Lyme, NH (USA)

After I finally got my new Yakima Jayhook rack installed on top of the Subaru this week, I was excited to be able to transport my kayak for a few hours of paddling!  First, though, I wanted to get in a little bit of trail mileage.  The last few days have been so hot that I didn’t want to hike at all.  But I had an extremely short AT section near town that seemed doable before the heat of the sun hit.  With that easy goal in mind, I left the house at 0815 and arrived at the Dartmouth Skiway about 15 minutes later.  Headed SOBO from the blacktop with temps in the low 70s.  All I had to do was walk about a mile (uphill on the outbound leg) to the Trapper John Shelter and back.  It was that simple - saw no people, didn’t sweat or have difficulty. Was done and in my car by 0915 after around two miles.  Felt pretty good, so I decided to drive over to check out the paddling on Goose Pond.  When I arrived (0945), I got the last parking spot at the boat launch area.  A lady from the town came over to ask where my kayak had been over the previous few months (it had been sitting in a shed, so there was no issue).  After I got the kayak off the roof, I noticed that there was a summer camp group near the boat launch (maybe 30 kids!) and they were just leaving the shoreline with their kayaks and canoes.  I was a bit worried that the lake would be too busy but I got away from everyone (because I went in the opposite direction) within 10 minutes.  It was a good sized lake, shaped like an hour glass - I stayed in the northern end before crossing at the “waist.”  The weather was perfect!  The water was clear and felt terrific - would happily have spent the day swimming.  Along the pond’s edge, I passed many pretty lake houses - almost every yard/landing had people relaxing, eating or playing in the water.  I talked to a lot of them and we all agreed this was the place to be in the Upper Valley...  One end of the lake was popular with water-skiers (big wake zone) but I still checked it out before I was done.  Finished up at around 1115 - didn’t want to leave but figured I’d eventually turn into a lobster if I didn’t find shade.   After I got my kayak on the rack (it wasn't too hard!), I was certain that it would great to visit Goose Pond again.  Not a bad way to spend the morning!  AT Today = 0.90 miles / Grand Total AT = 1616.86 miles