is indeed forecast for tomorrow. Not that we have suffered much bad weather really over two months. Another funny video from you gals would be great in case the headwinds continue ?
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Lisa
6/25/2018 04:35:52 pm
I think he will, Silvia! Smart man.
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Poyee Oster
6/25/2018 04:23:15 pm
Lisa, the end is near... but there are a few more days to go. Don’t get ahead of yourself, stay focus on the task of the day. Keep pedaling, sun or no sun; headwinds or tailwinds... keep pedaling. Stay present and breath!
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Lisa
6/25/2018 04:37:06 pm
Thanks Poyee, will do. I had a song in my head in Florida, maybe I need a Maine song. 😘
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Poyee Oster
6/26/2018 04:04:16 am
How about Don’t Give Up by Peter Gabriel
Poyee Oster
6/26/2018 04:33:24 am
Oh here is another possibility... Let It Be By Paul McCartney
Jimmy Meyer
6/25/2018 06:40:08 pm
I'm with you, friend! Sunshine and tailwinds, I'm chanting.
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Lisa
6/25/2018 06:47:00 pm
Thanks Jimmy, I’ll be listening for you!
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Babs
6/26/2018 05:15:01 am
What can I say, except that I am sending the both of you some uplifting energy and determination vibes to complete this extra-ordinary journey. What you are doing is a testament to womanhood and a commitment getting the word out about the importance of the East Coast Greenway. There is no doubt in my mind that you two ladies exemplify all that is good in humankind. We desperately need folks of all kind advocating for Mother Earth and all she provides for us. Thank you for this blog of your adventures. It is such an inspiration, even when the going gets tough. On to Calais!
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Marjorie Seawell
6/26/2018 06:09:54 am
I’m absolutely not a runner, but a friend who runs marathons shared the tip of choosing a different loved one for each mile and focusing on all the great qualities of and fun memories with that person. She swears it helps get her through the toughest segments. Hope the difficult miles glide by today!
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Lisa
6/27/2018 07:40:00 pm
Nice, Marjorie, will give that a try. Tomorrow is supposed to be rainy, this could help.
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Lou Rubin
6/26/2018 12:56:12 pm
YOU GUYS ROCK!
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Lisa
6/27/2018 07:38:51 pm
Thanks Lou! NYC feels like a few months ago...
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Cris Cusack
6/30/2018 07:38:55 am
As a Stephen King fan, the names of the towns are becoming more and more familiar as I read (I've only ever actually been to Maine once, decades ago). Avoid Derry, and particularly Castle Rock!
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