This entry was posted on 6/13/2006 6:10 AM and is filed under uncategorized.
Sorry for the wait, everyone! I got home on June 3rd, and have hardly had a chance to eat, nonetheless write a coherant blog entry. I'm back at work, and back to my normal life, so it's difficult to switch back to Unicycle Superhero mode.
Now that people around town are seeing my face again, they have a lot of questions for me.
"How was your trip?" Well, it was wet, of course. I made it, despite the rain, and wind, and hail, and ticks, and mountains, and trucks, and heartbreak, and even Connecticut. It got to be pretty lonely on the road. I'm happy I went, and happy I accomplished it, but I'm glad to be home.
But the trip isn't quite done yet. The hard part is over, even though I'll be back in the saddle shortly. This is the fun part- telling everyone all about what an intense trip I had.
"How much money did you raise?" I raised some money. You people, the ones visiting my web site and reading my blog, have been fantastically generous. I don't have a total figure yet, because money is still coming in. I can tell you that I have reached my goal.
"Would you do it again?" Yes, I would.
From Montpelier, it is three days riding to Rumford, going through the White Mountains and Mount Washington valley. I made myself do it in two. I was ready to be done. I wanted to be home, and nurse my broken heart. Besides, I was heading East. The wind would be at my back.
Saturday, I was packed up and riding at 6 in the morning. No sooner has I hopped into the saddle, than it started raining. I mean POURING. "That's okay, Max," I said, "You don't have to camp tonight."
It rained for all 12 hours I was riding. It let up a bit after eight hours, though, so I could focus on battling the fiercest head wind I'd faced the entire trip.
I didn't care. I was going to sleep in my bed that night. With my pillows. And my quilt. I would have kept pedaling if I'd been struck by lightning and a van at the same time.
The thing that concerned me the most was my right crank arm. It was loose. I tightened it up every few miles, but it remained loose. Finally, the bolt that held the crank on could not be tightened any more, and still the crank was loose. By this time, I was in Bethel, Maine, only a few miles from Rumford. So, I called my mom for rescue, and began walking.
I still haven't figured out what went wrong. I'm stumped.
Something happened the other day that really made me think. I got an email from a woman that was very touching. I've had some people tell me that this trip was extremely selfish. You know, raising money for *my* education. But this woman told me that this trip has done good things for others.
"I am inspired by your journey and more important determination to make something of your life... we paid for my son's schooling with no student loans (working 7 days a week and saving). He quit school with one semester left... So I say thank you for pushing yourself. I don't know you but I am very proud of you..."
If that doesn't tell you that you've accomplished something, nothing will. This is why I'd do it again. This is why it was worth it. this trip made a lot of people happy. A lot of strangers really got into it, and helped me out a lot.
I'll be performing at the Maine Blues Festival on Saturday, and I'll hopefully be riding in the Independance Day Parade in Montpelier, Vermont on July 3rd. Even though I've been slacking about this blog, I am pretty good about responding to e-mails.
Thanks a bunch, everyone! Check the site again to find out more about my journey through college.
Max
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