The more I think about this Journey, the more I am warming up to it. It seems to make sense to me that I would return home and then apply my Nomadic skills to the very land that raised me. I looked around on Google Earth and started to become quite enthusiastic about rough camping in Maine. It really is amazing that I did it in 27 other states, but not one single time have I done it in Maine. The challenge is beginning to override my skepticism and dread.
All over the place, there are opportunities to nest-out. And I know Maine's environment better than any other, having lived here for 45 years before setting out on my crazy adventure in 2014. I may not be done with other places, maybe even other countries if I'm 70 and still not living in my self sustaining cabin. But for now it is a matter of removing the laser lens from its velvet lined case and then focusing on The New Plan.
This Journey will be tricky. I will be heading mostly up the coast sweeping occasionally westward, but probably not more than about 50 miles inland as I travel downeast. For those from "away," "downeast" is actually northeast up the coast. It is called "down" east, because sailing ships are able to sail downwind in that direction during passable seasons. The wind in Maine typically blows in from the southwest.
Maine has several great roads by which to head up the coast. They are the veins of land transport for this eastern region of the state. Obviously, none of the Interstates would be an option, which is just fine. Route 1, for walkers at least, is a great coastal vein. Drivers are loath to attempt it in the summer, but walking would be quite easy. Then there is Route 202 which is in between the coast and the more northern vein of Route 2. North of Bangor, Route 9 can be an interesting and direct path to the eastern tip of the state, which coincidentally is also the eastern tip of the whole nation.
I have traveled all of these veins hundreds of times. On Saturdays, back when I had money and extra time, I'd jump in the car and simply explore all day. I actually went to Mt. Desert and filmed the sunrise solar eclipse of 2000 from Cadillac Mountain. It was an amazing experience. I had spent the two days before exploring extreme eastern Maine, including Lubec (the most eastern point of the US) and Machias.
I toured with a band called The Sense for a few years playing around that same area. It will be fascinating (if I make it up that far) to see this land from the walker's perspective. Nevertheless, the midcoast region, where most of my friends who are in Southern Maine live, will be the focus.
I want to find progressive things. That will be the Maine theme--pun intended. Some sub themes I will be interested in reporting on are: family gardening, farm to table businesses, business and industry in general, crafts, original art, original music, your writing projects, renewable power (solar, wind, water?), unique methods of obtaining and storing water, radiant heating, efficient wood heating, cultural and social issues, unique house construction, small or tiny houses, simplification in any way, working from home, natural wonders, unconventional foods (seaweed?), wildlife issues, and anything else that you readers might think is novel here in Maine.
If you are business owners, I'd love to learn about what you do and promote your businesses. Homesteaders are of particular interest to me for obvious reasons. People who make crafts will be highlighted, and promoted here. If you record music I'd love to post your songs or provide links to the sites where you sell them. I think you get the idea.
Maine is swarming with talented, vibrant and brilliant people. I want to meet them and you, tell your story, and help you get the word out about your special work or lifestyles. As I move along and you get a sense of how useful this blog could be to you let me know if you want to meet up for coffee or something.
I'm very excited about this part of the project. What an opportunity for us all to strengthen this team we have. "Team?" you ask. YES! This is our chance to do something for each other and our incredible state. I have a sense that this Living Magazine is on the very edge of becoming well-known. It is a matter of more hard work on my part and not stopping until this coming Journey is successfully finished.
So, besides going back to some basic training for the next week or so, rough camping around Portland and Southern Maine and trying desperately to raise the modest funds needed to set forth upon these Maine veins up the coast (I still need shoes, a State ID, and some repairs to my sleeping bag, tent, and good ole Saggy), I'm ready and itching to roll.
That's it for this first of the Prologues of the new Grounded in Maine Journey. A tentative route and list of contacts will follow shortly.
Now I offer some random new pictures for your viewing pleasure, as well as information on foraging for wild food and some Maine shipbuilding history. As always, my pictures are free for you to use in any way you want including for-profit activities (an attribution would be appreciated). And, that goes for all of the pictures in this IWALLK blog. Please DO consider getting involved whenever the spirit moves you. Join the "IWALLK America - Journeys" group at Facebook. And if you make a donation you will be invited to participate in the secret "IWALLK America - A Living Magazine" Facebook group.
This should be a lot of fun!
Sunset ducks at Mill Creek Park.
The South Portland Armory, being renovated into an Irving station.
A mother and her ducklings doing some mudding.
Sleepy ducks at Mill Creek Park.
Pink water lily. Like the lotus, a symbol of the soul expanding.
I was very hungry on a recent day and went in search of wild plants to eat. I remembered from five years ago that Ferry Village (part of South Portland) had a variety of possible edibles, so I headed there, traveling along the Greenbelt Walkway...
There weren't a lot of food plants. But I was able to gather pink sea rose petals, chives, blue corn flowers, and other flowers, thyme, mint, and sea weed; enough for a small salad. I use seawater as a briny dressing.
Also - and people discount these, but they are legitimate food items - I discovered several varieties of so-called "crab" apples. Folks, just a reminder that we have a bias for what we call "apples" (cultivated varieties of the fruit), but the uncultivated kinds can be just as delicious, with their own unique qualities. They are perfectly safe to eat.
Now, we should also remember that there is a difference between edible and palatable. Although non-cultivars are edible, some may not taste very good. A small bite chewed without swallowing is an appropriate way to test whether you like the taste or not. I was fortunate to find three golf ball sized varieties that were quite tart, but also sweet. If you are very hungry, the pea-sized varieties would be a possible source of Vitamin C, fiber, and sugar, though they are often very sour or bitter. Texture also can vary widely between crab apple varieties. My favorites are the fruits that have soft edible seeds. In that case, biting off the nub at the bottom and spitting it out, you can just eat the whole thing without nibbling around the core.
Readers of this blog may recall just how meticulously I have investigated this subject? While I was in Salem, Oregon and enjoying my time exploring Bush Park, there were a dozen or so very old apple trees planted and maintained from the time before the cultivars (like macintosh, etc.) were developed. These supposed "crab apples" were chosen by residents for their delicious and unique qualities.
If you are interested in this subject, take a look back at my time there and check out my photographic study of these very interesting apple varieties, by clicking here. You will also learn about the relationship of roses and apples. Along with apples, many of our favorite fruits and nuts are in the rose family (Rosaceae), including pears, quinces, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, raspberries, loquats, strawberries, and almonds. [Wikipedia]
As I have mentioned several times here, rose hips (the seed pods of roses) are also nutritious and edible. They taste like, wait for it... apples! The best time to gather rose hips is when they have turned reddish at the end of the summer. They are even better after a frost has softened and sweetened them up.
Green ones - as are occurring now - are edible, but somewhat hard and sour. You will want to split the hip and remove the seeds and hairy material (the seed hair is not poisonous, but was the main ingredient in itching powder which, after the hair is ingested, can make one's bottom end itch a bit after being digested and pooped out). But don't worrry, it aint a big problem.
The mashed hips can be pressed out and dried for a kind of fruit roll-up. Hips are an extremely good source of Vitamin C, containing about 50 times more, by weight, than citrus fruits. They also contain Vitamins A and E. Most people don't realize that the leaves themselves are edible. Young ones being preferable.
Speaking of all of this, I encourage you to check out one of the masters of wild edible plants, Green Dean, and his videos and blog at EattheWeeds.com. Here is his take on roses. Dean is a funny and extremely knowledgeable forager and cook; a Mainer who now lives in Florida. Personally, I think he is the most knowledgeable person in this field.
Foraging as I do can fill my stomach and provide nutrients. Still, the most important need for fat and protein are not met in this way. On an island, mussels, clams, and fish may be obtained which would make up for this deficit. It is one of my intentions on this next Journey to do some island camping if possible and use the foods I find there. More about that idea in future posts.
I enjoyed the views from the tip of Ferry Village, near the old Liberty Shipyards, shown in a moment...
Rain pounds Yarmouth in the distance.
When I got to the Liberty Ship memorial I took the pictures I'd meant to take years ago when visiting. Two hundred and thirty (10%) of all of the World War II Liberty Ships (a class of cargo ship) were built on these grounds. The history of this small area is fascinating. An entire community, Red Bank Village, was torn down to build the yards. Some of the families that lost their houses and property had been there for three generations. A small stone tribute marks their sacrifice.
The level of cooperation and unity among American citizens, as demonstrated here in the mid 1940's, was astonishing. The patriotic loyalty and teamwork may boggle the minds of a 21st Century United States that has become more and more bitterly divided along ideological lines. So, it was worth going back in time for an hour or so to see just how people cooperated during those war years...
Men and women gathered to do equal work for the war effort.
"Wendy Welders" was the name for some of the 3,700 women who worked at the yards.
In all, between 1941 and 1945, 30,000 workers labored to launch these ships,
mostly bound for Europe to supply troops and allied nations.
A fleet of thirty odd Liberty Ships bound for Europe.
The important rule while under way was "no lights." Ships or sailors who violated this rule were
dealt with very severely. One light could mean the sinking of dozens of ships by the "the wolves," German "U-Boat" submarine squads who ranged the sea looking to pick off navy vessels.
Rubber recycling.
The small museum open weekdays with free admission.
In my typical, methodical and plodding way, I did not pass up the opportunity to investigate every nook for possible sleep spots. I found several and will likely utilize them on my Maine training, before leaving the area on the 21st of July.
But for now, with a bit of food in my stomach and satisfied that I'd gathered the Liberty Ship experience as best I could, I headed back to Deb's house...
Traffic stopped for a flock of geese who chose to walk from the marsh rather than fly.
The man in the road is a driver who stopped traffic to make sure they made it across safely.
The following are miscellaneous shots from the next day...
Loved this! A tiny house converted into the mobile SaltBox Café,
serving up brunch on the Eastern Prom, where it parks at about 9:00 am,
Thursday through Sunday. I consequently picked up The Bollard (a local magazine)
and happened up their review. Sounds like good eats!
Oh, rats!
Haven't seen one of these in years. Parked along Waterman Drive. Good condition too.
Probably about 12 miles to the gallon. Ah, the old days!
Our family had the late 1970's version by Ford, the Country Squire
(or, as my band mates called it, while we hauled all of our equipment, all of the guys in the band, and a couple girlfriends around, "the Plywood Palace").
On this day I returned to the first potential sleep spot to check up on it and found that some slob had discovered the first level -the entrance area - of the place. While not being the spot itself, it irked me after so much diligence on my own part to keep the places I found clean over 8,000 miles of travel in the last 21 months. I piled it all into one small area, and left an unkind note. I will clean it up myself if the idiot doesn't do it, and I will not take kindly to seeing this happen again. There is a good chance that the dude will not return. But I will have a surprise waiting for him if he does...
Slob...I'm waiting for you.
So, that catches us up for now. I usually don't put out a call for help with funding here directly, but I am really in need of a few supplies, and am finding it hard to eat enough before heading out. Folks who enjoy these posts but have not had a chance to donate, or haven't donated for a while, this would be the best possible time. Just a few $10, $15 or $20 contributions would do an enormous amount of good. Anything larger than that would really put things into motion. It is quite difficult to start something like this with empty pockets, as you might imagine. Thanks in advance to the generous and interested folks who will consider sending a few funds my way!
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