Karen's Ride has been scheduled!

JUNE 14, 2012

(photo taken 2011)

So, my training has been ongoing and I have begun to plan my next Big Ride!!  We have held our 4th annual bike-a-thon for Educate Malawi, Inc.!  I am preparing for my second annual Big Ride for Educate Malawi.  That is what has prompted me to write today...I have riden 637 miles this year toward my 2,500 miles for the year.  This week I have  also mapped out my ride for September!  I am very excited about it. 

I will begin riding either September 4th or 5th - I am hoping to do a speaking engagement in Portsmouth, NH on the 4th about Educate Malawi and then would start riding in Kittery, ME. the next day.  If that does not work out, I will start riding on the 4th. 

So, here is the map of the ride...Map of the Coast of Maine: 

So, from Kittery to Calais is approximately 291 miles.  I realized when I started mapping this all out, that by the time I got up there it would be really close to Canada!  Plus, we will have to drive home from wherever the end point is.  So, Calais will be the route up and we will double back until I reach the 500 mile mark.  I have identified campsites along the route and have roughly figured out the mileage per day.  It is not consistent, some long days, some shorter.  I have no doubt that it will be beautiful scenery and I hope to spend some time spreading the word about Educate Malawi! 

BREAK WAS TAKEN HERE...AND I RODE MY BIKE SOME MORE...

I have riden 658 miles this year so far and have begun riding with some men I used to work with who are crazy!!!  They ride the hills around this area, and it is a challenge for me to keep up.  However, it is fun and is helping me stay motivated and focused on the training that will be important once that time comes!

In case anyone is curious, the 8 day ride will be mapped out as follows:

1. Kittery to Freeport 

2. Freeport to Camden

3. Camden to Ellsworth

4. Ellsworth to Harrington 

5. Harrington to Calais

From here, I 'backtrack' down to Camden, which will bring me to 500 miles!!  The maps will just be a reverse of that route.

6. Calais to Harrington

7. Harrington to Ellsworth

8. Ellsworth to Camden

HOME!

I plan to post the exact routes as time goes by.  Hopefully it will not be another 2 months before I get back in here to post.  I have had thoughts of video-blogging...taking video of myself talking and saying what I would want to write, but taking the fraction of the time to do it - genious, right?  But...am a little self-conscious of putting my face on here like that, so I will try to 'write' again sooner than later.