Day 31: Libraries are seriously underrated

Putting in below Beechwood was sketchy at best. The bottom of the portage trail had been washed out in the flood, so we were left with a steep, glass-riddled beach of loose boulders. We timed our launch to avoid a dam release, but even so the water level changed six inches just during the time we were loading the boat.

Steve really likes taking photos of bridges. Day 31, Exhibit A.

Fortunately, the quick below-dam current made for stellar river speeds and we hit Florenceville doing eight or nine miles per hour and early enough that we stopped for coffee at Tim Horton’s.

Day 31, Exhibit B.

The farther we got from the dam the more the current slowed, but at least we had a tailwind (although Steve occasionally argues that that’s worse than a headwind… probably because in a headwind, I’M the one who ends up doing most of the work instead of him). Just the same we hit Woodstock with very little trouble and went into town to hit the library for internet and a map to the nearest source of cold beers. (Adventuring is hard work, okay?)

Day 31, Exhibit C.

The librarians were delighted by our expedition, and volunteered a local retiree named Doug to give us a lift downtown for a pack of Moosehead Ale. He was a truly lovely fellow and we were glad to have met him.

Steve had a small panic attack when he took the wrong trail back down to the river and didn’t immediately see the boat, but it hadn’t budged. We made our way to a narrow horseshoe-shaped island and pulled into the shelter of it’s cove to find a nice campsite with a picnic table and fire ring. The only downside was nearly stepping on a nesting goose and the immediate uproar that ensued. Eventually everyone’s ruffled feathers soothed and we had a lovely evening next to a birch grove overlooking the river.