JUDY NISBETT

Staff photo and caption by Gregory Rec

The idea came out of the blue one morning, a dream that caught the fancy of Judy Nisbett: Why not bike and hike the length of the Maine coast? Nisbett, of Monmouth, certainly had her reasons. She had just retired after 25 years of teaching first grade. She also wanted to do something special to mark her 60th birthday in the spring, an age that has special significance for her. Nisbett's father had a stroke at 62, and she lost her husband to a heart attack when he was 65.

In addition to marking her own milestones, Nisbett thought the trip should have an impact on other people.

"I wanted to do something to make a difference and I didn't have 25 years left to do that," she said.

A longtime member of The Nature Conservancy, she decided to raise money for the organization and to visit some of its preserves along the way. So, after spending a year planning and training, Nisbett headed south on her bicycle from Reversing Falls Park in Pembroke on May 29. Her destination was Mount Agamenticus in York.

Along the route, she made time to kayak Lake Megunticook, outside Camden, and down the Little River out to the ocean at Reid State Park in Georgetown. "We paddled out to Black Rocks and there were so many seals," she said. "The seals were very curious, sticking their necks out of the water and swimming toward the boats."

She also stopped at schools to talk to young children who were curious about her trip. Reprising her teaching role, she taught the students about bike safety and fitness, about the importance of open space and about one person being able to make a difference in the world. Nineteen days and almost 300 miles later, Nisbett biked to Mount Agamenticus and hiked up the 691-foot mountain with two friends. After a 20-minute climb, she stepped out of the woods into the hard, hot sunlight. Friends and relatives gathered around to hug and congratulate her (above).

"Aren't you exhausted?" a woman asked.

"No, I'm elated!" Nisbett responded.

That's how you feel when a dream comes true.

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