Be Brave Not Safe

Continuing in the spirit of reinforcing why one would go about doing “all the hard work” outlined in this blog, just sharing some of the freedom that can be realized…So, here we go again – “into the woods.”

Camping Trip #3, during the summer of 2014…

Just a few days after returning from our second trip (of the summer) to Mooselookmeguntic Lake, we had yet another opportunity to do some “mid-week” camping.

Several months ago our 21-year old (Aaron) and his younger brother (Ethan / 19) reserved a site at Pawtuckaway Lake State Park, for Aaron’s 22nd birthday. This was previously our favorite place to camp, prior to our more recent excursions to our new favorite spot (Mooselookmeguntic). The only thing about Pawtuckaway is that they actually have running water and hot showers, things I ONLY take advantage of after several days of camping (whether I need it or not 🙂 ).

As the date was getting closer Aaron learned that none of his friends could “get away” for  a week-long camping trip and that Ethan and his friends were the only ones that could “potentially” make it. Being that Aaron was the only one “of age” he realized that he’d be asked to be the source of their…spirits…and the one accountable for the happenings of the campsite. Not a pretty picture 🙂

He made a wise decision and asked Cindy and I if we’d like to join them for his birthday camping expedition. After considering this for about…zero seconds…we said – “sure!”

Turned out that Aaron and Ethan couldn’t be there the first night (as they both had clients to train), so Cindy and I packed up and headed for the site, which is only a short, 40-minute drive from our house. As such, we were quickly there and had our site setup for the week.

This was our front yard.

On day-2 the 2 boys arrived with our 5th son (Joey, a neighbor). Here they are (left-to-right: Joey, Aaron and Ethan) preparing to launch the canoe for a “trip” on the lake.

While you might be thinking, “doesn’t it get monotonous doing all this camping?”. The short answer is: NO! Every trip is a new and unique adventure.

Turns out that on our 3rd day heavy rains were expected. And, nature didn’t disappoint. It POURED – sheets of rain! The boys eloquently characterized their opinion, by saying: “this SUCKS!”

Shortly there-after, the boys broke down their tents (in the pouring rain), packed up and headed home. It is again, just Cindy and I…We were NOT about to leave such a beautiful spot 🙂

After enjoying a few more days of camping for the summer (so far), we packed up for our trip home.

In a future post I’ll share details of our 4th camping trip of the summer, (again, to Mooselookmeguntic), which is where we plan to be at the time “this post” is scheduled to launch 🙂

Continuing in the spirit of reinforcing why one would go about doing “all the hard work” outlined in this blog, just sharing some of the freedom that can be realized…Here we go again – “into the woods.”

Camping Trip #2, during the summer of 2014…

Just a few short weeks after our prior trip to Mooselookmeguntic Lake we again headed to our new, favorite spot on the planet. And, as much as we tried to orchestrate the logistics and scheduling with our boys, it was just Cindy and I, once again 🙂

This time we selected a site requiring a 1/2-mile canoe trip across the lake, to Students Island. A 1/2-mile doesn’t sound long, and it isn’t, unless you are rowing a canoe weighed down with gear such that you only have a few inches margin for error (should the canoe tip) before taking on water. Or worse, rolling the canoe and having all your gear floating around, or sinking to the bottom of the (deep) lake!!!

Cindy doesn’t look convinced, does she?

Thankfully, the trip to the island was pretty much a breeze. Or, should I say there was no breeze/wind. We’ll cover the wind factor later…

This was our front yard.

After settling in, it was time to catch some trout. We had a much better shot this time, with the canoe, than fishing from land (as we did during our prior visit). The good news is that a nice, foot-long trout was caught. The bad news (for me) is that it was caught by Cindy 🙂

And, yes, she guts her own fish. What a woman 🙂

Since we were keeping the rest of the family up-to-date by posting pictures to iCloud my Dad had the opportunity to jab me by asking when Cindy was going to give me a lesson on how to catch that prized fish (the trout). Father, go pound sand!

Later in the week we were doing some fishing (in my attempt to surpass Cindy’s accomplishment). We were in the middle of the lake in our canoe and commented that the weather was looking kind of peculiar. That is short for: the clouds look ominous. And, the forecast on my iPhone corroborated by indicating that t-storms (which bring wind) were on their way. The middle of a fairly large lake, in a canoe, is NOT where you want to be for t-storms.

Knowing that we still had to make a trip to the mainland to get some fresh ice for our…provisions…we headed for the campground’s boat launch, hopped in the truck and took the short ride to the village of Oquossoc, ME.

On returning from the village we observed the lake, in combination with the wind. It was no longer tranquil. It looked a bit, well, angry. Just the same, we had to get “home.”

So, we shoved off in our canoe and soon realized this was going to be a battle. The trip that previously took less than 20 minutes, with a fully loaded canoe, took us “at least” 45 minutes as we rowed across the heaving lake (taking on water as waves crashed over the canoe) and then up the shore of the island – against the wind.

Phew. We made it.

This is our front yard, shortly after the crossing…Doesn’t look so bad, from land…But, do you see those white caps? That is when you know it is rough (out there).

As we settled back in we noticed a visitor walking down our path. A woman had come to ask if she could check out the lake from the vantage point of our site. You see, her family was scheduled to leave, but feared the crossing in their fully loaded canoes, including young children. NOT a good proposition at this time. And, the forecast only suggested that it was going to get worse as the day proceeded. So, they hiked back to their site to wait it out. Thankfully, at about 7:30pm, the wind died down enough to allow them safe crossing. So, they made their escape. And, as far as we know, they reached the mainland 🙂

Cindy and I enjoyed our final night.

We knew we’d be back – again (to Students Island)!

In future posts I’ll share details about our other (summer of 2014) trips – “into the woods.”

If you’ve been following this Blog you’ve noticed that I share a lot of, well, what some would call HARD work.

Some might even say “All work and no play makes Craig a dull boy. I mean, what is it all for?!?“

It is in that spirit that I share this and a few related / follow-on posts.

Here we go…

When not pursuing other endeavors (actively working a consulting engagement or a charitable activity) you are likely to find me (and members of my family) “in the woods.” This could include, for example: mountain biking, skiing, or camping.

And, doing so – during the week. I mean, why would I do these activities on the weekends when I’d have to contend with all those other carbon units (I mean people 🙂 )?

This summer we had the opportunity to go on 3 camping trips (with the 4th scheduled for next week). Not in a mobile home, mind you. We are talking tents, backpacks and, for 3 of our trips, staying at remote sites requiring a hike or canoe to reach.

Last summer I took my 2 middle boys on a 5-day “guided” canoe trip “up” the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, in northern Maine. I was considering doing the same (only longer in duration) this year. However, in the spirit of frugality (not paying for a guide), adventure and “do-it-yourself” I decided to target an area unexplored (by me) in the northwestern woods of Maine.

In perusing my well-worn map of Maine I happened across Mooselookmeguntic Lake. It took a while before we could properly say that one.

The map indicated there were a number of remote sites serviced by the state which are available on a “first come, first serve basis.”

I also noticed that there was a privately-owned and managed campground with remote sites on the mainland and on the islands of the lake. Good backup in the event the prior sites were occupied or not reachable.

Looks good to me! Now, who can I recruit to go with me?

My wife was in! The boys, however, have many scheduling conflicts (each has a job, the 2 middle boys also train clients in the evening and attend college working towards their degrees in Exercise Science, and the youngest, our 17-year old, is going through the process of entering the Marines via their delayed entry program).

Since I had just wrapped up a client engagement (in early July) it was time to go “into the woods” – NOW!

Camping Trip #1…

So, for the first camping trip of the summer the boys couldn’t join us.

Cindy and I packed our gear and headed north.

It was roughly a 4-hour drive to the area of the target sites. This included traveling a number of miles on barely maintained, single-lane dirt roads. I AM LOVING THIS! Since we were in my wife’s Suburban and brushing up against tree limbs and such, she was “just a bit” on edge 🙂

Upon traveling the dirt road for some time, we found a more primitive road that (per our map) promised to lead us to the target sites. After it turned into more of a trail (and my wife was further “on edge”) I decided to park the vehicle and jump on my mountain bike to scout the path ahead. It wasn’t too long before the trail ended and I determined that the originally targeted sites were not reachable by land (via a method that wouldn’t ruin my marriage. My wife hates it when I make her bushwhack)…

So, upon returning to the truck it wasn’t hard to convince my wife that we’d instead opt for the campground on the other side of the lake.

About an hour later we arrived at Stephen Phillip’s Memorial Preserve. You can check it out by clicking here. Simply AWESOME!

Upon entering the office we asked if they had any available sites for the next few nights. Thankfully, they did. It was a site requiring a half-mile hike – for which we more than prepared! Sign us up!

We were able to get all our gear into the site in just 2 trips. This, based on properly packing only what was absolutely necessary!

Within an hour our tent was up and the site was prepared for our stay. This was our front yard.

Later, after doing some exploring, we found our very own beach!

No camping trip would be complete without doing some fishing. Being that Mooselookmeguntic is a crystal clear, cold-water lake we knew there were some trout in these waters. However, on this trip we caught other fish, trout not being among our bounty.

Speaking of wildlife…My favorite sound in all the world is that of a loon. If you’ve never heard one before, it is a combination of being eery, silly, and at the same time unbelievably peaceful. This lake has more than I’ve ever seen or heard. Other wildlife we observed included a bald eagle flying right over our campsite and deer.

And, because we were in a remote campsite with no kids, we got to go for our favorite kind of swim, the way God originally intended – the skinny dip.

We knew we’d be back!

Upon getting home we challenged each other to find 3 people who had been to Mooselookmeguntic, crediting ourselves as 2 of these 3 people 🙂

In future posts I’ll share details of our other (summer of 2014) trips “into the woods.”

p.s. – My wife approved this post, in advance 🙂