My Jake Doe Journey Ends, and Begins

Jake Doe Burning Bright: My view from my Airbnb of Split Rock in the Bay of Fundy, Gardner Creek, New Brunswick, on my last evening of my Jake Doe Journey.

I’m sitting here on my deck in Gardner Creek, New Brunswick, Canada, staring out at a late afternoon sky over the Bay of Fundy on my last night of my 5-week road trip across New England, Maine, and eastern Canada that I playfully named my Jake Doe Journey. Tomorrow I have a six hour drive back to Boston - where it all began - and then a flight back south to Atlanta. It will be a full day of travel. 

But right now, before the final night’s packing begins, I’m reflecting on some of the highlights from my bucket list trip:

A March Through Boston. I loved the first two days of my trip, following the same path that Jade, Jake, and Elliot followed in my story - Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Perhaps I was like a comet shooting through their solar system, admiring the historic Boston street scenes, the beautiful Garden and Common already in bloom, the monumental Thomas Cass statue, and the escape route along Boylston, past the iron gate with the gold theater masks, down Beach Street toward the loading dock and a surprise encounter. I’d walked it in my mind many times - to walk it on foot was special and a great start to the trip.

Manchester, Vermont. It’s truly a beautiful spot in the heart of the Battenkill River Valley, under the watchful eye of the Green Mountains. I was glad I made camp there for three days and took in all the surrounding scenery.

Lowell Lake. It was a spiritual experience for me, just like it was for Jake. I was there all alone on the trail and was able to have my own personal quiet moment with the Abenaki people.

Northern Road. Driving the real “Ember Road” north out of Rockwood, Maine was another highlight. I found myself out in the woods very quickly in stormy weather that seemed very appropriate. Mount Kineo was draped in fog out in the middle of Moosehead Lake, but that was beautiful too in its own eerie way.

The Maritimes. I left the official Jake Doe trail after Rockwood, Maine, the scene of “Chapter 15: Dark Woods”, and after a five-inch April snowstorm in nearby Greenville, Maine that the locals were not nearly as excited about as I was. Leaving the area empty-handed in my moose hunt, I could only assume that Mr. Tarzan was happily at home out in the wilderness somewhere nearby. Jake didn’t make it up the Maine and Canadian coast like I did, but he would have loved it. Acadia National Park,Eastport, St. Andrews by the Sea, Saint John, Saint Martins, Louisbourg. I was spoiled by all the spectacular scenery along one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. And I still am this evening, for another hour or two.

Prince Edward Island, Antigonish, Cape Breton. These three spots were clear highlights for me. Visiting in mid-May was a great choice. Not everything was open yet for the season, but enough places were, and I completely dodged any crowds. How many spectacular hikes, beaches, and lighthouse scenes did I have all to myself? Countless. I plan to bring my sons and a group of friends back here for a visit someday.

Rediscovering my love of photography. The iPhone is wonderful for taking quick photos of people and landscapes. The corrections to exposure, color, and contrast are instantaneous and allow you to share great photos and videos instantly to friends and family - or to the world. But I’m excited to get into Adobe Lightroom with all my handheld and tripod bracketed shots on my Canon EOS 70D. I’m dreaming of printing some of these incredible landscape shots on aluminum, but that’s a bigger project that will need to wait until after a book is published.

Finding the Evergreen playlist on Apple Music. I have a wide range of taste in music. Always have. The Highwaymen and Thomson Twins, of course, both made appearances in Jake Doe. While I was writing the book, I found myself listening to the Alt Ctrl playlist on Apple, discovering new bands and songs. Two standouts were from bands I already really liked: “Lucy” by Mt. Joy and “Riptide” by Death Cab for Cutie. I also discovered A$AP Rocky’s “Punky Rock”. Just go listen to it now. That will get your creative juices flowing. But on this Jake Doe Journey, I was super excited to discover the Evergreen playlist on Apple. To whoever curates that music, I salute you and thank you. Well done! It was the perfect soundtrack for a five-week drive through wonderful landscape scenery. I pulled out my favorites into my own playlist that I’ll carry forever: New England Chill 2026.

Friends and family. I may have annoyed them with an endless stream of daily videos and photos, but I’m betting they appreciated being remembered and included along the way. And who knows, one day they might go back through all the images and decide they need to make this same trip themselves. I’m also appreciative of the old friends that I reconnected with over the past five-weeks. There were many of them. And most were even happy to hear from me.

The people I met along the way. Everyone I met on this trip was so friendly and helpful. Being out in nature, in beautiful countryside, brings out the best in everyone. It’s hard to pick favorites, but I guess a few people along the way do stand out. The young woman managing my small inn in Manchester, Vermont. She enthusiastically told me about all the great hiking spots nearby and was excited to learn all about Jake Doe. I’ve got her name written down. She’ll get a book. Ms. Carr in Stanley Bridge, Prince Edward Island, who opened up the kitchen in her restaurant just to shuck me a dozen oysters. Brothers Americo and Nico at Highwheeler Coffee Shop in Baddeck, Cape Breton, who served me delicious coffee and insider tips for my Cabot Trail adventures every morning. They too will get a book. Elizabeth, the nice art gallery owner in Saint John, New Brunswick, who spent almost an hour telling me about the history of the oldest incorporated city in Canada. Her website is handworks.ca if you want to shop for some beautifully flavorful New Brunswick art. Elizabeth will get a book in the mail too.

Nature. I’m thankful for the beauty of the land and sea, the beauty of this life on Earth we all share. If you can shed the stresses and strains of the everyday and find some space and time outdoors, it really is marvelous. I don’t at all take for granted that I was able to find this time in my life and make this journey. I’m grateful. I hope you too will make plans for a road trip to somewhere you’ve always wanted to see. Take lots of photos and videos and bombard your friends back home. They’ll secretly love you for including them...

So that’s the ending of my Jake Doe Journey. What’s the beginning referred to in the title of the post?

Now I’ve got a book to publish! June 8th is twenty-four days away. It will be a chaotic and fun three weeks. I’m ready for it. My battery is at one hundred percent.