This morning, bright and early, Oakley and I boarded the ferry, leaving our Peaks Island home and headed west. We will bicycle through the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York and then circle Lake Champlain, right up to the Canadian border.The total should be around 450 miles.
As we headed out, I felt both excitement and pre-expedition jitters. Our last trip went so well that I feel a bit like we are tempting fate. I expressed my concerns to Oakley, but he would hear none of it.
“Oakley, there are going to be some huge hills. Did you see the elevation graph that shows the Kancamagus Highway? We are going right up and over the White Mountains.”
“Mom, you know nothing is ever as bad as you think it is going to be.”
“Oakley, I’m nervous, are you?”
“Mom, we will be back in 10 days. That is nothing. “
“Oakley, it is supposed to be in the 90’s all week!”
“Mom, we will be fine.”
This time, Oakley is excited to go on our trip. He would never tell you that, because he a 17-year-old boy, complete with a diamond stud earring, silver chain around his neck and floppy Covid-hair that shields his eyes like a permanent visor, designed to hide all emotion, but it is true. This is his idea. He is excited for the adventure, a break from the confines of Covid and something else. Hopefully, we will figure out what.
As we peddle away from Portland, Oakley settles in behind me. The shoulders of the roads slowly transform from narrow margins of trash and car parts to clear and wide banners that beckon us to follow them away from schedules, bickering and stress that have been chafing us both.
“If you want to go in front of me you can Oaks.”
“No, I am feeling really peaceful back here.”
These words are like nectar , a sweet delicious balm. We ride in silence.
After some time we begin to smell lake water wafting through the trees and see glimmers of blue water peeking through. The air is humid and thick and we are covered in sweat and grime. Both of us focus on our legs pushing up and down and our breath, rythmic and hard like primed bellows. We stop at a farm stand for lunch. We beg at a garden store for water. Memories from our last trip burble up and we laugh when we have air to speak again.
And now we are here. I am sitting on the side of the Saco river, drying after our dip in its cool tannin-colored waters that has made the sweat and grime nearly worth it.
Oaks has decided that he is not finished biking yet, and has rented a six-dollar-an-hour peddle car to explore our surrounding environs. Before he ran off to further exhaust himself, I called “Tomorrow will be big. Don’t over do it. We go over the Whites.”
“Don’t fret mom. You always fret. Live in the moment!” And he was grinning.
So I will. It is beautiful here and we are incredibly lucky. Tonight we will eat way too much macaroni, because we can. We will read out loud and listen to the waters sliding by. Oakley has left his phone at home. We will sleep under the stars. What could be better?
For those of you needing to stay at home during this difficult time, I invite you to come with us and read our story over the next 10 days. It will be true.
luv this prose of yours. we’re following you and oakley. have fun and stay safe
Your trip is off to a fine start! 🙂
Beautifully put! Bon Voyage and keep those posts coming, I think i already got a vicarious thrill from the first one.
I will journey along with you; so stay safe.
Glad to be making another trip with you (virtually). Let’s ride!
Have I told you how much I love, love, love your writing and vicariously living your experience!
Thank you for inviting us along! Sending you love and happy pedaling!
Have a wonderful time! Be careful out there on the roads and I look forward to following along with the both of you again!
Yay…another adventure for the two of you- and for me vicariously through you. You are an amazing mother- and are raising a fine young and adventurous young man. Live in the moment—- we should all do as Oakley says.
Oakley has changed. He is growing into himself. Yay.
I hope he writes something. I like seeing the world through his eyes.
Your Jewish mother says: be careful in the heat.
Yay! Can’t wait to see where you & Oakley take us this time, Leah. Have fun & stay safe.
Great beginning! Wishing you both the best!
I absolutely love your writing!! Be careful and have fun! I look forward to your updates! You MUST publish your adventures!
Wonderful!
Please Please Tell Oak, he should have mentioned he was leaving;) Plus it’s a good thing I go him that sandwich 2 days ago, sounds like he’s gonna need it! Love both of you!!! Go get em guys!!!
Btw…your headed right through my stomping grounds….North Conway NH
When you get into “ the village “ would you please stop at “Boston Brothers Pizza” and say hello to Hunter Smith!? Ty
Have A Blast,
Jason Smith
Ahhhhhhhhh!
Blessings as you sojourn again.
This made me tear up. I am so happy and excited for you. I would love to be a part of it even if it is only in my mind. I commend you both to embark on this journey of the unknown. I will be reading your adventures as you post them. Thanks for sharing.
i am both a little terrified and a little envious. but any dips in cool lakes along the way are to be enjoyed…will look forward to the ride….
So glad you both get to have another adventure. Stay safe and I look forward to you post.
Love this! All the best always.
Great adventure, great memories!
Great gift from a dedicated mom to her son.
Thank you for your beautiful writings. We feel like we are there with you.
Have fun and be careful!
love. brings tears to me.
love. moving…. release and relief.
Thank you for sharing your journey! Cannot wait to hear more! Stay safe!
How fabulous. I am so happy to read this, I was just thinking about you both last week and wondered how you were. I loved reading about your last adventure. Oakley is so so right ‘live in the moment’. Have a wonderful time.
As a 2018 Trans Am vet from The Netherlands, I love reading your cycling adventures. The stories and emotions are humoristic and eloquently written down. The bike is also mine mental health machine, so I quite often recognize what you are saying. Enjoy the ride and time together. Have a wonderful adventure.
Huzzah! You can tell how much Oaks has changed from your last bike trip. Clearly, you done good. Enjoy, be safe, laugh a lot.
XXX