In honor of classes beginning on Tuesday at Whatcom Community College, I'm once again wearing their jersey. If you'd like to support WCC and its many deserving students, you may donate here.
Today was the first of five days that I'll ride with my dear friend Richard Hunt. Richard is the publisher of AdventureKeen. He was the first Oscar Dystel Fellow and the first book industry independent liaison, while working for Bantam. Richard and I have been friends for more than 30 years. Here's a photo of us just before we began our ride this morning.
In 1996 I was asked to travel to the Middle East by the U.S. Information Agency to help promote the idea of intellectual property rights and copyright. I recommended Richard as a great person to represent publishing on the trip. At the time Richard worked for Bantam in Midtown Manhattan. He would often go home to New Jersey at dinner time, tuck his kids in bed, and return to the office to work late. One night, at 9pm in Bellingham, Richard called me at the store and said, "I've been asked to go on the trip with you. Do you think it's safe to go to the Middle East?" "Richard," I asked, "You're calling me at Midnight from Times Square to ask if it's safe to go to the Middle East?" After a brief pause Richard said, "OK, I get it." He went on the trip to Jordan and Morocco, and we had a great time.
We've seen each other many times over the years, but seldom have had much time to spend together. I'm really looking forward to these five days.
I think I should explain the asterisk on the 50 Miles in the title of the post. I had innumerable problems with my apps today and don't have any accurate counts. This is the best conservative estimate using maps and Google. I hope I have my apps back in working order tomorrow.
It's also time I confess that we took the wrong trail from Bowen Station Park this morning and arrived in a place we never intended to to be. We were busy talking and apparently not reading signs. So, rather than riding the diagonal SE trail through Caldonia and other towns to our destination in Charlotte ( pronounce "shar LOT" here), we ended up on the East/West Trail, going west to Cutlerville, adding roughly 10 miles to our travel, and about an hour — by the time we figured out where we should be going — to our travel time.
When we finally reached the quaint little village of Middleville, it was already time to have some lunch. The place we stopped was right along a river walk and this nice woman allowed me to take her photo in an unusually large Adirondack chair.
Most of the rest of the day went well, except for Richard having a flat. We think he may have run over an acorn, but we're not sure. It only delayed us about 15 minutes, and we were on our way. One of the most unusual sights we saw was this barn.
On most days the morning misdirection would not have been a problem, but today we had a deadline to be in Albion and we were running out of time to get there. So we rode to Nashville (no not THAT Nashville, and not the ones in Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, or Ohio. The one in Michigan). There we decided to "rack" the bikes on the Rialta and hightail it for a quick shower and our appointment in Albion.
The reason for the trip to Albion was to visit Staci and Jim Stuart, the relatively new owners of Stirling Books and Brew (coffee this time). Jim and Staci bought the used bookstore and building and began renovating it and adding new books. Two days before opening in April this year, a shelf fell on Staci and paralyzed her. The Book Industry Charitable Foundation (Binc) contacted them. "We didn't have to go knocking on their door," said Jim. "They came to us." The store's opening was delayed until August, but now both Jim and Staci work in the store, Staci, for the time being, in an electric wheelchair. Binc helps booksellers who have all kinds of economic crises — accidents, illness, loss of work, and national disasters like the recent hurricanes in the South. If you'd like to help booksellers in need you may donate here. If you'd like to specifically help Staci as she continues to recover — she was two days away from being covered by Jim's insurance — you may donate here. Here's a photo of Richard, Dee, and me talking with Staci and Jim this evening in their bookstore.
Even with some misdirection and a flat tire, it was a great day, and how inspiring to talk with someone who's been through so much and still has a great outlook on life. For those of you paying close attention, the delays today and our subsequent drive to Albion, moved us a bit farther East than our planned bike ride would have. Our cross-country record shall always bear an asterisk indicating that we were short a few miles. Don't worry though, I'm sure I'll get lost again and add miles.
Day Fifteen by the numbers:
50* - miles ridden
who knows? - feet in elevation gained (remember, the app wasn't working)
who cares? - calories burned (ditto)
0 - falls
0 - dogs
1 - flat -- Richard's bike this time
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