Comin’ Up Realty Road

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A dog, a cat, two little boys, a husband, a wife, and lots of groceries.

We crammed it all in on the last trip we made back into Clayton Lake. After the rainfall a little over a week ago, the Realty road turned to a smooth glare of ice with a little dirt tossed on top in some places.

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The MURS radio was probably the most active I have heard it. Most voices that came over the radio were monotone and pretty bland…but there were a few that made me chuckle.

“Mile 41. Heading down Realty. Wide. Loaded.”

“Mile 13. Comin’ up Realty. Empty.”

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A few of the truckers made a dramatic production of your typical shout out on the radio. Most were spoken in heavy French Canadian accents and the fun ones had a little sing song added to their voice…the rhythm reminding me a little of the cattle rattle of a southern auctioneer.

The logging trucks were answered with shout outs from other loggers and “four-wheelers”. Four-wheeler is the term used on the MURS for any regular passenger vehicle.

“Mile 16. Coming down Realty. Four-wheeler.”

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I am so thankful for the communication of the radio. It isn’t a warm fuzzy feeling that comes over you when you see a wide load logging truck coming towards you at 40 miles an hour on a road of ice sprinkled with a little dirt on top. It’s a relief to know when they’re coming.

The boys did awesome on the ride back in and I was able to see my first lynx! So exciting. What an elusive, beautiful creature.

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Trigger was ready to get back into the woods. We were inside when we looked out to see him waiting patiently.

Rianne Ackley

About Rianne Ackley

I grew up in Downeast Maine but have recently relocated to the North Woods. I live in Clayton Lake where I am a stay at home Mom to two beautifully wild little boys and wife to a Maine State Game Warden. I am a lover of the simple things in life...a good book, a song, a rainy day, a bowl of white popcorn, etc. I have a slight obsession with all things food. Love cooking it, eating it, looking at it, smelling it, reading about it, etc. I am a firm believer that life is what you make it.