Shaker Bog, Poland Maine

Videos of this trip via TikTok: 

Come with me on a birthday Paddle!  A photo collection put together with music 

Body Of Water: Shaker Bog, Poland Maine 

 

(image from google Maps!)

Directions:  From Portland Head North on 95, get off the Gray Exit 63, Use middle Lane and turn left onto Rt. 115 for about a quarter of a mile.  Turn Right onto Rt. 26 A for about 1.2 miles.  Stay on Rt 26 for 6.8 miles.  When you approach Shaker Village slow down.  Once you get to the intersection of Rt 26 and Quarry Road, Slow WAY down! The 'road/driveway' is a dirt incline on the left. (Across from the guard rail!)

 

 

(image from google Maps!) 

This photo is to show the sign for Shaker Village to give you a landmark for where to park.

 

 

 Parking:  Very Limited!  1-2 vehicles - unless you are in a group and don't mind blocking each other in! There are boulders behind my truck you cannot see that block people from driving up closer to the water.

 

Launch:  You have to walk a bit to get to the water. I have a cart that was pretty handy.  I am terrible at guessing distances, but I would say less than a football field to walk from parking to water's edge!

Once at the water, step down into the bog (easy step) the bottom of the bog at the launch is gravel.  I would bet later in the season it may get mucky! A pretty easy launch!

Fees: None!

Bathroom: None!

Wildlife: Lots!  Songbirds, Canada Geese, Cormorant, Osprey, Ducks, Blue Heron, Hawks, Beaver and probably muskrats, deer and more! (see more in the notes!)

Notes: This is a great spot for paddling! I have driven by here and always thought...'some day I will paddle there.'  If you want a bird's eye view of the bog, from 26 turn onto Range Hill Road and you will get a cool view!  I have stopped here a few times and walked into the bog but this was the first time I launched and paddled.  (I feel I would be unfair if I did not mention that in those visits I did spot MASSIVE blood suckers swimming in the water near the launch... but saw none this time! #wearyourwatershoes!!!  I would not let those critters deter me from paddling here again. 

When I arrived (about 7:30 a.m.) I was surprised that there was a bit of a wind.  I was expecting super calm water, but there was a constant breeze while I was out.  I was off the water by about 10:30 at which point the wind started dying down.  

When I paddle a new spot I typically choose a direction and stay close to shore.  I did the same thing here, I stayed to my left.  But it was a bit tricky because I did not know whether or not to hug the shore or stay close to the boggy areas in the middle... so I did a lot of zig zagging - trying to not miss anything. 

Pretty early on a pair of Canada geese said hello. 

They did not seem to be nesting yet, but gathering.  There were a lot of places with great potential for nesting.  As I paddled the pond more and more geese made themselves known.  On the side of the pond that is closest to Range Hill Road there is a large piece of property, a farm, and many Canada geese gathered there.  I got to watch them flying in and landing in the field.  For some reason I thought they always had to land in water, but they were pretty skilled at landing in the grass! 

 

As I got on the water I thought the vegetation and trees in the 'island' areas were very cool. 

 

There were a lot of areas along the edges to explore.  It is one of those places that as the season progresses it will be harder to get to some of the areas because the vegetation will grow so thick.  But I had good access to many nooks and crannies!

As the sun rose I got to see some sparkles on the surface! It somehow made me feel like the season was officially ON!   (This was my third paddle of the season!)

 

The clouds were pretty cool!  And when the water was calm, reflections were cool!

 

There were a lot of red Winged Blackbirds.  I believe they are birds that migrate and it was nice to see them.  They put on a concert with all of their singing.  I don't always get lucky with getting good pics of them but I did this time!  Here is a tiktok video if you want to hear their song: Red Winged Blackbirds Singing

As I was in one of the nooks I looked up and a pair of herons were flying overhead.  It is uncommon for me to see multiple herons together.  This pair circled around me a few times.  It was really cool!  There are some videos in the first Tiktok link listed above!

At the end of the trip I saw this cormorant on a log.  I was surprised to see it there, not sure why, but I was.

 

 

There is A LOT of beaver activity in this bog! I heard a tail slap at one point but did not see a beaver.  There were at least 6 lodges along the bog.  I did not see the mounds they use to mark their territories like I have seen at other ponds.  there were a lot of fresh chews along the water and in the reeds, but they stayed out of sight!

Once the wind died down the reflections were incredible!  It makes me want to come back, maybe for a sunset paddle!

Just before I got back to the launch something caught my eye.  In some bushes I saw a duck.  It was not moving.  I was a little worried... then I was a little skeptical.  Was it a duck or a decoy???

It was a decoy! LOL.  What should I name her?

As I was loading back up I saw this sign. It is nice that we have so many agencies in Maine watching out for our waterways!

Shaker Bog, you were a lot of fun!  I will be back!  

Branch Pond, Palermo

Body of Water:  Branch Pond, Palermo, Maine.  (Maine Gazetteer Map 13 A4/B4)

Directions:  From Portland, Drive north on 295/95, Take Exit 113 in Augusta.  Travel East on Route 3 for about 13 miles.   Turn left onto Branch Mills Road.    (Just before Tobey's Grocery)  Stay on Branch Mills Road for about 0.7 miles.  Slow down when you cross the bridge by the dam.   Just after the dam, there is a large building on the left, an old building: 

(Image from Google) 

Turn left immediately after that building.  It looks like a driveway, but it goes back to a public launch.  

Here is a pic of my truck coming out of the road: 

The road to get there is a bit rough, potholes...big potholes... so be careful.  Here is a photo from google Earth from the sky and you can see the road and open field.  There are no signs indicating that this is a private road. 

(Image from Google)

 

Parking:  Lots of parking, open field area  (There was A LOT of goose poop!)  

 

 

Looking down at launch from parking area:

 

 

Launch:  Gradual gravel, nice launch (The approach is uneven, be careful with your footing.  I would NOT drive down to the water because this part of the 'road' is pretty rough.)  You can also launch by the dam, but it looks like a more difficult launch point.

 

View of the launch from water

 

Fees: None

 

Bathroom:  none

 

Wildlife: Loons, geese, eagles, likely much more! 

 

Notes: A couple of weeks ago I was camping at Branch Lake Campground (posts coming soon!)  and this weekend I camped at Lake St. George State Park and chose to paddle Branch Pond, in Palermo.  When I go camping someplace my priority is paddling.  I like to find places I have never been.  

A few years ago I camped here and found some great places. I hoped to return to at least one of them, but also hoped to try new places.  When I look for places to paddle I look for bodies of water that have good places to explore with potential for wildlife.  I am not a fan of the big lakes... so while I was camping at Lake St. George... I did not paddle there!!! 

I looked at google earth and had seen Branch Pond.  I always google the names of the ponds and hope that an entry form the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife comes up,  maine.gov.  Their write ups usually note public access.   When I googled Branch lake I did not find a maine.gov description.  I did find a couple of things listed about fishing there.  I looked at google earth and saw the image of what looked like a public launch, so decided to check it out.  (Please note I did not see this listed specifically as a public boat launch but found other descriptions of access to the pond.) Google Earth has been a great tool for me in finding places that I can launch, places that look like I can launch.  

Branch pond was very welcoming.  It was calm and as we got on the water we saw a few islands. 

 

 

 

 The Sun started to make an appearance

 

 

 

Before we got on the water I used Flick the Tick to keep the bugs away.  

It was a pretty damp morning.  It works!! 

 

Before long we saw two loons and then a third loon flew in and joined the pair.  The three put on quite a show for us.  I had never seen that kind of loon behavior.  

 

 

 

One aspect of Branch Pond that will stand out to me is the lillies! Oh my gosh!  

They were beautiful and so plentiful!

 

Gladys settled in...

I think she was tired of me taking so many pics of the lilies, but come on... they were amazing!

At one point TWO eagles flew very close to us.  They landed in a tree together.  The adult got very annoyed with the young eagle.  Perhaps they are trying to push it out of the nest?

 

The adult flew back to the nest and the juvenile seemed to get the message to give its parents a break. 

Eventually the sun broke through and it was beautiful. 

 

At one point we took a break and Gladys enjoyed a quick swim.

 

Pausing for a break

 

At one point I decided to see how much Gladys would tolerate... she kept the hat on.. and even kept the shades on... 

Sadly, however, the shades are lost... she shook her head at one point and I did not catch them fast enough... they sank!  But I am glad we got a few pics!

She puts up with my craziness!!  And still seems to love me! 

 

Branch Pond is so pretty!

When we launched we headed away from the dam, so on the way back we explored that area a bit.  Love this funky building!

 It was a cool dam.

 

b

 

 

Gladys seemed to approve of Branch Pond

I really enjoyed this pond.  I would love to come back for an evening paddle and see if there was more wildlife!  The folks of Palermo are lucky to have this place!!