Maine Adventure Trail (MAT) Part 1

[TN2Wheeler]

Fellow member Rick Giddish has been working for a couple of years to develop the Maine Adventure Trail. The MAT, like the TAT (Trans America Trail) starts in Jellico, TN but goes east instead of west. Rick's intent is to provide a dual sport route featuring as much unpaved surface as possible all the way to the Maine coast. Combining the MAT (starting in Maine) with the TAT would provide approximately 8,000 miles of coast to coast adventure.

Two years ago several of us rode the TAT from Jellico to STAR at Taos... about 2500 miles in 10 days. It was quite an adventure... one we hope to complete all the way to Port Orford, OR at some point.

Rick and Galen Diehl rode part of the MAT last year. Part 1 is more or less half way to approximately the NY state line. In the meantime Rick has been hard at work on Part 2 from where they left off to the Maine coast. There are 6 or so of us planning to do Part 2 in September. But, since I missed out on Part 1 the first time and since Galen needs a "ride-about" we're going to do it again... starting in the morning. It'll be about 1350 dual sport miles to the turn around in Coudersport, PA from my house; then 550 miles back home on rural blacktop. We expect to be back next weekend.

My ride is all ready to go and we're off at 7am! Whooo Hooo!



More later...

Jim Randall

[NinjaBob]

Looks like you travel pretty light! Hope you had room for a tootghbrush

[TN2Wheeler]

It would be even lighter if we didn't have to plan on cold wet weather early next week.

Jim Randall

[PYG RYDR]

And a snowshovel!!!

[BlueRidgeGal]

From the photo that Jim posted, I assume that Galen is carrying the snowshovel this trip. Hope you all are having a good, safe, and warm trip!

[TN2Wheeler]

Okay, so I admit it. I'm a wuss. I don't like cold and I particularly don't like snow when motorcycling. So, after watching and waiting and watching and waiting, I bailed yesterday and hi-tailed it for home.

We were in Harrisonburg, VA after two truly excellent days of dual sporting - probably 80% unpaved roads in the Jefferson and Washington National Forests. The bottom fell out as we were approaching Harrisonburg (like 8" of water in the streets!) so we holed up at the Best Western. We had a very nice dinner at the O'Charlie's across from the motel with a couple of tall brews. On Sunday morning it was still raining but not like the day before and the snow was predicted for Sunday night and Monday. Uh, 320 paved miles home, mostly in the rain and never above mid-40's. I was really glad to get home last night! Nancy had a big pot of hot chili and corn bread waiting on me. She IS an angel.

Galen, however, is a real trooper. He is still up there but I haven't heard from him today. He has relatives in southern PA and was heading for there this morning.

We'll have to attempt this again at a later time.

[Brick]

I too was wondering how you guys were doing... I'm with you I would have turned for home too! :D

[PYG RYDR]

Well this ride started with super weather and excellent riding!

Jim and I met in Bland, VA 10 am and left the Dairy Queen 10:30 am.

Our route was 80-85 per gravel, with some double-track with huge mud puddles-ask Jim. :D

Riding ridges, valleys and only a couple vehicles all day. Stopped at the Eggleston General Store for lunch. Jim had sardines; me-cheese and crackers. Continued on up past Mountain Lake-one of two filming sites for Dirty Dancing. Mid day-saw a small bear cub scurring up a hillside.

Ended day 1 around 6 pm in Covington. Mileage-112 to Bland + 160 on route = 272 total.

Jim snagged a discounted room at the Best Western, including full breakfast. A very nice stay!

Next day, we continued our route north with excellent gravel roads. Passed several forest fire sites. Rain has been limited this year. After lunch, started to see rain clouds in the distance, and by 3 pm while refueling, a thunderstorm let loose with full downpour. We decided it was time to get a room and headed east to Harrisonburg.

To be continued...

[PYG RYDR]

Our route to the Best Western was less than 10 miles, but the thunderstorm was severe enough to find cracks in our rain gear, but we were mostly dry.

Jim and I were watching the weather forecasts for WV and PA, where 12-18 of snow was predicted on Monday-Tuesday. This forecast covered our planned route. So, with it raining and with snow and cold temps forecasted for several days, Jim decided the practical plan of action was to ride home, and did so Sunday on asphalt.

My plan was to wait for the rain to ease, and for me to re-cooperate from some swelling and pain around/behind my nose. So, I relaxed and watched some HBO while the rain continued.

Monday afternoon the rain ended and after talking with a friend who is a nurse practitioner, rode to the local ER for a medical evaluation of my nose. End result: infection-pus pocket resulting in 3 different IV antibiotics, 2 oral biotics for ten days, pain meds-and a referral to the ENT to get the pocket lanced. My medical care at the Rockingham County Hospital was first rate.

Tuesday, packed and rode home for an 11:15 am appt with local ENT, where I learned, this ENT no longer did the surgical procedure and nor did the other ENT. My ENT referred me to Baptist in Winston-Salem, so by 3 pm, I was in the ER-then on Fast Track for the procedure. By 5 pm the procedure was done, but basically without pain medication. I was informed after the procedure that the numbing anesthesia does not work due to the nature of the infection. So, I got cut, rinsed, then the pocket stuffed with packing without the benefits of pain medication BEFORE the procedure. This hurt like a son-of-a-burch!!! And since this blood-brain area is close together, I stayed overnight for observation.

Wednesday morning, the Resident woke me, then yanked the packing, rinsed, then repacked again. Then tells me to take a Percocet at home half hour before doing this. The pain was a SON OF A BURCH again!

SO I COULD HAVE HAD PAIN MEDICATION BEFORE THE SURGERY AND COULD HAVE ALSO BEFORE THE REPACKING!!!

I requested a nursing supervisor and filed a formal complaint.

BTW, the repacking is to be done twice a day at home. I am very happy to report that my wife, Flo successfully did the first repacking last night with minor pain-took 2 percocets and she was not brutal like the doctor.

My pain was not managed properly at the hospital and I will follow-up with my complaint. I expected pain with this procedure, but not the brutal, traumatizing kind I experienced.

So, my week of a riding vacation is over! I am mending at home and already preparing for another ride-minus the infection!

[PYG RYDR]

https://picasaweb.google.com/gediehl...41367316149490

After the Rain:

https://picasaweb.google.com/gediehl...41418574579202