And I Took The Road Less Traveled By...

A Journey Into The North Maine Woods Is A Lot Like Competing For Mrs. Corporate America...

OK, so this blog entry, I feel is related to my Mrs. Corporate America endeavor in a roundabout way...its about the courage to attempt to do something you've never done before...taking risks and above else enjoying the journey, even when its hard and you want to turn around and go back.

This past fall my husband AJ and I aong with four of our other friends (two other couples) embarked on a daylong trek DEEP into the North Maine woods to find these historic abandoned trains from the early 1900's. Historically, they were used to bring lumber from the woods and deposit them into the nearby lake for transportation to other parts of the world. They are indeed artifacts. And well, it was an adventure I shall never forget. Yes, this chic city girl braved a dawn's early rise, a long sojourn into muddy waters, the fear of coming face to face with Maine's wildlife, and above all else wearing bright hunter's orange.

We started bright and early at 5:30 am on a Saturday morning. We rented a van and made our way up to Ashland to the entry point of the North Maine Woods. Its called the six mile gate. Our friends Mitch and Wanda Guiggey served as tour guides as Mitch loves to hunt and goes up there several times a year. He knows these woods like the back of his hand. (despite getting us lost the first time we went...LOL) So actually this was our second group attempt. With music blaring and our excitement brewing, we embarked. I have to admit, I didn't know what to expect. I'm used to concrete jungles, not actual forests. But, I've always been a risktaker, and I wasn't gonna let a thing like fear of the unknown hold me back. Now maybe fear of questionable fashion choices might be more correct? Did I mention, we had to wear BRIGHT hunter's orange. Afterall, we went during deer hunting season (or so I was told) I hope I wasn't being hazed. Check out my gear...

During the ride, I called my parents to tell them what we were doing and where we were going. Truthfully, I just wanted witnesses case I would never be heard from again. Some kind of verification. When I told my mom she replied, "Let me get this straight, you're going WHERE? to do WHAT?...and of YOUR OWN FREE WILL?" Her response was "Have fun and good luck." The beauty of the woods and nature is unmatched. Its breathtaking in fact. Little did I know, our trek would NOT occur from the safety and comfort of the inside of our van. We had to walk. But before we did, we ate. And we ate GOOD. We barbequed and our bellies were full. Probably too full. But it didn't matter cuz we were gonna walk it off, actually hike it off.

And so the real work would begin. AJ, the supportive and nurturing husband that he is told me he'd be there the entire time. Nothing to worry about, and we'd be at the trains in no time. He knew me well enough to know, in cases like this, its best to LIE to me. Yes, lie to me. Because I might be tempted to turn tail and run. But the weather was great, it was a little warm and I came fully prepared with boots, warm clothes and an optimistic attitude. What could go wrong. I was amped for this. Openminded ALL the way! Plus, our fearless leader Mitch knew where he was going. He'd been there many times. He could lead us there and back blindfolded. Did I mention, he couldn't even find the right route there the first time we went last August. That this was our SECOND attempt. I love you Mitch...

Anyway, after a half hour, I was like, okay, where are the trains? This doesn't feel good, I'm not getting a good feeling about any of this. And isn't this the way MOST of those horror films start. Six unsuspecting suckers walking into the woods for a good time and then a psycho killer hacks them to death. Yeah, I think that's how most of those movies start. I'm walking in the woods, thinking I'm in one of these movies and there's absolutely NO WHERE to run. I'm surrounded by trees and forest, and trails that pretty much look the same in EVERY direction. I'm thinking if there is a psycho killer out there, just come and get me now! LOL! And my husband (whom I love devotedly) is so full of crap! OK, so we're walking, and walking, and walking, and walking...over trails, and big rocks and through trees and clearing...oh, and then, it starts to RAIN! And don't think just because you're deep in the woods, you can't feel the rain, cuz you can. So now we're walking, and walking, and walking, through trails, and trees, and rocks, and its SLIPPERY and WET!
Then I discover another nature enemy, MUD! Now I love mud, what girl doesn't. Afterall, a good mud soak makes you feel and look beautiful when its said and done. But this is the deep Maine Woods, not a spa. And I literally STEP KNEE DEEP IN IT! With both feet. And my feet and legs are soaked, saturated if you will in MUD. And I feel like MUD spelled backwards! LOL. Now this entire time, Mitch is leading us through the woods based on these colored ribbons on the trees. And I start to think, how on earth are we supposed to find our way back. Based on some shocking pink or lime green ribbons. Are you kidding me? What's stopping someone from just, oh I don't know...taking the ribbons from the trees? Then we're lost. Just another lost tour group who are never heard from again. Missing in the woods for days , then finally eaten by wolves. I'll end up on CNN the WRONG WAY! Uuuuuggggghhhhhh!!!!! So we continue walking, and walking, and walking...over trails, through trees, and rocks, in the wet, slippery rain, in deep mud puddles...and then it happens. My BIG fear kicks in as I hear a sound. The sound of an animal I'm not sure what or where it is. But in my mind, I'm thinking its huge and furry and has more of a chance at eating me, then me eating it. I think its a bear. That's my big fear. Because I've been told if you ever encounter a bear in the woods you're not supposed to run, or climb a tree, or attack it, or pretty much do anything. So my question is, WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO THEN? Oh, I know I'll just say, "Mr. Bear, I've lived a pretty ok life up til now, please go ahead and eat me." That is after I pee on myself and cry myself into oblivion. So I hear this sound, and I'm convinced I'm a gawner. So I jump to conclusion...literally and figuratively. 

And there in the deep North Maine woods, fear had me whipped for a good five minutes. And I wanted to turn around and go back. I thought, what on earth am I doing here? I can't survive this. I started to cry. But I dug down deep (in my mud soaked boots) and I persevered on. I was determined to make it through this experience and see it through. And I got my second wind. I wasn't going to let these woods beat me. And suddenly, through the clearing we see the first signs we've made it. Old machinery and train tracks. They're rusted and beautiful. And I'm exhausted but glad we've arrived. And then walking a bit further, THERE THEY ARE! Two larger than life locomotives! They look like props out of a movie, but they're clearly real. Historic artifacts standing taller than me.

And as if seeing these two beautiful trains weren't amazing enough. We walked a little bit further through another clearing, and made it to a nearby river or lake where the lumber was shipped onto. The name escapes me now but Mitch said there were HUNDREDS of small and big lakes in that area. Hundreds, can you imagine? The clearing was beautiful, peaceful, tranquil. And after that long walk we all just sat a spell and took it all in. And what a sight, see for yourselves.

And after a long day, we had to make our way back. Its funny heading back didn't tire me out or scare me as much as going. I guess because I knew what to expect heading back. But I am so proud I did it. And happy to have great friends and a loving husband who supported me and made the experience fun to enjoy. I did a lot of introspective thinking on the way back. That's really when I made the decision to compete for Mrs. Corporate America. I thought to myself, with enough self will, hard work, and stubborn determination I can make it through anything. I'm tougher than I look, seem and think at first glance. Its that second wind that will blow you away. And I've got that, in spades! PLUS, I have an important message to share with my community and the country for that matter. All it takes is perserverance, putting one foot in front of the other and energy to make it happen...to make a difference.

Sometimes life isn't as hard as a trek through the woods, but the unknown can sometimes be even scarier. Still, I've never been one to shy away or back down from accmplishing a goal. I'm sometimes my own worst enemy...but the flipside is I'm more often my biggest champion. And taking a risk paraphrasing my favorite poet Mr. Robert Frost..."taking the road less traveled by...has INDEED made all the difference " to me!