As I ponder pondering my mission statement - inspiring others to buy camps before property gets just too expensive - I note that there several deals that look reasonable in the classifieds of "The Maine Sportsman."

This Augusta-based monthly newspaper includes classified ads of properties that might be affordable.

This is in contrast to "Down East" magazine, which focuses on properties well over $1 million.

With that modest preamble, here are some offerings that appear to have potential. Of course, you don't know until you actually see them as I learned when I trekked to Parsonsfield to see a cabin on a river advertised for $79,000.

The cabin wasn't much larger than a tool shed, and you had to drive through the former town dump to get there. But it was $79,000.

Anyway, here are some possibilities:

Harmony. A 14-by-20 cabin on 6.2 acres with gas lights and heat. It is about a mile from a public landing at Great Moose Pond. $62,500. info@buckscrossingmaine.com.

Graham Lake, building site, 20 minutes from Ellsworth. 200 feet on the lake, which is 11 miles long. $54,900. (no web site). 207-945-0832.

East Branch, Mattawamkeag River. 5 acres with 360 feet of frontage on river. (An aside: It is accessible through a "woods road." That can be a dangerous description of a throughfare.)$19,900. www.wildernessrealty.com.

Sangerville. Building site, on Center Pond, 100 foot frontage, 4 acres. "Full view of lake." $75,000. www.brawnrealestate.com.

Waltham. Small cabin. One bedroom. "Great view of water." Close to Ellsworth. 150 water frontage. $41,000. info@lynams.com.

Shin Pond, near Baxter State Park. Two-bedroom cabin fully furnished with well and septic system. "Ready for immediate use." $59,000. www.cwalakestreet.com.

And here's a construction ad that would be great if true: Moosehead Cedar Log Homes says they can provide building materials for a cabin starting at $12,750. For more info, check www.mclh.net.

In fact, checking all the webistes above might be useful to find out what's available this spring in the "affordable" range.

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