A tiny, seemingly nondescript, barren atoll located in outer Muscongus Bay, Eastern Egg Rock, is one of a handful of locations along the Maine coast where Atlantic puffins come to nest. It hasn’t always been that way. The colorful seabirds stopped returning to the rock around 1890. A variety of circumstances had driven them from […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Surprises abound on Sebasticook River
A paddling trip on Sebasticook River between Clinton and Winslow offers boaters a variety of stimulating adventures. The 5-mile sector between Clinton and Benton Falls Dam is almost continuous quick water and includes three distinct whitewater rapids. Below the dam, there are easy rapids followed by a steady current to Winslow. Predominantly undeveloped along the […]
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Seniors Not Actig Their Age: The Dead River never gets old
My initial descent of the Dead River was in June 1986. It was love at first paddle. In the intervening years, I’ve returned with friends and family over 200 times. For me and many others, the excitement and allure of the Dead never gets old. Beginning in small lakes and ponds in western Maine, the […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Hazardous paddling on Cathance River
The Cathance River is my river. Not really, but I like to think so. Located in my hometown of Topsham, the Cathance travels through a picturesque wilderness area, most of which cannot be accessed without hiking or paddling. Judging from the placid waters at the put-in and takeout, one would never guess a tumultuous whitewater […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Continuing adventures on Sebeois River, Part II — Snowshoe Lodge to Hay Brook Landing
On the second day of a three-day Seboeis and East Branch of the Penobscot River canoe/kayak trip, three of us awoke at Snowshoe Lodge on the Seboeis River. Built by Butler Conservation Trust in conjunction with the Seboeis Riverside Trail, the exceptional cabin provides unusually elaborate accommodations in a remote river setting. Riverside Trail begins […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Exciting adventures on Seboeis River, Part I — Tiger Rips to Snowshoe Lodge
Forty years ago, my wife, Nancy, and I paddled the iconic Seboeis River canoe trip from Grand Lake Road west of Shin Pond to Whetstone Falls on the East Branch of the Penobscot with our friends John and Diane Stokinger. Twenty years later, I descended the turbulent upper Seboeis to Grand Lake Road with a […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: New adventures on the Machias River, Part I — Airline Rapids to Little Falls
Forget the St. John, Allagash or St. Croix rivers. As far as I’m concerned, the Machias River is the best tripping river in Maine, maybe in all of the northeastern United States. A free-flowing river with a large watershed, it begins in the lakes region of northern Washington County. From Fifth Machias Lake, it meanders […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Weaving the Webb River
Hidden away in the rural community of Carthage, except for locals, Webb River is relatively unknown. Whitewater boaters are an exception. Each spring, scores of enthusiastic paddlers converge on the Webb as soon as ice is out for some excellent Class II/III whitewater. A free-flowing river, it’s unique in that a comparatively large watershed keeps […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Exciting whitewater adventures on Kingsbury Stream
Paddling Kingsbury Stream in Abbot has been a Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society spring tradition for decades. In recent years, club member Kyle Duckworth has coordinated the exciting whitewater adventure almost every April. Planning the excursion around the weather, ice and varying water levels is always a challenge. Starting after ice-out is a must. Determining […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Whitewater thrills and spills on Marsh Stream
For several years, the Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society has provided safety for the Marsh Stream Canoe & Kayak Race. Traditionally led by Kyle Duckworth, each April, safety-minded club members enthusiastically volunteer their time to support this worthwhile paddling endeavor. There are added benefits for club members. Many Chowderheads participate in the downriver race. And […]