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Mar 31, 2024: St. George River

We had high water on the St. George River.  The Sheepscot was running a beefy 1800 which is the gauge I use to judge the George.  During the race the day before, 42 of 96 entrants DNF, so we were expecting a little more excitement than normal.  At the takeout, a Game Warden warned us to watch for pinned boats and lost gear.  He wasn’t exaggerating.  We must have passed a dozen badly damaged canoes and kayaks wrapped around debris and pinned in near impossible predicaments.  Ryan and Shweta paddled a raft so we collected gear along the way and they carried a racing kayak from the bottom of the last rapid to the takeout.  Oh, by the way, the river was great fun with moderate waves and a strong pushy current.  We stayed in our boats.

Participants:  Ryan & Shweta Galway (Raft), Paul Plumer (Canoe), Ken Gordon (Kayak) and Elderly TC Ron Chase (Kayak).

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Apr 8, 2023: Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip

The sixth annual Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip was held on a cool, breezy, but sunny day.  Eighteen paddlers in sixteen boats met at the takeout on Route 105 in North Appleton.  This was one of those rare days when river activities went very smoothly.  Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable experience and it was a swim-free event.  Many in the group retired to Thresher’s Brew Pub after.  We enjoyed a great day of paddling while recognizing an exceptional member from the past. 

Participants:  My count at the put-in was 18 people in 16 boats.  However, only the following 16 people signed the waiver form – Bruce Weik, Mike Eastman, John Lightner, Bud Gilbert, Andrew Kelly, Dave Boyle, Mike Bridges, Glen Widmer, Bob Price, Justin Schlawin, Merlin Schlawin, Helen Hess, Suzanne Cole, Gary Cole, Carolyn Atwood, and Ron Chase HOC (Herder of Cats)

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Mar 20, 2022: Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip

We had an excellent turnout for the 5th Skip Pendleton Memorial trip on the St. George River.  Twenty- three paddlers in 17 boats challenged the high water on a sunny day March day.  There were thrills, spills, and rescues.  Karen Franceour accomplished the most unique rescue assisting a struggling deer out of the water by nudging it with her kayak past a steep embankment to a safe exit.  Despite the cold water, there was some wave surfing at the bottom of Magog Chute.  Overall, it was a great way to begin the 2022 paddling season.

Participants:  Ryan Galway, Mason Galway, Chris Gailey, Medea Steinman, Dwayne Shaw, Andrew Carey, Cath Kimball, Ex-president DeCoster, Susan Bloomfield, Ken Gordon, Scott Nelson, Lynn Hempen, Dave Boyle, Bruce Weik, Chris Knight, Aili Hartikka, Will Spaulding, Randy Berube, Morgan Baxter, Karen Franceour, Leslie Gregor, David St. Laurent & TC

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Mar 27, 2021: Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip

The Skip Pendleton Memorial St. George River Trip is a sure sign of spring.  Skip passed away on 9/24/17 at age 84 and this was the fourth St. George trip in his honor.  For those who didn’t know him, Skip, who had a remarkable outdoor resume, never paddled whitewater until he was in his seventies.  He quickly developed strong paddling skills and adopted the George as his favorite river.  Four of us turned out for the event this year.  Fittingly, we consisted of two canoes and two kayaks as Skip was adept at both.  The weather was partly cloudy and a little cool, but everyone had a most excellent time.  Preoccupied with perpetually stimulating conversations, the flat water section quickly passed.  It was a treat catching eddies and surfing waves in the easy rapids.  Everyone had successful descents at Magog Chute.  It was a busy day on the river with groups ahead and behind us.  Think this might be the first official club paddle trip of the year. Looks like I beat the Eggster with the ice breaker….again.   Let the games begin.

Participants:  Helen Hess, Craig McKinnon, Jim Tierney, and TC.  Special thanks to Nancy Chase and Faryl Wiley for assisting with the shuttle.