Saco River from Rotary Park in Biddeford

This section of the Saco is fairly quiet and wide. You will have to paddle against the current going up

river and if the water is high, as it often is in the spring then you'll work hard. The plus side is that on the way back you will have the current assisting you along.

The put-in is easy with plenty of parking and a cement ramp. When you drive into the park stay left to find the put-in. There are ball fields and probably bathroom facilities if you bear right on entering the park.

You have to go under the Maine Turnpike, The bridge is quite high and the current under it was not significant. Most of the shoreline is undeveloped and we found a few places where we might stretch our legs for a few minutes. We saw a couple of turtles basking in the sun, a blue heron, a bald eagle, and a couple of hawks antagonizing some smaller birds. We never made it all the way up to Skelton Dam on this paddle, but will save it for another time.

Tight shoulders from paddling can be relaxed with a Maine Warmer.

First Roach Pond

First Roach Pond in Frenchtown Township is anything but a pond and a lovely place to paddle. It's

Put-in on the western end

3270 acres, about six miles long and 1.5 miles wide at it's widest part . The put-in at the western end, in Kokadjo, is easy and there is plenty of parking across the street from the put-in. No parking signs dot the put-in area and the store owner who owns the land keeps a close eye out for violators. Also, there are not any bathroom facilities -- unless there is one inside the store. However, the put-in is only thirty minutes, at the most, from Greenville.

Snack and stretch time on the northern shore

The sandy/stony beach makes an easy place to put in. The shoreline is dotted with camps but there
were plenty of places to get out and stretch without feeling like we were trespassing. We only covered about half of the lake, never making it to North Inlet which I had hoped to check out. There is another put-in on the far east end of the lake which I hope to report on another time.

We saw Loons, but that was about it for wildlife, even though there were places where moose might be spotted. Early mornings and evening are the best bet for wildlife viewing. The lake has quite a few varieties of fish, including land-locked salmon, brook trout, and lake trout, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Cool nights in this part of the state make using a Maine Warmer a welcome event at the end of the

Neck Warmer soothes tired muscles after paddling

day. The heat relaxes stiff shoulder or neck muscles, and at the end of day outside on the water I am ready to snooze.

Kayaking Indian Pond -- Upper-middle section in early summer

Driving to a place to kayak can be an adventure in itself as was the case with finding this put-in. It is on the Northeastern, upper

Indian Pond put-in on the Northeast end

end of Indian Pond which we accessed via a dirt road, called Burnham Rd off Rte 6 & 15 (no road sign visible). The road into the pond is fairly smooth for about five miles, then it jogs to the left, then right. Although this last stretch of road is only a mile, it took us almost 15 minutes to navigate over the bumps and through three or four large, muddy puddles, all the while being careful not to get the kayaks tangled up in low hanging branches. A four-wheel-drive vehicle with a high wheel base will helps.

See map 40 on the Maine Atlas.

Small cove to check for wildlife

There was plenty of parking, some picnic tables, and a wide stone beach that made putting in easy.
Tucked in the trees was a porta-potty that was clean! Although this area is somewhat remote there is a private camp right next to the put-in. We saw only a couple of boats during the four hours we spent on the "pond."

We paddled south, crossing over to the west side, avoiding the northern bulb of the lake where there are a number of campgrounds. Since we started our paddle about 10 AM we missed a lot of wildlife, although we saw a large turtle that I could not identify crossing the dirt road on our drive in. We came across a couple of man-made Loon nesting sites. The second one had a Loon in it, and not knowing what it was,

Man made, unoccupied Loon nest

we got a little too close. As soon as we realized what it was we quickly left the area hoping the mother didn't abandon her nest. If you see one of these, stay clear. The one in this photo happened to be unoccupied when we stopped here for lunch. Not knowing what it was made us curious and we wondered if it was some kind of trap.

Indian Pond -- really a large lake on the Kennebec River -- is a watershed created by the construction of the hydroelectric Harris Station Dam, in 1952-1954. The river starts as an outflow of Moosehead Lake, then opens up into Indian Pond. Several islands provide places for paddlers to step out for a stretch or lunch. As you paddle, be careful of rocks and tree stumps just under the surface of the water. There are also a number of small coves and streams to explore -- and where we had hoped to see a moose.

Maine Warmers Black Bear microwave warmer

Since I like to camp at the Holiday Inn, at the end of a day of paddling I am happy to heat up a Neck Warmer in the microwave and melt away stiff muscles. If you know someone who missed seeing a moose or bear on a trip to Maine, you can give them a unique gift of a Maine Warmer's Black Bear (like the one in the photo) or Magnificent Moose (check Comforting Creatures for more options on the web site) that can be microwaved and used all year long to relax tight muscles or to warm up.

Happy paddling in Maine!

Branns Mill Pond in Garland, Maine

Island on Branns Mill Pond

Branns Mill Pond is gorgeous with few houses and boats and is fairly shallow with depths of mostly 5 - 6 feet. A couple of islands make nice exit places for picnics.

Find it on Map 32 of the Maine Atlas.

We put in about 11 AM which is about the time the animals head for the woods. There were plenty of colorful dragonflies and butterflies. The obnoxious deer flies bugged us only when we paddled in places protected from the wind. We saw fish jumping and heard plenty of bass playing frogs. We had hoped to see a moose or an eagle but our timing was off.

It took us about 1.5 hours to paddle most of the pond and we paddled at a leisurely pace, watching for rocks and shallow areas. The island we stopped at had tall pine trees and fire pits that looked like they got frequent use. We did saw almost no litter.

Branns Mill Pond

There was plenty of parking on Notch Rd after you cross over a short causeway with another small pond on the other side of the road. The put in was easy with a gradual cement ramp.

This was a nice break and a good warm up paddle on our drive from Southern Maine to Greenville, as we took advantage of a great weather week end for kayaking. Slight winds made it inviting, otherwise, being fair weather paddlers, we would have spent our time hiking. The Moosehead area provides ample opportunities for both.

Whether you kayak or hike, both activities can result in a few stiff muscles. Make sure to pack your Maine Warmer -- that is if you camp at a place with a microwave oven. Then sit back and relax at the end of the day as you plan the next day's paddle or hike.

Paddling south on the Androscoggin River from Center Bridge Rd. In Turner, ME

The Androscoggin Riverlands State Park on the western side of the river protects twelve miles of the

waterfront from development. The Eastern side of the river has almost no development, making this a quiet, lovely place to paddle with several opportunities to get out and stretch along the way. A few islands long the way make for a nice spot to stop for lunch.

Put in at Center Bridge Rd. in Turner, ME

Inlet along the river -- calm shallow water paddling

Island lunch stop

A couple of unfortunate situations occurred resulting in the quietness of this stretch of the river today. One, the river was terribly polluted for decades due to dumping from industrial activities upstream. Two, a hydro-dam constructed in 1925 in Auburn, created an impoundment that stretches up river 14 miles and forced residents to evacuate the land along the river. 

The lower end of this stretch is more open and exposed to boat and float plane traffic. The upper end seems to have less boat traffic and there are several inlets that are shallow and fun to explore.

There wasn’t a lot of wildlife I think because we put in late morning when the animals seem to be less active. In less than two feet of water I inadvertently came close to a large turtle with an oval shell that was about twelve inches long. The head was almost as big as a baseball. I think it was enjoying the warmth of the shallow sunny water and was probably more startled than I.

A small box turtle was sunning himself on a log, and I was disappointed that we didn’t see more turtles on logs or rocks. A few fish were jumping, a Blue Heron flew off in front of us, several Dragonflies darted around and hitched rides on our kayaks, and other birds flitted about.

The put in has a decent ramp and bathroom facilities (portable) and lovely tree-lined frontage for picnicking. I am not sure if the water quality is okay for swimming. 

A Maine Warmers heating pad feels great on stiff shoulders at the end of a day of paddling. 

West Point Up the New Meadows River

The West Point beach in Maine has very limited parking and does not have an all tide ramp. As long as people are respectful, this place will remain open to the public. It is a gem.

We made our plans to put our kayaks in 2 hours before high tide. On this day we planned to navigate up the New Meadows River in order to take advantage of the incoming tide and the outgoing tide on our return.

On the way, because the wind had not picked up yet, we paddled out around an island for which we

couldn’t find a name. It is right next to West Point and may be called Carry On Island. The west side of this island is exposed to open ocean and is gorgeous.  In the afternoons, the wind tends to pick up along the Maine coastline, so we stayed on the protected eastern side on the return trip.

A few notes of concern:

1. When the waves hit the rocky shore they bounce back, causing the water action to become unpredictable.

2. There are some ledges which cause waves to break. Getting caught in breaking waves can be difficult to overcome, so we steer clear of ledges.

3. The motorized boats in this area tend to go at a pretty good clip. It's safer to stay together to increase visibility.

We paddled around Malaga Island, part of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, stopping on the north west side where an easy take out is a welcoming spot on an otherwise rocky coastline. I made a huge error in leaving our lunch in the cooler in the car, so we didn’t stay long on the island to enjoy the trails and scenery from other vantage points.

There isn’t a bathroom at the put-in at West Point, so a stop on Bath on drive is prudent. There is an art gallery and a gift shop on the point, but I didn’t have the enthusiasm or energy to check them out at the end of the paddle. That may entail a separate trip. 

Please feel free to add a comment with additional information about paddling the New Meadows River.

At the end of a day of paddling my shoulder muscles are tight and a Maine Warmers' microwave

heating pad does the trick to increase flexibility. This Cozy Black Bear heating pad becomes a comforting companion at the end of the day.

Gulf Island Pond from the boat ramp in Turner

July 6, 2015

We put in Turner off of Center Bridge Road, at an all-tide ramp (not that is makes any difference in this location) on a beautifully calm day. There were a few cars in the parking lot and the porta-potty was okay. I was a bit skeptical after the long holiday week end. It looks like a nice spot to just stop and throw a fishing line in the water or enjoy the shady area and a picnic. I think swimming would be fine here too, although one would have to climb over a few rocks as there isn’t a sandy beach. 

Boat Ramp

It was a gorgeous paddle – no houses to speak of – with the Andorscoggin Riverlands State Park (it must be about 2 miles long) on our right as we paddled down river. The current didn’t look bad for paddling back against it, and as it turned out it was an easy paddle back.

We saw quite a few birds and one large turtle who we must have spooked. He frantically paddled his own way in the opposite direction after seeing us so close by. There were lots of nooks and crannies to explore and few island on which there were WELCOME signs. That was a nice surprise! They are owned by Maine Hydro and are open to the public for camping (no more than 14 days) and for those who want to stop, like we did, and have a picnic and move on.

There is not much development on this part of the river, I think because it was once so polluted from the mills that no one would want to be close to it. We noticed a lot of dirt and grease like substance on our kayaks as we took them out and gave them a good scrub-down once we arrived home.

This is a beautiful spot to see in spite of the need for continual clean-up. There was a very unpretentious and nice group of folks who were there the day we were. I’d go again.

If your shoulders are tight after paddling, try using a microwave heating pad from Maine Warmers to increase circulation and help flexibility. An extra large back warmer is long enough to cover the shoulders.

Mere Point to the Goslings – a great paddle in calm weather

Mere Point Bay and Middle Bay are easily quite accessible at any tide from the boat launch at Mere Point.  After putting our kayaks in at almost low tide, we paddled on the inside of Birch Island, toward Upper and Lower Goose Islands and then around the outside of Lower Goose to the Goslings. On the farthest Gosling ^th. 

Lower Goose Island

there are Osprey nests and paddlers are discouraged from landing there until after Aug. 15

On this day the wildlife was prolific – more Blue Heron than I have ever seen in one area including a mom and pop who were very protective of their youngster even from a distance. The small fish my husband kept calling “brit” were everywhere in the water and the birds were having a feast.  They were as loud as they were visible, darting, diving, and squabbling. It looked like there was a bully herring gull trying to take the lunch that each of his buddies caught.  He would have spent a less energy finding his  own lunch rather than trying to steal one.

We beached on the inner Gosling for lunch and a stretch our legs. There are trails on this island and one may camp here. I like camping at the Holiday Inn. The Maine Island Trail Association is trying to raise enough money so that the island may be purchased and saved for paddlers and others who want to enjoy some open land.  If you want to donate, every little bit helps.  

Lunch stop on the Goslings

Please do not leave trash of any kind, and if you see trash left by someone else, please take it out with you. We all appreciate the clean, natural beauty of these Maine Islands.

On the outside of the Goslings there are some ledges that we read about where seals like to hang out and often have their babies. We stayed at least fifty yards away and still quite a few seals splashed into the bay as we glided by. Several stayed put on the ledges barking and carrying on a conversation among themselves. As we paddled back into Middle Bay a small seal that I thought might be fairly young popped its head up out in front and between our boats which were about thirty yards apart at that time. It turned its head back and forth to watch both of us as we paddled toward it then slipped under the glassy water.

This is a paddle I would do again, but weather conditions must be ideal as it is fairly exposed. Today, the few motor boats that went by us provided a little wake for entertainment and play in the waves.

Irony Island

The trip was about seven miles and we took our time, taking about four hours to paddle from Mere Point, around the outside of the Goslings, Irony, and Birch Islands. Take special care between Birch and White Islands as there are several spiny and shallow areas at low tide.

Even thought the temperature is mild tonight, my shoulders are tight and I will be using my Maine Warmers’ microwave heating pad to help loosen those tight muscles from paddling and lifting the kayaks.

Dyer Long Pond in Jefferson, ME

 The put-in at the southern end of this lake is lovely and picturesque and parking is easy but the ground water
seems to be high in this area, as advertised in QUIET WATERS, so you might want to have your water shoes on before you get out of the car. We were glad to have our heavy duty mosquito repellent handy, even with the wind blowing 10 to 15 mph.  Fortunately, the town grader had just been over the dirt access road, making it smooth and easy to drive over.

This lake is developed, but not completely, and many of the houses and camps are spread out. The east side of the lake is fairly deep, and in windy conditions, we were reluctant to take out for a break.  If the water and air temperatures were warmer we might have risked getting wet.  The west side of the lake is shallow but much of the land is posted or too filled with low growing vegetation to get close to shore. So we ate out lunches in our boats.  

A bald eagle startled us as we paddled under the overhanging branches where he had been perched. I think we startled him too. We heard more wildlife than observed on this lake, maybe because we put in late morning instead of earlier. On this day, with a steady northwest wind, about half of the time, we were paddling moderately hard. Because the lake is fairly narrow, the waves were minimal, and we were able to find sheltered areas.

This beautiful patch of Water Iris was a nice surprise.

After three hours without a stretch we were ready to disembark, but happy we had a chance to see this lovely spot in Maine. I was wishing I had left a Maine Warmer on the dashboard of my car so when we drove home I would have heat to relieve my stiff muscles.

We drove up on Rte 1 to Rte 215, along Damariscotta Lake, and found the drive to be quite beautiful in mid-June. The drive back to the Portland area was about ½ hour faster, taking Rte 126 west to Gardner and south on 295.

Nequasset Lake in Woolwich, Maine

This quiet lake and stream provided a wonderful wildlife experience and was easy to access. We put in at the bridge on Old Stage Road off of Rte. 127, only a few miles from Rte. 1, at the north end of the lake. The put-in was easy, and we were able to get a parking place in the four-car lot. Otherwise we would have parked on the side of the road, before the bridge. There are not any public rest rooms, which we fortunately anticipated ahead of time. But there were places to stop on the lake and get out of the kayaks for a few breaks.

Nequasset Stream

We paddled the stream first – about a mile north and a mile back. I was surprised that we only saw one painted turtle sunning itself on a rock, but we saw a huge snapping turtle sunning itself in the water, just under the surface. I was happy to paddle away from that creature. Great blue herons and small birds entertained us as we enjoyed the beautiful scenery. We maneuvered under and around a couple of fallen trees. The stream ends at a small waterfall and an open meadow with some houses in the distance.

We turned the kayaks around and paddled with the current back past the put-in and under the bridge to the lake, where we saw an osprey scouting out his lunch just above us. He dove into the lake a couple of times and came up with nothing, but the third time he carried it away a decent sized fish. About half way down the 2-mile long lake, we saw a bald eagle fly overhead and hoped we would catch sight of him again. When we stopped on the east side of the lake, we watched young fish swimming close to shore like they were chasing a food source or playing tag.

 

Nequasset Lake

The lake was outlined by rocks and we saw a small dark, almost black, animal making its way just above the rock line. At first, we thought it was an otter, but it seemed fatter than an otter, and it had an almost cat-like shape. Later, speculated that it was probably a fisher cat.  I thought it must be hunting fish, but I read that fisher cats seldom eat fish.

Nequasset Lake does not have many houses on it and is a drinking water source for the surrounding area. It’s a wonderful place for a paddle and one I would love to paddle again. 

Bethel Point to Sebasco

October 11, 2013

This put-in at the end of Bethel Point Road on the West side of the Sebascodegan is an all-tide ramp on a small peninsula with views of Yarmouth Island, Quahog Bay, and Ridley Cove. The ramp is public, but parking is available at the Bethel Point Boatyard, a private establishment where we parked for a $6 fee. Drive or walk up to the house on the hill to pay, where the lady who collected our money was very nice and warned us that the mosquitoes were out. There is a blue box (bathroom facility) in the parking lot.

I was glad to have donned my wet suit on this 11^th day of October, as I slipped and fell on my backside while attempting to get into my kayak. The wet suit not only kept me warm, but it cushioned my landing on the rocky bottom. I was more disgusted at myself for having started off with a wet bottom than I was embarrassed – there were some people around who saw me fall.

The rough beginning turned out to be no indication of the lovely paddle we would experience as we made our way out into Quahog Bay and around the outside of Yarmouth Island and two small islands. Our goal was to stop on Raspberry Island, designated on the Maine Islands Trail, but the tide was so low that we were not able to find a safe landing spot.

As we paddled out into the bay toward open ocean, the water so calm it was almost like glass, we enjoyed playing on the gentle swells. We had to go out around long extensions of rocks to avoid scraping the bottoms of our boats and enjoyed the gold color of the seaweed as it hung from the rocks and and swung to and fro in the salt water.

At the southeast tip of Yarmouth Island we enjoyed a small pond-like protected area surrounded by rocks. Waves were breaking on the outside of this low tidal cove, and on the inside we paddled slowly, looking down to view patches of broken white shells resting on the dark rocks that lined the bottom of the ocean. We paddled between jagged rocks, through seaweed, and away from the breaking waves to the outside, and turned east toward Bear Island, Malaga Island, and Sebasco.

We found a place to a land on Malaga Island, a land preserve, and a great place to stop, stretch, and have

our picnic lunch of egg salad sandwiches and crisp Cortland apples. I would like to return and walk the trails of this island, especially after reading this article about it, and the sad history that I recently read about.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/a-century-of-shame_2012-05-20.html?pagenum=full

The gray clouds parted to let the sun shine through at times as we returned to Bethel Point via Ridley Cove, deciding not to go out and around Yarmouth Island on the return. The layers of color -- the blue water, yellow seaweed, dark wet rocks, sun-bleached white rocks, trees spotted with autumn colors, and the blue sky – provided a lovely show as we made our way back, swatting a few mosquitoes along the way.

I was happy to have an extra large back warmer to put between my shoulder blades when I crawled into bed that night. When my back muscles relaxed I put it on my feet to warm and soothe them as well. Check out Maine Warmers for microwave heating pads if you've been paddling all day.

New Meadows River from Sabino to The Basin

Put-in at Sabino

This was one of the nicest paddles we have had in Maine. The day we slipped away from work with the kayaks on the roof of the car was in late September and because it was mid-week, we saw very little in the way of boat traffic.

The put-in at Sabino, which has no public parking, but a permit may be had by calling the town office and paying a fee. There is a very small parking lot and most of the parking is along the road. It is a relatively easy put-in although we arrived about an hour before high tide and took out about 3 hours after, so I cannot say what it is like at low tide. Some local clammers and lobster fishermen and women were coming and going, using this access. They were friendly and helpful, but in a hurry to get their gear loaded and  unloaded, which we respected. One of them told us that the little cottage on the rocks in this photo has a "For Rent" sign on it and it is relatively inexpensive.

The water was unusually calm and we saw porpoise breaking the surface as we paddled past Winnegance Bay toward The Basin, an inlet that is very popular in the summer but quiet this time of year. A few leaves were turning color but most foliage was still green. A seal stretched his neck up to check us out and seemed to follow us for awhile.

Basin Island from the South side

There is a lengthy entrance to The Basin. One would think it was a river or large stream, but it opens up into a large body of water. On the right is Basin Island, which is on the Maine Islands Trail and where on can beach a kayak and enjoy a little stretch and picnic lunch. Go to the north west side of the island to find access. The rest of the island has sides that are too rocky and steep for landing a boat.

This is one of the prettiest places I have been in a kayak. I am looking forward to putting in at Sebasco and paddling up river to the Basin on another calm day this fall.

Whenever we return home from a day on the water, I am happy to have a Maine Warmer to relax and soothe my tired back muscles. The full back warmer is perfect for that, although a neck warmer can feel good as well.

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

Kayaking & Walking through the Everglades National Park -- Feb. 2013

Sixth months ago, if you had told me that I would be slogging through Everglades National Park in water over my ankles, in open toed water shoes looking for alligators and other wildlife I would have said you were out of your mind. But that is what my husband and I did last week.

This activity was way outside of my comfort zone.

Within the first few steps off the road we observed a colorful, long, thin (non-poisonous) Ribbon Snake. I thought we might back up and enter the Cypress Dome somewhere else, but before I knew it our guide, Garl, who was barefoot, and my husband were almost out of sight. Not wanting to be left to fend for myself I sucked it up and followed them. For awhile it felt like an out-of-body experience. But, I am still alive and to be honest, I had the time of my life, seeing beautiful plants and yes -- even snakes and gators.


I think when we overcome our fears to accomplish
something unique and challenging, we gain new perspectives and confidence. In this case I am glad I didn't allow fear to keep me away from this unique and exhilarating experience.



At the end of each day I was happy to have packed my Neck Warmer. At Maine Warmers we are all about comfort, but if you decide to step outside of your comfort zone, whatever it may be, I hope you remember to keep a Maine Warmer close at hand to soothe your tired muscles and relax your excited mind.


Check out Garl's Coastal Kayaking for an amazing and fun experience. More importantly, read the reviews about him on Trip Advisor.

Ripple Effect Parent Day, June 28, 2012

Ripple Effect is a camp for kids and adults on Cow Island in Casco Bay.  The campers are taught boating safety, the names of the different parts of a kayak, how to make sure their life preservers fit them correctly, how to wear a spray skirt, to enter a kayak, and exit one, and how to paddle – among other things.

On day 4 of a week-long day camp, parents were invited to go kayaking with their kids at the camp to see what they had learned. I was invited by our grandson to attend.

It was a gorgeous day, with little wind, and white puffy clouds. The kids and counselors had the kayaks on the beach, ready for the paddle after four other parents and I arrived. The kids taught the adults what they had learned, and then we got into the boats, and headed out into the bay, staying clear of the barnacle-covered rocks.

Erik had us try to turn the kayaks around 360 degrees in fifteen strokes – not easy, especially in a large, tandem kayak like the one we were in. We all worked hard. After awhile I discovered that kids in kayaks tend to bump into each other -- frequently. Erik said it well, “The kayaks all seemed to have magnets on them.”

We paddled around the island and stopped at the far end on a rocky beach to have lunch.  We ventured out into the bay again, this time to play some games – Frisbee, then peanut butter and jelly – a game where one team of paddlers individually had to touch the bow of their boats to the stern of the other team. The games were designed to improve paddling skills. It was chaotic, pure mayhem, and great fun!

We paddled back to the place we started, talked about the day, and headed back to the mainland, tired and happy to have been in kayaks on a warm summer day in Maine.

Presumpscot River with MOACERS

Sunday, 80 degrees and bright blue skies – a perfect day for a paddle up the Presumpscot River.

We joined a MOAC (Maine Outdoor Adventure Club) group, put our kayaks in at Shaw Park in Gorham, and paddled upstream until we came to the Pleasant River. There we stopped for a brief cookie break (home-made), resumed our journey for a about a half mile, until the current outmatched our desire to paddle harder.  We did an about-face and rode the current back downstream paddling with little effort.  On the riverbank, two Canadian geese, a mama and papa, watched us closely, ready to protect their three downy goslings, should we pose a threat.

Back on the Presumpscot River, we paddled against the current once more, delighted by the site of Babb’s Covered Bridge that connects the towns of Gorham and Windham. Kids made a big splash as they hurled themselves into the river on the ends of rope swings. Some were dropping from the underside of the bridge, and some, less daring, were swimming from a beach on the side of the river.

Beyond the bridge we took a short break and stretch, borrowing someone’s picnic table, and enjoying the feel of the cool water on our feet. Slipping in and out of the kayak can be tricky, especially when there is a current. I came close to taking a spill, but two quick MOACERS steadied my boat in the nick of time.

The quiet railroad bridge we passed under on our way up the river was now lined with teenagers, eager for a thrill and attention, jumping 30 – 40 feet into the river, before our eyes. They were eager to entertain this unexpected audience of eight boats and 9 paddlers.

We would have liked to join this great group of MOACERS for ice-cream after loading the gear in the car and our kayaks on the racks, but it we had a commitment and had to hustle on our way. We thanked our leader for organizing the trip and for picking such a lovely day and spot to paddle.