A River Race: Androscoggin Land Trust.

For me kayaking is about enjoying time on the water and enjoying the world around me... and taking pics of course.  Saturday I kayaked in a different way... I raced!  Well... I participated in a race, and didn't really take it too seriously, but I did not stop paddling for the entire race!


The race was sponsored by the Androscoggin Land Trust.  I participated in the Boomerang Race, a 3 mile paddle, leaving and returning to Festival Park in Auburn.  I have posted about this spot before when I have jouned the ALT for their after hours paddle, which is  August 2nd this year.  (Check out their page for more info!  It is also the place where I have launched to see the Great Falls Balloon Festival.  Click here for a link for directions.

One thing that doing various events continues to reinforce is that people who paddle are great people!  Everyone here was here for a different reason, as far as personal experience, to win, or to experience rapids for the first time...(I did not do that course!)  but paddling brought us all together.  Each of us with a different mindset about  our goals for the day. 

I am really glad I did this!  For me, my goal was to participate and to try to do the full 3 miles without taking a break from paddling.  For me, that was a challenge. I usually paddle then take pictures, paddle, take more pictures, paddle, and look at everything and take deep breaths as my mind resets... This paddling trip was very different! I only had my phone to use for photos... I knew my camera would slow me down!  (wanting to take more pics!)

Most people paddling had canoes or kayaks... one person had a paddleboard and had created a double bladed paddle for that which made him a lot faster!  

This seemed to be the canoe area...

People carried their boats in different ways...

This guy was a champ!  He walked like that for a while with his canoe on his head!!  (Ok shoulders, but still cool!) 

Teh Androscoggin land Trust did well making sure to have people on the river monitoring safety.  Thank you to them!  

There were a couple of competitors who took things seriously.... the fast boats were fast!

 

We all got on the water around 8:40... the race started at 9:00. 

The 'starting line' for all races was this pedestrian bridge.  

Before the race there was a moment of silence for the boy who died in the river this spring.  I thought it was a very classy way to pay tribute and to remind us all of the power of the water.  

I did not take photos while racing... there just wasn't time! 

I finished 6th I think, for my race... which was somewhere in the middle of the pack.. I think... although i am not sure how many people actually did the same race I did.   Now that I have done one race... I can understand how people become competitive with it.  I would consider doing this again, but would do some training first!!  Watch out next year!!  

At the end of the races paddlers gathered in Festival Park.  There was live music and a food truck.  Both were very good! The Androscoggin Land Trust had also organized some raffles.  Tom won a copy of our book!!  Congratulations Tom!

 

Paddling is and always will be an escape for me... an event like this is very different than my usual paddling.  Something I haven't shared much about here is that I have been working to get healthier, more fit.  While I have been lucky to always have he strength and stamina to paddle... Saturday's race put my endurance to the test.  I paddled non stop for just over 45 minutes.  This included going against the current for half the race.  I did not stop paddling! I am really proud of that.  And, I wasn't overly sore the next day!!  This was a victory for me, testing my physical abilities in relation to paddling.  It was nice to step outside of my comfort zone and do something new. But... I will never give up padding for the sake of paddling!  

Happy Paddling!!  Thanks to the ALT for creating this event!