Return to Mad River
- pfq143
- 18 hours ago
- 5 min read
You know how you sometimes do something once, and it was SO magical that you then try to recreate it, but it never really measures up to that first time?
Well-- this wasn't that. But it wasn't the same as last year either...it was similar yet different...its own, unique, beautiful self. Like all of us.
What was it? Let's see-- a gathering, celebration of the human spirit, refueling of the soul and heart, honoring the best in people. An adventure, an expedition...an exploration of what is possible when people come together.
"Why are you here?", Dan asked the thirty-six of us. I think "why" is my favorite question of all time (just ask my kids). One by one, we went around the 'opening circle,' a mainstay of Waypoint Adventure's programs.
On the surface, it is a bike ride in Vermont, but don't be fooled.
We meet the night before the ride, share a bite to eat, meet the next morning for a 21-mile jaunt on Vermont's glorious gravel hills and roads, including a stop for homemade chocolate chip cookies (thanks Meg!), maybe a swim at Blueberry Lake, and a stop at the Warren Store (a must!), then finish the ride, but the shindig continues. Our informal headquarters for the event is Madbush Falls-- a collection of rooms, tents and stand-alone chalets nestled among Vermont's white pine, red spruce, balsam fir and eastern hemlock. Conveniently located next to a watering/cold plunge/swimming hole at the bottom of a thundering waterfall, Madbush has installed a sanctuary-like sauna next to the falls, so many of us yo-yo'ed between the cold plunge and sauna for several cycles...triggering a dopamine fest!
Or some chose to just waterfall gaze and forest bathe as we all basked in the shared experience of the moment. In silent thought, quiet converse or thunderous laughter, we shared space.
Madbush took our orders for burgers/fries/veggie burgers and we had what felt like an old-fashioned cookout, followed of course by a s'mores circle around blazing campfire! Conversation ranged from roasting technique to the majestic gravel climbs to Kevin's dip in Blueberry Lake to the uber-fun RAD Innovations crew. And yes, of course, to tomorrow's ride options. On the menu was a mountain bike ride, a gravel ride, and gravel ride with Pete. We then slowly wound the night down as dark clouds closed in.
In the morning, Adam (Walltopia), Dan and I rolled out at 7 under grey, ominous skies, quickly turning right onto a long, steep gravel climb-- perfect!!! I mean-- does it get any better?! Not for me...
Past the grazing cows, horses, barn upon barn; then I put in a little dig to finish off the climb. Adam and Dan were appreciative; "Thanks a lot for that, Pete," joked Adam. And then we enjoyed the downhill of course:
We all ended our rides at Madbush, packed up and reluctantly headed out of town, but not before one last stop at the Warren Store for a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. Dan and I lingered until we were ready, grabbed a couple "No. 6s" and headed south on Route 100. ("No. 6" is a legendary sandwich at the Warren Store-- best we ever had, Dan and I agreed.) As I told Dan today, "I miss the cows, the air, the gravel, the falls, being waited on hand and foot (thanks to my Personal Care Attendant, Dan!), the Vermont gas station stores with the kindest people (and where I love to shop), the farms, barns...and of course-- our community.
The community. Thirty-six in total. A patchwork quilt of sorts-- people I knew, didn't know, old friends and new, the Waypoint team, the RAD Innovations team, donors, people without disabilities, people LIVING with disabilities, Murray (my kindred soul, also Hilde and Eric's lab), people new to Waypoint, people familiar with Waypoint, people from MA, VT, ME, NH, CT, and even PA. It's why we do this ride, really.
"To live fully in a fully accessible world," is Waypoint's vision. Simple. Clear. Lofty. A rally cry. To be the change we want to see in the world. To set an example. To show what's possible. To invite people to help. To help people with disabilities believe that they can live a full life, that they can experience all of the emotions of the human condition, that they can dream, and that they have the courage to pursue those dreams, that their disability does not define them. To change the world...
Notables from the weekend:
Glen's quote: "Where there is a will, there is a way, and where there is a way, there is Waypoint Adventure!"
Melissa arrived Friday morning with her husband, Dave, who was planning to join the ride. Melissa was planning to take a hike instead, due to the heavy climbing on our ride. But RAD Innovations showed up with a quiver of electronic assist recumbent trikes, and Dan suggested that Melissa ride a trike. She was game (love it when people are game), tried one out in the parking lot with the help of RAD, and she went for it! She had a great ride and I loved the fact that she was on a trike.
The RAD team consisted of David (founder with Anja-- we missed you Anja and Tom!) and the young, cool rad RAD college kids Neehal, Henry, JD, Caleb, Sawyer, who all rode recumbent trikes. I don't know why I love it when I'm not the only one on a trike; probably something to do with solidarity and someone (several) knowing what it feels like to be on a trike like mine.
Meg! Meg's husband, Brian, has a chronic spine condition so he also rode a RAD trike. Meg wasn't riding, but joined us for pregame the night before the ride at Lawson's Brewery, the Opening Circle just before the ride, then joined us at the Warren Store, Blueberry Lake and then at the end of our ride! And as I said, Meg played a vital role; she made over 50 chocolate chip cookies for us to enjoy lakeside!
Roby & Brian: A non-working electric assist bike was no match for the relentless son/father duo, who attacked the 18% graveled grades with the can-do attitude that flattened the climbs to nothing more than a bump in the road, setting an example for all of us. Rather than complain about the faulty bike and hop in the "voiture balai," (i.e., broom wagon) , Roby and Brian chose to tackle the challenge head-on with the grit, perseverence and fortitude of "the Cannibal," Eddy Merckx!
Videographer Joe DiBlasio. 'Seamless integration' is what I'd call it; how Joe rode with us to capture the essence of our event, whether it meant snapping candids while on the bike, sneaking a 1-1 interview here and there, or quietly launching a drone to find the beauty and majesty of a place like Blueberry Lake. Like a waiter unseen filling your glass of wine, Joe was always quietly a few steps ahead of us, ultimately capturing the DNA of Waypoint Adventure:
STOP ASIAN HATE
BLACK LIVES MATTER
What a group! Sounds as if every individual contributed. Love the video!!