Thousands of miles. Hundreds of donations. One goal.

I’m still researching ideas on where we can best utilize our fundraising ideas.  Fortunately, I’m getting great support.  I’d like to take a few minutes to discuss one of the causes I have been considering.  It’s certainly not finite but I’d like our fans to know a bit more about why I may seem stubbornly passionate about coastal Maine conservation and protection (aside from being an outdoorsman).  Here’s a quick history on my experience witnessing the decimation of fishing in Maine.

Growing up spending summers in Midcoast Maine we used to be able to catch a lot of fish, namely Cod, Stripped Bass, Bluefish, and infinite amounts of Mackerel.  Over the course of one summer, however, the fishing fish population was all but completely destroyed.

My dad used to take my brother and me out fishing and a few times each summer we used to get schools of Blues coming into our harbor to feed on baitfish.  It was an amazing scene to witness; every 30 seconds or so the surface of the water the area of a two-car garage would appear to boil as baitfish leapt out of the water to escape their predators.  It was an absolute feeding frenzy.  The chaos would ensue for a minute before the Blues would regroup and plan their next attack.  This process would last for almost an hour and fishing during this time was always extremely exciting.  We could catch almost as many Bluefish as we could real in.  Nothing went to waste; what we didn’t eat we gave to a friend to use as bait in his lobster traps.

Example trawler.

Then in the late 90’s the Russian fishing trawlers came into US waters under a joint-project allowed by the New England Fishery Management Council (Source: CHOIR).  They anchored their gigantic processing ship off the coast of Pemaquid Point.  In the course of a couple months they managed to completely decimate the population of fish.  We caught fewer fish in the decade following their arrival than we did in one day  prior.   The only Strippers and Blues I have caught since all fell on one day when we caught four.  Coincidentally, it was the morning of my wedding in 2005.  I have not caught any others since.  You hear stories about environmental disasters, over harvesting, and poor land management but to be able to witness something so first hand and clearly is something amazing.  Like turning off a light switch, the trawlers turned off fishing.

I’m researching the problem and looking to see if anyone is addressing it.  Is it simply a political issue or are their environmental issues at play here, too.  Again, it’s just an idea but can Wicked Philanthropy help the fish population recover?

A movie review is a bit off topic for Wicked Philanthropy but I felt this one was certainly worthy and I hope to share it with every potential Wicked Philanthropy rider.

After a few cycling related posts on Twitter I was fortunate enough to catch the attention of Stephen Auerbach, the filmmaker behind “Bicycle Dreams”. He offered to send me a copy of the movie to which I enthusiastically replied.

Auerbach describes the movie as, “’Bicycle Dreams’ is an inspiring documentary about the Race Across America, a 3000-mile bicycle race across the country. What begins as the adventure of a lifetime becomes a soul-stirring journey to the finish line.” The description, however, doesn’t do the film justice.

I’ve been a cyclist for years and have never found a cycling related film that I found engrossing. I watch the Tour de France but completely understand why the majority of people think it’s boring. “Bicycle Dreams”, on the other hand, is something I think every athlete, and everyone looking for athletic inspiration, should watch.

The movie follows the riders of the Race Across America (RAAM) but that’s about where the cycling related aspects end. There’s no talk about equipment, cycling experience, or the history of the sport. There’s minimal talk even of training. What the movie is about is the physical and mental suffering the race creates and the competitors experience. One of the things that surprised me the most is that the movie isn’t full of 24 year old professional athletes but “normal” people that have chosen an extraordinary challenge to test their limits. The movie focuses on several riders, all between the ages of 30-50+ that have successful professional careers from teachers to doctors, and all of whom have a family life to balance with their training.

My only complaint is that it was not recorded in BluRay (which I assume is significantly more expensive).  Watching on a big screen TV made some of the images, especially the fonts, a bit granular.

By the end of the movie you feel close to the riders, inspired to push yourself, and if nothing else, sheer awe at the physical strength and mental determination of these riders.

As the movie closed I was reminded of this quotation from an unknown author; “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

Here’s the link to the “Bicycle Dreams” website: http://bicycledreamsmovie.com/ (Caution: opens with music)

Here’s a link to the DVD on Amazon: Click here.

I finally found some time to get the group together for a screening of “Bicycle Dreams” later this week (was fortunate enough to catch the eye of Stephen Auerbach online).  I’ll be sure to post more about it later but I need to share the trailer (below), which I’ve watched several times today alone.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look up the race fees (relay form only).

Here’s the link to the “Bicycle Dreams” website: http://bicycledreamsmovie.com/ (Caution: opens with music)

Here’s the link to the 2010 RAAM race: http://www.raceacrossamerica.org

The dates are selected: we’re departing from Concord on Friday, July 30, 2010. (Wow, that sounds futuristic.)

Here’s how I hope to time everything: Depart from Concord on Friday afternoon. We’ll have a support crew meet us in Kennebunkport, ME. on Friday evening. Saturday, we’ll get an early start on our way to Camden. The support crew will get a late start so they can pass us around the halfway mark. They’ll spend the balance of the day in Camden, ME. where we’ll spend our 2nd night.  Sunday we’ll repeat the process but have a shorter ride, 80 miles (caveat: ending with a climb up Cadillac Mtn, the first place in the United States to see the sun rise).  The total ride time should be about 6 hours per day, depending on how lost we get.

Post-ride we’ll take a few days to relax in Bar Harbor before heading back to South Bristol, Maine to finish off the week.

I’m hoping to find some sponsors to help with the cost of lodging en route, food and bike supplies.  My goal is 4 riders making the complete journey.  So far it sounds like it will be TMG and I.  Two down, two to go…

More details on the ride can be found on the “c2c” page: http://www.wickedphilanthropy.org/wordpress/c2c/

Here it is, the first draft of the summer 2010 Concord, MA. to Cadillac Mtn in Bar Harbor, Maine route. Some roads need some refining (namely the southern parts of Rt. 1) but the mileage and stopping points should be roughly accurate.

The map:

View Larger Map

Quick overview:

• Day One: Concord, MA to Kennebunkport, ME (95 miles)
• Day Two: Kennebunkport, ME to Camden, ME (115 miles)
• Day Three: Camden, ME to Cadillac Mtn, Bar Harbor, ME (80 miles)
• Total mileage: Approximately 290

So… who’s in?