Rutherford and Boothbay kayaking and biking 2026 july 28th and 29th

Yesterday, Tuesday, I paddled around Rutherford, starting from the parking area near Washburn and Doughty shipyard.

Winds were from the East/Southeast at 5-10 mph, so I knew after I crossed to the exposed east side of Rutherford it would be gnarly....but in a fun way I hoped.

The crossing from East Boothbay to South Bristol was fine.   Sometimes there's a lot of boat traffic, wind, and/or currents, but it wasn't bad.    There were some weird spinny  currents on the crossing, but nothing horrible.    Easy to paddle through, but if I stopped in a few spots, the calm whirlpools would have spun me around as it pushed me North.

Crossing under the tiny bridge in South Bristol was calm.   Again, minimal boat traffic (just one that I recall).   As I spat out the other side of the bridge and rounded the north corner of Rutherford, i could see the winds and waves going on the exposed ocean side.    Today, i got to practice waves broaching on my left/port side.   CHILLY!!!   as soon as I could, I pulled into a cove halfway down, popped the rear hatch and pulled my 3mm wetsuit shorts over my 1mm leggings that have reflective metal in them for heat.    The leggings are fine for the rare swamping, but when it's every couple of minutes, you get cold eventually.   With the wetsuit shorts pulled on, i was toasty again.    

As I neared the southern turn to my right/West, a super dense fog rolled in.   Like Stephen King level creepy fog.      I pulled a silicone earplug out of my left ear (my better ear), and paddled on listening for boats with my good ear and music through my induction shokz headband via the right.    I could only see 50-100ft at most, and I heard a lobster boat before seeing it.    It was just hauling in lobster crates, so no collision risk.   They waved as I paddled by.     I'd turned on my beacon light on my vest in the fog, and the one guy tapped his shoulder in the same spot I wear it and gave me a thumbs up.   I cheerily waved back with a thumbs up, just so he knew I was good (it's a rescue light too).

The fog only lasted another 15-20 minutes and then started to lift.   and another 10-15 minutes later, it was completely gone again.   It was weird paddling around the southern tip with the shore on my right knowing/hoping I hadn't made a bad turn somehow, but I've been there before and it'd be super hard to make a wrong turn.   It's just the fog injects doubt into your mind.   As the sun came back out, I was paddling right by Christmas Cove, and I flew on back to the boat launch.    Made good time to do that paddle, in those conditions in 2 hours.    on the paddle back north on the inside stretch, I was flying, making good speed to make up for the slower paddle when I was battling the waves on the East side.

 

 

Went back to the cabin, ate a big lunch, hung out for a bit, then did the Southport bike loop for the first time since getting here.   Jacqui had gone out to lunch with Wendy (the Harborfields owner) and another woman staying here, and she warned me there's a large stretch of the road reduced to one lane on the West side of the southport route.   She was right, and it lasted for about 1 mile on the 10 mile loop.     Last year I struggled to do the 10 miles.   Never got under 1 hour.   Today I was 48 and a half minutes and that was with the 1 mile or torn up road (I rode the gravel side for most of it).   Crazy!   If I could bottle up how much better I feel now vs last year and cram it into pill form, I'd be a very rich man. 

Didn't do much else after getting back.   Had some hummus on scarpaccia and a leftover wing for dinner.   Jacqui was full from her lunch outing, so didn't have much.    

This morning I made pancakes then used the kayak cart to walk the kayak over to the town launch.   Low tide was 6a.m. ish, and high tide was going to be 11:15 'ish.   I was in the water just before 9, so I knew I could dart up the eastern shore to the culvert and scoot through most likely.   Timed it perfect!    The culvert under the overpass was 1/3 to half full at most, and I paddled on through with the incoming tidal water helping to push me through.    I paddled on up past the large dock for the Maine botanical gardens, under the bridge to the knickerbocker park where I normally park and launch to paddle Barters island.   I went under the bridge and hooked around.   Stopped at porter's preserve, then onward to Powderhorn, and back to the launch.    Just a tick over 2 hours and 8 miles.

Got back to the cabin, it was 10:45, and I switched over to bike mode.   I biked from the cabin via backroads to Karen's Hideway.    Good lobster rolls there, but it's a dive-y place.   Just picnic tables outside, and they cook in a rundown looking trailer, by an even more run down looking old store that's not in use anymore.    One of those places where you know it has to be good or it'd have closed long ago.   Locals love it I think.

I got a cold lobster roll with mayo, onion rings, cole slaw and a Pepsi.   Jacqui got a hot dog, potato salad, diet Pepsi, and helped me with the onion rings.     Before leaving the cabin I dispensed some Southwest sauce into a 1quart freezer bag and asked jacqui to bring it for the onion rings.   Used my little first aid scissors to snip a corner of the bag and squeezed it out like an icing bag.   Worked great, and tasted great with the onion rings.   Far better than the offered ketchup or mustard options.

I told Jacqui I was thinking of biking to the ice cream place, so she drove ahead to downtown and I met her there after biking there myself.   I avoided some of busy rt 27 by doubling back and using the pond road that comes out again near the rotary.    after there the main road has a decent shoulder and I felt safe riding with the heavy traffic to downtown.   And once downtown, cars have to drive slow, so again no problem.     As I was biking in, I saw Jacqui walking on the sidewalk,  got the "Hey hot stuff, want get some ice cream!" line from Jacqui and we walked the rest of the way together to the shop.  I waited outside with my bike and got a picnic table in the busy dock area.   I think there was a big queue of people waiting for a tour boat to head out shortly. 

The ice cream hit the spot.   I got blueberry cheesecake, Jacqui got an orange sherbet.    Kiddie sizes....still huge.   Jacqui said goodbye as we walked back up the steep hill from the dock; she went into the downtown bookstore, and I biked back using as many back roads as possible.    Good outing!

Now, we're just waiting for rain to hit later today at the cabin.  Thursday is a washout; we're going to Freeport to kill time tomorrow.   Friday looks good, so I'll enjoy my last day in Boothbay (easy paddle and one more Southport bike loop), and we'll hit the Brewery for beer and pizza one last time for dinner. 

  But.... I think because I'm still feeling pretty good, not exhausted yet,  I"m going to drive to the town launch in Brunswick Saturday morning, do a paddle on the Androscoggin river, double back, and then do the short drive over to the park and ride lot to bike the 27 mile loop I did last year.   Hopefully this time the Flight Deck brewery will be open as I near the end of the ride.   Beer and lunch before getting back to the truck in the afternoon.    I'll also make sure my Geyser sponge shower system has water for a quick shower in the parking lot before I drive back home to Mass.   I'll park near the side of the lot so the water drains away from everyone's cars.

That's it for now.   Just going to enjoy the down time the rest of the day.    The porch is nice to watch the marina and for reading.  

Merrymeeting Bay Ride Monday 2026 july 27th

Did the big ride yesterday I didn't dare do the previous year.

I just posted photos to my hunneymandc instagram

will post them here later.

Things I remember from the ride.    Found a couple new kayak launch spots to try.   More river vs open water.    Worth the hour drive for days that are too windy to paddle in Boothbay.

At the Brunswick park and ride, met a couple in a vintage vw van interested in my truck buildout.   Funny how I'm getting more interest here in Maine than I've had on previous camping trips this year.    I think maybe Maine appreciates the DIY build more.   

 

 

On the ride I spotted a nice black Storyteller camper van, as well as a few others.    Should've taken photos.   I spotted one person having a modest mini camper set up with solar in the back of a farm field with a path mowed to reach it.    Nice summer setup IMHO

I managed the rolling hills of the ride pretty well.   A lot of times I could just stand up on the pedals and power up the short steep hills; I only had to shift down to granny gears a few times.   There was decent tree cover for shade quite often too.

I ate a snackbar on the hour every hour, but I was definitely ready to eat a proper meal by the time I got to Bath.   Stopped at the Sisters Deli, would go again.   they had warm sandwiches pre made, ready to go.   Helped keep things moving.   Awesome desserts too.

I got the Macintuscan.   Chicken, apple, mixed greens, honey mustard, etc in a spinach wrap.   A small bag of salt & vinegar chips and large peanut butter/choc chip cookie, and a schwepps ginger ale.

I inhaled the wrap and downed the soda, saved the cookie and chips for when I got to the bike trail that parallels rt 1 in Brunswick.  There are a few granite benches with river views there.   Ate all the chips (needed the salt badly), and 2/3rds of the cookie.     The remainder of the cookie perked me up in the truck during the 50minute drive back to the cabin.

Didn't paddle yesterday.   Just rested after getting back to tge cabin.   ate leftovers from the fridge after showering.   

Slept well.

Typing this up the next morning before I got out to paddle again.    Thinking of the eastern loop around Rutherford island even though there's 5-10mph E/SE winds   it'll be fun to play with the waves on the port side of the surfski.   I'll wear my thicker shorts this time, for the broaching waves.

Later 

D

 

Boothbay arrival 2026, july 25th, Southport loop

Sitting on the cabin's deck blogging about yesterday and today.

Arrived yesterday around 10:30 a.m.  and immediately did a kayak paddle around Barters Island.   Definitely felt like I made better time than last year.   

On the way picked up some donuts, from holy donut in Brunswick.    6 for $24, pricey but worth the occasional splurge

Back to paddling....

I had the wind on my back after navigating past the southern tip.   I was flying as I paddled up the western side of Barters up the Sheepscot River.     With the northenmost point of the island being 12 o'clock, at around 11 o'clock the water gets weird from currents, tidal changes and wind funnel points.   I started to catch some of the waves coming up behind me.   Honest to god surfing on my "surfski" kayak.   Nothing outstanding, but I got going 6mph or so a few times per my watch.   It feels like a giant hand coming up beneath you, giving you free speed.

Once I hooked around the topmost part of the island, I took a break before battling the wind back.   Quick snack and some water.   Paddling southward on the inland side, i played the game of seeing how many docks I could scoot under.   No idea if that's legal/illegal, but it keeps me out of the way of the boats passing by and the water gets quite narrow through there.   It was mid tide, heading towards low, but I was I was able to hug the  shoreline more heading south.   At low tide, you can't.   You'll get stuck in mud or hit rocks.

When scooting under the dock ramps or walkways,  the floating docks are nice to paddle behind when someone's blasting through making big wakes.    The docks block the waves from the boats and cancel the rebound waves because they don't reach the shore.

This week, I'll have to get Jacqui to get a photo of me at some point on the water,       but the surfski is definitely higher in the water and I can feel that some of the carbon fiber/kevlar weave is now visible when I feel by hand. behind higher up in the water, makes it easier to deal with the waves that hit broadside.  The surfski used to ride Low....like loooooow in the water when I was >60lbs heavier,    and because I was heavier i was taking on more water via the self-bailer too.   So when I was 275 last summer, I had at least another 10lbs of water in the footwell too.    During much of the paddle around Barters, the inside was bone dry.    So it's more like the surfski carrying just my 215lbs now, not 275 + 10-20lbs of water.    As long as I paddle close to 4mph, she's dry now.

Anyway, I've done the paddle around Barters a gazzilion times.   Not much new to report.   I briefly saw one seal right near the beginning but not much after that.   On the northwest side I annoyed an egret pair at one point.   They'd nested in a mooring ball, and the papa bird kept flying at my head.   I ignored it and after 100 yards it stopped divebombing me.

After getting back to the truck.   I made myself a black bean wrap with stuff in the truck.   So i had the rear of the truck open and the kitchen drawer pullout out.    A few of the local guys walking back to their trucks  were asking questions.   They liked the setup.  One younger guy was most impressed.    I'd seen him just paddle up to a lobster boat and it turns out he was looking to buy a lobster direct.   Got one for $10, probably less than half what he'd pay at the local market.   I'm sure the lobsterman made more too that way.

Also at the knickercane parking area, a trophy wife with her two little girls kept giving the side eye .   She'd parked 2 spots over and was in mama bear mode.   Probably worried I was a homeless van lifer I imagine.   She relaxed when she overheard me telling one of the guys I'd rented a cabin for a week.    People are judgey.   then again, i'm >6'tall and >200lbs so i can fra la la through life not worrying about anything.   Different when you're 5'4 and 110lbs soaking wet I suppose.

After my bean burrito it was still only 2p.m. ish, so I decided to plot a bike ride from the knickercane park area.    I locked the surfski to the rack before leaving.   Check in at the cabin is at 3pm.

This ride was short but has a few brutal short hills that used to kill me.   I still went full granny gear on them, but it wasn't bad at all.   The ride was a fun way to kill time.   During the ride Jacqui texted she was at the cabin unloading.   Most of the stuff is in my truck so I didn't feel bad I wasn't there to help.

After the ride I unpacked, took a shower and then we were off to Boothbay Craft Brewery for beer and pizza.   Jacqui wanted pretzels with beer cheese, and I wanted wings, we got both.   The wings are cooked in a smoker, they don't chopped them into flats and drumsticks first.   even leave the useless tips on.   I only ate one, and stole 1 pretzel stick from Jacqui's appetizer.   The sticks were big.   The pretzels were like large polish sausage size.   Not quite as big as a long hotdog bun, but close.

We split a pepperoni pizza and ate the whole thing.   Their pizza's are more thin crust and again, not big diameter wise.    Briefly considered saving the last 2 slices, but when Jacqui said she could eat one more, i was like F it, we're on vacation.    Stuck to 1 beer each.   Good dinner out

back at the cabin, did a little more unpacking and organizing.   my new truck kitchen drawer bags make it easier to stock the cabin's kitchen.   the kitchen is stocked too, but I prefer my stuff.   I know how it performs.   We use their plates, bowls and glassware though.

The pantry bin with my dry rice and beans and protein powders are easy to load into the pantry closet in the cabin, along with my spices bag.i'll fix the photo orientation later.

The cutlery bag is right by the sink.    Made it easy to wash everything.   I hadn't done that yet after the camping session with Jeff.  

  And the counter full of my cooking gadgets.   My half size instant pot, blender for smoothies,  sodastream seltzer maker, hot water kettle.   The toaster is the cabin's.  

Today (sunday), I did a paddle first after making myself the peanut protein oatmeal breakfast I like when I know I'm going to be doing lots of outdoorsy stuff.   

i used the kayak cart to walk the surfski over to the town launch in West Boothbay.   I bring a bike lock cable and just lock the kart to a tree near the hiking path over there.   It's a quick 5 minute walk from the cabin.  

Doing the paddle to Powderhorn I was thinking i might try to do the drainage culvert loop near the botanical gardens, but it was so calm I just said the heck with it.   From Powderhorn, I texted Jacqui that the conditions were really good and I decided to circumnavigate Southport island.     I always text the rough plan to jacqui, so they know where to go looking in case something happens.

On the paddle down on the west side of Southport I spotted Dolphins!      Actually, I think they were harbor porpoises, but I was watching them from 100 yards out.   They were feeding on fish I think.   I wasn't trying to get close; I was just on my own track, but as I neared, they disappeared.   Better than them getting playful and coming to mess with me tbh.

Other than that, the only other wildlife were just the normal birds, mostly seagulls and cormorants.

The paddle down the west side was super calm until i got closer to the southern point.    I normally don't do the Southport loop because the west side is usually an exposed killzone of waves from the wind.   "kill" is harsh, but unless i get up at the crack of dawn, it's rough through there.   Today, super calm.

The swells from open ocean started to arrive as I neared the southern tip.   Swells aren't scary.  They're like slow moving small hills, which on their own aren't bad at all, but when combined with the weird criss cross of large wakes from boats passing on both sides and in different directions made the paddle more interesting.

At the southern tip I cut into a little protected cove/bay, ate my last snack bar, drank some water.    things got crowded with too many moving boats in the little bay down there.   everyone coming to pick people up or to check mail at the town dock.   I had to grab the side of a moored boat at one point to stay in place until everyone cleared out.    wasn't bad, just weird after such a calm paddle so far.   It's like there was suddenly a parade no one told me about.

After they cleared out, I headed north out of the cove.  From about 4 to 6 o'clock around Southport, the winds were a B!tch.   Weirdly the wind was coming from the east.    Right from the open Ocean.  Combined with the swells it was time to focus.

We're in a low pressure system right now, upper 60's only, and I think the Ocean system overpowered everything from inland, wind wise.   So i had to suck it up and do a lot of the paddling with waves hitting my starboard side (right hand side as I sit and paddle).    Quite a few waves broached the side, briefly swamping my legs with cold water and filling the footwell.   I had to switch to a sweep paddle instead of pulling more straight back.   Less speed but way better stability.   The conditions  got better once Squirrel Island offered some protection from the East side.   Not many boats where I was either.  It was rough where I was so they were sticking to the leeward side of the islands in the middle of the harbor to block the wind, waves and swells.     I stayed away from the Southport shore too.   Waves were crashing hard and bouncing back.    Safer to be a 100-200 yards out in the open water.

Eventually, I made it past where the Gray Homestead campground is and the water calmed down from islands to the east.   Once I got to Pig Cove, the Capitol islands blocked everything and I had a calm paddle through there.   I even stopped at one point, did the old pee in your wet suit trick.     Gross I know, but I straddle the surfski with my feet in the water and let er rip.   My leggings were soaked with sea water at that point from all the broadsides, so it actually helped warm me up a little.   I just make a point to jump off the boat a little early at the ramp so I'm in water above my waist to flush the wetsuit leggings out before walking back to the cabin.

  It's always a little sketchy where you go from west Boothbay harbor into the channel towards the launch.   Between Juniper point and  Pine Cliff.    Lots of boats cut through there, but if you stay on the north/east side of the channel closer to Juniper point, it's safe.    don't paddle on the Pine Cliff/Southport side.   that's the deep channel side and the power boats will get irked with you.    It'd be like walking down the middle of a busy 2 lane road.

Across from the town boat launch is the swing bridge my dad liked when I camped with him at Gray Homestead.

Anyhoo, I definitely wasn't as fast as the day before.   Partly because my muscles were more tired from the paddle yesterday too.   About 12.5 miles in 3.5 hours.   Including 2 food breaks, and one pee break in the bushes at Powderhorn.    

I did the walk back to the cabin pulling the kayak on the cart.   Thought I was going to luck out with no traffic again, but there was a ton of cars all at once.   I walk on the wrong side of the road on the way back.   With traffic instead of against, but that's because the road has no shoulder and the curve is against a carved out rock wall/cliff on the side I technically "should" be walking on when going back.

But, if I did that, the cars driving towards me wouldn't see me until it was too late to slow down.     No one honked or yelled.   Got a few thumbs up from a couple cars as they passed.   I think they appreciate the more "hard core" kayakers here.

 

 

When not paddling, I leave the surfski on these nice sling stands near the cabin.  

  

Back at the cabin, I devoured lunch.   Realized I'm way too wiped to also bike today, and proceeded to nap most of the afternoon.    I also drank a smoothie to help my muscles.   Less my upper body, and more my butt and hammies.   I NEVER feel those muscles.  I've got the seat adjusted so I can use some leg drive when paddling, and I'm feeling it in the "Butt tocks"  as Forest Gump would say.      Another reason I wanted to skip biking today.

I think my upper body is doing ok because I've been using my kayak ergometer hard in the attic a couple times a week.   I maybe felt my outer shoulders (delts?) and my lats some.

Tomorrow though,  I'm doing the big 45 mile bike loop around Merrymeeting bay.    Monday and Tuesday look great weather-wise.    Wednesday morning I might squeeze in a bike ride on Southport in the morning, then the rain comes.  I think it's from a tropical depression down South.    Thursday will be a Freeport shopping day.    Friday afternoon I may get out again, after the rain clears out Friday morning.

Saturday, i think I'll stop and do some kayaking and biking in Brunswick before driving home later in the day.    I normally get up at the crack to beat the traffic back, but with the rain coming, I think I'll play hookie on my own while Jacqui goes directly home to soothe Twitch's hurt feelings from being abandoned for a week.

That's all for now.   Having Fun.

Boothbay vacation prep routine

Maybe I'm running out of things to blog about, but it's been a busy day meal prepping and packing up the truck for our annual Boothbay trip, and I wanted to document for my future senile self.

 

Things I like about my loading up process.   

I've sewed enough bags now that I've updated my packing spreadsheet to be bag oriented.    It helps me find/organize things, and hopefully not forget anything  (sigh, I always forget something it seems)

I don't bring my SLR camera anymore or my guitar stuff.    I should play the guitar more. 

 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EMRER_9mdKDaswb2-IlNHSyCiIuh7yE0Cs0XPGFxpe4/edit?usp=sharing

 

The thing I don't like so much about the day before we leave, is all the meal prepping I do.    But it pays dividends for relaxing once we're at the cabin.     I will hardly have to cook anything.    Maybe pancakes/oatmeal.   That's it.

  

 The Not so Fun stuff today.   

Meal prepping 

• mex beans, black bean patty recipe
• hummus, hummus
• america's test kitchen mac salad (with Carbe Diem elbow pasta)
• Scarpaccia, https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/scarpaccia-italian-zucchini-tart-recipe  
• and I did all the marinade steps of this Tofu Tikka Masala recipe, it's vac sealed now, and I'll cook it at the cabin at some point.     https://rainbowplantlife.com/tofu-tikka-masala/ 
• this recipe is a lot of steps and it probably pushed me over the edge a little today, but at the cabin, I'll be glad I did it.   
• Disclaimer, I press my tofu, I don't like her boil technique.   
• I use two clamping tofu presses, like these https://a.co/d/0dz0oPOG  
• I slice the tofu block so it's half as thick, like opening a book in the middle.   each thinner slice goes into their own press naked.     Tighten until the press bends slightly.   Stand press on edge in a large cooking sheet, so the water can drain easier.     I use a rimmed cookie sheet because I like to see how much water comes out
• loosen press, remove tofu block, cover it with a half sheet of paper towel, and then fold a dish towel half over and wrap tofu block like a book cover/jacket.   Slide the covered tofu block back into the press for a 2nd press
• after 10-15 minutes, remove, unwrap, and the block is firm and DRY!!!   

 

 Also on the Not Fun list. 

I did a crap ton of dishes with all the cooking.     Between cooking and dishes, I was easily in the kitchen for 4+ hours working today.

I also cleaned out the fridge (garbage) and took care of the compost bucket.    I did so much cooking, I just brought the compost 7gallon bucket inside (it has an airtight screw top lid).     It was already half full, and I filled it right up today.    Lots of onion and garlic peeling and cutting.

I also made sushi for lunch today.   The avocados were slightly past ripe, so needed to use them up. 

Made sure I loaded up my phone and tablet with downloaded movies, music, audiobooks, podcasts, etc.   Cell reception is good at the cabin, but it's better to just take care of it.   I also check my bike computer and pre-load routes for that too.

Yesterday, I mowed the lawn.   I sometimes leave that last minute too.   Getting smarter?  who knows?  

 

Finally...Packing the Truck. 

I loaded the truck up as much as possible today.      There are just 3 small duffel bags remaining and 1 large tote bag to haul out tomorrow morning, and I'll need to swap out the frozen water bottles in the cooler.     Not everything fits in the Dometic electric fridge, so I also bring my old igloo, full size cooler.    I put condiments and stuff that doesn't need as much refrigeration in the cooler.     I keep a few 1 liter size seltzer bottles 3/4 filled with water in our home's freezer; I'm using them to keep the stuff in the cooler cold tonight.     

All the meal prep stuff I made today fits in the truck's electric fridge.

I've got the surfski on the roof rack.   I only strap it around the middle and lock it with a cable lock to one of the roof rack bars.   I leave the bungee straps that secure the kayak to the roof rack saddles on the driver seat, so I don't forget to throw them on before leaving.     I like to minimize the time the bungees are in use, and minimize their UV time outside.   They're holding up great.   Babying them works.  Nice and springy still.

 I have the rear hitch bike rack on the back, and the bike strapped and locked on.

 The plan is to get up at the crack, before 7a.m., normal for me lately.    I'll make and drink my morning protein smoothie, then hit the road.

 It's a 3-3.5 hour drive depending on traffic.    I'll drive right to the kayak launch near the botanical gardens and paddle around Barters Island.  Official check-in time at our cabin is 3p.m., so I try not to show up early.

On the drive up, I'll stop in Brunswick and get some potato flour based donuts from , https://www.theholydonut.com/    I get a half dozen usually, and Jacqui and I work on them during the week.   They're big, heavy and calorie dense.   I bet eating half a donut is still like 300-400 calories easy.     Jacqui and I split them all so we can enjoy more flavors that way.   The maple bacon one was amaze-balls.

I'm also looking forward to beer and pizza at Boothbay Craft Brewery.    We go there a couple times while we there.    Usually just split a small pizza and get a beer each.  Nothing crazy.  I'm craving wings, will splurge on them too.    There's also an ice cream place we like in town. 

 

Before I indulge this week....ironically, I had my lowest weigh-in today since I started my health kick last year.   215.8 !!!  

Which means (drumroll please!!!)   I'm officially >60lbs lighter than when I went to Boothbay last year (I was 276 something last year per my weighing spreadsheet archive).      I think the lowest I've ever weighed during all the years I've gone to Boothbay was upper 240's.   I'll be curious how much more fun the kayaking/biking may be with a lighter load. 

Biking up the short steep hills of coastal Maine will be so much easier than last year.  I think I'll try the longer Merrymeeting bay loop this time, weather permitting.  https://ridewithgps.com/routes/14929180    It's 45 miles with 1800ft of climbing.   Good food options in Bath.   I was too chicken to try it last year.

 

 

Last year I did a shorter 27mile loop with 900ft of climbing and I was wiped by the end.   My butt was sore too.   I had a different seat and suspension post back then that I could never make comfortable.      The ride I just did a few days ago on Sunday from Wakely Dam to the Stewart's in Indian Lake was 28miles with 2400 ft of climbing, and I felt like I was goofing off, like I was on a joy ride.   Things have definitely changed for the better.    I'm still not fast, but the climbing is way easier, and I have the bike fit dialed in.   Just a couple days ago, i had my fastest time ever on my favorite 11 mile loop.   a whopping 13mph.    Definitely slow.   I normally bike around 11-12mph.

This year, I'm leaving the weight scale at home.    I don't really pig out anymore, even when indulging, and I'll be plenty busy kayaking and biking a lot.   I don't really care if I gain a couple pounds to be honest.

Beyond the number I see on the scale lately,  the packing spreadsheet I linked at the beginning of this blog showed me a lot of change too.    It has a 2nd worksheet I use for planning meals and snacks.   I had to completely overhaul it this year because my diet's changed so much since last year (for the better from a doctor's POV).    It just surprised me to see all the meals I don't really eat anymore.   Heck I used to think of sushi as my "healthy" meal.   It's a cheat day, splurge meal for a lot of people.

 

 

 

 

 

July 19th and 20th, bike rides, Moose River Plains

just the obligatory camp setup photos

Sunday, after a lazy morning and a big peanut butter oatmeal bowl, I biked into town from Wakely Dam.    

The ride down was mostly uneventful.   

Normally, I just bomb down the hills, but I tend to ride the brakes around here because there are hidden rocks sticking up out of the road, just an inch or two, and I occasionally hit one.   I tend to stand up on the pedals on the steeper descents with my butt as far back as possible with my thighs squeezing the front of the bike seat.     That way if i hit a bump I don't bruise my tailbone, and it's easier to manage the tires bouncing.

I did hit one particularly bad rock on the ride down, and it made the rear wheel hop up in the air.   I skidded a little when the rear wheel came back down, but I didn't wipe out!   Did a cool side skid.    I always skid with my rear tire going to my right hand side.   No idea why.  

The rest of the ride into town was quite nice.   I have these new Shokz Openfit 2 earphones.   They don't go in the ears at all like normal earbuds.   they're more like mini bluetooth speakers that hover over the ear canal openings.    Sound quality is better than my induction headset, but on busy roads with lots of road traffic, they're useless.   But for quiet gravel roads they're great!   they also have built-in microphones that make phone calls easier.

So the brief 2 mile ride from the end of cedar river road into town on rt 28 kind of sucked sound-wise.   I just switched from my audiobook to music, and enjoyed the ride into town when cars weren't zipping by.   It was 11:30a.m. sunday morning, so I think I was just catching all the campers leaving Lake Durant.   

At Stewart's  I did a proper pig out. 

 

2 cheeseburgers (they're not big,  2 for $6)

1 small pringles can (360 cal size)

1 ice cream cookie sandwich

half a Schwep's Ginger Ale  

for later I also bought a couple more clif bars and a double snickers for the ride tomorrow.   When biking, I always eat 200-250 calories each hour, and I drink plenty of fluids.   Keeps me from bonking on my 3-4 hour rides.

There was a chicken bbq option from Knights of Columbus at the high school a few houses down, but I'm not used to rich food and didn't want to risk it.    Colon blowouts and biking don't mix!!   Guessing the chicken would be ridiculously salty (based on the smell in the air), and the sides would probably have a lot of mayo or butter.   

 

I felt great on the ride back.    More calories in the belly than normal, and the last time i had red meat was on my birthday (got a single cheeseburger at Five Guys with Jacqui) 

Anyhoo, got back to camp after a good climb.   got some decent photos on the ride back of the brook and local barns with character

there were 2 short sections of 12-15% grade on the climb back.   In other words, steep.    I might have to walk those on a fully loaded bike, but I rode it just fine today.   but partly why I wanted to do the Stewart's ride was to scout ahead if/when I do the mini bike tour idea i have starting from my parent's house.    Biking from rt28 up to Wakely Dam, and from Wakely Dam up to Cellar Mt on cedar river road are totally doable IMHO.    I feel ready for it.

The rest of Sunday was just another swim, dinner, campfire, and a good night's rest.    Jeff had his weekly game session with his friends on a Zoom call.   They were impressed he did it from middle of nowhere, but i think he was also doing that on his month long Canada trip.   Yay Starlink!

 

 

 

 

Monday morning, another oatmeal bowl, and then I did a hike down to Wakely Pond, to Northville Placid trail, to an old jeep trail, to the Mt Wakely trail and back to camp.     The little jog out/spike on the upper left of the loop I hiked in the screenshot below was me getting temporarily lost on a jeep trail that just ends.  I doubled back and found the turn I missed.   It's not clearly marked, you need a good gps to find your way, but I didn't feel like hiking Mt Wakely again so soon.

 

Oh and before i left for the hike,  one of the German's left and I got a couple more photos of his rig.   He waved goodbye to me.

 

after my hike, i ate a bean wrap for lunch and then Jeff and I biked from Wakely Dam down to Otter Brook. 

I really wanted to try a soak in the cold  water down at Otter Brook.   That was my goal of biking all the way there.  While I did that, Jeff went to the very end of the road to the snowmobile bridges and doubled back.

I can 1000% confirm the brook water is CHILLY!     I found a nice rock to sit in the pool I found and the water was over my belly button, but I couldn't bring myself to fully submerge.    Everything from the waist down went numb.    The cold water felt nice on the legs as much as I could feel them.    After a 5 minute soak, I splashed water over my head and upper torso and then walked back to the bike by the road.   I'd left my bike clothes drying on the picnic table of the unoccupied site by the brook.    Nicer to put on warm, sun dried clothes instead of cold, sweat soaked clothes.   I did bring a small camp towel to dry off before putting the bike clothes back on.   And I changed out of my wide cut speedo's    The sides are like 8-10 inches long, so it's as modest as a speedo gets imho.   Like the old school Superman Red briefs

Anyhoo, i was definitely tired on the ride back.   I was struggling to keep up with Jeff, so when we started to hit the climbs to get back up to the Cellar Mt Trailhead I told Jeff to just go ahead and I'd meet him up there.    

He got to the Cellar Mt trailhead 15 minutes before me, but I'm ok with that.   I got to put my bike into easy gears and just spin my way up without killing myself.    I put on an audiobook and enjoyed the ride

There were lots of moments like that today and on yesterday's ride.    I like just looking up through the tree branches to the sky as I ride sometimes.    As I jokingly told Jeff on the ride today, I hope i can watch a video of that on my deathbed, like that scene of Saul's passing in Soylent Green.   Trees overhead are one of my favorite views.   Just watching the trees go by as i pedal along underneath.

Back at camp I skipped going for a swim and did a proper shower with soap.   well proper with my geyser sponge shower gadget, but that was the first time I'd used soap in a few days.    I've just been swimming and putting on deodorant after.    All my clothes smell like wood smoke and insect repellent.   so how much does it matter?

i also planned the food well on this camping trip.   I finished up the baked beans I made before leaving on the trip, and the curried red lentil, rice mix I made with my truck kitchen supplies.   Usually I bring way too much.

Tomorrow morning i have just enough soy milk for a protein smoothie, an apple,  and a few pieces of my homemade chocolate coated almond protein bars.   To me, they almost taste like fudge, https://www.cottercrunch.com/chocolate-almond-no-bake-protein-bars/

for lunch on the drive home Tuesday, i have enough mex beans and southwest sauce for a wrap and that's all the food in the fridge.   I usually  bring way too much, so I'm happy I had just enough this time.   Feels like I dropped 1-2 lbs.   If I hit 215 something before boothbay, I'll officially be 60lbs lighter than I was last time I was up there.   And again, 210-215 is my goal long term,  staying well under 220.