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.