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COPING

THE DARKNESS IS REAL

By Glenn Charles Photography

May 27^th, 2020

The struggle is real

The news is a non stop barrage of depression. Politics, Covid-19, people unemployed, people dying, ... the list just goes on and on. I know for me, the last month has been horrible. Family laid off; friends losing their jobs; friends and associates losing their business; us struggling to maintain our business. The list just goes on and on.

I needed something to help me through this, and more than just red wine. I made a conscious effort to force myself back on to my bike whenever I could. I set a goal of riding every day for 30 days, no matter what the weather. I have mostly succeeded at that goal, but that list, it goes on and on and on. A daily barrage of bad news. Two steps forward, 3 steps back. Life altering changes that we have no control over.

Last week was the worst. A text from my brother that he was self admitting to the ER. He could not breathe and had severe abdominal pain. We feared the worst, the list, it just goes on and on... 10 days later, it appears he has escaped COVID-19, but is still not well. A mystery still to be solved.

Two days ago, I reached the breaking point. Lashing out, angry, sad, depressed, I needed something to break the rhythm of all the badness. My answer, again, turning to one of the only things in my life that has ever always cured my ills. I needed to camp, and not just camp anywhere, I needed to make it happen by bike.

A quick 24 hour trip was all the time I had, but it was enough. I have a secret spot that I go to often when these urges take ahold of me. An hour ride from our Inn by road and gravel and trail and I am on the Coast, in the trees or the cliffs, overlooking the Gulf of Maine all to myself. A place so peaceful that it is hard to not let the stress fall off your shoulders and seek out some goodness in all the badness of today's world.

What follows is simply a few more words and some images that more than anything helped me to step a bit more into the light and little bit more out of the darkness. We all need something right now to help us through, and for me, well, it was the bike, a camera, some wine & whiskey, good coffee, half a chicken, and some much needed time on the cliffs.

Peace & Love

G-

Roads and Gravel

Here in Maine, the back roads are often much like gravel and if they aren't all you have to do is ride on the gravel shoulder to get a gravel experience.

A Hodge Podge of Kit

I have been tweaking my bikes of late, so that forced me into a bit of a hodgepodge of kit. Porcelain Rocket on the Rear, Ortlieb on the Front, some Bedrock in the middle.

The Trail to the Cliffs

After a bit of a road/gravel ride, the route turns off towards the cliffs. A mix of double track and single track along with some bogs, get you to where you are going.

Just enough room

This really is on the edge of the ocean. Barely flat enough for the pitch, I slid down my sleeping pad all night long. If it weren't for the temperature I would have gone with the Hammock and pitched it over to the left of this image. Hard to find flat, level surfaces in this part of Maine.

Chicken and Red Wine

Dinner for a king. No veggies tonight. I brought a bottle of red in my Hydro Flask, a half a roast chicken and ate it with a knife and my fingers all the while trying to stay dry from one of the first heavy fogs of the season.

Whisky just makes things better

This is always a beautiful spot, even when the fog is so thick that you can't see anything at all.

Cowboy Coffee

In my rush to get out, I forgot my filter so it was Cowboy Coffee for me. Something that everyone should learn to make because eventually it will be a necessity. Of course, freshly roasted beans from one of my favorite roasters always helps. Thanks @Ruby

My FrosTi

Truly one of the finest bikes I have ever owned and one of the bikes that I would never part ways with. I love my Moots FrosTi.

Morning ride home

Big low tides meant I could work in a bit of beach riding as I wound my way back home. Road, Gravel, Double Track, Single Track, Bogs and Beach. Not bad for a micro adventure.