This trip was a unique trip for me. Although I have been to this area countless times over the years, it was my first solo trip camping. Just me and my tent . I have gone with a couple other fishermen over the years but for the most part my partner in all things outdoors has been my wife.
For 34 years (and a few before we got married) Lisa has been by my side on almost every adventure into the wildness. She has climbed mountains, forged freezing cold streams and slept in the rain many times over the years. We have explored countless miles of streams, discovered secret places few have gone and hiked into many remote trout pond to try our luck.
Through the good and the bad she has been by my side gladly taking on any adventure I could dream up and there have been many over the years. So why a solo trip this time ? Well life has unfairly put us in a situation where I have much more vacation time per year than Lisa. Unfair for sure! But they are the cards we have been dealt currently so we will make the best of it. I decided this week to take a few days and go north to one of my favorite northern locations. It was actually the location Lisa and I went on our honeymoon. Yes she tented in northern Maine on her honeymoon. That is love folks !
I was excited to discover after several hours of driving on dusty, dirt logging roads, there was no one there! I had the entire end of the lake to myself! There is only 2 remote campsites on this end of the lake and lucky for me I was alone ! I quickly set up camp and set off exploring more of the area that is such a special place to me !
It was a wonderful three days, although rather buggy with the black flies and mosquitos in full force . I climbed mountains , hiked streams and took an 8 mile round trip hike into a waterfall I have known about for years and always wanted to see.
The falls had to be 100 feet high and nestled deep in a large water carved gorge boarder with sheer cliffs equally as high. It was a trick to get down into the base of the falls for this aging adventurer, even with a well marked trail . I was able to catch many brook trout and salmon at its base so It was well worth the hike.
This trip was almost perfect ! Almost ..... The only thing was my partner of 34 years was silently missing from my side.
You are probably wondering about the picture. First a little of the back story. For 34 years Lisa and I kiss each other every night and say "I love you good night" as we climb into bed . we have been together for 34 years and it's been the same chorus each night.
As the sun set that first night the absence of foot prints in the sand beside me, footprints that had been there so many times before and the solitude of the location made me strongly aware that I was missing my partner!
I took that picture with the hopes that I could find a mountain top high enough to get a little signal on my cell phone , maybe from a tower in Millinocket if I was lucky , just enough signal was all I was hoping for so I could send it off with the the words . "I love you good night" and nothing more. Unfortunately it wasn't meant to be. I whispered those words as the sun went down but no signal was found.
I had a wonderful trip and unless things change with Lisa's work I will be making more solo trips north. But be assured every night as the sun goes down she will know that no matter where I am and what I am doing, signal or not, I will be quietly whispering into the still of the north maine woods. "I love you , good night"
Happy 34 Lisa Crooker Smith ! Oh how I love you !
