Miles Today: 88

Miles to Date: 242

May 8, 2015 – Sunny, windy, 55 degrees

The reality of this trip hit me hard in the face today, in the form of a 30-mile head wind. I started the day with a group discussion of how will we live tomorrow at SMRT, the Portland architecture firm with whom I worked a few years ago. After a stimulating conversation, I walked out of their waterfront offices to a hard wind shift.

I pedaled 15 miles along Casco Bay to Yarmouth, where I met with folks from DeLorme, the mapping company, to discuss trends in mapping and satellite location systems. I was mesmerized by Eartha, the largest globe in the world (42’ diameter). When we hold a globe in our hands, the earth seems manageable. A three-story tall planet revolving on its axis is both inspiring and humbling.

It was well past noon when I climbed back on the bike for a 66 mile trek to Union. Two friends of my cousin Andy heard about my trip and invited me to their yurt. I knew it would be a long haul, but their invitation was so genuine, I told them I’d shoot to arrive by seven. Immediately, I knew I was overly optimistic. The wind was steady, fierce and spot on. I alternated between being on Route 1 and side road spurs, but no matter where I went, the wind found me out.

After a terrific lunch at Wild Oats Bakery in Brunswick, I did thirty miles without a break – earning my bikes namesake of Long Haul Trucker. Twenty more miles brought me within shooting distance of Union. I was up in hills now, away from the coat. The horizontal sun streamed through the trees, but I wanted to get there before dark. Somehow, I missed the road and needed to call – twice – to find the dirt road that led to the cozy yurt.

It was after eight when I arrived, but my road woes evaporated in a moment. Rose and Jeremy had invited friends for potluck. A dozen of us spent the evening eating chicken with apples, bow-tie pasta in pesto and berry cobbler, while discussing how will we live tomorrow. By the time I crawled into my sleeping bag under the moonlit skylight in the middle of their circular home, I was exhausted by satisfied.