As part of our constant improvement effort I have just tweaked the 2nd day of our Pedal the Coast Tour to include a visit to Cushing Maine and the Olsen house where Andrew Wyeth created this iconic American Painting. The prefect tour for cyclists who want lots of cycling in vacations Pedal the Coast is just one of the many great trips that we offer. See the full selection at www.summerfeet.net.

Bicycle Tours Focused on Deaf Cyclists Planned for Maine Coast

Innovative Initiative Will Provide Outdoor Experiences to Underserved Group

Portland, Maine (February xxxx, 2010) – This summer, a Maine company will begin offering something unusual, if not unique, among outdoor vacations nationally. The company will host bicycling trips guided by people who are both fluent in sign language and have first-hand knowledge of the coast.

Summer Feet, which provides supported bike trips in New England and overseas, will provide two nationally certified sign-language instructors for each trip. In 2010, those trips will be to:

· Acadia National Park and other spectacularly beautiful areas near Bar Harbor, Maine, from Aug. 27-29.

· Camden, Maine, and neighboring communities that have been identified by various publications as some of the most-scenic and fun-to-visit locations in the country, during the weekend of Sept. 24-26.

“The communications barrier will be eliminated entirely,” said Alyssa Gagnon, a nationally certified interpreter in American Sign Language who has been competing in bike races for 11 years and working in Deaf services for a decade. “All of the information about the places we’re visiting and the bicycling advice offered will be direct from us, and not have to pass through a third-person interpreter.”

Summer Feet has built a reputation for excellence during a decade of offering assisted trips, where the company takes care of logistics for participants. Summer Feet arranges for great accommodations and food, as well as once-in-a-lifetime activities such as sunset cruises on a schooner along the Maine coast. The company also provides van support during the day, so that travelers don’t have to worry about transporting their luggage or fixing their bicycle if something breaks.

This support frees participants to fully experience the stunning scenery of New Zealand, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and various locations in Maine. Bicyclists can get to know one another, and unwind from the demands of daily life, without worrying about the details.

“On just about every trip, we tailor the tour in some way to meet the needs of individuals,” said Norman Patry, founder of Summer Feet. “Sometimes, it’s something small, like meeting dietary needs. Other times, we provide help that’s more-involved, like working with a blind person on a tandem bike or, someone who requires special equipment to make the trip possible or enjoyable.”

“This summer, we’re going to go a step beyond those efforts to offer something you just don’t find in the industry,” Patry said. “There aren’t many options for deaf people to experience outdoor activities with the help of people who are both expert bicyclists and fluent in sign language.”

One reason that outdoor trips such as this one are so unusual is that there is a small population of people who are qualified guides and also fluent in sign language, said Gagnon, who will be spending her fourth season as a Summer Feet guide this summer. There just aren’t as many options for people with disabilities to fully experience the outdoors.

This fact, coupled with the expertise of Summer Feet guides, provides the company with a unique opportunity to serve a largely untapped segment of the market: people with disabilities who are interested in outdoor travel vacations.

On the first trip, participants will tour the dramatic, rocky coast of Schoodic Peninsula, across the bay from Bar Harbor, and explore both the Carriage Roads and Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park. A wine-and-cheese reception, lobster dinner and lodging in the elegant Harborside Hotel will complement the bicycling.

The second weekend takes participants to the Camden Hills area, where mountains meet the sea. Participants will cycle what Yankee Magazine called “The Prettiest Six Miles in Maine,” experiencing pristine Islesboro and exploring the one-of-a-kind Rockland area. A Sunset Sail of Penobscot Bay on a classic wooden schooner and fine dining in Camden also add to the appeal.

“Deaf people are just like anyone else,” said Gagnon. “They want to have a wonderful vacation, without complications. These weekends will allow deaf people to blend in and experience the beauty of Maine in the same way that other bicyclists do.”

Based in Portland, Maine, Summer Feet offers travelers assisted bicycle tours and the most-authentic experiences available of beautiful locations in Maine, Canada and New Zealand. Summer Feet has a decade of experience in providing van support, knowledgeable guides and logistics for memorable bicycle vacations. More information is available at www.summerfeet.net, via email to info@summerfeet.net, or by phone at 866-857-9544

Maine’s size and variety offers bike rides for all levels. Here in alphabetical order are 5 of my favorites all of which we do on our great Maine Bike Tours.

Acadia’s Carriage Roads.

Built through the generosity of John Rockefeller the carriage roads offer 50 plus miles of car free cycling. Most people who ride the carriage roads only ride the super highway between Eagle Lake and the Jordan Pond House. It is a nice family friendly ride that offers a nice stopping point with services but it gets crazy crowded on summer days. If you really want to do this ride try it after 3 pm and you will encounter a fraction of the people. Looking to ride the carriage roads with a few less people try the Around the Mountain Loop, a little bit more challenging but worth the effort, I have ridden this at the height of tourist season in August and seen maybe 6 other people. In addition to more exercise and less people the Around the Mountain Loop will offer some nice views of Sommes Sound and Northeast Harbor. Want a kid friendly ride cycle Witch Hole going the opposite way at Eagle Lake from the crowds heading to Jordan Pond.

Blue Hill Peninsula

A little further a field and best for experienced road cyclists Blue Hill offers great cycling. Both the towns of Blue Hill and Castine are charming and great starting points. Get the Delorme Maine Gazatter and plan a route following the roads along the coast for miles of low traffic roads with a nice mix of hills. Be sure to visit Blue Hill reversing falls just south of the town of Blue Hill

Cape Elizabeth and Prouts Neck

My hometown favorite leave Porltand and do a bit of urban cycling over the bridge to South Porltand. From here cut over to the South Portland shore and visit Both Bug Light a small fire plug lighthouse with a nice little museum over looking Casco Bay and Spring Point another small lighthouse with a stone jetty for great views of Portland. Pop into Willard Square and stop at the great bakery for a treat before cycling out Shore Road with great views of some beautiful houses and a visit to the Portland Head Light. From here cycle onto Route 77 heading south to Two Light State Park where can wander on the Rocks, and enjoy a Lobster Roll at the scene from a Edward Hopper painting. Pedal onto Kettle Cove and then follow Route 77 to Prout’s Neck for more ocean views and view of Pine Point and Old Orchard Beach. Cycle back to Portland and celebrate your ride with one of our great micro brews from Geary’s or the Shipyard.

Rockland and Port Clyde Loop

From the funky town of Rockland, think Camden with a soul, head south on Route 73 to the Owls Head Light continue south passing the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum a great spot for any one interested all kinds of transportation from air planes to bicycles. and continue south to the Junction of Route 131. Follow 131 down to Port Clyde visiting the Marshall Point Lighthouse and the fishing village of Port Clyde. Stop at the general store or dip net for lunch before cycling back to Rockland

Route 113

One the best fall foliage Maine. Start from Bethel and follow the North Road to the bridge, cross the bridge and turn right onto Route 2 for a short stretch until the junction of Route 113. It offers easy cycling up until Hastings campground where the leisurely can turn around and the more enthusiastic can cycle up to Evans Notch. For a bigger challenge start in Fryeburg and follow 113 from the steeper side into the Notch

The League of American Bicyclists just named Maine the the 3rd most biccyle friendly state in Amercia.  Summer is a great time to see why, a Maine Bicycle Tour is the perfect way to see the best of Maine. For for information or to see how your state ranked visit the league website at http://www.bikeleague.org.

Looking for a great way to expereince Maine Fall Foliage. Visit Acadia National Park and cycle the Carraige Roads. Built by John Rockefeller as a gift to the people of America. The carriage roads offer miles of car free cycling through the park. A great ride is to cycle to the top of Day Mountain for great views.

Recently we held our 2008 leader training. the weekend featured a fun weekend of bicycling in Acadia national park

There’s no better way to experience Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island, Maine, than by bicycling.

If you’re a cycling enthusiast, you’ll marvel at the endless routes available to you, and if you’re a first-timer, you’ll find out just how much fun you can have on a bike in Acadia National Park.

The coast of Maine offers amazing diversity as it travels almost 400 hundred miles from Kittery to the Canadian border. During our 7 day inn to inn bike tour we cycle the best of the Maine Coast. From the quiet beauty of Pemaquid Point we travel up the coast cycling the east and west shores of Penobscot Bay, along Blue Hill Bay and we finish with a victory lap through Acadia National Park.