My Book!!

One opportunity that the blog has brought me is the co-authoring of a guidebook, Paddling Southern Maine! It is something in which I take a lot of pride! My writing partner, Sandy Moore, and I have created a book with 54 amazing trips that are within about an hour of Portland! Our motto as we wrote the book was wanting to 'get people to spend the day on the water and not in their cars!'

If you want more information on our book please click on the image of the book below.

Sandy and I are available to attend/present various functions/events. Please email me at mainekayakgirl@gmail.com for more information!

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Back River, Boothbay


Body of Water: Back River, Sheepscot River

Directions: I have posted specific directions in previous posts about this destination... you can find that info here.  But I would say the easiest way is to plug in the address for the Maine Botanical Gardens.  Follow directions to the gardens and instead of turning into the gardens go straight.  And you will see the boat launches, kayaks to the left, boats to the right. 

Parking: There are about a dozen parking spots here, shared by paddlers and people enjoying Knickerkane Island.  There is also an area close to the ramp for vehicles using the kayak launch.  It is great for trailers.  We parked multiple vehicles in this area.  We blocked each other in, leaving room to unload, which was fine because we were all together. 

Launch: 
Look for this sign.  
 The launch is cement, gradual, and great! As the tide lowers it can get slippery with mud - be careful!



Fees: None!

Bathroom:  Out house!  (We were glad someone in our party had brought toilet paper - always prepared! because the supply in the outhouse had expired! Mental note - bring TP wherever you go!)


Wildlife: Cormorants, blue heron, terns, seagulls, SEALS!

Notes: 

For a previous post with more detailed pics/info about the launch area  Click Here


(This Pic courtesy of Diana!) 

I started this adventure by hiking Porter Preserve which is a great property overseen by the Boothbay Regional Land Trust.  I have enjoyed looking at the preserve from the water and on this day, I got to enjoy looking at the water from the preserve!  


 For more info on Porter Preserve Check out my other blog, the Non Paddling Adventures of MKG here! 




I got to the launch area/Knickerkane Island early to enjoy a late lunch/early dinner before getting on the water.  I let people know I would be there and we had a nice visit before getting on the water.  

I had stopped at the Trevett Country Store after hiking to get a sandwich and a piece of blueberry pie.  The pie was amazing and ONLY $2 for a huge slice! (My total lunch bill was $6!) 

SO GOOD!! 


Ok.. Our paddling adventure! 

This is our fearless leader (also a Maine Sea kayak guide) Shannon Bryan from FitMaine.com.  


 As always we make sure to have some fun with our adventures! I had sent an email to people coming to share info about the area and important rules of safety.  This included PFDs and Headlamps!  We were paddling at sunset and it is crucial to be visible to other boaters and it is the law in Maine to be lit up at night when on the water.  

)I may have been a bit eccentric... I brought solar lights I usually use as part of my Christmas display... blinking stars!)  


This was our crew (Photo from Fitmaine) : 


As always when I do this paddle, we launched at high tide.  (I like to do this in the mornings or evenings when the tides are right.)  Starting at high tide allows time to explore before the water levels lower and the ledges become exposed for the seals to haul out on. 


The conditions were pretty perfect!  Remember this is a tidal ocean with tides and current, you don't always get glass like conditions! 

Wendy has a smaller kayak that is great for lakes and slow moving rivers.  I offered her my kayak for this trip due to varying conditions.  She looks great in a loon 126! 


The group paddled out Back River passing Porter Preserve.  




We paused at Lydia Ann's Island.  A small island... great for a stretch break and it's always fun to say you kayaked to an island!  (It was also a way to pass some time as we waited for the water to go down a little.  Just remember if you pull out on an island, keep an eye on the water levels.  The tide was receding and we could have easily gotten our kayaks stuck on the rocks.  Where we pulled in, as you can see in the pic, was a little beach type area, but there the people are, still in the kayaks, were rocks and seaweed and would be hard to walk on... Always pay attention to your surroundings, while having fun! 

There was a BIG board on the island.  It may have been used for a round of tee ball, as an air guitar, and as a see saw!  What a versatile board! 

I found a buoy which I used as a bat of sorts to hit the tennis ball off this 'tee'... (we found all of these items on the island  and took them all with us, doing our part to keep the environment pristine!) 

The sun was setting and was beautiful! 



 For the most part we stayed together as a group.  With working boats and fast boats in the area it is smart to stay together so that we are more visible. 


It didn't take long before the seals started finding us!  



 With this group there is always laughter... sometimes loud laughter!  Ha!  But we took respecting the seals very seriously.  (I MAY have given a bit of a speech at the beginning about leaving the seals alone and to stay far from them.  I MAY have warned people I would not hesitate to let people know if they were too close.) 


One of my FAVORITE parts of this paddle.. and it has happened EVERY time I do it with a group.. 
As we paddle out people chat a lot...share stories, get to know each other.  There is a very present chatter... until there isn't.  

There is always a moment ... when it goes silent... except the seals... where people seem to all exhale and settle into this experience... where people recognize how lucky hey are to be here... on the water... in Maine... with seals... and I love it... 
A collective moment where our souls are being filled up... we all need it... for different reasons... and THIS trip... this trip does it for people! 

This photo captures that moment well...

After that moment people do start talking again, but usually in a whisper... telling each other there is a seal close to them... 







After watching the sunset, watching the seals, and listening to them gurgle and groan we headed back towards the launch.  This is usually the most challenging part of the paddle.  Returning through the Back River that goes around the southern tip of Hodgdon Island up towards the botanical gardens involves going under a bridge.  The current here is strong.  THIS part of the trip is exactly why I do not recommend this for beginners.  That part is challenging and people need to have the strength and skills to navigate it. 

Again.. it was getting dark.. so we had headlamps!  Very important!





Mom's Red Kayak looks good on the ocean!!


 This was a pretty perfect day! 


No comments:

Post a Comment