In one day I leave for a week long stint of my trip. I have finally settled on the boat. Since I have never really paddled it I decided I better make friends with it.

My friend Carl came over and helped me load it onto the car. We went to nearby Kent Pond for a test run. I brought along a lot of the major gear I would take with me, including my sleeping bag, pad, clothes and cooking stuff. Right away I saw that it was going to be a challenge to get all of this gear into that boat. I rearranged and rearranged and deleted some items such as a spare paddle. With creative packing into every available space including the space in the bow of the boat in front of my feet, I was able to get most everything in. This practice run (not exactly a “dry run!”) pushed me to make some different decisions about gear.

I took my boat trailer with me and used it for the first time ever to pull the boat into the water. It was only a short distance but I wanted to see if it felt worth it to use the cart. Portaging this boat without it would be a real challenge. It looks like I will have at least one dam per day to portage around. There was a learning curve to figuring out how to use the cart. But there was a lovely young man at the put in who helped me figure out some details and before long I set out onto the very windy pond.

I practiced turning and sitting sideways in the white caps the wind was whipping up. The boat did feel like a tank and was slow to turn but it felt really stable in the wind. I was feeling better and better about using it.

What sealed the the deal was the ability to carry the trailer on the outside of the boat. Mike, the young nurse in training who was at the pond, worked with me to figure out how to get the trailer onto the back of the boat. I then took it back out for a spin and was surprised to learn that even with the seventeen pound trailer sitting on top of the boat, I did not feel too top heavy.

I thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Mike, who grew up near the CT River in Connecticut. He pointed out a bald eagle flying close overhead. We wondered if it was hunting the small loons which were with their parents on the lake.

Eventually I pulled myself away from this new friend and Carl and I headed home. A little later Carl showed up at my house with some power tools. The first thing he did was open a coconut which was still in its outer husk. He brought it from Florida for me. It was the best coconut I have ever eaten.

Then he shared with me some ideas he had to make it easier to secure the trailer onto the boat. We drilled holes in two places and secured some eyebolts. Tying the trailer to these secure points will make it much more stable. We also added an eyebolt to the front of the boat. I will use this if I have to line the boat down rapids.

Before today I was very unsure of what boat I would take and how it would work out. I still don’t know how it will feel on the river, but I am confident that taking this boat for now is the right choice. I was reminded today that taking one step at a time into unknown places, often brings me clarity and is much better than sitting paralyzed with fear. I might not always know what I am doing, but by trying something, anything really, new possibilities arise and I am able to move forward.

The best part about today was that not only did I make friends with the boat, I also made a new friend. Mike is a lovely young man and the nursing profession will be lucky to have him. I find it really interesting how talking about my adventures brings so many new friends into my life. I am grateful for each and every one.