We loaded up to leave Nickerson State Park in record time - a negative record.  We took hours longer than we should have.  The routine is not at all routine yet.  I decide to put the bikes on the front of the truck to avoid a repeat of the tandem bike wheel-bending goof.  Now, the rig is 13 ft. of GMC pickup truck + 16 ft of Coleman camper + canoe +3 ft of bike rack.  We look like the Beverly Hillbillies with horns.   

Once loaded with everything else, I had to load up the canoe.  "Load up the canoe" does not begin to describe this chore.  This is an exercise in exercise.  Drive to a ramp / miss turn / U-turn (with camper) / realize that I did not miss turn / go back and 100 ft farther [note: if run on sentences bother you, you really should skip the rest of this paragraph] / pull into parking lot avoiding all trees Nancy sees jumping out at us / park / walk along lake to canoe (1/2 mile) / paddle canoe across lake into 25 mph headwind /  / stop a moment to rest / start paddling across lake again due to being blown back to start / portage 17 ft, 85 lb canoe 100 yds on head into 25 mph wind / recuperate from heart attach / go back for paddle and coast-guard-approved-personal-floatation device / gently place 17 ft, 110 lb. canoe on camper / tie down to the specs of Nancy ("what if you stop short?") / U-turn (with camper) in parking lot.  Voila', the canoe is loaded.

 Nancy is assured that I can indeed see over the bikes projecting 2 feet over the hood of the truck.  She navigates while I concentrate on the road.  At least that was the plan.  But, you guessed it.  It didn't exactly work out that way.  Nancy has discovered a passenger seat driving assist device called the "dashboard brake".  At any time she feels that an object is in proximity of the truck-camper-canoe-bike rack convoy (which is just about everything) the dashboard brake is applied by placing the hand, face down, on the top of the dashboard.  It works too.  She hits the dashboard and I hit the brakes.

 Let me give you an example.  We approach an intersection with a green light.  Car on right, with the red light, comes to a stop a few feet in front of the stop line.  Hit the DB. The truck-camper-canoe-bike rack combo lurches back.  The guy in the black Mustang behind us gives a salute to this nice couple out living the American dream.  Why I react to Nancy applying the dashboard brake is beyond me.  Perhaps I'm thinking, “what if she really sees something that I don't?" 

 History is a better indicator of the value of this "shotgun" seat device.  (Now, there is a Freudian choice of words, huh?)  There has never been an incident, occasion, opportunity in which the dashboard brake actually prevented the vehicle from moving forward.  Heretofore it has been decreed that from this point forward there is a $1 fine for applying the dashboard brakes. 

 The stress level in the truck-camper-etc. is now 1/2 what it was.

 So, back to the navigation.  Nancy has the computer and the GPS hooked up and we are following our route on the computer map as the GPS marks our actual position.  It is really cool.   Nancy takes her navigation very seriously.  Nancy really likes it, too.  She gets to tell me where to go and it keeps her eyes off my driving.  Nancy has also been working very hard to overcome her right / left dyslexia.  She is getting really good at anticipating the turns and intersections.  At one point I even stopped asking 'Is that a right right or a left right?" 

 Tom, my youngest brother, and Shelly have a great spot on Pine River Pond. And they have some great kids.  The kids had run down the road to intercept us with a welcome us several times during the day, but as we were late their surprise greeting was thwarted.   Finally, with Buddy whining in anticipation, we arrived in our truck / camper / bike rack / canoe (sing to the banjo / guitar duet from Deliverance: de de ding ding ding ding ding ding dong)to Steve and Matty's smiling faces. 

 We had a nice dinner, then sat around the campfire and enjoyed the sunset, evening air, stars and satellites.  It was nice to catch up on the family plans and news. 

 Next day we had breakfast at the water's edge, caught some fish (largemouth bass big enough to make lunch out of) and relaxed.  Jen had a birthday party (Happy 14th Jen).  Next evening our host family went off to a minor league baseball game leaving Nancy and I to enjoy the quiet of a campfire and starlight.

 Now we are off to Camden Hills, ME for 5 days.  We arrived in good time with no delays.  Our campsite is the best in the park.  It is private and looks out onto beautiful woods in all directions. 

 Life is good.