Rider Logs

Rider Logs: Reflections from the Greenway

Chip Jahnke
Maine to DC
Kevin Porter
Florida to DC

Thursday, May 15, 10 a.m.: We're on our way from Unity, Maine to Waterville. There's an event there tonight to honor our ride, being put on by the local Rotary. The weather has been unseasonably cold, even by Maine standards, but the hospitality we've encountered makes up for that. Last night we stayed at the Copper Heron B&B in Unity, courtesy of the owner Melissa Bastien, a big trails supporter. The night before, in Hancock, we stayed at the home of Bill & Polly Ceckler, who are members of the ECGA and important supporters of the Downeast Sunrise Trail. In fact, we've had homestays each night of the trip so far! We're thoroughly enjoying the ride, and meeting people along the way, but also looking forward to warmer weather as we work our way south... (submitted by Ty Symroski, Key West City Planner, Friday, May 16) The midnight lunar eclipse was a fitting precursor to Kevin Porter's early morning departure from the Southernmost point of the East Coast Greenway in Key West. Approximately 20 people showed up, many as a result of the front page article in the morning newspaper, The Key West Citizen. Mayor Jimmy Weekley provided a Conch Republic Flag. Jim Malcolm, the Key West bicycle pedestrian coordinator, had food. The The weather was fabulous with a clean wind from the southeast. After visiting the southern end of the White Street Pier and the Historic African Cemetery at Higgs Beach, Kevin and Dale Lally proceeded on with the trip.

Tuesday, May 13, 8 p.m.: We wheeled into Hancock, Maine today, dripping wet and feeling chilled, but excited about having ridden through a good portion of beautiful downeast Maine. The temperatures, in the forties, were lower than we'd anticipated, but like good tourists, we're prepared.
We left Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada on Sunday the 11th, and a crowd of 150 people lined the start of our route to see us off. What a nice beginning! On Monday, when we took off from Calais, the Mayor and other officials saw us off. Highlight of the trip so far: the enormous blueberry pancakes served up in White's Restaurant, Jonesboro.
Here's something of note: as you know, we're collecting letters supporting the ECG to the President. We picked up a stack from Machiasport Elementary School. One student, Julia Corbett, wrote, "Dear Mr. President, We need you help. The East Coast Greenway is needed in our town. There is no place to ride your bike or walk without getting killed."

Chip Jahnke Maine to DC	Kevin Porter Florida to DC
Thursday, May 15, 10 a.m.: We're on our way from Unity, Maine to Waterville. There's an event there tonight to honor our ride, being put on by the local Rotary. The weather has been unseasonably cold, even by Maine standards, but the hospitality we've encountered makes up for that. Last night we stayed at the Copper Heron B&B in Unity, courtesy of the owner Melissa Bastien, a big trails supporter. The night before, in Hancock, we stayed at the home of Bill & Polly Ceckler, who are members of the ECGA and important supporters of the Downeast Sunrise Trail. In fact, we've had homestays each night of the trip so far! We're thoroughly enjoying the ride, and meeting people along the way, but also looking forward to warmer weather as we work our way south...	(submitted by Ty Symroski, Key West City Planner, Friday, May 16) The midnight lunar eclipse was a fitting precursor to Kevin Porter's early morning departure from the Southernmost point of the East Coast Greenway in Key West. Approximately 20 people showed up, many as a result of the front page article in the morning newspaper, The Key West Citizen. Mayor Jimmy Weekley provided a Conch Republic Flag. Jim Malcolm, the Key West bicycle pedestrian coordinator, had food. The The weather was fabulous with a clean wind from the southeast. After visiting the southern end of the White Street Pier and the Historic African Cemetery at Higgs Beach, Kevin and Dale Lally proceeded on with the trip.
Tuesday, May 13, 8 p.m.: We wheeled into Hancock, Maine today, dripping wet and feeling chilled, but excited about having ridden through a good portion of beautiful downeast Maine. The temperatures, in the forties, were lower than we'd anticipated, but like good tourists, we're prepared. We left Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada on Sunday the 11th, and a crowd of 150 people lined the start of our route to see us off. What a nice beginning! On Monday, when we took off from Calais, the Mayor and other officials saw us off. Highlight of the trip so far: the enormous blueberry pancakes served up in White's Restaurant, Jonesboro. Here's something of note: as you know, we're collecting letters supporting the ECG to the President. We picked up a stack from Machiasport Elementary School. One student, Julia Corbett, wrote, "Dear Mr. President, We need you help. The East Coast Greenway is needed in our town. There is no place to ride your bike or walk without getting killed."