On my way home from a great weekend of kayaking on the Androscoggin River in N.H. yesterday afternoon, I stopped in at Pat's Pizza in Bethel for some sustenance.

While enjoying a cold one and waiting for my pizza I thumbed through a copy of The Bear Facts of Maine, a weekly paper of news, events and tidbits of a local flavor concerning Western Maine.

With nothing else pressing at the moment, I was riveted by accounts of the winners of the Duck Race at the Moxie Festival and the West Paris Soap Box Derby, a brief history of hot dogs and new ice cream serving suggestions, the upcoming Andover Old Home Days and Wilton Blueberry festivals, and a long list of other current area events.

But what really caught my eye was an advertisement for the M-275 MULE 1/2 Ton Weapons Carrier.

Hmmm.

Now there's something you don't see around every day.

Says here "used extensively in Vietnam, though seldom seen (I wonder why?), the Mule was designed for Army and Marine use in forward areas... At $6,000 for the refurbished M-275, the huge cargo platform and weight carrying capacities make this a great vehicle for any kind of outdoor activity."

My chow arrived and as I ate, I stared at the picture of the M-275.

Yessah, I need me one of them things for sure.

I drove away in my Honda Civic feeling a bit inadequate, but with dreamy thoughts of a burly M-275...

Oh yeah.