Kennebec River
Alas, I'm late. It is just after three. I was closer than I thought, but this is no idle stream. A note at the shore says the Ferryman left at noon. Oh, that's unexpected. I worked my way down to the bank. Some fella was on the opposite bank where the canoe was - and the water was up a ways. No sandbars as Pete and Deb described from the Inn. I walked through the brambles looking for a way to ford. There are stories about hikers swimming and getting carried downstream by the unexpected current, or losing their pack. A dam upstream does a daily release, making this not unlike Claytor Lake and the New river in my front yard getting a boost every afternoon. Coming up two or three feet and transforming a tranquil lazy flow into a challenging torrent of water. There's plenty of driftwood here. I had a better idea: I'll build a raft.
More than an hour later. Had most of my driftwood together and setting about lashing it with my paracord when suddenly there was a yell from the other side. Steve had come! So long after his normal hours, I got some trail magic across the river. Legs raw from the brambles, but I am in time for my maildrop at Caratunk. The local on the other bank had told Steve about the crazy hiker building something on the bank.