Rode a bit over 200 miles today, from Lawrence, Massachusetts up to Bangor, Maine. But that's not the real story of today. Today's story is all about my new friends Meredith and Noah, the two Izzys, Duncan, Fin, and the others. These are all hospitalized kids at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital in Portland, Maine. I had the opportunity to visit with them for just a couple of hours today but it was about the most amazing two hours ever. We looked at pictures and I told the story of my ride. I signed some autograph cards for them had them sign my Austin Hatcher Foundation T-Shirt for me because they are MY heros! There were some games and just general silliness and the chance to simply be a kid again if even for a short time. It was a powerful and humbling experience that I will not soon forget and I get to do the same thing several more times during my trip. Today reminded me in very personal terms why I am doing this trip and working so hard to raise funds. Thanks you Austin Hatcher Foundation and the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at the Maine Medical Center for this fantastic experience.
I am in Bangor, Maine tonight and staged just 217 miles south of Madawaska, Maine - the northernmost town in Maine and the first of my Four Corners of the USA. Plan is to take off out of here early tomorow morning, get up there by noon, take some pictures and document my arrival, maybe grab a quick lunch and then retrace my path and head back southbound. Hopefully I'll get as far as Bangor again, or maybe even further in prep for a long hard pull back to the Philadelphia area Friday evening. Amazingly, the weather is supposed to hold clear and reasonably warm (50s) for at least another day before some rain comes in. Exciting stuff - first "Corner" coming up tomorrow!
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