Memorable largely because I will be scratching deer and black fly bites for days.

The fun began with getting the kayaks on the car. My vehicles get taller, the kayaks get heavier, and I get weaker.

My blue kayak is very strong. How do I know. I’ve had it for 24 years and yesterday it sustained a fall from the roof to the ground with no damage. I may not be worthy of a lighter model.

We have to rethink our method. Part of the problem is the roof racks change every time one switches cars and my favorite system doesn’t work with my current racks.

Enough said. We drove an hour south to check out the recently opened access road, which runs most of the way to Boreas Ponds, in the high peaks wilderness.

We parked at Four Corners and put in at Boreas River, a very shallow, rocky, muddy water that shortened the carry by four tenths of a mile. But Tim got sucked into the mud getting out and it looked like he was wearing brown socks. He had to recover his crocs once or twice as well. Most importantly though, he found a better spot for me to get out.

Then we walked the kayaks a half mile to the First Pond. The paddle part was lovely, although the thought of getting the kayaks back on the SUV hovered in the background.

Wind picked up and a dark cloud passed overhead but all was good.

The water temperature was a tad cool but we never saw an easy place to get out and swim.

We wandered through the three ponds, watching out for tree branches rising out of the water and rocks below us.

Then it was time to head home.

We walked the whole way to avoid the muddy river.

I missed, but Tim saw, moose tracks on the road.

Luckily noone was in the parking area while we worked out a scheme to get the boats back on the car. It was peak bug feeding time and I can assure you, they feasted, on me! With Tim shouting at me not to shout at him, we got the job done and hightailed it out of there.

Dinner and a beer at Paradox brewery completed the day.