Jul 24, 2021: Moxie Pond

It was great to be able to have a PPCS summer picnic at the Forks, with so many unmasked faces, familiar and new. Even though the releases on the Dead river were cancelled, we found plenty of ways to get in boats on the water together throughout the weekend. Check out the trip reports for the various ways to enjoy the Kennebec river! On Saturday three of us enjoyed a windless, sunny day on Moxie Pond, which offered spectacular views, lots of loons, and plenty of time to share conversations and laughter. Lunch on the rocks of a tiny island was preceded and followed by a swim, which all lunches should be if at all possible.

Helen Hess (TC) and Cathi Reed OC-2, Kenny DeCoster in a sea kayak

Jun 6, 2021: Dead River

This was my first shuttle with Webb’s Shuttle since the pandemic.  It is still a great deal as no one gets very excited about driving in for vehicles after a long day on the river.  We were fortunate to have a contingent of New Hampshire based boaters join the trip.  They included Mike Russell, Derek Ahl, Brian McCormack and Emma Erler. Another new member Matthew Briere also joined this trip.

We had very nice weather on this trip.  In fact, I think a couple trip members remarked it was a near perfect paddle day.  Other pluses included: few biting insects, low river traffic and plenty of surfing opportunities.  It looked like everyone enjoyed the day on the river.

Participants: TC Brent Elwell K-1, Derek Ahl K-1, Michael Russell K-1, Connor Marland OC-1, Brian McCormack K-1, Julia Richmond K-1, Ron Chase K-1, Tom Sawyer OC-1, Emma Erler K-1, Matthew Briere OC-1, Ryan Galloway OC-1

Jul 10, 2021: Magalloway River, 1200cfs

This trip was the first time of the season at 1200 cfs.  I had paddled the prior two Saturdays at 900 cfs.  Paddling it three Saturdays in a row was due to the drought conditions that Maine has endured this year.  Nonetheless, this river has an incredible amount of play and one of the best shuttles of any river in Maine.  The first run of the season subjected us to an incredible number of trees in the river.  The start of the river had the most trees that I have ever seen and most were not in very good places.  However, most of these were removed before this trip started.  Another feature to be aware of are the number of fishermen on the river (the fishing is very good on this river!)  The weather was outstanding and bugs few. Surprisingly, there were few other boaters and we had the river pretty much to ourselves.   We had knocked ourselves out surfing and called it good after a couple runs.

Participants: TC Brent Elwell, Mark Nelson, Randy Berube, Julia Richmond and Kenny Decoster

Jun 24, 2021: Eastern Egg Rock

The need for a quality forecast makes planning a sea kayak trip to distant Eastern Egg Rock a challenge.  That was especially true this year as strong winds and high seas (due at least in part to Tropical Storm Bill) resulted in four postponements.  We finally got a good wind and weather forecast but 2 to 4 foot seas were predicted.  It seemed like every aspect of the trip was formidable.  Round Pond Landing was crowded and chaotic.  I estimate the seas were in the 4 to 5 foot range approaching Western Egg Rock where we initially thought we’d had a close shark encounter.  Turns out it was probably a sunfish.  It was unsafe to land on Western Egg, a first for me.  That meant remaining in our boats for an extended time.  We decided on a short visit with the puffins with a stop at western on our return.  The seas were still big leaving Western but mellowed as we neared Eastern Egg Rock.  Usually, most of the puffins are located on the west side of the rock but only a few were present this year.   Since a tour boat was circumnavigating the island, we reluctantly decided to extend our trip and do the same.  Our efforts were rewarded as scores of the delightful seabirds were swimming and feeding in large swells on the south side.  Numerous more sightings were made as we continued around the rock.  Hurrying back to Western Egg, it was still unsafe to land.  After about 5 hours in our boats, we found relief at Noyes Preserve on the southern end of Loud’s Island.  Whitecaps were building when we finally returned to Round Pond Harbor.  Despite a multitude of obstacles, we had another successful puffin endeavor.

Participants:  Ellen Nelson, Mark Nelson, Jean Miller, Randy Berube, Laurie Wunder, Tom Meredith, and TC

Jun 5, 2021: Dead River (4000cfs)

Participants: Kayaks – TC’s Suzanne and Gary Cole, Emma Erler, Charlie Berliant, Jean Miller, Bill Stafford, Paul Bicknell, Tom Rutka, Jeff Swett, Troad Richmond, Jeff Bickford, Loren Starcher, Jamie Dolan, Jordan Schlitzer, Devon Carter, Pat Cavanagh, Paul LeClerc, Randy Berube; OC1 – Patti Rutka; Shredder – Paul Peters, Connor Marland; Raft – Deb Harris, Wayne Adams.

This level was a step up for some of our participants and a revisit to the “old 3500” for others. In recent years, the 3500 release shrank from what we were use to because of more accurately measured releases. So, in order to get back to the “old 3500”, they now release 4000 cfs. Some of the rapids seemed big to us old timers; we aren’t sure if it is because we had grown accustomed to the recent years levels or if it is in fact bigger than the old 3500. 

Clouds and warm weather ushered us down the river. With such a large group, we created subgroups to look out for and keep track of each other. There was good surfing at all the usual spots and those who were not as familiar with the river followed us old timers. We had a bit of excitement with four swimmers. Many thanks to the people who helped out with the swimmers towing boats and boaters to shore.