Day 28

17June2008

Awoke in Island Pond and had breakfast with the folks from a local community known as 12 Tribes. Good food, good company, good morning.

Saddled up the boat and prepared to head out. Strange having to re-figure out how to put everything together with one less bag in the way! We have definitely lightened the load. We put the cover on as it looked like rain and paddled across Island Pond.

Began our carry on the other side - HEART THE CART! The side trail that was supposed to be the portage was marked as closed and so we just hoofed it along the road. Managed the whole portage in about 1.5 hours - fast!

Put back in on the headwaters of the Nulhegan River. A fairly twisty-turny down river paddle followed through narrow brush and over beaver dams. Our 18 1/2 foot boat was in some tight quarters! Lots of sharp 90 and 180 degree turns. Fun.

Met up with our shuttle (Blake from Simon the Tanner shop in Island Pond - good folks who will help out a paddler in need - shuttles, place to stay - you name it!) and went around the last section that was marked as class 3 rapids and boulder fields. Yikes.

Set up camp at the Debonville Landing campsite. Nice site with a new NFCT kiosk and a general store just up the road. Heaven.

Weather: Light rain, thunder storms went around us, overcast

Wildlife: River otter, deer, cow moose, heron, beaver (slapped its tail at us - so loud) ducklings

"The marsh, to him who enters it in a receptive mood, holds, besides mosquitoes and stagnation, melody, the mystery of unknown waters, and the sweetness of Nature undisturbed by man." ~Charles William Beebe