My mom and I had a fabulous trip across Spednik and Chiputneticook Lakes and then down the St. Croix River to the Kellyland take-out.
We did a lot of fishing on this trip. We caught small mouth bass, pickerel and perch. They were delicious. We’ve got some fishing stories from this trip.
On the first night, we saw a bunch of guides in their Grand Lake canoes with outboard engines. They had their clients at a particular spot. We figured we’d try it, and soon found out why they were fishing there. I hooked a 16″ or 17″ bass, which was amazing. I put it back because it was a bit too much meat for us to eat. My mom lost her reel handle into the lake and as we were trying to figure out what to do with the mess a fish hooked it’s self and we had to pull it in by hand.
The river had quite a bit of easy whitewater and was both challenging and fun. The most difficult section was Little Falls, which seemed like a stout class two rapid. We scouted the rapids to make sure we didn’t go over a drop onto a rock. We paddled to an eddy in the middle, took a break and then continued through the rapids.
We enjoyed lots of eagles and osprey, great sunsets and rises and quality campsites and water.
Sunrise from Squatters Point on Spednik Lake
Sunrise from Squatters Point on Spednik Lake, 2
Early morning sun, Spednik Lake
Spednik Lake has a rocky coast line
Early Morning Fog at Baby's Grave campsite, St. Croix River
Sleeping in a hammock over the St. Croix
Taking a break on a gravel bar
Checking out mysterious red flowers
Cooking Dinner
Fish for Dinner
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I’ve been surrounded by animals over the past several days.
While riding my motorcycle back from a friend’s place in NH I saw two large male moose and a mama and baby deer. Then, when I got home, I was greeted by a family of deer. The two fawns still have the white spots and are so cute!
Yesterday evening I went fishing with my friend Joe. The sunset was beautiful and the fish were feeding, but we didn’t really get any hits. In the reeds in the distance was a deer and a beaver was slapping the water every so often.
Suddenly, out of the forest, an animal let out a distress cry. There was thrashing and quick movement in the forest. The deer was running along the edge of the lake and occasionally let out distress cries. Finally there was one last cry and then the deer jumped into the lake in desperation. After some gurgling and thrashing, the deer was silent and the coyotes stood over and around the deer. I could hear them shaking the water off of their fur. They stayed there for hours eating.
After this event Joe and I paddled down the outlet stream and watched the full moon rise over the tops of the trees. The water was full of submerged grass. We fished this and had a couple of strong hits. I had one good run from what I think was a pickerel. At the last minute, it threw the hook.
Last night, there was an animal dropping things from a tree. I didn’t see it, but I think it was a porcupine.
This morning, I saw a flock of a dozen or so turkeys in the driveway.
It’s great to be a part of such a beautiful and great planet and web of life.
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Well I’ve been back to work helping friends with their carpentry needs. I’m trying to pay off the money I borrowed to take my motorcycle trip and build the cabin. When this has been paid off and I’ve got a little sum in savings, I’ll start again on writing. I began writing the stories of my adventures but had to put it aside to take care of the cabin and now work.
On a side note, my old internet connection doesn’t work anymore, so I’ll not be able to provide updates as often.
On the home front, I’m in the process of installing a rain catchment system for domestic water.
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I’ve long thought about the direction that humanity has taken and specifically about the path that I’m taking. This seems especially important amidst the chaos and destruction of the current cultural mindset. I feel that the changes that I’m going through are an opening. I also thing that many other people are thinking about how to change. It is exciting to me to participate in the transformation of humanity.
I’ve found that when I participate directly with the dominant society, I become filled with pain. This is the one reason that I followed the climbing life for so long. It was the only way that I could find to be happy. Yet it was not enough to fulfill all my human needs in the long run.
I left the climbing life because I needed to in order to grow and learn. That was 5 or 6 years ago. My journey through society and relationships was grueling and painful. I succumbed to the usual traps of debt and over working.
I am attempting to process and distill what I learned from that journey. And let me tell you… I never want to do that again!
I have felt time and time again the desire to drop everything and flee. I believe that my response is a healthy emotional response to that which is unhealthy in our current cultural paradigms. So I’m back on the fringes of society where I’m much happier. Perhaps I can help others who’s psyches have pushed them to the fringe as well.
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I’m gratefully and finally moved in to the cabin. With my books and pictures and textiles and feathers the cabin feeling very comfortable.
All my outdoor gear is in the upstairs racks in bins. I built a platform for the bed and will put legs on the platform eventually. This will give me more storage under the bed.
This last push on the cabin has sapped my desire to write. Now I’m ready for another chapter. What does the universe have in store for me. Where will I be called to next. I already have an invitation for tomorrow to help a friend. I saw this as perfect timing.
A candle is burning in the background as there is no electricity here yet. The glow is particularly warming. Eventually I may have a small solar system.
I almost forgot to mention the beautiful wood spider who’s taken residence in the cabin. He’s very large and has white strips on his legs. He tends to stay put but can move quickly when he has to. He’s apx. Two inches in diameter.
Southern View
Northern View
Kitchen
Office
Entry
Living Room
Clothes Closet
Storege Bins
Bed
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I came back home after dark and stood in the yard looking at the sky and trees. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I saw glowing sections of the ground. I knelt down and felt the glowing objects and realized that they were roots. So I lay down next to the glowing roots and marveled.
Later in a dream, I saw that they were pine roots.
Today I finished trimming the window and installed the first level floor and insulated it.
Floor Structure
Two layers of Blue Board sealed with Spray Foam
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Moving along the project is. The roof is on hold while I am waiting for a piece of roofing to be ready.
Joe and I cleaned up the job site which was in sore need of it. I’ve accumulated about a half a cord of firewood in the scrap leftovers from the logs. I’m halfway towards having wood for the winter.
Roof and windows are in
Look at the clean yard
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I’m excited. The southern roof is on the building. We should finish the roof tomorrow. I will probably need to order another piece of roofing. That’s not bad considering that the used roofing metal was donated by a friend.
My bones are tired. The muscles in my hands ache. Each individual bone in my hands ache from the weight of the logs. My wrists ache. ETC. I’m glad that the heavy work is mostly finished.
I’ll try to have pictures tomorrow.
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My elbow seems to be a weak link in my body. It is typical that prolonged and extreme physical exertion will result in a sore elbow. This time, however, it has swollen up a bit.
We’ve got half the roof boards on and I’m hopeful about moving in to the second floor soon.
The evening has brought some cool weather in which is wonderful after the very hot day. The forest is so dry that the heavy wind is stirring up the dust from the dirt roads. It feels like a mini dust bowl.
Swollen Elbow
Half the roof boards are up
Wide Boards
The Gables have been trimmed back
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Well we put the ridge pole and rafters up! Joe, Andrew, Ian and I all had a great time making jokes about being men, male anatomy and general crassness. Here are the pictures!
We’re working with mostly pine. And Ian brought up a point. He said that pine pollen’s molecular structure is very similar to testosterone. We we had plenty today!
Joe puckering up!
Rafters are up
The three roof setters
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