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!

Sunday, July 9, 2017

A List of Destinations

 I thought it may be helpful to have a complete list of the places I have included in the blog... I put them in alphabetical order by body of water.   Some locations have multiple posts.  
I hope this is a page people can bookmark and use as a quick reference! 

Some of the locations ARE in the book, but others are just from the blog.  

Blog only destinations are indicated with double asterisks**
As a reminder, you can use the search bar on the blog to find posts!  

The names of destinations are the links to the descriptions of the trips. 

Enjoy!  



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Runaround Pond - Durham

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

Directions (From Portland, ME):  The direction in the book are more efficient... 295 to the Freeport/Durham Exit, then Rt 136 to Rabbit Road, then straight onto Runaround Pond Road, then the pond is on the right.  (Sorry for no distances!)
 
 Take the Maine Turnpike (I-95) to Gray, exit 63.
Turn Right to a funky intersection, you want to get on Rt. 115 towards Yarmouth. (You will kind of be going straight through the intersection.) After about 1.5 miles you will turn left onto Depot Rd. Stay on Depot Rd. until it intersects with Rt. 231 take a left onto 231 and take an immediate right onto Allen Rd. (There is no sign that says Allen Rd.) You will be across from Pineland, passing one of their gardens on your left.) Stay on Allen Road until it ends, passing an electrical station, turn right onto Fickett Rd. At next intersection there will be North Pownal General Store. Go straight putting you on Runaround Pond Rd. Runaround Recreational area will be on your left in about two miles.

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. 

Wildlife: Turtles, dragonflies, blue herons, deer and ducks.  Also many lily pads! 
Notes: 
 It was the PERFECT summer morning... out on the water with friends enjoying the water! 
 
The water was so calm! 

I still LOVE going under the bridge and enjoying this area. 


A camera shy heron...

We chose to paddle in the less traveled parts of the pond today and it paid off!  We saw herons, turtles, and 2 deer!  Perfect Morning! 









 
 
















Monday, July 3, 2017

A newspaper article by sandy and yours truly!


Sandy and I were asked to write a short upbeat article about how to get started in various paddlesports.  We thought it was a tall order but also decided we were up for the challenge.  We wanted to make sure to focus on safety an being a smart paddler...which we believe involves asking other people (who know stuff) for help!  If you are interested here is the link: What you need to know before you get paddling

Hooray for the 4th of July!

My grandmother used to say Hooray for the 4th of July on the 4th of July, and every Christmas.  I am not sure why, but she did.  I think of her fondly every year at this time.  I hope everyone stays safe over the 4th.  I am on vacation at a lake with my family.  (Me, at a lake? Shocking!)  
Gladys and I are working on our kayaking.  We have gone out a couple times and she has done well so far.  I have not dared to venture too far from the house in case we tip over, but am hoping to get a little more under our belts before we head back home. 

Here are some pictures of our adventures.  (Paddling and boating!) 

She was pretty calm... and seemed to prefer to face me.  

She is doing pretty well so far! 

 She LOVES the boat!

She was upset when she thought my dad was going back on the boat without her...



 She is a good girl! 


Happy 4th of July!!  Be safe!