A spring ride to Kenduskeag

Well, the above average temperatures have continued for another week. Instead of highs in the 40’s they’ve been in the 50’s and 60‘s, but unfortunately it looks like things are back to normal for the next week or so. The other day I took the back roads out to Kenduskeag, a small town that is most famous for the canoe race held every April. The road that crosses the bridge splits into three roads on the west side. The southern one, Kenduskeag Road, goes to Levant. About a quarter mile down this road is a small cemetery on a low hill.

I’ve enjoyed visiting cemeteries ever since I was in high school and discovered the grave of John McTammany, inventor of the player piano. The Kunduskeag cemetery is similar to many old village cemeteries in Maine. A short iron fence with small gates separates it from the road. A large civil war era cannon stands guard. Many graves date to the nineteenth century, and some are more recent. Most of the older tombstones are made of marble and slate. Marble is largely composed of the mineral calcite which is soluble in dilute acid, and they have not held up well in the New England rain. Some names and dates have literally dissolved away. Slate tombstones look much like they did when they were first put in the ground, except for the lichens that now decorate them.

The stone carver who did the slate tombstones was highly skilled, many of them are exquisite. As tombstones are locally carved today, I assume he was also from the area. Names, birthdays, loved ones and so on are dutifully recored. Some have decorative carvings, and weeping willow trees are a pattern common to many. An urn is included with the willow trees on some headstones. I can’t say that had ever noticed this pattern before.

A little searching on the internet turned up some useful information. The weeping willow tree was one of the most popular headstone images of the nineteenth century up until about 1860. A willow tree indicates the extreme mourning and sadness of those left behind. An explanation for the urn and willow ties it to Greek mythology. The urn was to hold the ashes of the dead, and the willow was the symbol of Underworld goddesses, like Persephone. Finally the willow is the symbol or unrequited love, as in the bluegrass standard “Bury Me Beneath the Willow”. I’m afraid that if any of these explanations applies to these headstones is now lost to history.
In the meantime, slow down a little, stay alert and enjoy the ride.

As it’s been almost three months since my last contribution, it’s time for a new blog! I pretty much forgot what to do! There hasn’t been much to write about during the long, cold, Maine winter. I guess I really didn’t choose a good time to start a blog called Motorcycling in Maine.
For the last month or so, we’ve been getting quite a few abnormally warm days where riding is possible, and I’ve be out a half dozen times or so. It’s not summer riding, but it’s riding. Some days the temperatures have been in the upper forties, so I was able to ride once in January, three times in February, and a handful of times in March.
I was still able to improve my riding skills in spite of frigid temperatures and falling snow. As a relatively new rider I have plenty of room for improvement. You might ask how did I do it? Well, I’ve discovered some extremely useful literature that I heartily recommend. David L. Hough has written a number of books that I believe all riders should read. I’ve read two of his books; Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well and More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride. I bought my copies at the Borders in Bangor, and I’ve seen Proficient Motorcycling at Stanley Scooters in Trenton. Both books are about a lot more than just motorcycle safety. Proficient Motorcycling starts with crash statistics and things you can do to minimize your chances of becoming involved in a crash. He goes on to discuss how motorcycles work, why they handle the way they do, and how counter steering works. Some of this is a little heavy and I have to admit that I had to read it several times to really comprehend it. Hough goes on to discuss other diverse topics including how to avoid heat exhaustion and hypothermia (perhaps a more useful chapter for those of us in Maine). What I found most useful in both books were the chapters dealing with road hazards and defensive driving strategies, including extensive discussions about efficient cornering. I encourage you to pick up either or both of these books and spend some quality time reading, then go out and practice what you’ve learned.
Today I was able to get out for a little longer ride as the temperatures pushed 50°F. I went from Veazie to Hermon, down Horseback Road. It’s built on top of a geological feature called an esker. Eskers form from meltwater rivers beneath glaciers, that deposit sand and gravel. This long winding ridge, with adjacent farmland, provided great views and is a fun ride.
There were two real concerns on the ride; potholes and frost heaves. Most readers are familiar with potholes. These deep holes form rapidly due to the action of traffic and the daily freeze-thaw cycle at this time of year. The good news is that if you are paying attention, they’re relatively easy to spot and avoid. Frost heaves are much worse and can really jar you if you go over them too fast. They are toughs or ridges in the road related to the differential thawing of frost in the ground and often occur in shaded areas. With no leaves, the shadows of the tree trunks form lines on the pavement, often parallel to the frost heaves, making them nearly invisible. The good news is that road crews will eventually fill the potholes, and the frost heaves will disappear when the ground fully thaws. In the meantime, slow down a little, stay alert and enjoy the ride.