First Day Jitters and Second Day Twits(ers)

  Yes, I have been twice already.  In fact, it was those trips that inspired the idea of this blog...well that, and my boyfriend C's obligation to begin a blog for one of his classes (thanks, C, for all of your on-going inspiration.....  =D).  On my first day, I went to Fox Pond.  I have been swimming at this pond several times with my little sister M, and I was excited to get a glimpse of the other side of it.  It was as great as I imagined!  Mostly because I was propelling myself across it in my lovely little boat, but also because, for the first time in my life, I got to see a lily pad flower (I don't even know the real names for them) up close and personal.  It was untouched, it's beauty bursting forth from the dark depths of the pond, unsullied by human force, ....until I ran over it with my kayak.  Imagine!  The very first person to run over that flower with a kayak.  Wow.  First day success.

  There was a slight blip on the fun radar when a strange car pulled up to the swimming section of Fox Pond.  Now, I really have no right to call it a “strange car”  because this person had just as much right to be at Fox as I did, but I am from Downeast Maine and any car I don’t recognize is a “strange car” and therefore subject to suspicion.  An older man exited the vehicle, and I have reason to believe he voided in the bushes, right where I could see him!  I mean, I was very far away, but, honestly sir, get behind a taller tree, you are ruining my brand new kayak experience.  He went back to his vehicle and started to pull away when he stopped and got out AGAIN!  Now, history was telling me that some unsavory things might happen, so luckily I was close enough to my departure point to hop on out and haul on out.  I did not take a moment to see how the older man saga ended.  I can only hope that he chose a more private location to take care of his needs. 

*Fun fact* On this trip, I spotted my sister C and her fiancé, J, driving home from town in his giant truck!  Thank you, J, for driving a giant truck so that I can recognize you and C while out on a pond!

  On the second day, I traveled to Montegail.  This was a different type of trip, because there were a lot of people around and I was feeling a little more confident.  That is, until I had to haul my kayak one eighth of a mile down a dirt road on my shoulder.  You see, Montegail is similar to a super private, uppity country club where you are either ‘in’ or ‘out’.  Yes, just like that, except with shirtless, farmer’s tan lawn-mowing, beer, and illegal firecrackers.  Anyways, there are very specific rules about who has access to the pond by which road, and who can drive down past the “special” blue sign, and who needs written permission, etc., etc.  So, silly me, I thought I had to follow the rules and not drive down the “special” road.  Well, come to find out, there was a “special” section of the “special” blue sign that said one could drive down the “special” dirt road to unload boats.  And the Rhythm counts as a boat.   

I got all the way down that gosh-durn dirt road only to have a man say to me “I would’ve just driven it down”.  I aspire to be just like you, sir. 

Thankfully, the trip turned out beautifully.  I don’t have any pictures of either lake right now, but hope to have them soon on future trips (dry bags for my camera are on the shopping list…).  However, I do leave you with the most beautiful sight from that trip that I could capture:  The Rhythm and the Forester as one  =D.

All strapped up and ready to go!

                *I would like to take a moment to address my Subaru Forester*

Dear Forester,

  You have been a wonderful car.  You have kept me safe on winter roads, and have been much more fun to drive on the Moose River Outpost roads than the Dodge ever was.  I am sincerely sorry for the scratches that you have obtained with the appearance of the Rhythm in my life, but I liken it to an old dog enduring a new puppy; you’ll come to love her in the end.  I am so grateful that you are so supportive of my new hobby and all of the gear that goes with it.  I look forward to many more wonderful years together.

Much love,

D