Finally got the trailer unloaded today — a big milestone. I was moving supplies along the new road that the DIRT guys had just finished. While I was there, a pickup truck came up the road. I assumed it was just a couple locals checking out the new path, but it turned out to be the DIRT guys themselves. We had a great conversation. They asked if I’d been all the way down the road, and I said no — I’d held off the day before because it was wet and I didn’t want to risk getting stuck. But they encouraged me to go for it, saying it should be fine.
So after they left, I drove all the way down. It’s a long dirt road that ends right at the edge of marshland. From the road’s end, I could see the firm land where the cabin is — about 175 feet across the marsh. Now I just need to figure out how to cross that stretch.
With the trailer empty, I figured I’d return it a day early. Oddly enough, the drop-off location was in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. Yep — I had to cross an international border to return a U-Haul trailer. Odd, but also a little fun. Before heading there, though, I made a stop in Baileyville. Austin , my nephew-in-law, had told me about a truck stop with showers and laundry, so I took my stuff and cleaned up. That shower felt amazing — definitely something I’ll do again.
Then I made my way to the Canadian border crossing. And apparently, I gave off major international smuggler vibes. I explained my situation — returning a trailer, hauling supplies to an off-grid camp in Maine — but still got flagged. The officer handed me a slip and told me to pull over and go into the building.
Once inside, two border officers thoroughly searched my truck — front seat, back seat, unopened Amazon packages, truck bed and trailer — everything. When they were done, they sent me on my way with a cheerful “Welcome to Canada.” Quite the ordeal.
Thankfully, the U-Haul dealer in St. Stephen made up for the border hassle. Very friendly, very Canadian, very efficient. Got the trailer returned quickly.
Crossing back into the U.S. went much more smoothly. I was worried, given last year’s drawn-out return after just a lunch trip to St. Stephen. But this time, a pleasant U.S. border agent just asked me a few quick questions — camp? off-grid? hauling supplies? — and sent me on my way with a smile. That was a relief.
I stopped for lunch at my favorite restaurant in Calais. Nothing particularly memorable happened there this time — unlike last year — but the meal was delicious as always.
Back at camp, I resumed moving equipment and supplies from my own land over to the neighbor’s place so I could use the rowboat to ferry everything out to the island. A lot of back and forth, but productive.
That wraps up Day 2 — border adventures, clean laundry, and steady progress on the move-in.