Maybe it’s just the family history, or childhood memories, but I can say that the cottage we have in Maine is simply my favorite place in the world to be in the summer. The lake we are on is just gorgeous. From high above the ground standing upon the huge deck outside the house, you can look down and see one ginormous blueberry patch covering the ground at a 20 degree slope all the way down about 30 meters to the path, then see the dock, and finally the water. Look up and across the lake and you will rest your eyes upon North Mountain, which the Appalachian Trail weaves on and over.
Due to it being a protected mountain, trail, and area, there are no camps/cottages or development on that side of the lake, so you feel like you own it as you look out and see nature and what it must have looked like to the people who lived there before USA was even born. On the far side, to the right about 2 miles away you can barely see South Beach. Walk down from the upper deck towards the water along the stone pathway my father and grandfather hand-created in the ground and arrive at the dock to look down into the water that officials claim is the 1st or 2nd cleanest lake in all of Maine.
You can see the bottom, and if you decide to snorkel or take a dip to cool off you’ll find the 65 to 70 degree water different from anything else you have swam in. Chilly, refreshing, crisp, like swimming in Fiji water, you can actually drink it. When snorkeling you can see through the clear water with visibility of about 30 - 40 feet, which is fairly rare among fresh water. Lower the speedboat down off the rig, remove the front rope from the cleat and take her out, cruising to the right where you will come across the Dam, controlling the level of the lake. Head towards South beach and see Bowdens rock on the right, and around the lake from that, with almost always glassy waters for skiing, is North Cove.
This year, Justin and Sara Ledford were visiting the camp. I surprised them by picking them up at the airport when I upgraded their rental they had purchased to a brand new 2015 red Mustang, which Candace and I had filled to the brim with groceries from Whole Foods in Portland. Somehow fitting all 4 of us and luggage + groceries, we zipped over 2 hours to the middle of nowhere in a town most people that live in Maine don’t recognize the name of. As we pulled into the large gravel parking area off the road and on the Thompson/Jeffrey property, we stepped out of the red beast to look up into a gorgeous sky of stars. Bundling the ladies up and taking the stone pathway down to the dock using flashlights for guidance, we stepped onto the dock and were able to introduce the Ledfords right away to the night sky of Northwest Maine. To put you into an understanding of it, imagine stepping onto the dock, gazing upwards and almost catching your breath, your mind attempting to take in the celestial beauty. With the lake being perfectly flat, which eliminates all wave noise, and the location being so secluded and away from any city sounds to the point that cell phones don’t work, you engage in pure silence. A loon might give its unique call here and there, and if you speak above a whisper, your voice easily can carry a mile across the lake. Sitting back in the pitch black and looking into a sky so clear of light pollution that you can always see the Milky Way and every single night Shooting Stars, it’s no wonder why it’s so easy and entertaining to just sit and Star Gaze. After everyone, except Justin (sorry buddy!), had seen a shooting star we headed up and called it a night.
Over the next eight days I was able to introduce the Ledfords to the usual adventures of the area. Besides being able to hike on one of the coolest trails in the USA, the Appalachian Trail, the camp is situated about 15 - 20 minutes away from several very cool things to do. Boasting the largest waterfall in Maine, Moxie Falls, it’s a beautiful and easy hike into the falls, with pools at the bottom that, if you are feeling adventurous, you can reach by scaling down some steep walls (bout 5.6 on climb scale) and then hike up through some smaller falls below the Big pool to get up to big Moxie.
The area around our camp is also a Whitewater mecca, having about a dozen different whitewater companies all at the ready to take you down class 5 whitewater and then cook you up a steak dinner at the end of the day. There are also the simple things that can be fun like jumping off of the huge bridge into the deep and quick Kennebec River, or just taking a drive down the rugged Boise-cascade Road in the search for Moose, stopping at the end to fill up 5 gallon jugs with natural underground spring-water that is tapped into by local authorities that have it flowing out of the side of the rock right off the road and into your jugs. Also, don’t forget Northern Outdoors which is a hub for everything from Snowmobiling in the winter, to rafting in the summer with it’s own upscale Rustic lodging, great restaurant and Microbrews (some that when ordered come with fresh Blueberries in them), pool, jacuzzi, game rooms and arcade, massive fireplace, DJ and live music on the weekends, 4 sets of bags/cornhole to toss around outside, and foosball plus pool among other games.
A typical day up at the camp would consist of stepping onto the deck and absorbing the beauty for a few moments, maybe watching a hummingbird or two partake in our hummingbird feeder. Then it’s down to the dock for me. I can’t resist the water so I go nearly every morning and it’s like my morning shower. Using Burts Bees, 99% natural shampoo, and the lake water to wake me up and sooth my mind and senses, I feel invigorated and ready for the day. Sometimes I even go in if it’s raining. Having an appetite after my morning swim, nothing satiates it better than eating some fresh blueberry pancakes with blueberries hand picked in the last 24 hours from our blueberry patch. Add in some Maine maple syrup and famous Jimmy’s Sausage or some fruit or eggs and the day has started.
If we are at the camp for the day, rather than out and about, then it’s usually either spent out on the lake if the weather is nice, or if it rains, there are plenty of boardgames to play, puzzles to put together, movies to watch, years to plan out, great books to read, or ping pong in the garage out back. On the other hand, a nice day will get us out doing some water sports like Slalom Skiing, Kneeboarding, Tubing, Wakeboarding, or out at the beach, snorkeling, kayaking, or sometimes just reading a good book, sitting on the deck soaking up the sun. If we feel adventurous we might blaze our own trail up the mountain along the west shore, following the stream to Sunday pond, or hike the Appalachian trail along North Mountain for a more “travelled” pathway and hike.
Of course, either way, when evening rolls around there is always some delicious home-cooked meal someone, or a team has cooked up for the evening. One lucky night a week we pick up live lobster from Jimmy’s Market, bring them home, and have a Maine Lobster feast. Always a favorite. Besides conversation, after dinner sometimes a game of Uno might be mustered up or maybe Eucher, Hearts, etc, or a movie and some famous Gifford’s ice cream! Then it’s back at it all again in the morning. Sleeping weather is good in Maine and it is very cool in the evening. Some like to sleep in, others like to race to be the 1st ones up to enjoy a cup of coffee and the silence alone on the deck with the pond in your view like it’s all yours.
This year we invited, very last minute, Justin and Sara were at the camp.
Justin had posted a Facebook post asking for recommendations for something to do for a vacation to get away. I noticed that the time coincided with when we were going to be in Maine and that he mentioned that they were looking to do some Yoga, meditation, be in nature. Being that this year was to be a family year as we were only to be at the camp a week, I recommended them a couple of other things like Seduction of Spirit, etc and put it out of my mind. About a week later Candace and I were talking and mentioned how they would like Maine, but we never followed through with it. Another week or so passed and I was on a long drive after working an event, was flipping through my phone to make some calls and catch up with some friends when I gave Ledford a call. Not even thinking about Maine, after about 2 minutes of conversation and discovering that he was planning on going to Colorado the next week to be in nature and to just get some time away, I realized how perfect our place in Maine would be for them and said what the heck and, with the approval of the other Jeffreys, I invited him. 24 hours later, flights were booked and a few days later we were all in the Portland airport! My only reservation was that of whether my parents would really like them, which I thought they would, and it turned out that they absolutely loved them. Respectful, intelligent, humble, willing to help, and loving the things described above that make our place in Maine special, it all worked out for the best.
Some notables of the vacation included the ladies making it up to the Big Pool at the base of Moxie Falls, nice job!! Justin Led shredding it up, getting up on one Slalom ski with determination my Dad commented on that was impressive. A great hike to the Dam followed by a Man vs Woman race with gentleman braving the waters and taking the route of swimming from the Dam back to the Camp and the ladies jogging back through the trail. There they were, waiting on the dock for us 25 minutes later with a big smile on their faces. Snorkeling adventures with Justin and I, and just spending some quality guy time.
Enjoying several fires and conversations plus smores out at our bonfire pit next to the “Beanpot”. The “Beanpot”, which was the original camp back in the day before the main one was built across from the road was where Sara and Justin stayed, which they really seemed to enjoy. Archery where Justin and I tried our hands at several different bows. Pushing the Mustang to it’s limits. My freedive to a new thermal level in the water (must have been about 50 degrees). Late night Dad conversation around the fire with secrets about taking my slalom ski skills to a new level. Finishing the 2015 Elon Musk book which was better than I thought it would be. Hiking the App. Trail along North Mountain. Yoga on the beach. Great moments of meditation, in particular where I guided the meditations, over a river on the hike to the dam as well as at the top of the North Mountain hike. Candace having some great conversations with Sara. “num num”. Some great ping pong matches and darts, the ladies getting to 20 consecutive hits back and forth setting a new record for them. Spending great time with Mom and Dad. The “tour around the lake”, a tradition that is a great couple of hours on a beautiful afternoon. Lobster rolls at McDonalds, funny as it was. You can’t really mess up lobster rolls though, it’s just bread and butter with a bunch of lobster and maybe some mayo.
Jewelry making bracelets by CJ designs. Jumping off the bridge into the Kennebec.
A kayak out in flat glass water toward the center of the lake and just sitting there observing.
Seeing a beaver and loon swimming off dock.
An epic Lobster dinner, with Justin teaching a new technique.
And a Sunset boat cruise.
Leaving Maine after only a week always leaves me hungry for more. Maine was spectacular. Our little slice of heaven always delivers. With a part of me wanting to simply stay there at the Camp and forgo the rest of my trip, the other part of me knows that the place will be there next year, I’ll be there too, and that now is the time for a new adventure. I currently write this sitting on a plane from Moscow to Zagreb, Croatia. We have heard so many great things about Croatia. Some while in Europe on the 2012 Europe Trip that we took (jasoncandaceeurope.blogspot.com), others from friends who had been there. Candace and I are ready to take it head on. With only the 1st night booked and a few thoughts about Croatia, I’m ready to get in our rental car and try stick shift for the 1st time, to tour the coast, to stay at some cool places, cities, eat some awesome food, learn some Croatian words, and fall in love with the country.
Jason & Candace
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