A fine long Fourth of July holiday weekend, wouldn't you say?

Yep.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Finally got the kayak out onto the salt water for the first time this summer on Saturday, exploring in and around Cousins and Littlejohn Islands in Casco Bay with my friend Ellen.

Paddling off Cousins Island, Yarmouth.

Natural arch on Littlejohn Island.

After a good stretch of paddling we managed to get off the water just as the afternoon skies opened up with torrential rains.

Our next stop was the DeLorme Map Store in Yarmouth to get out of the rain and poke around through the maps, charts, books and other cool stuff.

Then we topped off the day with a lobster at nearby Day's Lobster on the Cousins River.

First lobster of the summer!

Spent Sunday lazing in my brothers pool down south in New Hampshire, doing my best to deplete his beer stocks and packing away some yummy BBQ chicken and ribs.

Water was again on the agenda for Monday afternoon. Went for a fun paddle on beautiful Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester, putting in at my friend Becky's Outlet Beach.

Paddling in style on Sabbathday Lake, New Gloucester.

Ice cream from the snack bar capped the day.

Great hot dogs, ice cream and other goodies at the Outlet Beach snack bar.

And then yesterday I did the unthinkable (for a Mainer that knows better on a holiday, anyway). I drove up to the mid-coast area and went for a hike on Hogback Mountain, part of the Georges River Land Trust trails system.

Turns out the holiday traffic wasn't bad. But it was a hot and humid hike with more than enough mosquitoes to chase me to the top. The forests and rockwalls and flowers and views made it worthwhile, however.

As did the Pat's Pizza and cold beer in Yarmouth on the trip back home.

Wildflowers on the trail to Hogback Mountain, Montville.

A huge red oak guards a gravesite deep in the woods.

Views from the Hogback Overlook.

I was so tired by day's end that I didn't even get back out for the Portland fireworks!

It happens.

So, my dear Trail Headers... what kind of outfoor fun did you have over the big Fourth holiday?