And so it is…

It has been 7 days since I immerged from another world, both inner and outer. I have gone underground to incorporate and integrate the lessons and insights. Also, I was more physically depleted than I realized and am just now more in my usual energy level and availability. Sorta. On the mend.

This post is to share the final experience and action steps we can take.

🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶

As I rounded Brickyard Point, where the tides and currents change from river to bay, I paddled the final 200 yards to the water celebration for the culmination of “Paddle with a Purpose”.

Transitioning from one profound experience with the watershed to another heart-felt intersection with humanity was palpable. Heart-centered friends had my back as did the many who came in support from the Women’s School of Spiritual Warriors~ a training for holistic personal empowerment & holistic life coaching as a vocation I have the good fortune of directing. To have so many drum-bearing women from the School was moving beyond words, drums they had themselves made thanks to the guidance of Leah Boyd who was also present to bring us together through drumming and chanting. Thank you, sisterhood and Leah!!!

Over 100 amazing people came to support the watershed. At that moment, we had $3500 raised and within 10 hours we surpassed the goal of $5000 to support restoration & the health of the Presumpscot River and Casco Bay watershed! What a community! All things are possible in community. 💗💕💗A big shout out to all those that donated, supported, showed up, sent out kind vibes, and prayers, and those that see -truly see- the need for reparations and restorations.

Thank you, Mihku Paul, for your beautiful Indigenous land and water acknowledgement.

And thank you to everyone for making this in an intimate powerful experience, by singing together and drumming and laughing and crying together.

After everyone left, I wandered down to the water’s edge and hung out with the setting sun. Attempting to feel all that was Present. To take it all in. I was blown away by this love fest that reminded me of the greater purpose of this paddle in face of raw exhaustion.

Took a deep bow and cried for the GRACE that got me through this journey. I bowed to the ancestors of the lands and waters, to my spiritual ancestors and my blood ancestors. And I bowed to the beauty of the watershed and all that it holds.

What now? Now what?

I’m inviting us all to be steady and consistent caretakers of the watershed-Whatever water shed you were a part of.

13 action steps to build a strong and healthy village and watershed (same):

1. Remember that our waters are changing quickly due to human impact, climate change & pollution. Don’t go into denial. Stay aware.

2. Learn how to keep our waters more resilient for future human impacts & future generations.

3. Stay aware of policy changes at the municipal, state & federal levels. Speak up, show up, vote.

4. Learn more about the impacts of dams on our once free flowing rivers. Pay attention to your local dam’s licensure updates. Insist upon River access, maintained portage trails and migratory fish passage at the very least.

5. Become a member of your local land trust or watershed protection organization.

6. Volunteer at the same. Get involved. Together we are strong.

7. Give a monthly tithing donation that fits your budget to support their operating cost to monitor and protect our waters. Support Indigenous organizations.

8. Sign up for emails and join group events that relate to trails, watersheds, preserved forest lands. Find your community in the natural environment.

9. Spread the word about these organizations and the good work they’re doing. Invite friends to join you on events, talks, walks, presentations.

10. Buy less chemicals. Don’t support the chemical industry, including fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides.

11. Plant native perennial flowers, shrubs, plants and trees to re-wild the landscapes to native species and prevent erosion at your camp or home.

12. Use less water. Buy less stuff. Don’t dump chemicals, expired prescription drugs, etc down your drain.

13. Mow less. Grow more. Re-wild your yard, land, landscape- friendly and safe for bees, hummingbird and butterflies.

14. Get outside more. Walk, paddle, bike to get there. It’s magical.

Thank you Friends of Casco Bay and Friends of Presumpscot River for working with me, trusting me and supporting the successful completion of Paddle with a Purpose. ESPECIALLY, thank you to Sarah Lyman and Whitney Rollins Conway!

Thank you to the organizations that met with me canoe-side along the watershed to shed some light on what you are up to:

• Jim Westcott, Trout Unlimited, Crooked River and Sebago liaison

• Will Elting, Sebago Clean Waters

• Jim McBride, Presumpscot Regional Land Trust

• Amy Grommes Pulaski, Discover Downtown Westbrook

• Michael Shaughnessy, Friends of Presumpscot River

• Randy, SAPPI mill, Westbrook

• Rebecca Dugan, Falmouth Land Trust

May the awareness and resources raised from Paddle with a Purpose” support your mission and vision to protect the waters we belong to. May the support continue to grow.

I will never be the same after this journey. I’m still incorporating that into my marrow. Thank you all for the support.

Thank you water. WATER IS LIFE🌎💙🌲🛶

Photo credit: John Chandler Location: Presumpscot Falls

Deliberate Living

I’m sitting in my canoe in brackish water waiting for the tide to shift and right timing to head to the celebration. The journey is nearly complete. Only it’s of course just beginning. It really felt like it wasn’t about the destination. Every day was its own adventurous experience. I did my best to share what I was experiencing from the water’s perspective. I’m taken by the wildness and beauty of it. It’s so pristine and so fragile. We still have opportunity sustain, protect and restore the watersheds. Cleaning up our own personal acts and that will help clean up the collective. Start at home. And then go outward in concentric rings. Ripple effect. Service. Inspired action.

What we buy we support. What we ignore we support. Ignorance is not bliss. It’s ignorance. A lot goes down in ignorance. Name the injustice. Together let’s just keep waking up and doing the next right thing. Join hands. Paddle on. 🛶💚🛶

Images are from my final leg from Sacarrapa Falls, In Westbrook to Presumpscot Falls in Falmouth and out to Casco Bay.

Source to sea “paddle with a purpose” watershed paddle is complete!

This week I will post again on ideas for action we can do for sustainability of the watershed whether it’s this one or the one you live within. Also, I’ll give you an update on how many donations we’ve received. Our goal is to make $5000 from this journey. We will keep that donation button open for some days to come! Help me to make a statement that water is life and water matters. A lot. Thank you for following and reading and being a part of the change. 💚🌲💚🌲💚🌲💚

The Presumpscot!

Its day 7 and I made it to Westbrook! Where it all began! In this modern day, that seems like a radical notion to paddle from Bethel to Westbrook. It’s something the Abenaki did seasonally. How cool is that. I’m just in their shadow following them a little bit to see what I can learn. I’m spending the night near the Chief Polin memorial in a sweet little screened in cottage at the Conant Homestead -courtesy of Michael Shaughnessy, director of Friends of the Presumpscot River. Today I paddled from North Gorham and dealt with five dams. That means the river had little river characteristics and was mostly slow moving expanses in between dams. Two of them didn’t have portage trails so the lovely Jo Weiss picked me up with my truck and delivered me around two closely oriented dams. What a gift. Thank you! The other dams had well marked & maintained portage trails, which I appreciated. They did not, however, offer any friendliness to migratory fish. These dams were constructed in the 1700s 1800s 1900s with archaic beliefs and a very old consciousness. They look like old dinosaurs out there. Just saying. The Gambo dam is particularly rundown and the water that collects above and below the dam pools off to the sides in stagnant deoxygenated coves where algae and bacteria is blooming. I don’t think water likes to sit like that. I was touched by the resiliency of nature and the habitat in between the dams. There is a propensity to live and nature is so resilient. The river has significant lengths of undeveloped shoreline, which is really important for maintaining and improving water quality. It makes paddling it quite peaceful. I saw a lot of beauty today. And it was a rugged day with the portages. And I got bummed out when I think about fish. So I’m speaking up about it. I don’t think it’ll change unless enough of us speak up about it. Tomorrow is my last day on the river and I’ll be paddling to the ocean to celebrate. First I meet with the SAPPI mill and then Falmouth Land Trust to learn and share. Celebration is at 5 tomorrow! Come if inspired! Donate. Support clean water! Thank you everyone. 🛶🌲🌎💚

Mother’s Day paddle

Day 6! After a day of rest & with this new weather gift , I felt a surge of energy today. In gratitude, I paddled across Sebago Basin down the Eel Weir Canal and onto North Gorham Pond which is actually the Presumpscot River in disguise because of the dam. The canal spills into the source of the Presumpscot, near its headwaters. I paddled upstream to the falls, tied my canoe to a tree and walked upstream for a long while. This river will bring me to the sea these next two days completing this 85 mile solo canoe journey from the source of this watershed to the ocean! 💚🥳🛶The source of the Presumpscot River shares her phenomenal beauty. It’s what a wild and unmanipulated river looks like, one that has not been taken advantage of by humans. The water was as clear as you could imagine. There were ledges, pools and drops. I could’ve stayed there all day. It blew my mind to think that this is the same river that I have only known 6 dams downstream. The trail I walked up along the river bank I imagined was the foot path the Abenaki used, a well worn trail to a familiar fishing encampment as they migrated seasonally to and from the ocean. Their presence was palpable and I offered an acknowledgment to the peoples who belonged to this river of many falls. I spoke to a couple of anglers and also met with a board member of the Presumpscot Regional Land Trust. I’ll post those videos for today as well on IG. It should tie the experience together and I invite you to take it all in-This reference for what is and what could be. How we could do better and do right by the living Waters amongst us. Thank you for following this life changing journey. I appreciate you. 💚🌲🛶#paddlewithapurpose #waterislife https://www.spiralsofwellbeing.com/paddlewithapurpose

Day 5! Lost & Found - my favorite!

After a long day on the water yesterday, I wanted to reach Sebago Lake in order to beat the rain storm tomorrow & get set up to have a rest day. When I finally reached the beach that look like the state park, there were 4 eagles, 2 pairs communicating with each other from 2 different white pine trees. The high pitched screeching was remarkable. I took it as a good sign that I was in the right place. park was closed. there was a wooden structure on the beach that I made my home. No wet tent! paired eagles in the tree above me. Thank you. Making it to Sebago felt epic to me. It was my last night solo on this journey. A threshold.

Crossing big water in a fog bank is intimidating to me. My map and compass skills are rudimentary at best. There was an easterly wind pushing me off course only I didn’t realize it because I had no reference pt. couldn’t see land anywhere. I had to trust the compass. when I oriented the compass, map & landscape earlier, I got some weird download how to do it right & felt confident even though I have very low confidence in this area. I felt supported & needed to trust it.

I watched my trust waiver as I was getting off course, couldn’t see land & was in the middle of the lake. Doubt happened. I had to do a fair amount of singing, chanting , very direct praying. I saw something that I wanted to be Frye Island. As I got closer, I saw ledge. dammit that’s gonna be Frye’s Leap! I pulled up to the first island beach -needed to find a place to warm up. There was a truck in the driveway ya! asked to come in & warm up. He was hesitant - still let me in. I don’t blame him one bit. must’ve been quite a sight. My hands weren’t working -so cold. I asked him to unzip my lifejacket so I could get out of my dry suit to go to the restroom. so awkward and intimate :-) I said- “it’s OK. you got this”. 🤪😘It took him forever & I even had to have him put it back on me :-) my thumbs were still shut down. so grateful to “strangers” on the watershed trail! I texted my friend Jo Weiss to please meet me at Whites Bridge. She came. TY! I am renewed! Taking Needed rest day tomorrow- I’m 2 days ahead of schedule! Next- Presumpscot River to the ocean!

What a relief for the fog to lift enough for landmark sites!

Frye’s Leap might as well have been a light house 🕯️🕯️🕯️

I’m staying near the Presumpscot River at Jo’s to take a rest day, dry the gear, stay warm and stretch ! Being 2 (unexpected) days ahead of schedule I have a buffer for a rest day - so grateful - especially with 100% chance of rain tomorrow! I’ll watch from the window. 😘

Readying for sunny Sunday paddle back to where I took out at Sebago Basin and then portage to the mouth of the Presumpscot River for the final paddle leg to the ocean-

On Sunday, I meet with a board member of Presumpscot Regional Land Trust to learn more about their mission and vision and how it relates to the watershed. Looking forward to that. More soon!

Final note- So far “Paddle with a Purpose” has raised over $2000 to support Friends of Casco Bay and Friends of the Presumpscot River! Our goal is to raise $5000 by Tuesday May 13! Donation link is above this post on this page. And thanks to all that have contributed already! Let’s do this!

Yin Yang day

Day 4 had all the contrasts. Sunshine. Rain. Free flowing ease and log jams to portage around. Exhilarating white water and quiet slack water. Solitude and humanity. River to lake. Wilderness to towns. I experienced deep nature and as I descended the contours downstream I now find myself back in the world we’ve created. The thing that connects all of it is water, this one river leading into this one big lake and on to one big ocean.

This bridge was like a threshold - route 302 in Naples - I’m on the verge of returning to civilization. I have driven over this bridge a thousand times. Seeing it from a canoe felt more familiar even though it was my first time.

Sebago Lake! The Crooked River brought me here safely and I’m deeply grateful.

There is no one camping here yet. I have place to myself. I will soak that in before crossing to lake to the next river to the sea- the Presumpscot 🛶🛶🛶

Beauty. All around.

Day 3 paddling to the ocean. Struck by the wildness of this watershed supporting life. Amazed it still exists thanks to so many seeing its value. Grateful to people and organizations that are working together to protect, preserve, honor. Times are delicate- so important to keep the waters healthy and resilient.

Mischief and Mayhem!

Oh so this is what a wild river looks and acts like! Free flowing vastness with features, twists and turns and a surprise around every bend- absolutely stunning!

And I kinda got my ass kicked 🤪🤪🤪 lotsa rain. 7 portages. 5 sets of oh wow rapids. Lining down 3 sections that were past my skill set and will. Even with the elements and conditions being at my edge, I really appreciate how it all flowed.

A lot happened and I noticed I never fully lost my cool and I never swam and there was no yard sale🤪. And I didn’t hurt myself. The canoe got hung up on rocks mid stream a number of times- I lost my paddle and found it again after getting shot out backwards in a 360 (more than twice🤪) probably on the same trajectory that the spinning paddle took :-)

I talked to myself a lot today. A lot of personal coaching :-) positive affirmations like- breathe. Relax. Go with the flow. Don’t try so hard. Be easy. Don’t go against the current. Be smart. Remember the purpose. Don’t run this one. It’s not worth it. You can run this one. You got this. One step at a time. One obstacle to navigate around at a time. Things like that.

Through all the storminess of this day- I never lost sight of the resource that feeds us, its beauty, it invaluable value to human kind and all of life. We are beyond fortunate to have this free flowing river making its way into our tap and to casco bay-

by the time I made it to Twin Bridges in Harrison, I was super cold and on the verge of hypothermia. I didn’t feel right. I called a friend. She lived nearby and offered to make herself available if a need arose. It did. I called. She came.

Hot shower! Wood stove! Hot tea! And we had a jam session! I got to practice my fiddle!

She saved me from the evening heavy downpour after a day of rain - couldn’t feel more grateful or cozy. Everything is dried and I will regroup tomorrow and put back in below Twin Bridges and paddle towards Naples.

Onward!

I lined my canoe around this drop and walked it to a safer place for me to paddle again.

This drop was too risky to line down so I dragged it to a safer place to put back in.

The look of relative satisfaction for making the choice to portage rather than get in over my head literally.

This was a quiet moment where I’m now going to be drinking River water. The end of my water from the tap. So far so good :-)

It’s the simple pleasures.

Grateful!!!

River trail magic!

A good first day! I’ve wanted to paddle the Crooked for decades. No wonder- it’s stunning and wild at its source-

I’m struck by how remote and undeveloped it is. What a gift. I imagine the water flowing down to the ocean. It’s clean and clear.

There’s a lot of beaver activity- I would have loved to witness this project coming into being!

Some crazy magic happen today. When I told Whitney from Friends of the Presumpscot River that I wanted to do this fundraiser paddle for them and Friends of Casco Bay, she told me I needed to meet Jenny Oconnell- She and Andy Gagne along with a couple other comrades had paddled the same route exactly a year ago today. They did a documentary on it. I went to see the premier in March and it was amazing and inspiring-

Andy has been incredibly generous with sharing details about the river navigation. He texted me today and asked if he could Find me on the river and take some pictures. Then Jenny texted him and says “hey what are you doing? I’m in the area” he tells her “ I’m going to see JEN” and she’s like “wait what”?? So they both ended up here at the launch on the Crooked- impeccable timing too ! I mean, I don’t think we could’ve planned that any better. Such beautiful serendipity. It gave me a boost in confidence. Their enthusiasm was contagious and it really helped send me on my way. Can’t thank them enough. Check out their film!

Photo credit Andy Gagne Photography

My dear friend, Claire Betze hung out for the day following me in the truck just in case I needed support and because there were a couple sketchy rapids that may have been not very wise for me to do. We decided after scouting them that it would be best to drive around them and put in downstream rather than risk having an injury or damaging the boat on day one. Watch me grow in my discernment and wisdom lol she was invaluable to me today- deeply grateful.

Below the rapids we loaded up the boat with all the gear and she sent me on my way. Although I was a little scared, and I sure appreciated her help and company, I was ready to enter the solitude of the journey and really drop into the experience.

The most angst I had in contemplating this journey was getting the consistent reports from Andy and Jenny of how many strainers there were across the Crooked from the two flooding events in the recent past.

Today I lifted the canoe over 17 trees- some of them precarious. I decided to use them each as a mantra. rather than getting irritated or afraid, I dropped into just experiencing one at a time. Just deal with what’s happening now JEN. One at a time. It was really helpful. Mentally and physically.

if I were to be completely honest with you and I guess I will be :-) I went up the chakra system with affirmations. 2 1/2 times :)

• I am grounded

• I am creative

• I am strong

• I am love

• I speak my truth and sing my song

• I am clear

• I am present

Not kidding- each mantra or affirmation really helped with footing, balance, creative solutions- nobody got hurt and nobody swam today.

I’m touched by the beauty of the water and the surrounding forest land so far. This resource is invaluable.

Okay time for bed. More soon.

Here we go!

Today is the big day that I begin my venture from the foothills in western Maine to where the River meets the ocean. Paddling the watershed of Sebago Lake and the Presumpscot and Casco Bay to raise awareness, support, and attempt to be a voice for those who may not be heard. Like the birds of prey. Like the migratory fish. Like the waters and the lands and all that they hold.

I see this act as a living amends, a gesture of reparations, for what colonization has done to our little corner of the world, to the indigenous peoples, to the level of consumption we all play a part in.

Follow me if you will. Donate to nonprofits that help raise awareness and care for the lands and waters. Specifically I am raising support of Friends of Casco Bay and Friends of the Presumpscot River. Our goal is to raise $5000.

https://www.cascobay.org/paddle-with-a-purpose/

This is about life. Doing the right thing. You can do this with me. I invite you to come along. I’ll post whenever I have enough reception. Hopefully every day. Hopefully more times than once. I want you to see the water. I want you to see what I see; to See if and how it speaks to you. Here we go!

Westbrook early morning hey hey here we go!

Launching at Songo Pond in Bethel- the source of the Crooked River-

That was a fun warm up! First time in the solo canoe fully geared up with food and housing. Get to use kayak paddle for flat water and have 2 paddles for river navigation and shore water- Shit’s about to get real on the Crooked River- more soon! Om shalom!

Photo credit Claire Betze friend extraordinaire who brought me to put-in location and will hang tight with my truck for day one for the unnavigable burley parts, if any.

Thanks for all the love and support everyone!!!

The inspiration that birthed this journey

I asked my friend, Wolastoqey elder, Mihku Paul, “How can I be a better ally to the Indigenous people?” She said, “Clean up the river.” Oh~ wow. Ok...

I thought about that for a while. I spent a lot of time in my canoe on the Presumpscot River that runs from Sebago lake to Casco Bay.

Here is the inspired action born out of that conversation.

I will paddle the watershed for Sebago Lake and the Presumpscot River to Casco Bay in 8 days. I will do everything I can to bring awareness to this watershed by capturing its essence through photo, video and what words may speak to that. I will share these sights and insights for anyone to follow each day.

The intention is to bring awareness and consciousness to the water that supports life.

I launch May 5, in Bethel, Maine at the headwaters of the Crooked River which flows into Sebago Lake. Along the way, I will connect with organizations and leaders near the waterway to learn and to share what they are up to in regards to watershed conservation and preservation. I will share my experience every day (that I have cell reception!) here: https://www.spiralsofwellbeing.com/paddlewithapurpose

I will find my way to the ocean by May 13 to the celebration of the watershed.

In addition to increasing awareness to the significance of healthy watersheds, with community support, together we will raise over $5000 to support the mission and vision of Friends of the Presumpscot River and Friends of Casco Bay.

Here are my talking points and visits along the journey:

Sebago Clean Waters

Trout Unlimited

Trout Unlimited - Sebago Chapter

Presumpscot Regional Land Trust

Friends of the Presumpscot River

Falmouth Land Trust

Friends of Casco Bay

I am nervously excited for the journey and think about it a lot every day. I am training and preparing in all ways possible. May this journey support all efforts in being better stewards for the waterways, habitat and critters dependent upon it, including humans.

photo above: take out location and where the water celebration will be held in Falmouth!

Photo below near where the ocean meets the river

The Dream Team!

These amazing women are simply incredible. They’re so supportive and generous. They are truly helping me to live out a passion for rivers and an inspiration to bring more awareness and support for the Casco Bay and Presumpscot River watershed.

Sarah Lyman (Friends of Casco Bay) and Whitney Rollins Conway (Friends of the Presumpscot River) have stepped forward to support my journey’s success to solo canoe from the Western Maine mountains to the ocean this coming May. They are fun and passionate and intelligent and go-getters and I am grateful for them.

It would be remiss to not mention dear Pearl girl, my beloved cat. She’s my confidant and advisor in all the ways. She helped me design these stickers for the sides of the canoe – reminders of the simple truth of it, water is life. It’s sacred.

Let’s see if we can take better care of it. In doing that we care for all of life. I am on a mission to do that- with your help we will raise over $5000 to support these non-profits that help restore and protect the watershed.

More details coming soon!