SPORT FOR EVERYONE.
♪ NICOLE: SIMPLE SIGNS LEAD THE WAY TO A LIFELONG COLLECTION.
>> HERE ARE SOME SKIS.
NICOLE: HIS PROJECT GROUPS SOME OF THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN COLLECTING THEM?
>> FOREVER, 50 YEARS.
BECAUSE WE HAVE KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.
NICOLE: HIS COLLECTION BEGAN LIKE MANY OF HOURS, YEARS OF FAMILY FUN THAT GATHERED DUST.
>> A LOT OF THEM COME FROM THE DUMP STORE BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THEY WILL GO SKIING AND THEN THEY DON’T.
SO THEY SHOW UP THERE.
NICOLE: THAT IS ONE WAY HE HAS AMASSED OVER 100 PAIRS OF CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS AND BOOTS.
IF HE HAS YOUR SIZE, AND HE HAS MOST, HE OFFERS THEM AT NO COST TO EVEN STRANGERS.
WHAT GOOD WOULD THESE BE WITHOUT TRAILS TO GLIDE ALONG?
HE THOUGHT OF THAT AS WELL.
YOU BOUGHT -- YOU BUILD THIS.
HOW MUCH DID IT COST?
>> $20.
NICOLE: HE MAINTAINS 14 MILES OF TRAILS, DOTTED IN HIS OWN WOODSHOP CREATIONS, AT NO COST TO THE COMMUNITY BUT OF GREAT BENEFIT.
>> GET OUTSIDE, PUT THE SKIS ON AND STEP ON.
NICOLE: YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND LONG WITH THE RETIRED PRINCIPAL TO SEE HE ENJOYS PEACE OUT HERE.
>> IT IS A LOT OF FUN TO DO TRAILS, BUT IT IS THE MOST FUN TO SEE THEM GET SOME USE.
♪ NICOLE: HUNGRY?
WE ARE, SO WE GO TO THE GAS STATION?
>> THE FUEL PUMPS ARE WHAT BROUGHT HUNDREDS OF CARS EVERY DAY THROUGH THE FRONT YARD.
NICOLE: THERE ARE STILL SIGNS OF THE RESTAURANT’S EARLY DAYS, THE STANDARD GASTROPUB, A HIP ATMOSPHERE, RECENTLY DITCHED THE PUMPS IN FAVOR OF MORE ROOM TO FUEL YOUR BODY.
>> WE DON’T WANT TO BE A FINE DINING ESTABLISHMENT.
WE ARE THE PLACE YOU CAN STOP WITH YOUR FRIEND AND HAVE A SNACK.
NICOLE: THE OWNER SAYS AFTER RECEIVING A DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE IN BOSTON, HE DECIDED PERHAPS BUILDING BURGERS WAS BETTER.
>> JUST DO WHAT WE THINK IS THE RIGHT WAY, FRESH INGREDIENTS, WE HAVE NO FREEZERS.
DO MORE INVENTIVE, EXCITING FLAVORS TO THE AREA.
NICOLE: WHICH INCLUDES A SMASH HER.
>> LOCAL BEEF, -- SMASH BURGER.
>> LOCAL BEEF.
THE DOUBLE STANDARD, THE HOUSE CHEESEBURGER, WHAT WE BUILT THE PLACE AROUND.
NICOLE: UNIQUE FLAVORS INCLUDE SMOKED RIBS WITH SPICY PINEAPPLE SAUCE, SOY BRUSSELS SPROUTS.
IF A LIVE THIS HAS LEFT YOU THIRSTY, YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM OVER 300 -- ALL OF THIS HAS LEFT YOU THIRSTY, YOU CAN CHOSE FROM OVER 300 BEERS.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING MORE WILD, FIND A MEAL IN THE WOODS.
♪ NICOLE: DANIEL SAYS BRIDGTON IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO LIVE OFF THE LAND.
>> WE HAVE THE RIVER.
IT FLOODS AND DEPOSITS MINERAL RICH SILTS WHICH CAUSES GROWTH OF THINGS LIKE THE FIDDLEHEAD WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE FORAGE IN THE SPRINGTIME.
NICOLE: HE SEES THE WORLD AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION.
>> YOU LOOK AT THE HIGHEST END RESTAURANTS IN THE WORLD, THE MENUS ALWAYS INCLUDE MUSHROOMS AND GAME.
THIS IS THE BEST STUFF.
MOST OF MY BEAR MEAT IS GRIND.
NICOLE: SQUIRRELS, ACORNS, IGUANA HAVE ALL MADE THEIR WAY TO HIS TABLE.
>> I PUSH IT DOWN WITH MY FINGER AND GIVE IT A CRUNCH.
NICOLE: PROCESSING YOUR OWN FOOD TAKES TIME.
YOU ARE FASTER THAN I.
ADDING ACORNS TAKES ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
IT IS A TOUGH LIFESTYLE TO LIVE, EVEN TOUGHER TO LEARN.
>> FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN A DEFINING FORCE IN HUMAN LIFE.
NICOLE: HE CREATED A PODCAST AND INTERNET SERIES, WILD THING.
>> BACKCOUNTRY -- WILDERNESS.
FOOD IS ALL AROUND YOU.
>> TAKING PEOPLE ON THE JOURNEY, SHOWING INCREDIBLE FOOD THAT CAN COME OUT OF IT, IT IS IMPORTANT PEOPLE SEE THE FOOD IS GOOD.
NICOLE: COLLABORATING WITH TOP CHEFS.
>> WE ARE LOWERING THE BARRIERS TO SHOW PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN GET STARTED IF THEY ARE INTERESTED IN FORAGING OR HUNTING, FISHING.
SHAYNA: THE CROSS-COUNTRY TRAILS WILL BE EXPANDING SOON.
ANTHONY: HIS WIFE PASSED AWAY A FEW WEEKS AGO.
HE PROISED HER HE WOULD BUILD A SHED WHERE HE COULD STORE ALL OF THE FREE GEAR AND PEOPLE COULD GRAB WHAT THEY NEED AND ENJOY.
HE SAID HE WOULD KEEP THAT PROMISE.