We never thought there would be a time in our lives where we would be asked to stay home, stay 6 feet apart, stop hugging each other, shaking hands and going out.  We also never thought there would be a time where we had to ask people to limit their time on the trail due to overcrowding!!!!

Thank you for choosing the Eastern Trail as your comfort during these trying times.

From the Desk of Carole Brush, Executive Director of Eastern Trail Management District

Take It Outside!

A huge Shout Out to all our Eastern Trail supporters and users who are practicing the social distancing of 6’ apart on our trails and not exceeding the designated parking available at each trail head. While we need to evaluate on a daily basis, we are doing our best to keep the trail open. Many thanks for your support in assisting us with this effort.

In these unprecedented times, it is so incredibly important to take care of ourselves – body, mind and spirit! Fortunately, it's spring and not the middle of winter and the Eastern Trail affords a wonderful, 10’ wide opportunity to get out there and stay 6’ apart. The opportunities to enjoy the benefits nature offers are plentiful – walking, cycling, exercising and appreciating the beauty and solace the natural world provides.

In my life outside of the ET, I am a personal trainer, yoga, Pilates and fitness instructor for the YMCA of Southern Maine. Some of us put together a few short videos on exercising outdoors while staying 6’ apart. Here’s two for you to check out:

• Outdoor Stretching with Carole
• Kelly's Fitness Tour of Bath

I’m impressed by the spirit and creativity all of us are exhibiting during this time. Together, we will get through this. Thank you all for being responsive to the “new normal” guidelines, staying 6’ apart and remaining positive. Please stay safe and healthy.

All the best,

Carole

From the Desk of ETA President Emeritus, Bob Hamblen
After months of preparation, workouts, logistics and organization, our friend Bob Hamblen was all set to ride his bike from coast to coast this spring. That is, until an unwelcome guest shut down the U.S.
Read Bob's article here: Trails: Life or Death Matter? Maybe!

With the increased traffic on the Eastern Trail, many people have found parking lots to be overflowing during peak hours. This has been a big issue at the Pine Point lot. As much as I have wanted to see more people on the trail, it is just not the safest place to be at peak times. Instead of finding another place to ride my bike, I have changed up my schedule and do more riding at night and early morning. With some good quality lights, the Eastern Trail after dark is a great place to ride or run and much easier to adhere to social distancing practices.

Here are 5 tips that will make night riding on the Eastern Trail more enjoyable. Read Eric's article here: Eric Wright's Trail Thoughts

Your representatives at work….
At a recent Eastern Trail Management District meeting, we had the pleasure of welcoming Kristine Keeney, ECG New England Coordinator and Dick Bradbury, ECG Board Member to discuss their involvement in supporting the ETA while working with Maine representatives in Augusta.

Vet to Vet article includes one of our ETA founders – Tom Daly!

Susan Gold, an ETA member and founder of Vet to Vet in Biddeford was
profiled recently in the Portland Press Herald. An added bonus is a great picture of Tom Daly!
https://www.pressherald.com/2020/03/13/vet-to-vet-maine-program/

Shopping a lot via Amazon these days?
If yes, do you know that AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.  So please change your link to read: https://smile.amazon.com/, and choose the Eastern Trail Alliance as the non-profit you support!
Thank you!

Looking for more things to do?

Stream of Thoughts by Board Member, Bryan Gallant

A useful resource right in our backyard, or in my case our front yard. Lunch runs to the marsh then back by the Willowdale golf course on the way back to work. Racing against 1800 other athletes from all over the world at Ironman Maine 70.3 and being the first finisher from Maine. An early morning bike ride from Portland to Portsmouth following the ET signs the whole way, then back again. A nice long run starting by heading down to Bug Light with my daughter, then looping through Portland and back home over the Veterans Bridge. The best part is, we have ended up with a nice 3 bedroom house with room for all our bikes, skis and chickens right across the street from the Eastern Trail.

In these unsettling time I look forward to many more adventures on the Eastern Trail, as we progress with our mission.

Please share with us YOUR thoughts about these times and how the Eastern Trail has helped you and your friends and families.

Your support of the Eastern Trail is more valuable than ever.