|
|
|
Labor Day 2009 found us scouting the northeast for perfect paddling locations -- and we found them! Our trip started in Vermont at Bennett's 1815 House, a bed and breakfast in Reading, owned by Barb's sister, Karen. They have a fabulous restaurant, seven acres of lawn and woods...
|
|
|
|
...and a river runs through it! After getting aquainted with rural Vermont -- maple sugar farms and covered bridges -- Karen and Barb set off on their road trip to Maine.
|
|
|
|
The coast immediately inspired us with the fabulous homes -- both quaint fishing shanties and mansions. Here are some that we liked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We were lucky to have made friends in Greece this summer with Jane W. and Anne H. Both sisters have houses in Small Point Maine (along with sister, Polly, too.) We visited Jane and Anne and joined them for a walk on the beach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the afternoon we headed to the sheltered waters of Casco Bay for our first taste of Maine kayaking. Jane and Anne were able to borrow boats from a friend but are now looking to buy their own :-).
|
|
|
|
We hear the fishing is good.
|
|
|
|
Our friend, Kaiulani, explored the shore of Hermit Island Campground in her sit-on-top.
|
|
|
|
Karen and Barb paddled up a side cove that turned out to be the marshy mouth of a river flowing into the bay.
|
|
|
|
On the next leg of our trip we visited the Maine Maritime Museum, the site of the Bath ship builders. Nearly 50 wooden ships, all multimasted schooners, were built here in the early 19th century. Paddlers we met the next day visited the wreck of one of these old four masted schooners.
|
|
|
|
We were invited to join members of the Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network at a camp on Muscongus Bay, just about an hour north of Casco Bay. All the comforts of home were provided as long as you liked sleeping in a tent! Joel cooked fresh lobster on the fire.
|
|
|
|
John B. honored us with a wine tasting and we enjoyed three different wines with dinner. These are "our kind" of paddlers. When dinner is served it is a real Maine treat!
|
|
|
|
Saturday morning dawned gray with a forecast for afternoon rain, but 11 of us started out from New Harbor, heading for the Puffin Colony on Eastern Egg Rock.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unfortunately our trip was aborted just over half way. One of our paddlers got sick. Interesting rescue situations and discussions followed. Christie ended up sharing the bow of the tandem with Joan for the ride home wih Ken. John towed the extra boat through the rain.
|
|
|
|
This fishing boat turned out to be our only puffin sighting.
|
|
|
|
However, Sunday turned out to be a GLORIOUS day. Just eight of us put in at Christmas Cove.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Di led us out through the harbor. Ken knew which rocks to dodge and where to find a couple waves to surf.
|
|
|
|
Our destination was Little Thrumscap Island.
|
|
|
|
|
|
The island's sandy beach provided a perfect landing and a great picnic spot.
|
|
|
|
From the top of Thrumscap we could see lighthouses in the distance and the channel peppered with lobster pots.
|
|
|
|
When it was time to return we played in the swells and enjoyed the sun all the way home to the harbor cove.
|
|
|
Sunday afternoon Karen and I said goodbye to Joel and Di, Dennis, John and Bruce and headed back to Vermont.
|
|
|
|
Before returning to Texas there was time for one more day of paddling. We chose the Connecticut River that runs between Vermont and New Hampshire.
|
|
|
|
We saw just the beginning of fall's colorful foliage.
|
|
|
|
Quiet paddling along the marshy New Hampshire bank showed us some wild life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We headed home filled with the wonders of New England and all the possibilites for the next trip.
|
|
