to Sussex, NB and back
The chronicle of my journey from Indiana to Sussex, NB and back. - google map
Final Mileage for this trip
Trip there: 1375 miles
While there: 100 miles (trips to the Swiss Chalet in St. John etc...)
Trip home: 1351 miles.
Total: 2826 miles - 4,550 km
States/Provinces: Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Conneticut, Maine,West Virginia and New Brunswick.
In the past 24 months, I've ridden the bike through 18 states and 2 provinces...
All in all - a fantastic trip! And... on a motorcycle that is older than all my students (except one). It amazes me that a 26 year old bike with over 100,000 miles could still do a 3,000 mile trip like that and not even miss a beat... no issues... just purring right along - pretty comfortably for the rider too... Totally impressed with the goldwing... (as one of my friends said - try doing THAT on a Harley)...
Class Videos
One of my passions for the course at BBC is to open up students to new skills and software. This year, Apple sent four macbooks for us to use during class. Below are the videos the students produced... less than six hours from getting the assignment to presenting it in class. I LOVE Mac... These students had never done digital video before...
They did a fantastic job!
On my way home
I'm on my way home from New Brunswick. Yesterday was 8 out of 12 hours in the rain - today is 30-40 mph wind gusts... I DO love riding the bike LOL.
Seriously - it was a great week at Bethany - I'll post some thoughts later. I'm sitting at Panera Bread on the NJ / PA border. On this leg of the trip, I decided to let google maps determine my course... what fun! I ended up taking Route 15 - the parkway from Hartford Conn right down into NYC - amazing drive... and the really huge trees sheltered me from the wind for most of it.
This is a video feed from my bike on 15 - streamed to ustream.tv.
More later... enjoy the video - I'll try and survive being pushed all over the road... :)
Sunday in NB
Its my 23rd anniversary today. Over the years, I've been away for more of them than I've been home for... I have a fantastic and patient wife. I love you Teresa - Happy Anniversary (don't worry - I called too...)
What a gorgeous day!
I had to wash the bike this morning - seriously covered in bugs... the entire bike! Enjoyed a Tim's coffee... (hmmm miss those) and then tonight... SWISS CHALET! (I couldn't find it on the ride through St. Johns yesterday).
I spent the rest of the day prepping for the week. My "roommate" (I'm in a 3 bedroom townhouse) is a prof I met 2 years ago. Tony Hedrick (http://www.adventive.ca) teaches a course "Preaching in a Post-Modern World" - he's a fascinating guy - we tend the think A LOT alike. One of my frustrations is that in some places, we're still doing church like its 1950. As Tony said today - Chicken can be cooked in a variety of ways for different people - but its still chicken... The gospel is still the gospel - but how you present it - needs to be culturally relevant - after all - isn't that what missionaries do every day? Find ways to present the gospel in a different culture. Time to wake up church... we don't live in the 50's, 60's or even 90's any more. SO REFRESHING.
The same sentiment could be applied to the course I'm teaching - Computer Applications in Education. The goals of education are the same that they have been for thousands of years. Preparing the next generation to be successful in the world they live in (if that's not the goal - then teachers should be fired).
Apple sent 4 macbooks - on Wednesday we're doing the iMovie thing - its always a lot of fun.
It's going to be a fun week!
The Goldwing has landed
Well... I made it :)
- Through a bug infestation that would rival one of the 10 plagues of Egypt
- Through a ride on one of the worst roads in the US (Route 191)
- Through Canadian customs
I'm here on campus - enjoyed Pizza for dinner - and I'm ready to crash.
I'll post pics and an update tomorrow when I'm actually awake :)
Exploring Rockland Maine
After 14 hours on the bike yesterday, I thought it prudent to sleep in a little and take in the sites. (I had actually planned that anyways :) ).
Note the time for sunrise this morning - being on the east coast has its disadvantages... especially when the window next to your bed faces east... :)
Until 5:39 am - I slept like a baby lol.
I enjoyed a delicious breakfast with 2 couples - a retired software engineer and his wife who were on their way to visit their son; and a woman who is on a committee dedicated to preserving the life-style and sustainability of people who live year-round on some of the hundreds of islands in the region. We enjoyed a fascinating conversation that went from the history of island dwelling in the region to the iPad (of course). (another benefit of the B&B - everyone faces each other at breakfast...)
The islands are quickly losing their residents - the http://www.islandinstitute.org/ is dedicated to preserving that life-style. Before highways made it easy to get everywhere, a boat was all you needed. But the isolation and inconvenience has taken its toll. (yes - you can even buy an island if you want... http://www.privateislandsonline.com/maine.htm.
After breakfast I went on a short walking tour - nothing is really open yet - but it was nice anyways - since I can't buy anything - the bike is kind of full... though there was this really cool painting in a gallery... :)
It was nice to sit by the water and relax. I'm a lot more tired than I thought I would be - though if I'd arrived on time, I'm pretty sure I'd be in better shape. (Pictures after the read more...)
The Adventure - Day 2
Made it to Rockland ... after an almost 3 hour delay due to a truck explosion... (incredible mess)... heading out to find dinner.
Oh... the Lindsey House lives up to its online reputation... I'll talk more about that later...
brb :)
So.. back to the saga.
I left Danville PA around 7:00 am hoping to be in Rockland, ME by 6:00 - 6:30pm. I would have been if had not been for the accident on 95 south of Portland. I've never seen quite a mess though. An 18 wheeler had exploded - there was nothing - and I mean nothing left of the cab down to the axles and the back 1/2 of the trailer. Its no wonder they closed the road.
I was prepared however. As we parked, I listened to music, had a bottle of water in my bag, put sunscreen on and read a book with my feet up on the engine block. I'm sure I looked funny - but I was comfortable and got some reading in! Once traffic got going again - I chatted with people in cars that I ended up stopped next to and did some troubleshooting on a client's website (via phone of course) - you know the routine... go for 20 feet, stop for 5 minutes... all in all - an interesting afternoon.
That of course put me well behind - but Patricia here at the Lindsey House was waiting for me.
First you have to find it - that's where Google Maps and my iPhone came in handy - I had no idea where this place was... Its just off main street - downtown.
Established in 1837 (if I remember the sign correctly), it is an old victorian home that has been transformed into a pretty amazing B&B. As you walk in, classical music is playing. There are tasteful treats waiting for the weary traveler - along with tea in the dining area... (that's a seriously nice touch).
Everything is so incredibly appointed... My room is exactly as it appears in the picture on their website (and if you travel much - you know that sometimes just isn't true). So many little touches... I'll write more and put some pics up tomorrow.
If you're ever coming to Rockland Maine, you have to stay here. It's not expensive - given the location and the delightful rooms.
Back to my Earl Grey tea and slice of fruit bread before retiring for the evening ... (lol - sooo POSH)
Oh - if you know what POSH really means - without using google - put it in the comments :)
Time for Day 2
Its 42F, cloudless sky... good day for a ride!
If all goes well, I'll be in Rockland, ME tonight - staying at a fantastic (so I'm told) B&B. - The Captain Lindsey House Inn - http://www.lindseyhouse.com/. After last night's sleep (in an unnamed hotel...), I'll be looking forward to this:
