Greenway Bike Ride 2021
Donation protected
Hello Family, Friends, and the Crowd-Funding Community,
As many of us, I share some experience growing up riding bikes. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to set a stage for later in life. Fast forward to 1997 and life in Philly doing VISTA (the start of a life of volunteering) and realizing that I could save commuter fair by purchasing a bike and riding to and fro. Long story short, I agreed to ride in a City to Shore Bike Tour - MS150. My first. I have never stopped riding since then and after moving to Maine, went on my first Trek Across Maine for the American Lung Assoc in 2012. With so much riding, my car stopped being useful and indeed a burden. So, sold the car, bought a touring bike and the next year, 2013, rode across much of the US.
Two years later, I rode from Bar Harbor, ME to Boston, MA in a Climate Ride supporting Food and Water Watch, and Maine Farmland Trust. In the meantime, I was increasing our vegetable yields modestly and made a marked increase in 2015 with the adaption of a Community Garden Plot. Between 2015 and 2018 I would go on to do two more Trek Across Maine rides and a Diabetes Ride. Earlier this year (2019) and after meeting an organizer for the East Coast Greenway, I started thinking once again about doing a long ride. I decided upon the Greenway because I agree with the goals of that project. As long as I can pedal, I feel this is one way I can be of help in the world.
During the past four years, I have also served on our local food Cooperative Board of Directors, recognizing the need for local purveyors of good food. During this next Bike Tour, I will keep an eye out for local food distributors. There are 15(?) local food coops along the Greenway and I intend to visit each one and write about it.
Much of the preparation for this trip was in thinking about it, talking about it, and trying to determine, if I could do the trip. Giving three months up of what I am doing now, raising funds, and providing meaning beyond a solo bike ride has taken much of my time and thought. I am slowly making plans for moving my bike to the starting point using a bike transport service along with my local bike shop. For myself, it will be a combination of driving angels :), buses, and trains to get me to Key West. No flying on this trip for me. I have mapped out stops along the way based upon distance and terrain and these may be found on my website (constantly updated :) ).
This Crowd-Funder is here for you, dear reader, in hopes you'd like to participate in some way. There are other ways to participate as well, such as riding with me, providing homestays and meals, providing PR for the Greenway, and making the Greenway important in your own lives.
Thank you
As many of us, I share some experience growing up riding bikes. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to set a stage for later in life. Fast forward to 1997 and life in Philly doing VISTA (the start of a life of volunteering) and realizing that I could save commuter fair by purchasing a bike and riding to and fro. Long story short, I agreed to ride in a City to Shore Bike Tour - MS150. My first. I have never stopped riding since then and after moving to Maine, went on my first Trek Across Maine for the American Lung Assoc in 2012. With so much riding, my car stopped being useful and indeed a burden. So, sold the car, bought a touring bike and the next year, 2013, rode across much of the US.
Two years later, I rode from Bar Harbor, ME to Boston, MA in a Climate Ride supporting Food and Water Watch, and Maine Farmland Trust. In the meantime, I was increasing our vegetable yields modestly and made a marked increase in 2015 with the adaption of a Community Garden Plot. Between 2015 and 2018 I would go on to do two more Trek Across Maine rides and a Diabetes Ride. Earlier this year (2019) and after meeting an organizer for the East Coast Greenway, I started thinking once again about doing a long ride. I decided upon the Greenway because I agree with the goals of that project. As long as I can pedal, I feel this is one way I can be of help in the world.
During the past four years, I have also served on our local food Cooperative Board of Directors, recognizing the need for local purveyors of good food. During this next Bike Tour, I will keep an eye out for local food distributors. There are 15(?) local food coops along the Greenway and I intend to visit each one and write about it.
Much of the preparation for this trip was in thinking about it, talking about it, and trying to determine, if I could do the trip. Giving three months up of what I am doing now, raising funds, and providing meaning beyond a solo bike ride has taken much of my time and thought. I am slowly making plans for moving my bike to the starting point using a bike transport service along with my local bike shop. For myself, it will be a combination of driving angels :), buses, and trains to get me to Key West. No flying on this trip for me. I have mapped out stops along the way based upon distance and terrain and these may be found on my website (constantly updated :) ).
This Crowd-Funder is here for you, dear reader, in hopes you'd like to participate in some way. There are other ways to participate as well, such as riding with me, providing homestays and meals, providing PR for the Greenway, and making the Greenway important in your own lives.
Thank you
Organizer
Andrew Watkins
Organizer
Belfast, ME