I'd been too tired the night before to have my traditional last-evening dessert of fruit cobbler. So instead of the daily oatmeal breakfast, I had this yummy cranberry cobbler. Off to a good start!




I packed up what was left of water, food, and the surprisingly little camping gear that it takes to survive for a week. My plan was to slowly take my time ambling back to the Northwest Harbor where my car awaited in the Seascape parking area. I was a bit slow getting onto the water though, and the current once again had picked up - in the opposite direction. No worries - a strong wind pushed me against the current. I rode windwaves south to the harbor (red line below).



A few seals wandered in and out, acting as escort for awhile until something more interesting (breakfast) happened along. I reached the entrance to the harbor.



I did not want to go back yet. How could it have gone by so quickly? I turned to gaze out at the open water.



It was so lovely. So hard to leave.

Wait. What was that? Porpoises! I hustled out to have one last shot at a photo.

     

Success!!


EPILOGUE

This area is a grand solo kayak camping location. There is no surf to deal with during launch and landing. One is never very far from civilization, from help, from the Coast Guard in Eastport. There is cell phone access.There's an incredible richness of marine life. There are four very lovely islands on which to camp, thanks to the kindness of the island owners. The entire area of the West Isles could be traveled in a single day, so there are never long slogs to be endured. As long as one travels with the currents, quick progress can be made. The one caveat is that one must be prepared to paddle in strong and sometimes unpredictable current.

People often ask me how I can stand the loneliness of solo trips. I don't feel lonely. I do feel alone, which is a neutral sensation. It's a bit odd not to speak to anyone for 5 days straight, but it's only odd when I get back and start speaking again. I kept a SPOT device with me to let Mark and some friends know my location and that I was okay. I was able to send a text message to Mark every evening. There is so much to do, so much going on all around, such a wonderful restedness in the easy pace of the evenings - I was never unhappy.

Finally, I'd like to give effusive thanks to Bruce Smith who owns Seascape Kayak Tours. His help was invaluable and truly made the difference between a difficult and confusing trip and an easy one. Check out his website - he does trips here and in Costa Rica in winter.  I envy him his location there in the incredible Bay of Fundy.


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