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Jul 24, 2022: Kennebec River – Carry Brook to West Forks

There were several trips on the second day of the Summer Picnic Weekend.  Nancy and I organized a paddle on the Kennebec from Carry Brook to West Forks.  New member Ken Stickney met us at the ballfield for the shuttle to Carry Brook where we met a sizeable contingent of Chowderheads who had finished the fish flow in the gorge.  The group consisted of an assortment of kayaks, canoes, and inflatable boats.  Everyone successfully navigated large waves in Big Black Rapid.  From that point, it was different strokes for different folks.  Some surfed and played while others floated and socialized.  The weather was superb, the water level excellent, and the company even better.  A great way to end a to an exceptional weekend!

Participants:  Ken Stickney, Deb Harris, Allan Fuller, Krea Galway, Shweta Galway, Ryan Galway, Reid Anderson, Mike Fask, and TCs Nancy Chase and Ron Chase

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Jul 23, 2022: Moxie Pond

We had a beautiful sunny day for a traverse of Moxie Pond on the first day of the Summer Picnic weekend.  Unsure of where to begin and end, Nancy and I drove up and down Moxie Pond Road in advance.  We found a spot next to the water at the southern end adjacent to a CMP Corridor worksite where we could park vehicles.  Since the forecast called for a west southwest wind, we decided to begin at the southern end and paddle northeast to the Moxie Pond Boat Landing.  We met Gail & Devon Carter and Jonathan Ludlow at the landing and transported boats south.  The Carter’s were navigating a tandem canoe, Jonathan a solo canoe, and Nancy and I were in solo lake kayaks.  The paddling was superb.  When publicizing the trip, I stated the pond resembled an inland fjord.  That was an unintentional embellishment.  However, while traveling between Moxie Bald and Mosquito Mountains, if you let your imagination soar, it looks something like an inland fjord.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.  Everything went swimmingly until we started looking for a location to stop for lunch.  After exploring several possibilities, we finally found a small partially cleared island where landing was doable but challenging.  Easy paddling continued until we were about a mile from the landing.  Then the wind gods betrayed us.  Nasty broadsides were encountered while navigating an open stretch.  A powerful headwind followed when turning towards the boat landing.  By the time we arrived, everyone had experienced an aerobic workout.  Overall, it was a very scenic trip with a great group.

Participants:  Gail Carter, Devon Carter, Jonathan Ludlow, and TCs Nancy Chase and Ron Chase

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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