Tuesday, July 15, 2008

To the woods behind the bar in Bucksport

I woke up to Ravi, wearing a fine looking suit, bringing me a hot cup of tea. I slept better than ever. He told me to go back to sleep. This is a very young man who really has his shit together. I ate breakfast with Lynn, who has Tuesdays off. We talked and watched her daughter play and wander. She's as cute and happy a child as anybody could ever want. I folded my laundry and repacked my panniers. I left, waving goodbye. I borrowed a book.

I can't decide on words to describe how refreshing it is to realize that your trust and love for humans is restored. It feels great to be nearly baffled by kindness. I want to take this and spread it out, make a thin layer of kindness and blanket a crowd.

Was yesterday full of fate? Why did I cycle off in a random direction? When I found a Park Tools cycling cap - was that a sign that I was on the right path in spite of my directions? Why did I cycle so far south, and not take a few minutes to realize that I could more quickly and easily connect to my directions considerably further north? Why did I see a cooking show in my Aunt's apartment that taught me how to cut pineapple? It was a beautiful day, full of calm perfect mistakes. Is that fate? I still believe more strongly in coincidence and thoroughly random chance - just for the record. Stronger still is my belief in my own thorough ignorance about all such matters.

Back to this day. I rode easy, stuck to the directions, went just shy of 60 miles, ended up in the woods behind a bar. Spent a lot at the bar, got all fucked up. No regrets. Got up at 9am with my head full of clouds. Now it's 10:30 and I'm typing this shit in Dunkin Donuts. I have my whole life ahead of me, and today my only goal is to roll into Bar Harbor in about 40 miles. Too easy. I'm having a megafuckin great trip.

2 comments:

ghettorigged said...

just by and by - i heart bar harbor. really. it's great for people watching and the scenery is simply breath taking. perhaps not IN bar harbor, but the area is just great. schoodic peninsula is a spot i would tell you to go if you had the chance. it's an hour drive from bar harbor but at least on the north side... eh, whatever. i discovered little moose island over there that you can only get to by walking on strange mud flats at low tide. it's very secluded and i never saw anyone on my several hour hike around it.

on a more non-"it's all about me" note, good for you & your clearer visions. i think it takes a lot of humility to admit being flirted with by fate or the like. but seriously, i want the park tools hat. now.

eddie spaghetti said...

ferry to nova scotia?