Runaround Pond - Early Spring

Click Here for the link to a previous post with directions!  (This is also a trip in the book and those directions are a bit more efficient!)  

Body of Water: Runaround Pond, Durham, Maine.  [Maine Gazetteer Map 5, B5, close to the edge of the page]

Directions (From Portland, ME):

Just off Runaround Pond Road in Durham

Boat Launch: Called Runaround Pond Recreational Area, just off Runaround Pond Road.  Launch site is dirt/gravel. 

Parking: Free. There is no formal parking lot, people park along the ‘driveway’ that leads to the boat launch.  There is a good amount of space for parking. (There is an outhouse here.)

Wildlife: Turtles,ducks, geese, and an osprey

Notes: I have been to Runaround Pond several times before... but never this early in the season.  I was used to this view when paddling close to shore:

 

 

But... getting to this pond just after the ice is out was a very different experience.  The pond was wide...open... with lots of small offshoots to explore.  (You know I love offshoots!) 

One of my friends, Rico, from out of town was visiting and he had never kayaked before.  Because it was early in the season I was a little nervous taking someone out who had never been in a kayak, but he has experience with canoeing and I knew that Runaround Pond was a good spot for a first time paddler.  (Thanks for Peter, a friend from social media, for letting me know this place was not frozen over and was accessible!) 

We got on the pond on Monday, April 17th.  It was a cool spring day with a slight breeze, but the sun was shining... (and reminded me that I need to always wear sunscreen, even this early in the season!) 

It was a GREAT spot to take Rico for his first paddle.  Of course we had to go under the bridge to the gorge area which is so beautiful...

I love the way this area looks.  The water here was higher than what I have seen it, so if you go please pay close attention so you do not get too close to the dam.  Typically the water is not moving fast enough to push you over the dam, especially with lower water levels, but I was a bit nervous this trip.  Again...be smart! 

Heading back to the pond, under the bridge, I was sad to see this graffiti... 

Rico enjoyed paddling through the tunnel... we returned to this area at the end of our paddle...just because! 

As we paddled I caught a glimpse of a turtle!  My first turtle of the season!   (We saw many more later in the day!)

 There was still some ice along some of the shores... but overall the pond was wide open.  I would expect that the ice we saw is probably disappeared. 

 There were several pairs of Canada geese.  They were loud!

As we paddled I kept my eyes open for any signs of the Maine Forest Yurts... and saw this sign: 

This was the approach to the sign for the Yurts!  (If you don't know about Maine Forest Yurts, take some time to click on the link above...) 

The clouds... were really pretty... and I love looking up while I am paddling... you can see a lot! 

More Turtles!!! 

I like this picture... the ripples in the water and the lines in the clouds almost look like they line up to make a curve... 

These geese were taking off... I rarely get any pics of that, but was happy with this one! 

Turtle Love!  

So, if you are looking for a place to go for your first paddle of the season, check out Runaround Pond!  It is well protected and it is a great chance to see this place!!! 

One of the MANY things I love about paddling is being able to see different places... and this paddle reminded me that even going to the same location can be very very different simply because of the time of year.  

It is still early in the season, the water temps are still cold... and the water levels are still high... be safe and smart out there! 

Opening Day 2017

It's finally here!  Time to be on the water!  That being said there are still a lot of places that are inaccessible due to ice.  Many lakes and ponds are still covered with ice.  I had it in my head today that I could EASILY get to Tenny River, my typical first paddle of every season.  But... when I got there this is what I saw:

The ice was too close to the shore to get to Tenny River!  Noooooo!  

And even where it looked like open water... it wasn't... a thin layer of ice...  I was bummed!  

This was across the street and up 85 a bit looking at the stream... wide open.  I will say there was a strong current coming through that culvert, stronger than I have seen before.  

I was so tempted to put in here... there were Canada Geese off in the distance honking and honking... 

I was bummed!  I had driven over Tenny River and saw that it was open so anticipated being able to get there easily.  I debated about getting to the stream from a different spot and did find a possible place, but it was a bit of a steep bank and I did not have the right footwear to do so safely while pulling my kayak... so with my father's voice in my head, reminding me to be safe, I decided not to risk it and drove towards the Songo Locks and put in there... 

I got to the Songo Locks and the water was HIGH! Check out the comparison pictures

Today: 

Usual levels looking from a different angle at the same dam: 

It may be hard to tell, but there is a huge difference! 

There were a couple of nice new additions to the place where I usually launch for the Songo and Crooked Rivers,  a launch for paddling vessels and a couple of fishing platforms.

Check out this nice new launch!   I bet it will usually be out of the water!

Here are the fishing platforms. 

 Very nice additions!

As I watched people fishing and looked at the water... I decided the current here was a bit strong...and decided I would go down to the state park launch and see how that looked.

Body of Water: Songo River via Sebago State Park

Directions:  From Portland head to Windham via 302.  Stay on 302 through Raymond and into Casco.  Follow the signs for the State Park.  (I apologize for not thinking about directions today as I was just trying to find water!)

Boat Launch: concrete/grooved, with nice dock

Parking: Lots of parking, most spots are for vehicles with boat trailers, but there are a few other spots as well. 

Fees: There is a fee for access to the state park. Even though the ranger's booth is unmanned fees are still expected to be paid. 

Bathroom: There are outhouses that are kept in very good condition. 

Wildlife: Today I saw a blue heron, several water fowl, and I think an osprey

Notes:
 There were a lot of boats here today which surprised me... it was Friday and it is early in the season... but they were here!  I talked to a couple and some had good luck catching salmon and togue.  I could see the current of the Songo River from the boat launch which is unusual.  I also could tell that there were areas I would be able to explore that normally are inaccessible because of the high water.  I decided to stick close to shore and explore. 

Here is the view from the launch.  (It was about 52 degrees in the parking lot... cooler of course on the water!) 

There were patches of ice in most of the off shoots.  

It was cool to see the reflection of the under side of the ice... 

I headed towards the Songo Locks, but did not get that far.  

I can imagine in just a few weeks that the trees will be green with leafs! 

There were some pine cones holding on to their branches.  

There was a lot of water fowl... some I did not recognize, including these beauties... they were quick... one minute they were there... 

And the next... they had flown away... I kind of like this picture though, their splashes from take off! 

Juuust enough room to get through... and put my paddle in the slush on top of the ice as I paddled... cool sounds! 

I got to watch these Canada geese climb onto the ice which was kind of cool.  

They are pretty birds... I know they are often nuisance animals but they are beautiful.  

This one tried to hide... or maybe nap!  

This inlet was inaccessible due to the ice... 

This bird flew over me... and I think it is an osprey, but it seemed different to me... as it flew over me it's belly was white but the under side of its wings were not the typical plumage of osprey... but a beautiful bird.  

I heard several woodpeckers...and saw some of their recent work... I thought it was cool that the sap was dripping... 

I enjoyed being on the water today.  I feel such peace when I am out in my kayak.  Today I was reminded that safety is such an important part of this sport.  I saw a canoe with a man and a boy, I presume a father and son.  The son had a life jacket on, but the father did not.  With the very cold water temps and today's breeze and current... that is very risky.  Especially when you have a kid with you, you have to be able to stay afloat to help your kid.  

So... while I know many of us have been 'jones-ing' to get on the water.. please do so safely.  Temps are rising and as things warm up it gets safer.  

But..man did it feel good to be out there again!!!  

Happy Paddling! 

PaddlingSouthernMaine.com

My writing partner, Sandy, decided we need a webpage devoted to the book... and it's up and running!  

Check it out here: 

www.paddlingsouthernmaine.com

And for a short time... by accessing our publisher's sale site via our website  you can get a discount on the book!  (See details on our site!)  

I don't know about all of you, but I am in need of paddling!  I want mother nature to definitively decide Spring is here and melt all the snow so I can access the water!!  

The Book is out and the blogging will continue!

It has been VERY cold here in Maine this weekend.  It makes me want to fast forward to spring when we can all be on the water instead of standing on it!  

As you can see from my previous post, the book is officially published!  

It was a very surreal moment to come home and have a box waiting for me.  I got so excited. 

Opening the box and seeing the cover for the first time... seeing the book in book form was an amazing feeling.  There have been so many hours put into this project.  Writing a book was much more challenging than I anticipated.  I naively had the thought of: if I can do a blog, I can write a book!  

Turns out that is true, but... there is a lot more work involved than one may expect.  

The book includes 54 trips that are most within an hour's drive of Portland, Maine.  There are a few trips that extend just beyond an hour, but those are trips we feel are well worth it.  

I had a post here in November that shared some of the history of how we got to this point.  

This weekend my stepsister went up to visit our parents and I was so excited to have her take a copy of the book up to them.  I was able to give them the first signed copy!  

My stepsister sent me a message and said that she had gotten there not long before dinner and had shown them the book.  Dad said he would look at it after dinner... my stepsister sent me this picture and said she had never seen Dad eat so quickly so he could get to his recliner to read!  

How cute is my dad? He is a part of this book...he and Mom helped me learn to appreciate nature and time being on the water.  I am so excited to have been able to give him the first copy.  

We were able to  include a dedication in the book... and Sandy, my writing partner, was very generous in saying that it should be dedicated to my mom. 

There are so many things in this book that go beyond just the paddling adventures.  There are photos of friends and family... it means a lot to have them included.  One photo in particular has great meaning to me.  

This one...

This is a picture of one of my amazing friends, her son and her husband.  My friend, in that photo, was fairly newly diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was taken in 2011... and she recently died.  Our publisher was wonderful in understanding why this photo was a priority for me. I am so glad that this photo is in the book. 

Each of my nephews are also in the book...I love that all of the pictures were taken when the boys were so much littler than they are now: 

My oldest nephew...now a senior in high school!  

My middle nephew: 

And the youngest: 

It's so cool to have them included.  Over the years I have taken the boys for several days each summer and they have paddled with me and, I think, have a good appreciation of being on the water and being able to see things from the perspective of a kayak.  

I am happy I will have the opportunity to give them each a copy of the book as well and hope that as they get older, when they are adults, they will bring their own families to Maine and do some of the trips.  

The book looks so good!  It is so hard to believe that we went from something like this:

To this: 

I have started reading the book... I kind of wondered if authors read their own books... and it is so nice to look through it and remember where we made changes, where we word-smithed for hours, and... to see it in book form... seeing the culmination of everything... makes me very proud. 

I also want to let you know I am going to continue posting new places to paddle as well as photos of some of my favorite spots.  I also hope to share some journeys that I share with Gladys.  

She has no idea what she is in for, so many fun adventures!  

(Just look at that face!) 

Please keep reaching out to me.  I love hearing from you!  

If you have bought the book, please share your feedback with me about it!  

 

It's REAL!!

It's really real!!!  

Having worked on this book for the last couple of years has been a true labor of love!  

To have a copy in my hands was a feeling hard to describe.  

I was excited, honored, proud, and...to be honest a bit overcome with emotions!  

I will be writing a post very soon to give more information, but it has been a long week and I am heading out to dinner with a friend!  

Here I am... a GOOFY selfie with my book... can't wait to start meeting some of my blog buddies at events! 

(Caption: This is not a dream, this is not a dream...

this is not a dream...this IS a dream come true!)