Raymond/Casco Maine, Tenny Stream

Body of Water: Tenny Stream (Tenny River), Casco/Raymond, ME [Maine Gazetteer Map 5 ] Tenny Stream/River connects Crescent Lake and Panther Pond.  

Directions (from Portland, ME): Travel west on Rt. 302 towards Windham.  Drive through Windham and into Raymond.  When Rt. 302 Intersects with Rt 85 (Good Life Market on your right)  Turn Right onto 85.  Follow Rt 85 and slow down when Rt. 85 intersects with Rt. 121.  The boat launch will be on your right.  

Boat Launch: Cement, grooved, used to launch power boats as well as kayaks/canoes.  (I will try to get pictures of the boat launch next time I go. I forgot to do that today!) 

Parking: Parking is available along the sides of Rt. 85.  

Wildlife: Ducks, loons, turtles, songbirds, snails, and fish.  (I have heard there are otters, but I have yet to see them.) 

Notes: Because this stream is the connection between two lakes, you can really spend an entire day exploring! This area is crowded on holiday weekends making parking hard and lots of traffic on the water.  In the summer there is a porta-potty next to the small private beach.  This would be a great place for people of all skill levels.  Also a popular place to fish for bass.  When returning to the boat launch, some people have been known to get confused.  When exiting the stream, returning to Crescent Lake, people panic because they do not see the boat launch, it's there, you just have to paddle to the left, along the shore.  

This is a culvert that goes under Rt. 85.  

This next picture is of a snapping turtle.  It was the biggest snapper I have ever seen.  It went to the bottom of the water and I watched it for close to 15 minutes as it foraged on the bottom. (next picture) 

(I know this picture is hard to see, but, this turtle hung out on the bottom for a long time.) 

I have been lucky seeing loons at this site.  Please be respectful of the loons and their nesting grounds)  

 

A musk turtle.  (Shell was probably 6 inches long) 

I originally thought this was a small snapping turtle, because it was not a painted turtle, but one of my students is doing a project on Maine turtles and this is a musk turtle.  I am very excited to have seen a new species that I have not seen before. 

A painted turtle whose shell was shaped oddly.  

A painted turtle with a blood sucker on it's leg! 

This is a walkway that crosses the stream as you exit the stream into Panther Pond.  There are a few summer camps along Panther Pond and this is one of them.  

Looking left as you enter Panther Pond. 

Oh... I had to share one of my favorite picture of Tenny Stream... I took this LAST year, 2011 in early May.  

This is one of my favorite local spots.  It is easy to get to, and can be a quick paddle if you do just the stream.  (Although for me, I take a lot of pictures, so it takes me a while to paddle through.)  

Brownfield Bog

Body of Water: Brownfield Bog, Brownfield, ME [Maine Gazetteer Map 4, B2 , ]

Directions (from Portland, ME): Follow Rt 25 through Gorham and Standish.  Turn right onto Rt 113 through Hiram and Baldwin into Brownfield.  Once the speed limit decreases you will be approaching an intersection, of 113 and 160.  Take Rt. 160 on the right.  Go over a bridge and 160 turns right, you need to stay straight onto Lord Hill Rd. Just after transitioning to Lords Hill Road   take an immediate left onto a dirt road, Bog Road, that looks like a driveway.   The dirt road is very narrow with lots of ruts and bumps.  (There were some small cars parked there once we got in, but I think I would have been nervous about bottoming out in a small vehicle.)

*The Maine Gazetteer made it look like it would be a bit easier to find than it was.  The tricky part is that the dirt road you have to turn onto to get to the Bog, off Lord Hill Rd., off Rt. 160, looks like a driveway.  After a few times by, we finally got it right !

Boat Launch: The put in spots are a bit narrow.  It's easy to get in to the water's edge.  I get into my kayak by wading into the water and sitting into my kayak as if it were a chair.  This spot was a little hard for that because the bottom was mucky, but I faced the fear of what would be in the muck and it was well worth it!

Parking: There is room for 8-9 vehicles, in a little loop/turnout area.  I think any kind of trailer system would be hard to navigate.  Much better for people who transport their kayaks on top of their vehicles.

Wildlife: Birds (many songbirds, red winged black birds, & blue heron), turtles (snapping and painted), and we got lucky and saw a moose.

Notes: Other than the great outdoors, there are no bathroom facilities, and since this is a spot that is a bit off the beaten path, you may have to become one with nature.

I believe this is Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton, ME. (The back side of Shawnee Peak.)

Sorry the sign is blurry, I took it while driving on the bumpy dirt road! 

Another shot of Pleasant Mountain.  

Red Winged Blackbird.  There were soooo many birds singing at this bog.  There was a group of birdwatchers walking along the edge of one side of the bog with their binoculars.  Apparently a hot spot for 'birders.' 

These birdhouses were everywhere.  I think it's for wood ducks, but am not sure.  

It was a very peaceful place to paddle.  

We came around a corner and I spotted this moose. At first the other people in my group didn't see him and thought it was just a dark spot, but I knew it was a moose.  I see them a lot when I go north, towards Katahdin, but this is the first one I have seen in this area while I was kayaking.  I was thrilled. 

He, however, was not thrilled that we interrupted his breakfast and headed into the woods.  

I was surprised that these flowers were already opening.  It seems early to me, but we have had an early spring with lots of warm sunny days. 

Just a shot of the water and my friends... 

A painted turtle said hello.  We also saw a snapping turtle, but it was swimming and went under before I could get a shot! 

I would recommend coming here for an early morning paddle.  I think the reflections would be even better and perhaps a better chance at seeing moose!