Forty-five years ago, I experienced my first spring paddle on the Sheepscot River between Whitefield and Head of Tide with my friend, Bob Smith. Novice paddlers, we navigated an 18-foot tandem canoe wearing jeans, wool tops and old sneakers offering little defense from the icy water. We capsized in a Class II rapid about a […]
kayaking
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Kayaking Spirit Pond and Morse River
Several years ago, while hiking with a group of friends on Seawall Beach at the end of Morse Mountain Trail in Phippsburg, we came upon the mouth of Morse River on the east end of the beach. A remarkably scenic location: several small barren islands are located just offshore and distinctive Sequin Island and Lighthouse […]
advertisement
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Whitewater drama on Little Suncook River
Little Suncook River in south-central New Hampshire is a tiny whitewater creek more aptly called a stream or brook. Located in Epsom, the exciting descent flows west from Northwood Lake along Route 4 before entering Suncook River east of Concord. With the exception of spring runoff and after heavy rain, the diminutive freshet is rarely […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A surprise ending on Scarborough Marsh
Scarborough Marsh is the largest saltwater marsh in Maine. The 3,100-acre, exceptionally scenic estuary is home to numerous species of birds, fish, mammals and shellfish. When Shweta Galway announced a Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society paddling trip on the marsh, my wife, Nancy, and I enthusiastically signed on. Six of us met at the Audubon […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Whitewater exploits on the Magalloway River
Twenty-six years ago, my late friend Bill Kaiser recruited me to represent the Appalachian Mountain Club in dam relicensing tests on the Rapid and Magalloway Rivers in western Maine. I was one of perhaps a dozen participants from several regional paddling organizations. The purpose was to navigate the two rivers in canoes or kayaks for […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A surf-and-turf on the Penobscot River Trails
The Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone consist of 25 kilometers of exceptional mountain bike and cross-country ski trails that parallel the East Branch of the Penobscot River. The superb multipurpose recreational complex offers hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and paddling. There is a visitor center and two arguably palatial warming huts. A well-designed hand-carry canoe-kayak […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Unpredictable weather is normal sea kayaking Downeast
Our original plan to complete a four-day sea kayak excursion along the Bold Coast in Eastern Maine was aborted after the first day due to foggy weather and turbulent seas. Six Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society Chowderheads regrouped and resolved to take advantage of other exceptional sea kayak opportunities the Downeast coastline has to offer. […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Foggy misadventures on the Bold Coast
The Bold Coast in eastern Maine meets my definition of bold. For about 20 miles between Lubec and Cutler, it is an almost continuous succession of tall, dramatic cliffs and a rugged landscape completely exposed to the vicissitudes of the open sea. The nearby Bay of Fundy has some of the most extreme tidal ranges […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Exciting Class III whitewater on the Kennebec River
On the second day of the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society weekend of paddling near West Forks, the schedule was exclusively whitewater. While a handful of Chowderheads planned to navigate the Dead River, most chose outings on the Kennebec. The Kennebec Gorge below Harris Dam was the starting point for two trips. Releases from the […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A gusty surprise traversing Moxie Pond
Each year, the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society celebrates summer with a weekend of paddling adventures collectively called the Summer Picnic. For many years, the event has been held at West Forks in western Maine. The base camp for club activities is Webb’s Campground located on the Dead River at West Forks just before it […]