Each July, the Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society organizes a long weekend of exciting outdoor activities collectively called the Summer Picnic. For many years, base camp for the picnic has been Webb’s Campground in West Forks, and we were back there again this year. The entertainment began Friday with a swift water rescue clinic on […]
kayaking
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Remembering Carolyn on the New Meadows River
Carolyn Welch was an inspiration. An outdoor friend of mine and my wife, Nancy, for about 35 years, she organized and led hundreds of skiing, hiking, whitewater and sea kayaking trips. Carolyn passed away last year at the age of 86. She was still leading trips as late as the year before she died. Carolyn’s […]
advertisement
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: To the Goslings and back
Mere Point Boat Launch in Brunswick provides boat access to Mere Point Bay. Nearby Maquoit and Middle Bays are also easily reached from this location. Operated by the Town of Brunswick, the upscale facility offers all-tide deep-water entry and egress. Amenities include two boat ramps, a large dock, lots of parking, two toilets and a […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Runaround Pond — a secret gem
Runaround Pond in Durham is a secret paddling gem. I found it by accident a couple of years ago and have returned about a dozen times since. For me, the narrow, 2.7-mile body of water has multiple attractions. Sheltered on all sides, a pleasant paddle can be enjoyed even on a windy day. The winding […]
Posted inKennebunk Post
Kennebunkport kayakers upset over lack of safe launch
The one boat launch accessible to kayakers was recently outfitted with bollards to prevent parking.
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Navigating windy Quahog Bay
One of the benefits of being a member of the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society is that if you want to organize an impromptu outing, there is usually someone available to join you. That was true when I recently decided to organize a sea kayak trip on Quahog Bay near Cundy’s Harbor. Hot, sunny but […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: In pursuit of the puffins on Petit Manan Island
For many years, I’ve organized a Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society late June sea kayak trip to visit the puffins on Eastern Egg Rock in outer Muscongus Bay. Having navigated all of the primary routes in the past, this year I was unsure of my itinerary. Fellow Chowderhead, Norm Olsen, solved my dilemma. He proposed […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Final days on the Cascapédia River
Powerful northwest winds had been blowing us downriver since we began the trip. Five of us were on the second day of a Grand Cascapédia River expedition. Located on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec, the mountain river flows east through the spectacular Chic Choc Mountains to Chaleur Bay in New Richmond. Some of us […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Careening down the Cascapédia River
Five of us awoke to sunny, cold weather on the second day of our Cascapédia River expedition on the Gaspe Peninsula in eastern Quebec. Powerful winds had blown out of the northwest the entire previous day and they hadn’t subsided. The gale provided a substantial benefit: A tailwind had pushed us so rapidly downriver, we […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: White Mountain whitewater rocks
The White Mountains in New Hampshire have more to offer than great hiking, climbing and skiing. In the spring, melting snow drains into the steep streams and rivers flowing out of the tall peaks. For a few weeks in late April and May, they provide some of the best whitewater paddling in New England. Over […]