Colorado 2018

I somehow neglected to do a blog post about this when I did it... so I am adding it now.  

In the summer of 2018 I headed to Colorado to visit a good friend of mine, Rico... It was his birthday but somehow I got treated to a day of kayaking at the Dillon Reservoir in Frisco, Colorado.  

I had been past this Reservoir one other time with Rico, in the winter on our way to Breckenridge....There was a lot of snow so this was a lot different.  

I was so excited to get the opportunity to paddle in Colorado!  

The rental place had Old Town Loons!  I was very happy!

The scenery was beautiful.  

We had gotten there early in the morning and it was a bit cool... but warmed up quickly.  

We pretty much had the place to ourselves when we launched... when we came back lots of people were getting on the water.  I enjoyed the solitude.  

We got out at one point to stretch... and I had to do adventure arms!! 

I am grateful that Rico loves kayaking as well and was thoughtful enough to take me on this adventure!

Apparently I was pretty comfy! 

It was beautiful... But... I didn't see any wildlife... I enjoyed this a lot, but not yet ready to move to the Rockies! 

 This is me with Rico After our paddle. 

Paddling is a great way to travel and see other parts of the country.  So far... I have paddled in Maine, NH, Colorado, and Oregon... I would say I have a lot of states left to enjoy!!

One day I will get to the Pacific Northwest to the San Juan Islands and paddle with orcas! 

Pitcher Pond, Lincolnville

Body of water:  Pitcher Pond, Lincolnville (maybe part of Northport too, not sure!) [Map 14]

(Map from google)

Directions:  Enter into the GPS Intersection of N Cobbtown Rd. and Belfast Road in Lincolnville.  Turn onto N Cobbtown Road and the parking area is just beyond the dam on the left, not very far down the road. 

Parking: A small lot for 4 or 5 vehicles, dirt lot.  (I apologize for the poor photo, I had forgotten to take a photo until I was leaving, so took this shot from the truck! Parking is over on the right side. 

Launch: The launch is protected by a gate.  I took time to read all of the signs.  The signs share information about invasive plants and safety for the pond.  There is an indication that people who have larger watercraft can access the launch with a key provided by an  association affiliated with the pond.  For kayakers, canoeists, and SUP- ers... you can carry around the gate or through the gate. 

 Before sharing this spot I wanted to do a little research.  Because of the gate, I wanted to make sure that the launch was in fact for public use.  As you can see from the Pitcher Pond Lake Association, it is for public use, but the gate DOES serve as a tool to educate people.  It is SO important to wash and dry our kayaks/boats AND our paddles between ponds/waterbodies.  Please do your part! 

Click HERE For the details on the Gate that Educates! 

Update: 

One of the signs has a telephone number you can call to get a code to open the lock on the gate!  How cool is that!  This photo is from the Pitcher Pond Association Facebook Page. 

This is what I did just before getting to Pitcher Pond, after kayaking Knights Pond. 

I have a spray bottle with a mixture of bleach and water... I spray the boat and the paddles, wipe them down rinse them with water then wipe them dry.  I love that Pitcher Pond is working to protect this waterway.  

As you can see the launch itself is a very gradual  dirt launch.  Very nice!

Here are photos of the signs: 

Fees: None

Bathroom:  None

Wildlife: Eagles, Loons, cormorants, and more!

Notes:  I had hoped to access Pitcher Pond from Knights Pond, but... the channel to get from there to here was inaccessible due to the low water levels.  That did not stop me.  Where there is a will there is a way!  I paddled Knights Pond, washed my boat/paddle, and drove to the boat launch for Pitcher Pond.  Two places in one day?!  well...actually I did three!!!  But the third one was so short lived because the wind came up I am not sure it counts!

Before getting on the water I had scoped out the launch area a bit.. and found these tiny toads!  So cute! Be careful you don't step on any!

After sliding the kayak through the gate and down to the launch I was excited to see what was in store.  From the launch you can only see a very small area, so I was not sure what was in store! 

The water lilies were stunning!

This was Gladys's second paddle of the day... so she settled in.. 

As I went around a corner I went by this old beaver house.  I love the sign... Cozy Hut For Rent!  Ha! This made me smile!

As I entered the pond I saw this Adirondack chair... pretty sweet spot for it!

 

After getting into the pond I went to the left.  I explored that area/cove and it was beautiful.  There are very nice houses/camps here.  As I paddled I could hear eagles.  I hoped I would get to see them.   As I paddled on the far shore the eagles got louder.  I spotted the nest and saw two baby eagles on the same branch and there was lots of commotion.  

One eagle 'fell' or... got pushed off, ha!  And it wasn't long before it soared to another tree.  

I think the flying lessons have paid off.  

This is the eagle that I believe pushed the other eagle off the branch. 

I paddled a little further and found the second eagle. 

I was so lucky to get a good view of this beauty!  As this eagle was keeping an eye on everything the other eagle was still chirping away! 

As the forecast had promised the clouds were giving way to a beautiful sunny summer day!  Nothing says summer like a swim dock!  Love seeing these wooden floats with metal ladders...

After watching the eagle for a while I saw this turtle on a rock.  It was pretty far away so I zoomed way in.  And was lucky to get the shot at the top of this post of it with its mouth open!

Gladys seemed to enjoy the pond. This angle looks down towards Knights Pond.

It was beautiful!

Again, she did great!

Gladys relaxed so much she fell asleep!  She actually snored! Ironic that I was paddling considering that term Dog Paddling!

I only paddled about halfway down the length of the pond.  It was beautiful.  I had paddled for a while earlier that day and had planned on paddling again later with a friend, so opted to not go further, plus it was getting wicked hot!  And... I don't like to be out when it is super hot unless I know I can get out somewhere and swim.  And Gladys gets super hot!  I try to keep her from swimming in the water because I don't want her to be in the habit of jumping out of the kayak. 

On my way back to the launch site these guys were enjoying the sun!

 

I will return to this pond!  I want to see the eagles again and want to see more of the pond!  

Thanks Pitcher Pond, for the hospitality! 

Knights Pond, Northport Maine

Body of water:  Knights Pond, Northport Maine [Map 14]

Directions: Depending on where you are coming from... I would say put the intersection of Beech Hill Rd. and Knights Pond Rd. in Northport Maine into your GPS or map.  You have to go to the end of Knights Pond Road to Wyman Park.  

Parking: There is a small parking area at the end of the road. 

 

This is my truck parked just up from the boat launch.  There is space for a few vehicles next to mine.  If you look closely a 'road' or trail continues into the woods.  It is not a well kept road and I would imagine it is better suited for ATVs than vehicles!  Make sure to not block that when parking.   

Locals who use the park seem to park along the road and on the edge of the boat ramp.  

(I returned here on an afternoon to try to let Gladys swim, but it was packed!)

Launch: The launch is a cement boat ramp.  This pond is pretty small, so I am surprised by a cement launch for bigger boats, but I suppose this would be a good fishing spot!  It is a nice gradual launch into the pond. 

 Next to the launch is a small beach.  There are a few stone fire pits between the beach and the road that look pretty nice!  Locals DO use this beach for swimming.

Fees: None

Bathroom: None

Wildlife: Loons, many birds,

Notes: Wyman Park is a very small park at the end of a dirt road... I have a philosophy with kayaking... when you are in Maine and you are on paved roads that do not have any center lines painted you know you are in a pretty rural place and it is likely a great adventure is ahead... when those un-lined roads end and give way to a dirt road, you know you are on the right track!  This is such a place.  I wasn't sure what to expect so just kept driving.  I firts noticed some places that looked like parking areas on the right driving in, areas that had pretty good sized stone firepits with no camping signs and wondered if I should park there..but kept going.  The boat launch is not much further down the road.   There is a marker (Pic above) to signify the name of the park.  Next to the marker is a small kiosk with info about the pond. 

It was a dreary morning with the promise of clearing up later in the day.  

I had chosen this spot for a few reasons... first, I hoped to find wildlife!  Secondly I had found an article that described paddling Pitcher and Knights Pond on the same day.  I thought, for some reason, that the article had been written in the fall...but I was wrong.  The article was written in the spring...when water levels are higher.  As a result I was unable to paddle to Pitcher Pond via Knights Pond.  The water levels were low and the plantlife was so plentiful the channel between the two ponds was not paddle-able.  So... "You can't get there from here" seems to be the case with this paddling adventure!! Ha! 

Even without being able to access Pitcher Pond from Knights Pond I am really glad I explored this pond.  I think this would be a GREAT place for beginners and for kids.  It is a small enough pond to feel totally do-able, and there are enough places to explore that it would help build skills.  I enjoyed this place. 

I saw this and it made me smile!  Someone likes coming here and has created some recreation of their own!  Although I would say with the water level being so low, I would not jump into the water from that swing!

As with so many ponds in Maine these lovely flowers were plentiful.  

Looking off in the distance the roof of this structure caught my attention.  

The pond is surrounded by some hills and it was really pretty.  

The further up into the pond I got the more lily pads there were.  

And so many lilies! 

This is looking towards Pitcher Pond from Knights Pond.   I am sure it is a great paddle with lots of wildlife in the spring! 

I think this would be a great place for bird watchers.  There were so many birds flying around and many I did not recognize...this is a cedar waxwing... or so I have been told.  Beautiful bird! 

As I tried to paddle the channel I noticed MANY pitcher plants.  Perhaps that is why Pitcher pond is named Pitcher pond? Anyway... Pitcher plants are cool.  They are a carniverous plants... they eat bugs! I think it is more of a passive process than the more well known Venus Flytrap! 

The base of the pitcher plant. 

The water plants were plentiful! 

Gladys seemed to enjoy the pond.  She did great on every trip!  Here are some pics of her on this pond.  

She makes me laugh!  In this pic, she was trying to get close to me to get some cuddles... for some reason she seems to do that more in our early morning paddles!  Or maybe she wanted a turn at paddling? I am not sure... but either way, she is adorable and this photo is on Old Town's Instagram and facebook pages! 

Overall Knights Pond was a great place to paddle.  If I lived in the area I can see myself going there for an early morning paddle or a short after work adventure.