I slept well in my car camp at Lake Francis State Park and was awake (well rested) at 0530. Before getting up completely, I spent some time reading. Later, I got ready in the campground bathroom and was ready to get on the road by 0600. It was very foggy as I drove north on US-3. Despite signs warning me about the wildlife, I only saw deer but no moose. I drove all the way to the border and arrived to find that it was closed until 0800. No matter, I didn't think I'd be crossing anyway. At 0655, I parked at a little lot located just before the border gate and geared up for a hike to Fourth Connecticut Lake, the source of the Connecticut River. By 0700, I started following the signs that showed the way to go. Surprisingly, I actually walked along the border fence until I found an opening beyond the US Customs checkpoint. Imagine my surprise when the trail markers pointed into the "no man's land" along the US-Canada border! I gingerly crossed the road and headed into the trees, where the border was even more clearly marked by metal posts on the ground and signs on each side (left side signs in English and right side signs in French). It was still very foggy and the vegetation on the apparently lightly used track was even wetter. As a result, I was quite soaked before I'd walked very far. The trail snaked back and forth across the New Hampshire / Quebec border but it was very evident that someone would have to be crazy to try to sneak into either country through such dense forest... After about a mile, I found a sign that told me I'd reached the "Fourth" circuit trail. At first, I thought about just walking down to the water and dipping my fingers in the source of the Connecticut but then decided to walk the full circuit so I could step across the outflow. Unfortunately, I still didn't see any moose while walking around the entire lake. However, I accomplished my goal of dipping my fingers in The Source. After that, I backtracked to the car, arriving just before 0830. By then, there was more activity on the border checkpoints (I could see the Canadian Customs building after the fog lifted). After eating a bit of food, I started south on US-3 so I could start kayaking. I spent the rest of the day working my way downstream on the Connecticut River, starting at the first navigable water: Third Connecticut Lake. While paddling there, I was only a short distance from the Canadian border (I could see the Customs Building) and Fourth Connecticut Lake (I found where the little stream I’d crossed earlier in the morning entered the lake below). It took an hour (between 0835 and 0935) to make a counterclockwise circuit of “Third” and that was a good thing since the wind picked up tremendously - it was no longer fun by the end. Encountered two fishing boats and a bald eagle. I next drove to Second Connecticut Lake (a few miles south of “Third”) and spent 90 minutes (between 1015 and 1145) paddling the full length of the western edge (from the dam to the northern outflow). This lake had a completely different character (little islands, windy in some places and calm in others) and I enjoyed every minute of my paddle. Saw lots of “party boats”, Canadian Geese, pretty vacation homes and several cheeky loons. After beginning my paddle in sunshine, the weather gradually turned to dark clouds - fortunately, no rain... Continuing south from “Second”, I stopped for a decadent ice cream sundae at Moose Alley Cones (1230). Feeling refreshed after this "sugar bomb", I proceeded to First Connecticut Lake (arrived at the Boat Launch at 1250). As I was getting my kayak of the car for the third time of the day (most I've ever even thought about doing), I noticed that there was a Lake Steward nearby. I walked over to talk to him and he told me all about the Island Stream Republic and ultra-conservative voting patterns. After saying goodbye to him, I logged another hour (1300 to 1400) of kayaking in the southwestern corner of "First". There was a noticeable current (made worse by speedboats and increasing winds) and I had to watch out for the many glacial erratics above and below the waterline. Saw lots of kingfishers and more loons. This lake was quite popular with vacationers... “First” is, by far, the largest of the lakes and it seems like it would take me several days to make a circuit. After getting done and loading my kayak on Nessie for the last time, I drove down the waterfront in an attempt to get some photos of the lakes (using the Nikon). The sun had come back out but I but never saw any birds - too bad... Erin and Mollie both called just as I was leaving Pittsburg (1445) and I talked to them for a little bit. After that, I used US-3 to reach Stewartstown (NH), Then, I took NH-114 to Canaan (VT) and then all the way back to Burke. Bonus: I got to see the mountain this time! I got on US-5 in Lyndonville and was on I-91 soon after that. From there, I had a good drive home, arriving at my condo by 1720. Altogether, I got a great exposure to Pittsburg and the Source of the Connecticut River today!
