LEWISTON — Holding a bag of freshly baked doughnuts from Labadie’s Bakery early on the morning of Oct. 9, Jeremy Chapman rode through Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston, peddling slowly while taking his hands off Red Fox, his newly renamed road bicycle.

As a reward, Chapman scarfed down a bite of a doughnut before handing the rest to a man walking across the John Jenkins Memorial Footbridge into Auburn.

Chapman, who grew up in Auburn and lives in Mechanic Falls, was passing through L/A on the last leg of his 400-mile trek from Fort Kent to Portland, scoping out potential alternative bike routes along the Pine Tree Trail.

The trail, originally designed for vehicles, has been resurrected by a grassroots group hoping to persuade people on motorcycles and electric and peddle bicycles to explore and traverse much of what Maine has to offer.

After completing his reconnaissance ride, Chapman said the majority of the roads had adequate room to accommodate both two- and four-wheeled modes of transportation simultaneously.

The trail was originally designed in the mid-1930s after the Great Depression. Maine, which had recently adopted the new “Vacationland” license plates, felt it would help to promote tourism.

Soon after, war broke out and the trail lost traction. Signs faded and fell, and the route was all but forgotten.

Then, in 2012, Nathan Nipula found an old sign.

Nipula and his fiancé, Robbie McKay, eventually started looking into the origins and began contacting former and current state officials. Eventually, the secretary of state at the time, Matt Dunlap, got things moving.

Since then, there have been signs erected and a robust Facebook page has been established. Communities along the route have jumped on board and begun promoting what they all hope will help local economies by bringing more than cars along the route.

“I had never been that far up in the state before, and I was really curious after reading about this newly resurrected trail,” Chapman said. “I reached out to Robbie and asked if I could help in any way. We talked and the group was excited to not only have me help promote it, but to scope out possible alternative routes for bicycles and e-bikes.

“I can see this as a huge opportunity to create an adventure for bicyclists and e-bikers that will help the restaurants, hotels and other businesses along the route. I can envision charging stations and small maintenance hubs about every 50 or so miles along the route. The possibilities are endless.”

While the trip presented several challenges, including fierce headwinds most of the way, Chapman was prepared. He is not new to these kind of adventures.

In 2021, he became the first person to bike the entire Empire State Trail, a 750-mile multiuse trail that crosses New York state from north to south and from east to west.

In 2022, Chapman recorded the fastest time, 25 days, to complete the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway that runs from Maine to Florida.

“I dedicated my ride to my late mother, Charlane Chapman, who had just passed from colon cancer,” he said. “It was an incredible ride and very good for processing and healing in a healthy way. It was quite an accomplishment but then I underwent a difficult period in my life.

“This Pine Tree Trail trip was also a return to rising to meet my challenges and doing the things that make my life happy and meaningful.”

Chapman started the Pine Tree Trail in Fort Kent at 10 p.m. on Oct. 6.

“I didn’t realize how remote and desolate it was up there until I started riding. I was really moved and inspired by the raw beauty, although it was a bit spooky with no lights, traffic or sound except nature and my breathing,” he said. “There was a super moon, it was relatively warm that first night and I was just taken by the surroundings. It was so beautiful if not a bit eerie and daunting.

“I knew it would be remote, but after an hour of riding I realized I was on full send with no turning back and no resources readily available if I ran into trouble. For the first time, I was riding with a backpack full of supplies, so I felt OK.”

With McKay’s help, Chapman was welcomed and provided stays at lodging in Presque Isle, Lincoln and Waterville with “Trail Blazers,” businesses and individuals who are helping promote the trail and its potential.

“I can’t thank these people enough. They were all so kind, friendly and supportive of the trail and its potential,” Chapman said.

McKay, the most active proponent of the grassroots campaign for the trail, could not say enough about Chapman.

“It was a blessing that he contacted us and offered to step in and help us with expanding and improving the trail. Miracles do happen,” he said. “With so many people now trying to rejoin life and get away from their phones and back to nature, this is the perfect way for people to connect with the outdoors, and the peace and quiet it offers. And along the way they will discover new places, enjoy great food, people and help the local economies.

Next year, McKay said, they are going to start the Chapman Challenge as a way for people to raise money for their favorite charity for completing part or all of the trail. Details are still being worked out.

While reflecting on his ride, Chapman was encouraged by the experience.

“As an endurance cyclist, I express myself through my rides,” he said. “This ride was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever done. It also required me to be very brave to head out into the night on my bike. The potato-to-Chappy ratio was quite large.

“But to see this area of the trail, so peaceful and quiet as I cruised through all the towns that night, was really an amazing experience.

Chapman said he was blown away by how friendly everyone was, and how excited they were about the trail.

He has gotten so much out of biking, he said, that he wants others to have the same chance.

“I have found biking to be a way for me to heal from some personal tragedies and challenges,” he said. “It has been transformative for me and why I am always trying to promote it.”