Seeing as how it's National Bike to Work Week, and today is the final day of Commute Another Way Week (it's Bike to Work Day!), I've got bikes on the brain. And why not? It's summer-like outside and time to put the pedal to the, um, er, dirt or gravel, and get a move on.

A great place to do just that this weekend, or anytime, is along the Eastern Trail, a 60-mile on- and off-road multi-use trail route from South Portland to Kittery. A biker's paradise. It's all been made possible by the continuing hard work and dogged determintaion of the folks at the Eastern Trail Alliance. Kudos to you my friends!

So, get the bikes out of the basement, garage, or wherever. Clean 'em up. Put a little oil on that chain. Then glove up, helmet up, put a Camelback on your back and go... to the Eastern Trail!

The Eastern Trail is a 60-mile multi-use route for adventures of many kinds, from the NH-Maine border north to Casco Bay.
Photo courtesy Eastern Trail Alliance

WHO: You and your bicycling buddies...

WHAT: The Eastern Trail is a magnificent work-in-progress 60-mile on- and off-road multi-use recreation route that extends from Kittery to South Portland following the old Eastern Railroad corridor.

WHEN: This weekend, or anytime really. The Eastern Trail is perfect for bike excursions long and short; whatever fits your schedule, desire and energy. Join up with the friendly ETA folks for one of their many outings this summer.

WHERE: You can pick up the Eastern Trail in a host of spots along the route. The ET crosses 12 towns and cities in southern Maine. From Kittery, the trail continues north through Eliot, South Berwick, North Berwick, Wells, Kennebunk, Arundel, Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach, and Scarborough. It ends in South Portland.

According to the ETA: "The route which starts (or ends) at Bug Light Park on Casco Bay crosses South Portland on already complete sections of South Portland's Greenway. The Eastern Trail crosses Scarborough Marsh just east of the Maine Audubon nature center. It crosses the Cascade Road a few hundred feet from Cascade Falls. The route continues through Saco, Biddeford, and Arundel. In Kennebunk the Eastern Trail is cut by the Maine Turnpike just east of the Kennebunk rest area. The Eastern Trail Alliance is working with the Turnpike Authority to seek a solution perhaps one similar to the Appalachian Trail overpass on the Massachusetts Turnpike, or perhaps a bike path to reach the Route 35 overpass. The ET continues across the western edge of Wells into North Berwick and South Berwick, then into Eliot and on paved roads through Kittery before it crosses into Portsmouth."

HOW: Bicycles of all shapes, sizes and colors can and do navigate the beautiful old rail corridor that is the Eastern Trail. Be prepared for both on and off-road riding. Obey the rules of the road and be safe. And by all means, wear a helmet.

For extra credit, go a little crazy and try one of the 50-mile loop rides:
* The Amtrak Downeaster-Eastern Trail loop trip from Portland to Wells by Amtrak. Bike back 50 miles on Eastern Trail. Yes, The Downeaster takes bicycles on board!
* Bike Wells to Saco River on ET. Bike back to Wells along the shore.

WHY: It's spring, the weather is beautiful, and it's time to get outside on that bicycle of yours and pedal. And if you haven't visited the Eastern Trail, now's a good a time as any!

Get a copy of the Eastern Trail Guide for $10 from the ETA folks to help you plan your next ride(s). And once you fall in love with the ET think about becoming a member and/or volunteer. Trails need people like you... lots of 'em.

Do let me know what section of the ET you rode and how you liked it, what you saw and whatnot. You know me, I live for adventurous tales...

Enjoying the scenery from the seat of a bicycle on the Eastern Trail.
Photo courtesy Eastern Trail Alliance

Maine's newest addition to the outdoor merchant scene is here, ready and waiting to open it's doors. Ching, ching!

Cabela's, the Nebraska-based retail giant, is celebrating the Grand Opening of its new store in Scarborough, just off Maine Turnpike Exit 42 on Thursday, May 15th starting at 5 PM.

You want quality hunting, fishing and outdoor gear? Cabela's has it. And plenty of it.

I wandered down that way this afternoon to get a good look-see around and maybe snap a few photos just for yucks. I was impressed with the only other Cabela's I'd visited, the behemoth of a store in Fort Worth, Texas, and was pretty curious to see what I could see. I never expected the doors to be open, however.

So naturally I sauntered in like I belonged there and milled around. (The store was open today by invite only, but hey, what the heck).

Cabela's new store in Scarborough officially opens Thursday, May 15th.
Carey Kish photo

Figuring I'd better go official before somebody tossed me out, I tracked down Peter Marshall, Cabela's Public Relations Manager, who was kind enough to give me a tour of the place.

It's a cavernous 125,000 square-foot superstore with an almost theme park feel to it. I mean c'mon, there's a diorama, an aquarium, a 2-story tall "Conservation Mountain," a fly shop, laser shooting gallery, world-class gun library and more.

Oh yeah, and the endless aisles and shelves chock full of outdoor stuff...

Cabela's is 125,000 square feet of outdoor shopping paradise.
Carey Kish photo

Marshall was busy as you might imagine, and admitted to being a little tired (he'd been up since 3 AM), but he was charged up and firing on all cylinders as the store crew worked tenaciously to ready things for the big celebration and the hoards of outdoor shoppers that would follow.

Peter Marshall, Cabela's Public Relations Manager, kindly gave me a tour of the huge new store.
Carey Kish photo

If you're planning to come Thursday at 5 PM, be prepared for big crowds, Marshall told me. But no matter, Cabela's has arranged for plenty of off-site parking just down the road a piece across from Beech Ridge Raceway. Shuttles will be running continuously to move store visitors conveniently back and forth from the store.

I had to check out the camping department, of course...
Carey Kish photo

Red Sox announcer Joe Castiglione and Governor Baldacci will kick things off. There will be giveaways and special prices on clothing and merchandise, plus drawings to win a multi-sport adventure, a $3,000 camping package, a lifetime fishing permit and a Cabela's Ultimate Outdoor Adventure package.

... and pick up a new hat!
Carey Kish photo

So, there you go folks. Dust off them credit cards. Carpool on down. And come and get it. Cabela's has come to town...

You going to be making a visit to the new Cabela's and dropping down some of your hard-earned cabbage on new outdoor goods??

The sign says it all...
Carey Kish photo

What's with this work week thing. All these years and I can't seem to get used to it. You, too, you say? Yeah, let's work on that, eh?! Every day should be the weekend.

Speaking of, spring is here and it's time to get on the river. Any river will do, yes. But when it's big spring water, you want to be on the Dead River in a big honking raft.

The Dead is sixteen, count 'em, sixteen wild and woolly miles of rapids and waves and hootin's and hollerin'. That is, of course, provided you stay in the raft and aren't out there bobbing along amid the chaos of the rapids, screaming for your life. Get over it.

Paddle hard, stay in raft, have fun. Trust me. Been there, done that.

Paddling big springtime water on Maine's Dead River.
Photo courtesy Magic Falls Rafting Co.

WHO: You and your crazy paddling and party pals!

WHAT: Going for a wet and wild 16-mile raft trip on the Dead River up they-uh in The Forks.

WHEN: This Saturday, May 17 get ready for a 7,000 CFS dam release on the Dead River. With all the rain we've had plus the snowpack melting big up that way, translate those numbers to mean BIG WATER! Paddle hard or swim, I tells ya!

WHERE: From Portland, head north on I-295 to Augusta. Continue on I-95 to Exit 133 at Fairfield. Follow scenic Route 201 through Skowhegan, Solon, Bingham to The Forks. You be there then. Check in at your choice of lodging. Find a pub and have a beer. Try not to think of going overboard the next day.

HOW: You're gonna need an experienced outfitter to get you safely down the Dead with a maximum of fun. Choose one here.

WHY: Because there's no river in Maine like the Dead River when the water is big. It's 16-miles of near continuous whitewater. From Spencer Rips to Hayden's to Elephant Rock to Little and Big Poplar Falls. You're gonna get wet, but you ain't gonna have time to be scared. Well, maybe a little.

Have mondo fun, and be sure to let me know how your big river trip went! Provided you make it back in one piece, of course...

Raft the Dead this weekend and have a blast!
Photo courtesy The Forks Area Chamber of Commerce

May 5th. Cinco de Mayo and all. A cause for celebration, for sure, but then again, what isn't?

Excuse me for a moment while I hike over to the fridge for another Corona and a wedge of lime...

Ahhh. Much better now. Where was I?

Oh yes, May 5th. Oh ho, the memories of this day!

One year ago today...

... I was in Key West with my bro going a little nutty. How can you not in Key West? I mean, c'mon. It's the land of Jimmy Buffett. Margaritaville. Party Central. Hot sun. Beaches. Palm trees. Lazy days.

For four glorious days and three nights we reveled in the sights and sounds of this island paradise. By day, exploring on foot and by old bicycle. Duval Street. The Truman Annex. Hemingway's House. Mallory Square. Caroline Street. Captain Tony's. Sloppy Joe's. The Chart Room.

By afternoon (there was no missing the free happy hour by the pool each afternoon at 4 PM) and night, holed up at the most excellent and comfy and hospitable Eden House. If there is a heaven on Earth it may well be the Eden House. Mike, you guys rock!

Key West is an adventure unto itself. Nirvana, pure and simple. A mis-adventure perhaps. You go and you never want to come back. Or work. Or do anything much useful ever again. You just want to have fun 24/7/365. Become an official citizen of the Conch Republic and tell the rest of the world to go... well, you know.

I like that. A lot. Too much, dammit.

A contingent of Maine and NH crazies were supposed to go back again this year, be there right now, in fact, but we couldn't pull it off. Next year, for damn certain. You can count on it Parrot Heads.

"I went down to Captain Tony's to get out of the heat..." Duval Street, Key West.
Carey Kish photo

Hanging out with a Key West icon: Captain Tony Taracino.
Carey Kish photo

The Eden House. Heaven on Earth!
Carey Kish photo

The pool and palms at happy hour. Oh!
Carey Kish photo

Hail to the Conch Republic!
Carey Kish photo

Toughing out the day at the beach.
Carey Kish photo

Getting around the Keys is easy when you have an old bike and lots of time.
Carey Kish photo

Hmmm...
Carey Kish photo

The other end of Route 1. Is that cool or what?
Carey Kish photo

Sunset from Mallory Square.
Carey Kish photo

"...strolling down the avenue that's known as A1A..."
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Only 90 miles to Havana.
Carey Kish photo

Parrot Head Central! Jimmy, we love you man! That's my bro and me, and Tim (middle), our Jimmy Buffett tour guide.
Carey Kish photo

You been to Key West? Stories to tell??

Thirty-one years ago today...

A scared and lonely boy from Bangor, Maine hiked from Amicalola Falls to Springer Mountain, and made his first camp 0.2 miles further on. It was the first day and night on a 5 1/2 month journey along the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail to Mount Katahdin. My, oh, my!

Btw, what song was popular at this very time? "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett! Ironic, eh?

You-know-who at the start of the AT atop Springer Mountain, Georgia, May 5, 1977.
Carey Kish photo

All these many years and trail miles later...