Jul 9, 2023: Narraguagus Bay and Harrington Bay, near Milbridge, Maine, Washington County

An anticipated gap in the rain, and flat calm conditions, provided an opportunity for paddling in the waters between Petit Manan Point, in Steuben, and Cape Split, in Addison.  From that broader area, we chose this time to do the central portion of the area from Milbridge boat ramp, across Narraguagus Bay and Harrington Bay, through the nearby islands to the Harrington boat ramp.  That more restricted area offered opportunity for shoreside paddling, with sheltered coves, in case the existing fog came in thicker during the trip.

The morning of the paddle, with the 12-foot tide at dead low, we opted to reverse the course, putting in at the deep-water launch in Harrington, heading generally westward, and then riding the incoming tide up to an easier and less muddy takeout in Milbridge.

With visibility about 300 yards at our 1100 hours launch, we paddled south along the western shore of the Ripley Neck peninsula until we were abreast of Dry Ledge and its large seal colony about a half mile offshore to the west.  Venturing off from the shore of Ripley, we could maintain visual contact with the Ripley shore until we could easily see Dry Ledge, and then, moving westerly, the two other ledges leading us across a mile and a half of water to the eastern shore of Foster Island.  Plenty of curious seals took time from their corralling of schools of menhaden (or pogies) to visit us.

Since some paddlers were new to the area, we then explored two coves on the eastern shore of Foster Island that are both scenic and provide good refuge if the weather turns bad.  (the TC is very big on having plenty of refuges available.)

With the visibility increasing and the sun getting brighter, we paddled southward along Foster, across the channel to Dyer Island, and into the lovely and super protected Northeast Cove for a break.  It’s a beautiful inlet, albeit shallow at low tide, with Strout Island, Otter Island, and tiny Isabel Island (the latter claimed and named by the TC’s granddaughter on a previous visit) visible from the inner cove.

From Northeast Cove, with the tide running inward from astern, we coasted back north along the northeast shore of Dyer Island, and then quartered northwest in the current between Dyer and Foster, across the two-mile, open-water run of Narraguagus Bay to Fickett Point and the mouth of the Narraguagus River.  From there, the incoming tide carried us up through the lobsterboat anchorages to the Milbridge takeout at the boat ramp.

Total time afloat was about three hours and 40 minutes, with total distance 7.5 nautical miles, or 8.6 statute miles.

Paddlers were Andra Lotze, director of development for the Steuben-based Eagle Hill Field Research Institute; Rick Vanderpol, a visiting instructor at the institute; PPCS President Helen Hess; and TC Norm Olsen.

Notes on the area:

The shuttle between Milbridge boat ramp and Harrington boat ramp is about 20-25 minutes and 14 miles, up Route 1A and then south on the Marshville Road (a half mile east of the Irving station) leading down the Ripley Neck.

The Harrington launch area has parking but no other facilities.  The Milbridge launch area has a small park, picnic tables, porta potties, and plenty of parking.  Two miles south of the Milbridge launch, on the western shore, is Chipman’s lobster pound and seafood takeout, which has a ramp where paddlers can haul out, and a lovely rooftop deck on which to dine.

While this entire area is largely protected from swells, that two-mile stretch across Narraguagus Bay can get uncomfortable in a breeze, particularly if the breeze and tidal current are running in opposite directions.  If wind, sea, current or fog had been less favorable, we would have gone north and west from the Harrington put-in, across the few hundred yards to Ray’s Point, and then right along the shore inside of Foster Island and around Fickett Point to the Narraguagus.  Along that route, Flat Bay and Back Bay offer lovely, protected paddling, with lots of wildlife.

Farther offshore are another dozen principal islands and even more ledges, but few decent landing spots.  Flint Island, directly south of Dyer Island and owned by the Nature Conservancy, has a stony beach on its northern side.

Tiny Mink Island, on the east side of the Ripley Neck in the mouth of the Pleasant River, is a Maine Island Trail campsite, but landing is over the ledges.

Sheep Island, farther south, close along the Addison Shore and just a few hundred yards off the west side of Cape Split, is also a MITA site and has a lovely, protected, sand beach and easy camping.  Sheep Island is easily accessible from Cape Split causeway which has a couple of pull over parking spots.  MITA also has a site on the northeast side of Bois Bubert Island that is accessible from the launch ramp on the road leading to Petit Manan Point.

Jun 21-22, 2023: Eastern Egg Rock

Typically, the almost annual Eastern Egg Rock trip to visit the puffins began with confusion about the weather.  Initially, we had a near perfect forecast.  The night before, a prediction for fog raised its ugly head.  When six of us met at the Friendship Boat Landing, the weather was superb.  Our plan was to camp overnight, so we paddled four miles to the campsite on Black Island first.  Two members in the group, decided to remain in the area.  Although there were fog banks to our east and west, four of us had glorious conditions for our cruise to the rock.  Thanks to club member, Liv Ridley, who works on the rock, we knew the puffins were there.  As always, they were a treat.  Our return to Black was equally enjoyable.  Three of us spent the night while ex-president DeCoster logged in a 17 mile day and returned home.  Camping conditions were excellent but we awoke to dense fog.  During breakfast, we experienced a unique fog bow.  We outwaited the fog and paddled to Harbor Island for a trek across the island to cliffs on the west side.  From there, we returned to Friendship completing an exceptional two-day adventure visiting the puffins, experiencing a fog bow, and hiking the cliffs of Harbor Island.  

Participants:  Ellen Nelson, Mark Nelson, Jean Miller, Ken Gordon, Ex-president DeCoster, and TC Ron Chase

Jun 11, 2023: Sebasticook River – Clinton, Mill Park to Benton Falls Dam, carry, on to Kennebec River

The Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society paddled the Sebasticook River
from Clinton to Benton Falls Dam and then from Benton Falls Dam to Fort
Halifax Part (Kennebec River) Sunday. Beautiful day, excellent water
level (3″ below last step at Mill Park), great people, amazing number of
eagles everywhere. There are more eagles (more than 40) on the section
below the dam than anywhere in the continental U.S. per Nate Gray at
Maine Marine Resources.

We had 9 boats and 10 people from Clinton to the Benton Falls Dam and
11 boats and 12 people from the dam to Fort Halifax Park (Kennebec River).

Bruce Weik, Pauline Boyce, Andrew McDowell, Emma McDowell, Ron Chase,
Nancy Chase, Kevin Morrissey, Beth Main, Shawn Main, Karin Eberhardt,
Loren Starcher, Allan Fuller

The eagles are there to eat the alewife (herring) that are migrating
up the Sebastocook River. There have been more than 5 million alewife
that have passed the Benton Falls Dam going up the river so far. That is
the biggest river migration on the whole east coast of the U.S. There
were schools of herring breaking water. They were being driven to the
surface by the stripper bass chasing them. The herring are food for all.
About 20% are netted and sent to Canada in refrigerated trucks to be
canned for human consumption.

Jun 10, 2023: Sebasticook River from Clinton to Benton, 2.7 miles

Matt Sanborn and I paddled from Clinton, Mill Park to my farm takeout in Benton after the whitewater.  We were checking the water level and potential problems we should be aware of for the paddle the next day on Sunday June 11th.  The water level was about 3 inches below the last granite step going to the river at Mill Park.  The white level was high enough for a good paddle in all areas including the whitewater.  It was not too low to cause rocks to be showing and not too high to be a challenge in the whitewater.  We saw about 5 eagles, one osprey, and one great blue heron.

Jun 3-4, 2023: Dead 4000 & 2400

Saturday – June 3 Participants:

K-1:  Brent Elwell, Devon Carter, Paul LeClerc, Charlie Berliant, Greg Winston and Ken Gordon

OC-1:  Kenny DeCoster

Inflatables:  Jeff Swett, Bryan and Alyssa Wolfe,  Ron and  Adam Chase

Sunday – June 4 Participants:

K-1:  Adam Chase, Ron Chase, Paul LeClerc, Ken Gordon

C-1:  Mason Galway

OC-2:  Peter and Iris Hubbard, Ryan Galway and Will

OC-1:  Kenny Decoster, Matt Briere, Dan House

Following two days of summer like weather the paddling weekend arrived wet, cold and windy but it didn’t deter the 19 boaters who showed up at The Forks for Saturday’s 4000 and Sunday’s 2400 releases.  Saturday’s 4000 provided great play opportunities and challenging big water rapids.  Weather conditions were good considering the windy and cool temperatures but the rapid pace of the trip kept everyone paddling and warm.  Other than a few occasional rolls all members had successful runs and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Sunday’s 2400 started with a scare when the shuttle was cancelled due to a lack of passengers, but paddlers arriving without shuttle reservations filled the quota.  Adam Chase volunteered to drive the van and also secured a driver to bring it back out.  The man of the day for sure.  He even provided a moose sighting on the drive to the put in.  The threat of rain and colder temps convinced us to shorten the trip so we started at the gravel pit instead of going all the way to the top.  The water level was excellent and provided paddlers an opportunity to have a more technical run with very pushy water.  There were a couple swims but paddlers were quickly rescued; Will even got to do some solo OC-1 paddling when he help reunite a boat and paddler. And the rain held off until we arrived at the take out – another great weekend on the Dead.