Swan Island on the Kennebec River in Richmond has a long and rich past. Human activity on the island can be traced back thousands of years. Native Americans known as Abenakis, some likely my ancestors, inhabited the island for centuries before the first Europeans arrived in 1607. Relations between the Native Americans and early European […]
kayaking
Posted inOutdoors, Times Record
A partial kayak circumnavigation of Deer Island in Passamaquoddy Bay
A group of friends and I were on the third day of a weeklong vacation on Deer Island in New Brunswick. Located in Passamaquoddy Bay just east of Eastport and northwest of another, more well-known Canadian island, Campobello, we were camping on Deer Island Point Campground at the southern end of the island. On the […]
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Kayakers take on spectacular Deer Island in New Brunswick
A kayaker approaches Hardwood Island northeast of Deer Island in New Brunswick, Canada. (Ron Chase photo) For the past two years, a group of friends and I have traveled to Campobello Island in New Brunswick for kayaking, biking and hiking adventures in August. After I wrote a couple of columns about our kayaking exploits, a […]
Posted inTimes Record
Dyer Long Pond in Jefferson is a serene hidden gem
A group of paddlers navigate north on Dyer Long Pond in Jefferson. (Ron Chase photos) I “discovered” Dyer Long Pond in Jefferson while studying my Delorme Maine Atlas for prospective lakes and ponds to explore in central Maine. A banana-shaped body of water with several inlets, coves and small peninsulas, the approximately 3-mile-long pond appeared […]
Posted inTimes Record
Paddlers explore the Georges Islands by kayak via Port Clyde
Several years ago, I launched with a group of kayakers from Port Clyde. Parking was a significant problem, so I wrote it off as a starting point for kayak trips despite the presence of a couple of exceptional paddling opportunities in the area. In June, I met a kayak guide who reported that Port Clyde […]
Posted inTimes Record
Kayakers explore Lower Togus Pond in Augusta
For several years, I’ve organized Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society spring whitewater trips on Togus Stream from Chelsea to Randolph where it joins the Kennebec River. Those adventures recently motivated me to investigate the source of the stream, Togus Pond in Augusta. My research indicated Togus Pond is separated into two distinct bodies of water […]
Posted inTimes Record
Searching for sturgeons on the Kennebec River
“The sturgeons are jumping,” my friend, Brent Elwell, reported. He was referring to a recent trip he had taken on the Kennebec River. Paddling the Kennebec is always a pleasure, but doing so while watching the sturgeons jump is an exceptional experience. When I remarked that I’d like to complete a trip on the river […]
Posted inOutdoors, Times Record
Nequasset Lake in Woolwich a prime location for peaceful kayaking
About 25 years ago, my wife, Nancy, and I completed a sea kayak instruction and safety course on Nequasset Lake in Woolwich. The training was so absorbing we didn’t pay much attention to the surrounding lake. In recent years, we’ve been exploring small lakes and ponds in kayaks. After driving over the southern end of […]
Posted inOutdoors, Times Record
Excitement abounds on the Dead River Throwback Cruise
The Dead River near West Forks always offers a thrilling whitewater adventure. When relatively inexperienced paddlers take on the turbulent river navigating old-style boats, added excitement is guaranteed. That’s precisely what the Dead River Throwback Cruise recently delivered. A celebration of old-time boats and gear, the Throwback Cruise has become an annual tradition for my […]
Posted inTimes Record
Trues Pond in Liberty an entertaining paddling excursion
In late May, while kayaking on Stevens Pond in Liberty, I met two kayakers who highly recommended a similar trip on nearby Trues Pond, also in Liberty. I was only vaguely aware of Trues Pond and had never considered it a paddling destination. Always on the lookout for a new paddling opportunity, their glowing report […]
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