Portsmouth Packraft Paddling

Piscataqua River- New Castle Island to west of Rt 95 Bridge, then back to circumnavigate New Castle, with stops to stretch my legs on Leaches Island, Fort Stark, and the point near the power plant west of Rt 95 bridge.   A little cargo ship was pushed into the pier right in my path. Don't I have the right of way!?    I have fun riding the tugboats backwash as I go around. 11 miles, 8 hours, (about 6 hours paddling). Timed to paddle with the tidal flow in both directions.

Walking on Fish

11/7 to 11/10  4 Days, 3 Islands- Shelter, Block, Fire, with Josh.                 The fish were so thick to the horizon it looked like I could walk across the water on their backs. This was a massive school of Manhaden in Gardiners Bay, Long Island. It was a stunning sight to be boating through these riches of  the sea. Fins protruding through the water for as far as I can see         A closer look at the fish   Sat- We launch both boats from the Conn River and cross to Gardiners Bay on glassy water. We catch some small stripers, reveling in the warm, sunny, Indian Summer weather. Then we anchor in Cedar Cove on Shelter Island for the night.   Bonito Dinner Sun- Block Island on Josh's boat. Josh pulls in 1 nice Bonito, 3 Black Sea Bass, 1 Scup. On the return trip to Shelter Island we encounter a large pod of dolphins that swim and jump all around us. I can almost reach down from the bow to touch two of them as they jump gracefully in tandem. They clearly are a superior species to us clumsy humans.           Sun night dinner is Bonito cooked over a driftwood fire on Cedar Cove Spit. This is a kind of heaven.       Dusky Smooth Hound Shark Mon- Both boats to Shinnecock Locks. When we go through the lock, the keeper says that they're only open from 5 to 11 am. What?!! That's a small time window to get back through on the return trip tomorrow! We head to Fire Island, catch some small sharks just outside of the inlet to the island. Mon Night- We get back to Shinnecock Bay at Sunset and struggle to find a secluded beach for a fire in the dark. We end up on a small tidal beach at the mouth of Middle Pond, not too far from some houses. Just as our fish dinner is almost cooked on our small beach fire a boat pulls up with flashing lights and a Fire Dept stencil on the side. Officials in waders jump out and storm the beach. We're caught! Just like our fish dinner. But these guys aren't here to cook us. They got a report of 2 boats on the beach and wanted to make sure we weren't stranded. We're not stranded! As they leave one of them says, "you two are really living the life." Yes we are.   Tues- We head back to Connecticut River early while the wind is absent. We fish, no luck. I do some exploring and paddling around Griswold Cove. Is this November? I'm warm in just my bathing suit and sandals. What an extraordinarily warm, sunny, glassy, perfect 4 days!  I racked up 145 miles, Josh did a little over 300.

3 Boys Fishing

Boston Harbor- Josh takes me and Ben out on his boat for some fishing and sunsetting. Everybody lands at least 1 fish then we catch a spectacular sunset over Boston. It's a deep pleasure having the three of us out on the water together.   This trip is possible because we are all living together right now. We have a full household- Me, Barbara, Josh, Ben, and Josh's two dogs Georgie, Willow. We haven't lived together as a family since Josh was 16. He's 29.  It's been a surprise how nice it is to live together as an adult family! No bickering, teasing, and infighting. Cooking together, watching favorite movies, boating. Who would have thought? In a year of ups and downs I really want to savor these good times. You never know what life is going to throw your way next.

Fruit of the Sea

Columbus Day Weekend, Kennebec River and Maine Coast, with Josh, 10/9 - 10/12 Friday Night- Josh's trailer blows a tire on the drive north. Oh no! We're super lucky to find a mounted replacement tire on a Friday night at TSC co. We get to the ramp at 8:30, anchor our boats for the night near Lines Island, north of Bath on the Kennebec River and settle in for a calm peaceful sleep after a challenging start. Saturday- We move my boat north to Swan Island, (unorganized territory of Perkins), then take Josh's boat to Boothbay Harbor to explore. Fun day!    We end up with both boats anchored further north up the Kennebec at The Sands Island. We find a beautiful spot with a fire ring, stump seats, plywood table, and a sandy beach. Dinner, cooked over a fire, is steak, crab cakes, yams, and raw oysters for the appetizer. It was all bought that morning at a farmers market at the Bath Town Docks, where we stopped for our morning coffee/ breakfast. Serendipity. The Sands Island   Sat Night- Thunderstorms! Josh has pitched a tent in the middle of his boat. He's zipped in with his 2 dogs watching a river of water flowing into the tent and back out. Somehow he stays dry enough to get some sleep. Who's crazy idea was this to sleep in our open boats? My homemade plastic canopy is actually pretty dry.   Sunday Morning Temp Around 32F         Sunday- We fish in Josh's boat at the mouth of the river, just outside of the islands, landing 16 Pollock, very easy to catch with mackerel jigs. We stop at the Perkins Island Dock so Josh can try to find a creative fix for a cracked shift bracket. He kinda fixes it with no parts and almost no tools but the motor will no longer shift into reverse. I let the dogs run, leash free, on the island trails. Wow! It's great to see Georgie and Willow running free and wild, chasing the many small squirrels!   Perkins Island Dock                   Sun Night- We're back at The Sands Island. Our Pollack catch makes for a big fish feast for us and 2 happy dogs.    Collecting Ticks on The Sands Island   Monday- We go back to the ocean for another big catch of Pollack to take home. It's been a very special trip, eating the fruit of the ocean, with Josh and his 2 dogs! I cover 102 miles, Josh does just over 200 miles. Plentiful Pollock!

Moosehead

Moosehead Lake, Labor Day Weekend, 9/3 - 9/7 A massive moose gives me a scare on my drive up! The monster comes out of the dark and lumbers across the highway directly in front of me. I don't have time to hit the brakes before I fly past him at 55 MPH, just inches away. That really gets my adrenaline going! Thurs Night- I launch in the dark and tie up for the night at the Rockwood town dock, right at the boat ramp, not far from the sign that says NO OVERNIGHT DOCKING. Luckily I didn't see the sign in the dark. Rockwood Dock, Mt Kineo     Fri- I hike Mt Kineo, 1700 ft, Indian Trail. Nice views going up but it activates my fear of heights. I climb the lookout tower on the summit. It activates my fear of heights. North trail going down. No fears. Total 7 or 8 miles. Very nice hike. Fri Night- Cowen Cove, super protected spot, pretty. Saw 2 bald eagles, heard the beautiful, eerie calls of loons. Cowen Cove                     Sat- I paddle Moose Creek, near Squaw Mtn. It's all about the Moose up here! Then very carefully motor through the, "HAZARD AREA", of Lily's Cove to anchor among the numerous rocks and shallows of Laker Cove. Another serene, secluded spot. Breakfast on the Packraft                   Sun- More paddling. This is the highlight of the trip. Glassy water, sunrise, winding my way through the sculpture garden of rocks, twisted stumps, and drift logs. I snorkle over piles of drift logs to immerse myself further. Then off to Lily's Cove State Park boat ramp for a 4 mile hike. Nice facility here with docks where they don't seem to care about overnight docking.  Laker Cove Area   Sun Night- Back to Rockwood town dock because the forecast is for 30 to 40 MPH winds tomorrow and I don't want to be on the open lake. A steep chop kicks up very quickly here and the wind often seems a lot stronger than forecast. Now I have to knowingly ignore the overnight sign. No excuses.     Mon- I pull my boat early and admire the 30 to 40 MPH winds and blowing chop from the shore. Nice trip! 48 miles, 5.5 gallons gas, I saw less than half of the lake.

Kennebec Serenity

4 Days on the Kennebec River, Maine, 7/30-8/2 Thurs- Launch in Bath, boat to Fort Popham, walk Popham Beach. Get caught in a brief squall on the beach but no rain! Want to go for a paddle but the beach is closed to water use due to a fatal Great White attack. Overnight anchorage- in the cove near the fort. Fri- A beautiful day hiking all around Swan Island, 10 or 11 miles. I paddle and swim before dinner. Overnight off Swan. Swan Island Back Woods                   Sat- I hike 4 or 5 miles around the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, walking all the fantastic gardens, mask worn for Covid danger. Overnight near Webber Island on Sasanoa River. Fullish moon, stunning night! Don't let your boat look like this!   This looks better                     Sun- Morning paddle around Webber and neighboring islands. Low tide here is particularly scenic. Feeling happy, immersed in sea, salt and sun. I want to keep this serenity with me wherever I go.   91 miles, 9 gallons gas.

Block Island or Bust

7/19/20 Pt Judith to Block Island, Bucket List trip in my little boat! Fri Night- Boat ramp at head of Pt Judith Pond to overnight anchorage 1/2 mile out behind the sea wall in Refuge Harbor. I kinda like that smell of seagull droppings on the rocks. It makes me feel alive. Sat- Cross to BI in fog. Start at 4:45 with lights on. I keep my speed around 8 MPH when the fog is dense. This crossing might be a little reckless. If the BI Ferry comes out of the grey emptiness directly in front of me I'm probably done. It's very eerie entering the narrow opening to New Harbor on BI by GPS with no visual confirmation. I think the island is there somewhere. I'll know it if I hit it. The fog lifts late morning. The Great Salt Pond is a mooring field of visiting yachts as far as far can be. So many boats! I unicycle and walk around the island. It's super crowded. So many people! Where does one go to find solitude around here? Sat Night- I enter Harbor Pond on the mid tide to anchor for the night. Aint no big boats getting in here! It takes a little boat to own a secluded pond. Sun Morning- Early return to Pt Judith in a gathering wind. At sunrise it's already 10-15 with light fog. Slow 2 hour crossing. The wind jumps to 20 plus and heavy fog moves in a little after I return. Yikes, close call! I really pushed my limits on this trip. I got lucky. Some day my limits might push back.