The Long March

  First of all, I want to show off the kayak paddle charm that C bought me as a maid of honor gift:

A tiny kayak paddle on a big kayak paddle!

Tiny kayak paddle on my life jacket!

     Wicked cute, huh?

    After a CRAZY week last week (let me just say, I am so fresh off C and J's wedding that I can still smell the spray tan seeping out of my pores when I run) , I was looking forward to a little kayaking today.  Which is why, when I got to Long Pond and it was too windy, I was quite disappointed.  But, I wasn't going to give up that easy.  I decided to try Spring River Lake again.  As some of you may recall, I had tried to go to Spring River before, but was unable to find a boat put-in.  Today, I looked at the map, and saw that there was a boat landing...a hand-carry one.  Translation: portage.
  I did a little preview of the path, sans kayak, to get a feel for what I was up against.  Picture a mountain hiking path, rife with rocks, roots, and loose dirt.  Now picture me carrying a forty-seven pound kayak plus all my gear down over it.  Owwwww.....
  After actually beginning the portage, I was happy to realize that it wasn't all that bad.  When I got to the bottom, all the beach patrons, much like my supportive friend from Montegail, said, "Wait until you have to carry it back up!"  Thanks, heartless twits  kind people!  I can't get mad at all of them, though; there was one kind lady who offered to help me carry it down.  I politely declined, out of sheer stupidity.  
  But, the paddle was well worth it.....

The beach I started from.

The far side of Spring River Lake.

This is the beach I was baptized on; it's just on the other side of some trees  of the public beach.

There was an eagle in this tree, but he refused to come out once I took out my camera.

The wind blew me into the middle of the goonies.  Ewww....

     The portage back up the hill definitely raised my heart rate!  I was happy to get home and rest my aching hip and shoulder.  I'm thinking I'm probably going to order some of those little wheel things that attach to my kayak and help with the portage from L.L. Bean....but that could be cheating.