Forty years ago, my wife, Nancy, and I paddled the iconic Seboeis River canoe trip from Grand Lake Road west of Shin Pond to Whetstone Falls on the East Branch of the Penobscot with our friends John and Diane Stokinger. Twenty years later, I descended the turbulent upper Seboeis to Grand Lake Road with a […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: New adventures on the Machias River, Part II — Little Falls to Smith Landing
Ken Gordon and I awoke to a remarkably beautiful spring day at our campsite next to Little Falls on the Machias River. We were on the second day of our river trip and sharing the scenic site with six canoeists we met the previous day. Anticipating an exciting paddle on upcoming Wigwam Rapids, our young […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: New adventures on the Machias River, Part I — Airline Rapids to Little Falls
Forget the St. John, Allagash or St. Croix rivers. As far as I’m concerned, the Machias River is the best tripping river in Maine, maybe in all of the northeastern United States. A free-flowing river with a large watershed, it begins in the lakes region of northern Washington County. From Fifth Machias Lake, it meanders […]
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The Highlands receives awards for Best Assisted Living and Best Memory Care
The Highlands in Topsham recently received the U.S. News & World Report Best Assisted Living and Best Memory Care awards. This ranking is determined by a resident and family survey of various aspects of senior living and senior care that matter most. According to the U.S. News & World Report, “Communities that were rated highly […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Weaving the Webb River
Hidden away in the rural community of Carthage, except for locals, Webb River is relatively unknown. Whitewater boaters are an exception. Each spring, scores of enthusiastic paddlers converge on the Webb as soon as ice is out for some excellent Class II/III whitewater. A free-flowing river, it’s unique in that a comparatively large watershed keeps […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Exciting whitewater adventures on Kingsbury Stream
Paddling Kingsbury Stream in Abbot has been a Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society spring tradition for decades. In recent years, club member Kyle Duckworth has coordinated the exciting whitewater adventure almost every April. Planning the excursion around the weather, ice and varying water levels is always a challenge. Starting after ice-out is a must. Determining […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Whitewater thrills and spills on Marsh Stream
For several years, the Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society has provided safety for the Marsh Stream Canoe & Kayak Race. Traditionally led by Kyle Duckworth, each April, safety-minded club members enthusiastically volunteer their time to support this worthwhile paddling endeavor. There are added benefits for club members. Many Chowderheads participate in the downriver race. And […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Spring excitement on the Sheepscot River
Forty-five years ago, I experienced my first spring paddle on the Sheepscot River between Whitefield and Head of Tide with my friend, Bob Smith. Novice paddlers, we navigated an 18-foot tandem canoe wearing jeans, wool tops and old sneakers offering little defense from the icy water. We capsized in a Class II rapid about a […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A Baxter State Park winter expedition, Part III — final adventures
Since several of us had completed three arduous mountain hikes, skiing was the primary focus for the majority of our group on the fifth day of our six-day Baxter State Park winter expedition. We had been residing in the bunkhouse at South Branch Pond in the northeastern sector of the park during that timeframe, and […]
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Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A Baxter State Park winter expedition, Part II — challenging climbs
On the third day of our six-day Baxter State Park expedition, eight of us awoke in the midst of a stormy northeaster. We were occupying the bunkhouse at South Branch Pond in the northeast sector of the park. Five inches of fresh snow had accumulated and mixed precipitation was predicted for the remainder of the […]