Monday, September 16, 2013

West Branch of the Saco River


 We put in at Pleasant Point Park in Buxton (take Simpson Rd from Rt 117, then drive through the stone
pillars), a 60 acre town owned park with a carry in launch-site that is quite scenic. There are a couple of picnic tables at the end of the dirt road and a few walking paths. The walk down to the water from the dirt access road is about 20 yards and a bit steep but manageable. There isn’t a beach as such, but the water is shallow and sandy where we launched, and it would make a nice swimming area.

The “lake” created by the dam is beautiful and about 50 feet deep. There are not many houses and we saw turtles, a hawk, a Kingfisher, and a cormorant. We met a local lady who was paddle-boarding and she told us a pair of eagles nests close by and have a young one. Maybe that is why we only a few other birds.

Only one or two motor boats past us and kept their distance as we paddled up to the dam, exploring coves on the way up and back. We saw a man and his daughter, who looked to be about age seven, paddling about on what he called “three boards.” She was learning to swim and he was sounding a little bit envious of our kayaks. Sometimes it’s fun to stop and talk with people we meet along the way.
 





It was a pleasant, leisurely paddle and we took out about noon, just as the wind started to pick up.  We talked with the paddle boarder and her husband who has rheumatoid arthritis and was waiting for her on the shore where we put in. I wanted to tell him about how a gluten-free diet might help his arthritis and that a Maine Warmer can help bring comfort, but I kept mum. 

September 15, 2013