We Are Not Alone…

One of the joys of Senior Ripping is meeting like-minded people who enjoy many of the activities we love.

During this holiday season especially, we are thankful for our family, particularly my inspiration for ripping at this age, my dad, who at 99, is going strong (here he is with Gail at this year’s Thanksgiving Day football game in Marblehead).

But we are also grateful for our fellow Senior Rippers who enrich our lives in a myriad of ways, not just as companions when we ski, bike, hike and the like, but at our book groups, knitting groups, film watching, and exploring generally. Without them, our Senior Ripper life would not be as full.

Sometimes, our Senior Ripper adventures lead to friendships in unexpected places.

This past summer, I participated in a bike ride in Camden, Maine, called The Lobster Ride, a fundraiser for the Pen Bay YMCA’s health and wellness programs, outdoor recreation opportunities for kids and families through Camden Parks and Recreation, and bike safety advocacy and education through the Bike Maine Coalition. The ride begins and ends at the Camden Snow Bowl, a local ski area with lots of activities year-round. At the finish, riders are treated to live music, beer from Sea Dog Brewing and of course, a lobster roll!

Gail and I spend time in Sebasco, Maine each summer (see The Story Behind a Logo That Was Not to Be), and we happened to be there when this ride was scheduled, so I registered for the 62 mile route, and joined up with a cousin-in-law (is that a thing?), David, for the ride.

Maine was in the midst of a wicked (that’s how we talk in Maine) heat wave. We started the ride early in the morning, but by 10:00 am, it was well into the 90’s, with very high humidity. If not for the weather conditions, it would have been a fairly easy ride, not too hilly, not too long, very little wind. But the weather added a dimension for which I was not prepared. Around mile 58, I bonked big-time. I pulled off the road, found a tree for shade, ate some energy bars, and lay down to try to recover. I had sent David ahead a few miles earlier, as he was planning to tackle the entire 100-mile route, so I was alone. Or so I thought…

Riders passed, and asked if I was ok, and if I needed help, including one rider, whom I later learned was Dennis Weeks. I assured them all that I was fine, and in fact, the rest helped. After 10 minutes or so, I remounted and continued on my way.

I will let Dennis tell you about his last 10 miles in his own words:

“The onset of cramps started with about 10 miles remaining, becoming so severe that pedaling was next to impossible. The last part of the ride was pedal, stop, walk, stretch, repeat! It was the longest 4 miles on a bike that I have experienced. The only saving grace was that I was not alone. It was comforting, in a sick sort of way, knowing that other riders were suffering as badly as I was. It was as if one rider in particular and I were playing leapfrog with our “pedal, stop, walk, stretch, repeat” routine. It wasn’t until pulling into the finish area that I learned the other rider’s name to be Larry Rose, better known as The Senior Ripper! We seemed to hit it off immediately, not only because we experienced a painful event together, but more like we shared common interests, including outdoor adventures being a major part of both of our lives. A beginning of a future Senior Ripper friendship!”

Back to Senior Ripper’s words:

Dennis was in a Ram Promaster RV, something I had been lusting after for months. Coincidentally, we were parked near each other, so I invited myself in for a tour. It was as nice inside as out. I asked who had done the customizing, and he referred me to Bridge Bound Campers. Ironically, I never got Dennis’ name. Sometime after the ride, I reached out to the owner of Bridge Bound, described Dennis and his van, and asked him for Dennis’ name and contact information.

We have been corresponding ever since, and as Dennis suggested, we found a lot of commonality, and have already made plans to ride together next summer in Rooted Vermont, a gravel ride through the mountains and woods of that beautiful state.

I have asked Dennis to be a contributor to this blog. He is planning a post about his search for his RV, and how it fits into his Senior Ripper life.

Our lifestyle has led to many encounters such as this one. Not only does being active keep us healthy and well, but so do our friends. Gail and I are grateful for them all.