It’s finally getting nice out, I’ve put my jackets away and my flip flops are the shoe of choice everyday, but after two attempts of sitting at the beach sunning and freezing instead, I resigned myself to the fact it’s not beach weather just yet. 

That said, it has been too beautiful outside to stay inside, so I took a hike.

Surrounded by woods at my parent’s house, I used to enjoy time among the trees down by a stream in the backyard when I was younger. As I grew up, the more homework and extracurricular activities I had, and the less I went into the woods.

The idea of going for a hike was exciting – an adventure less taken. With all the possible trails to follow between the Biddeford and Saco areas and the Kennebunks, I wasn’t sure where to go, but recalling the trail system at the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, I decided that would be the perfect place to start. 

I had been in those woods before too – when I was younger with Jeremy, before the trail existed and before it was named in his memory. 

We’d run across the field from his house and into the woods, near the river and the little waterfalls. So I knew as I hiked from the trailhead on Gravelly Brook Road, I end up at the river at some point. 

What I didn’t recall was how long the trail was, if it looped around and if I really should have been hiking alone – and of course I left my phone in the car. 

With the sun trickling through the leaves and wind rustling the air I worked my way from yellow blaze to yellow blaze, up and down inclines and leaping over muddy patches. My initial apprehension faded as I moved deeper into the woods and got the rhythm of hiking down and the sound of rushing water became louder and louder. 

As I broke out into the clearing where the river cut through the woods, the sun broke through and glistened off the water. Even though I knew Arundel Road was just on the other side of the trees beyond the field, I couldn’t hear cars and there was a calm and serene sense as I took a break on the boulders. 

Sitting across from where Jeremy and I played in the woods as children, I can only vaguely remember where the rope swing hung – where he swung off into the water. Today, the scared-y cat side of me still thinks the water is too shallow and the cliff to high to jump off. 

After snapping some pictures and enjoying the riverside, I headed back onto the trail, which quickly led me back to the road. As I packed back into the car I realized my hike had taken me about an hour, including stopping by the river, and it was a fun alternative to strolling down the street or freezing on the beach. 

So when it is nice out, but not quite nice enough to beach it, take a hike. I know I will. 

-— Emma Bouthillette