I had been packing slowly for weeks.
Had my snacks and meals dried for two weeks ahead.
Packed heavy, much heavier than usual, since I was rolling, not carrying.
I had planned to go on a Thursday and return home on Saturday, but the forecast was dismal. So I decided to delay, something I don't normally do.
Instead I committed to other stuff, and would leave on Sunday morning.
Since I was all packed, no reason to rush. I even went to the market with MDB before I left. BTW, those days that I didn't go, the weather was very nice.
So I get to Abenakee Lake later than I usually would, it was drizzling on and off. No problem, it's a slow drive in, the weather might clear up as I continue. Turn in on Chain Lakes South road, and drive past the Outer Gooley Club house...nothing left but an oversized parking lot. I continued on, past the next gate, since it's open to the public for big game season.
Park in the small lot, and load up the boat on my trusty RollEez wheels. It's sprinkling on and off, still no big deal, I have rain gear.
By now, it's like noon, but I'm only going in about 2.5 miles.
I get a bit past Mud Pond, and see this.
Beavers have flooded a good portion of the old road, still no big deal, I admire their skills. For the moment, the skies are dry, and other than a couple small game hunters at the sign in, I've seen no one. The old road is washed out a little, just before getting to the Cedar River. After I get to the bottom of the hill, it seems like my gear has tripled in weight!
I look at my trusty wheels and see this.
Yeah, see that dark hole, the one where a valve stem used to live?
At this point, the rain was back in earnest now. With one flat wheel, and about .9 miles to go, it's decision time.
Hmmm, with all my gear in the canoe, on one flat wheel the carrier frame drags along, plowing a furrow. Did I mention that I packed heavy?
I whittled a twig to jam into the hole where the valve used to be, and that keeps the tire from fully flattening. But, the wheel still can't support everything. So I shoulder my pack, oh yeah, it's heavy. Like 55 lbs, way heavy for me. The nearly empty canoe kind of rolls along...
At this point, my phone rings. Yup, there's service here. It's MDB, asking how things are going, she isn't thrilled with me going solo. Did I mention it's raining pretty hard now? She tells me the forecast is worse than when I left home. I reconsider, and decide to bail out on Pine Lake, I'll limp my way back out, maybe camp at Clear Pond.
So I drag my boat with my too heavy pack on my shoulders, it's slow going for sure.
I stow my gear back in the Jeep, put the boat back up on the racks, and head back towards the Clear Pond trail...DEC sign says it's only 0.3 miles.
I grab my camera and rain gear, and walk in to take a quick look. Well, not really quick, it's closer to .75 miles to the pond. And when I get there, it looks like this.
Not exactly inviting. By now, it's 3:30 PM, I'm beyond discouraged.
OK, I give up.
On the drive back out, next to Abenakee, there was a brief moment of sunshine, even though it was still raining hard.
Ok, maybe I'll swing by Indian Lake and see if I can grab a site there and salvage some sort of trip.
In retrospect:
Since I'm going solo, I should just leave when there's a window of better weather. No need to stick to any sort of schedule.
Don't pack heavy since I'm wheeling, I should pack light as I usually do.
Leave early in the day, even if it is a shorter drive.
Don't trust those 25 year old trusty wheels, even though I monitored the pressures for weeks before.
Well, I guess all the trips can't be ideal. I'll try again next spring, but come in from the north via the Chain Drain. It's about 7 miles that way, but at least I know the terrain and water.
Had my snacks and meals dried for two weeks ahead.
Packed heavy, much heavier than usual, since I was rolling, not carrying.
I had planned to go on a Thursday and return home on Saturday, but the forecast was dismal. So I decided to delay, something I don't normally do.
Instead I committed to other stuff, and would leave on Sunday morning.
Since I was all packed, no reason to rush. I even went to the market with MDB before I left. BTW, those days that I didn't go, the weather was very nice.
So I get to Abenakee Lake later than I usually would, it was drizzling on and off. No problem, it's a slow drive in, the weather might clear up as I continue. Turn in on Chain Lakes South road, and drive past the Outer Gooley Club house...nothing left but an oversized parking lot. I continued on, past the next gate, since it's open to the public for big game season.
Park in the small lot, and load up the boat on my trusty RollEez wheels. It's sprinkling on and off, still no big deal, I have rain gear.
By now, it's like noon, but I'm only going in about 2.5 miles.
I get a bit past Mud Pond, and see this.
Beavers have flooded a good portion of the old road, still no big deal, I admire their skills. For the moment, the skies are dry, and other than a couple small game hunters at the sign in, I've seen no one. The old road is washed out a little, just before getting to the Cedar River. After I get to the bottom of the hill, it seems like my gear has tripled in weight!
I look at my trusty wheels and see this.
Yeah, see that dark hole, the one where a valve stem used to live?
At this point, the rain was back in earnest now. With one flat wheel, and about .9 miles to go, it's decision time.
Hmmm, with all my gear in the canoe, on one flat wheel the carrier frame drags along, plowing a furrow. Did I mention that I packed heavy?
I whittled a twig to jam into the hole where the valve used to be, and that keeps the tire from fully flattening. But, the wheel still can't support everything. So I shoulder my pack, oh yeah, it's heavy. Like 55 lbs, way heavy for me. The nearly empty canoe kind of rolls along...
At this point, my phone rings. Yup, there's service here. It's MDB, asking how things are going, she isn't thrilled with me going solo. Did I mention it's raining pretty hard now? She tells me the forecast is worse than when I left home. I reconsider, and decide to bail out on Pine Lake, I'll limp my way back out, maybe camp at Clear Pond.
So I drag my boat with my too heavy pack on my shoulders, it's slow going for sure.
I stow my gear back in the Jeep, put the boat back up on the racks, and head back towards the Clear Pond trail...DEC sign says it's only 0.3 miles.
I grab my camera and rain gear, and walk in to take a quick look. Well, not really quick, it's closer to .75 miles to the pond. And when I get there, it looks like this.
Not exactly inviting. By now, it's 3:30 PM, I'm beyond discouraged.
OK, I give up.
On the drive back out, next to Abenakee, there was a brief moment of sunshine, even though it was still raining hard.
Ok, maybe I'll swing by Indian Lake and see if I can grab a site there and salvage some sort of trip.
In retrospect:
Since I'm going solo, I should just leave when there's a window of better weather. No need to stick to any sort of schedule.
Don't pack heavy since I'm wheeling, I should pack light as I usually do.
Leave early in the day, even if it is a shorter drive.
Don't trust those 25 year old trusty wheels, even though I monitored the pressures for weeks before.
Well, I guess all the trips can't be ideal. I'll try again next spring, but come in from the north via the Chain Drain. It's about 7 miles that way, but at least I know the terrain and water.
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