Category Archives: People

Into Sackville N.B.

I woke up beside the Saint Joseph church. I had riden there after riding out of Moncton just before sunset.
Yesterday started up on a foggy vista inside the Fundy National Park. I was not wanting to make the decent into Alma after already riding over 150k so I was up top the last hill before hitting the coast. I rode into Alma right before low tide. Very good timing because I think I found the one place I had seen a photo showing the extreme tides. Might be the photo from wiki. Anyway I saw it at a good time. Boats sitting on the floor 20 feet below the docks height. Only to find out the town of Alma is on boil order for their water. I had to ride back up the hill to get clean water from the parks water system.
I spoke to one man at the general store. And after a Sticky Bun at the bakery and rolling out of town I seen him again outside his house. “just burning some trash”. He’d given me direction to Short Cut Road. To get back to the coast but avoid a big hill. It worked and after riding thru Fundy Park (nothing but hill after huge hill for about 20 miles) I did want to avoid hills. Very pretty ride. Little traffic. I caught up to a family of 3 touring from Saint John to Moncton. And as it turns out they knew my host Peter in St John too. After a talk I made my way ahead of them. And not long after I saw a freshly flipped car in a ditch. Might have been closer to that happening if we had not stopped to trade notes.
In Moncton I ate and walked thru main st to see a motorcycle show. Sort of stayed too long but on my last turn out of town was a burning old 70’s Camaro. Two tone blue and white. A blaze. I yelled to go to the gas station and get their fire extinguishers. They did not. The fire truck was there in a min.
I rode and rode to find a church. I stopped at a house two men were in a garage and gave me directions to St. Joseph church. Right at the ESSO go a mile or two. I though people spoke in km but they speak in miles.
So today, out of the church. Bask to the ESSO of snack and use toilet. Then down the road and met Wayne. Excited man in his 70’s. He had done some touring in Europe many years ago. Invited me to his house right next door. Drank some water and talked about Canada history.
Traded photos. And he gave me a “S” clip. Like double caribiner.
Into Sackville finally. Ok all is fine till I try to buy a coffee they don’t take credit. Got to the bank. Sat bank is closed. Use ATM. ATM does not take master card. In Canada the banks won’t do both visa and MC. one or other and both here are Visa. Well it turns out the coffee place will take US cash. And I got quarters to do laundry. But the place does not sell soap. Bought soap with my quarters at dollar store for $1.25. Then laundry needs a Loony and 2 Quarters to do wash. I was getting pissed. Just hot tired and late in the day. Nothing seemed to be right. My stuff was all over the place in the laundry and I’d need to get it all back together to walk around to try and change in for a loony. But right then a man offered to watch my stuff. “sorry I can’t leave my property, it’s all I have I have to keep it with me” he then offered to walk and get me a loony. I had him get two. He came back and I did my wash but it was good I got two because the kid next to me doing wash put money in a busted machine and I did not wash his clothes. He switched machines and I gave him my other loony SOS he could get a wash in too.

Drying now. Back on the road soon. With any luck I’ll be in Nova Scotia by tonight

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Camping in Backyards is Nice

I met a Doctor today as I was looking around Saint John. I had ridden from St.George and seen the reversing rapids near high tide. Deciding not the leave before seeing the river flow the right direction I went to look around town. After dealing with a nonsense bike lane into the city center I rode up a hill and looked and a free map I had and not two seconds later a guy in scrubs and on a bike w a pannier asks if I need help and such. We talked a min and suggested I camp in his yard “we have a great sunset right on he river”. I found out that was true. But first I re-up my stove fuel at a camping store and rode around for photos and looking for wifi. After 3 days and an new country I thought I should send out an Eh. Back to the gorge for some clearing out of my snacks supply. And a draining of my water. I keep running out of water. This is bad. Watched sport kayakers ride the waves. Photos. And after a chatted with them about the water and riding out of town. On my map I made a note of the doctors name a house number. One of the guys by the river knew him. Seemed I was best to get there before sunset. Making notes of out of town routes, I made tracks for the house I might stay at.
I got there in time. It was perfect. I’m in my tent listening to the waves of the river lap up on the small shore right out their back door. We had sat inside talking for about an hour over tea. Very nice people. Listening to a good record. Eating blueberry pie w ice cream.
I did not get very far today. The weather was much nicer and I rode a lot quicker. But Saint John was to nice to zip through. I’ll leave in the morning. And it’s good I stuck around, the few people I spoke with all suggested a different route that I would have chose had I just rode in and rode out.
Now the plan is follow the river not the coast. I’ll see much coast in the next weeks. I’ll avoid the hill and save a few miles on the way.

Oh on the 1, in a section that was just a 2 lane, I crossed paths with another fully loaded touring cyclist. I had the up hill at the time. I rang my bell and said hey as I slowed. He just smiled and waved as he kept pedaling. Sort of bummed about that. He would have been the first person I’d have talked to for the day.
Another odd thing was this morning in St George I asks the girl outside the visitor center where I could get coffee and find wifi. Tim Hortons and “we dont have Internet here”

Last Full Day on US 1

Last night, after a full day with the Beehive Collective, I had decided if the the weather man was right and there is rain in the morning I’d stay longer but if the morning was clear I’d stay for breakfast, say goodbyes and hit the road before noon.
I woke up to a dry tent and barely overcast skies.
I was up an hour before breakfast was served but by time I was all packed and made my way to the Grange the line was started. Oatmeal and cherries.
I had my bike with me so the ones I had sort of gotten to know knew I was about to leave. I would have liked to stay but I’m in travel mode. They all know what that’s like. A few last photos and a couple people asked for my info.
I wanted to get a photo of these four young kids who got in last night. They sat at the same table as me for breakfast but before I knew it they had left for their projects. I went to the house and found two and learned they were that much of a crew. They just drove up together. Anyway I took a nice shot of the two of them. I lost track of their names.
The very last thing was an official Bees fair-well. A few in the front yard waved handkerchiefs with many goodbyes. I rode down the hill to the 1.
I bought a loaf of bread, a small OJ and a few bananas at the gas station and made my way just after 11am
There was not much else today.
I ate about 6 times. Even stopped at a cafe for grilled cheese and fries. Now much happened there, the most excitement was a 50 states crossword on the placemat. I found Maine but could not find New York. Ohio was easy.
Some clouds the whole day. Never saw my shadow.
I did stop to talk to Gregory. A man hammering a roof onto a structure mention to be a bathroom/greenhouse over a septic tank. Lives half the year in India. Would much rather hitchhike than bike. Made scarecrows from 6 foot logs by hammering washers on for eyes and nose and dressing them in thrift store clothes. There were about 25 of them scattered about. Some in the weeds across the highway. “these ones don’t like those ones”
We talked for about 15 min. But he had work to do and I had miles to ride more before the rain started.
Not much else to Calias. Learned of a Walmart. Tented it there. Crossing the boarder in the morning if the rain clears. Raining as I set up the tent. Plain sight.
Thought I might switch to km on the cycle computer since I’ll be in Canada for a few weeks. But how?
Also thought to be clean shaven as I cross. But that’s not happening unless I shave in the Walmart bathroom in the morning. Na.
Would like to get a new, non broken screen, good battery having, slightly better camera equipped iPod touch and a solar charger. But no money for that stuff right now.
Also my 34″ Outliers are a size too big now. What happened??
I rode 64 miles today. Almost all of that was on US 1.

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With the Beehive

Waking up within the Beehive camp on a Sunday is probably the best timing I could have had. Breakfast was at 10 vs 8 during the week and the projects many are doing are on hold for a day. Leaving time to chill. It was not a difficult choice to take a rest day here. Someone made a small bit of eggs in the house before breakfast at The Grange. That’s where I ate dinner last night. I took a quick shower. Pancakes and greens for breakfast in a hall that fits 60. Then coffee and talk with too many to recite. But after that I washed dished for a while w 3 others out back in the sun.
Later, a walk to the store for a large yogurt and granola to share. Some painting of art at the craft house. The same place I met Kathy yesterday. A nap. A ride around town. Hearing talk of the rain that’s coming. A roll of portraits mixed with other photos on film. And a side run to Subway for a vege foot long. I feel like I can eat for 3 I’m so hungry. All the time. It’s 5:30pm now and all my things are in my tent out back so this is a rest day.
People keep asking how long I’m staying and what are my plans. I have no real answer but I think I’ll roll out tomorrow as long as it’s not pouring.
I did say that I’m the type of person that if in a new group of 50 and 49 were totally nice and fine with me and 1 was like -who is this and why are they here- I would not have stated this long. But everyone is very nice and I feel welcome.
Kind of wish I could stay a week and be here for the Black Fly Ball. They say over 1000 people will come and it’s a great time.
I hope no rain but if there is I could not be stuck in a better place.

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Bangor, ME Bike Pol0 was a Blast

I was about ten miles further than I wanted to be on the morning of the day I was to meet the Bangor pol0 crew. And it was raining. I rode over 60 miles between 1pm and just after 7, the stated start time. It was slow, hilly, wet and very pretty ride from Rockport, or -land? To Bangor up the 1 and 1A. Didn’t stop for many photos or even food and water much. I wanted to get there. Even if it was rained out. I wanted to say I was there. Even if they weren’t.
I got to town and asked a few pedestrians where they play. The fourth try pointed me in the right direction. Not two turns later a dark haired girl in a car behind me yelled out “pol0”. From then on my night kept getting better and better. Pol0 in Maine for one, so fun only 5 of us all together but 2v2 is still good pol0. We had mutual friends because she and her boyfriend Gabe had lived in NYC a couple years ago. One of the other players shared his vege soup. Another was playing music. We mixed up games. And I had a very good time. Good like 2005 bike pol0 good. After, we relaxed at a bar for a bit but they closed early. Fine bc I was hungry. Kierie and Gabe offered a spare room. They also fed me and let me shower. We talked about travel, NYC, and pol0. It was good.

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Internet and me

Finding web time is not as hard as keeping this old iPhone charged. Need some solar charger but don’t want it bad enough to research, find, or buy one. Mainly because being on the Internet slows me down and sucks the life out of my time.
I’m exaggerating. I did drink a huge coffee at Bard Coffee in Portland, Maine while sending some tweets to let friend know I’m alive. Look at emails and try to contact portland bike pol0. Waiting on a response. Also look at 36 hour weather. Dry now but says all rain coming up. Rained all last night. Luck that it started 30 min after I was in my tent.
Also got this thing fully charged while waiting. Still no reply. Getting super hungry. Fingers crossed they play when and where their site says.

Also I met another touring cyclist.

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August 3, 2011

Was on a schedule to get to Boston by 6pm to play pol0 w friends.
On the road by 9am.
Had a crash 4 miles out. Some sand in the corner of a turn. Recovered it but hit deeper sand beyond. Fell. Alls good.
No real damage.
On the 6 east to 198 north to 244 east. Into RI. Was in RI for exactly 2 hours. Just 17 miles. That was that. Oh in a town Chepachet you can’t drink the water on one side of town because of dirty wells. I asked a newspaper delivery guy for directions to good water as I ate some pb and j. He pointed me in the right direction. A min later he came out of the EZ Mart w a large bottled water. “by donation. Have a good trip”.
Rode more miles than I wanted today. Made me think of my last tour/ride. On a schedule. Not the best. But today it’s worth it.
Made it to pol0 in time. Subway for dinner. Jav loaned me his bike for a couple games. Gus gave me place to stay. First shower since NYC. Gus took a good photo and made me tea. And I’m on his Internet right now.

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