January 1 2013

Tracey, Fiona, Amy

I began the new year with a 2 hour ski in the woods on groomed trails at the University of Maine http://umaine.edu/campusrecreation/files/2010/05/trailmap2011.pdfwith my ski buddy and friend, Kathy Lena. Check out the trails.  I am waiting for my New Jersey "Hyer" friends to take me up on skiing or biking. (BOB???) Kathy  will document the day with photos which will show how glorious it is in Maine when the sun is out, it is cold and snowy.  There might be a few photos of me looking very hipster in the snow scene.  I am learning about hipster's from Fiona and I am not sure why they would think anything 70's was cool.  Anyway,there was a brisk wind around the edges of the woods so that when we skied too close to a field or open area the wind would try whip in and torment us.  We stayed in the woods on groomed trails stopping occasionally for a map check.  There are a lot of skate skiers out on the trails and families too.  My skis are ones I found at the local BOG WALK yard sale.  After buying all the kid equipment and gear I am planning on getting a new pair of boots and skis.  I want to learn to skate ski, too.  S,o even though it was cold in the woods the sun was bright and the energy high.   I was trying to scope out a trail that would enable me to ski to school but I couldn't find it.  One thing I don't want to do is get lost in the woods.  I will rely on professional boyscouts to direct me in the right direction.

University woods

Fiona and Amy our second day of skiing

Freedom with a bike rack

I am ready to go with my new bike rack which I purchased in July.  I went to the local bike shop, Rose Bike, and have had so much fun and great service.  Before my trip on the Sunrise Trail on Aug.1 one of the bike fixers/salesman showed me how to change a bike tire and set me up with supplies just in case.  I purchased a collapsable carrier for the rack on the back and even a change of clothes fit right in.  Once I got the new bike rack, which I can load and unload myself (this is key), I was ready to travel around the state.  My first trip was to Acadia National Park.  I decided to take a page out of my childhood friend Debbie's book and highlight every trail so I could try something new each time and traverse most of the Park as a goal.  I discovered I loved the Eagle Lake spot the best.  So my that was the destination that day. 

Here I am at the trail at Eagle lake.  The loop around is 6 miles.  I tend to go to the left and head over to Jordan Pond but there are inclines on most of the trails that are good for exercise, beauty and fun.  The Bubbles is a beautiful trail towards Jordan Pond.  It is right next to the water on Bubble Pond.

Once I got the bike rack there was no stopping me. I hopped in the car, with my bike on board and drove to Portland, Maine. I biked with my friend Judy to this park in Portland.    This was a 24 mile round trip ride from her house in Scarborough.  It was a beautiful day and this is a wonderful park that I had never been to.  We ate out lunch, hydrated and took in the ocean scenery.  There is a light house and a shop to investigate too.  Portland also has a portion of the green trail that I intend to investigate next summer.

Our second day of biking in Portland was to take the Eastern Green Trail and bike 20 miles round trip to Thornton Academy in Biddeford via the Scarborough Marsh.  Right now we are stopped at the Hannaford.  I discovered carrying water in a camel back keeps me from getting thirsty but what about energy.  Chobani Greek yogurt was a definite pick me up for the trip back. 

This marsh is a wonderful in Scarborough.  If you go to the Portland area this is a great birding spot and good for a hike. 

Down East Sunrise Trail August 1-2

This is my trip on the Down East Sunrise Trail on August 1-2 with a great friend.  We biked for 38 miles one way Ellsworth to Harrington,  and then biked 20 miles back the next day from Tunk Lake to Ellsworth.

The bog by Schoodic Mt. 

My sweet bike.  This is a recovered railroad bed that is used by ATV's, Bikes, and other modes of transportation.  

Schoodic Mountain

The Sunrise Trail crosses a few main highways.  This one is near Franklin, Maine

Notice my bike all spiffed up with all the gear.

DOWNEAST Natural History Museum

 

Harrington, Maine  RT 1

Our return trip past Schoodic Mt. was rain, rain, rain. 

My bike covered with mud.  So was I from head to toe.

The socks I bought at L L Bean to warm my cold toes in August.

The Begining of Freedom

Welcome to my blog about my new found fun and freedom.  Biking.... I thought there might be other newbies in the bike world who are beginners too, and might like to know some of the great places I have found to ride. In the past I had biked with my children, occasionally biked to work and used a bike to get some occasional exercise. The well used Trek Mountain Bike in the garage needed a friend.  The great weather of spring was on the horizon. Maybe I could out peddle not out run,  the black flies.  After a few trips to Rose Bike in Orono, Maine a decision was made. Check out the bike, a Trek Hybrid, a reasonable price.  I wanted a bike that I could lift myself, had a comfortable seat [the story of the explanation and an awkward description of an uncomfortable bike seat to a young man in the bike shop is for another time], and was upright.   I love my bike.  LOVE IT... At the shop I added a few extra's.  Flashing Tail light, a rack and a front light.  I was ready to go.  
TIP:  Getting the bike fit to my height was important.  I realize having a great fit is what makes it so great to ride.  Riding is fun.  

A biking adventure

I had several biking trips to Acadia National Park.  I got a national park map and started highlighting my trips that I took.  My favorite are the carriage trails but there were some nice trips just starting out in down town Bar Harbor.  I went out to breakfast on Cottage St., the weekend my new nephew was born and then headed out on my bike on Rt. 3.  I traveled past the athletic field of the MDI YMCA and the Mt. Desert Ice Cream shop.  Try their coconut ice cream.  There is a road behind Jackson Lab called Schooner Head Rd.  This is a fun ride and if you take a left and attempt the hill there is a great view of the Porky Pine Islands.