Little Suncook River in south-central New Hampshire is a tiny whitewater creek more aptly called a stream or brook. Located in Epsom, the exciting descent flows west from Northwood Lake along Route 4 before entering Suncook River east of Concord. With the exception of spring runoff and after heavy rain, the diminutive freshet is rarely […]
seniors
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Great biking and delicious chowder on Mount Desert Island
Each fall, my outdoor club, the Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, schedules its annual meeting on Mount Desert Island and plans a multitude of outdoor adventures around the island over several days. Again this year, there were war canoe races, mountain hikes, scenic walks, birding, sea kayaking and bike trips. The outstanding Carriage Roads of […]
advertisement
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Biking historic Quebec
My Maine outdoor companions and I have enjoyed adventures with our Quebec friends for about 30 years. We’ve visited them to paddle whitewater, sea kayak, ski, hike and bike. On many occasions, they’ve joined us in Maine for similar exploits. The pandemic resulted in a three-year border-crossing hiatus. Recently, six of us retired Mainers were […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A surprise ending on Scarborough Marsh
Scarborough Marsh is the largest saltwater marsh in Maine. The 3,100-acre, exceptionally scenic estuary is home to numerous species of birds, fish, mammals and shellfish. When Shweta Galway announced a Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society paddling trip on the marsh, my wife, Nancy, and I enthusiastically signed on. Six of us met at the Audubon […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Whitewater exploits on the Magalloway River
Twenty-six years ago, my late friend Bill Kaiser recruited me to represent the Appalachian Mountain Club in dam relicensing tests on the Rapid and Magalloway Rivers in western Maine. I was one of perhaps a dozen participants from several regional paddling organizations. The purpose was to navigate the two rivers in canoes or kayaks for […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A surf-and-turf on the Penobscot River Trails
The Penobscot River Trails in Grindstone consist of 25 kilometers of exceptional mountain bike and cross-country ski trails that parallel the East Branch of the Penobscot River. The superb multipurpose recreational complex offers hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and paddling. There is a visitor center and two arguably palatial warming huts. A well-designed hand-carry canoe-kayak […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Unpredictable weather is normal sea kayaking Downeast
Our original plan to complete a four-day sea kayak excursion along the Bold Coast in Eastern Maine was aborted after the first day due to foggy weather and turbulent seas. Six Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society Chowderheads regrouped and resolved to take advantage of other exceptional sea kayak opportunities the Downeast coastline has to offer. […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Foggy misadventures on the Bold Coast
The Bold Coast in eastern Maine meets my definition of bold. For about 20 miles between Lubec and Cutler, it is an almost continuous succession of tall, dramatic cliffs and a rugged landscape completely exposed to the vicissitudes of the open sea. The nearby Bay of Fundy has some of the most extreme tidal ranges […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: Exciting Class III whitewater on the Kennebec River
On the second day of the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society weekend of paddling near West Forks, the schedule was exclusively whitewater. While a handful of Chowderheads planned to navigate the Dead River, most chose outings on the Kennebec. The Kennebec Gorge below Harris Dam was the starting point for two trips. Releases from the […]
Posted inTimes Record
Seniors Not Acting Their Age: A gusty surprise traversing Moxie Pond
Each year, the Penobscot Paddle and Chowder Society celebrates summer with a weekend of paddling adventures collectively called the Summer Picnic. For many years, the event has been held at West Forks in western Maine. The base camp for club activities is Webb’s Campground located on the Dead River at West Forks just before it […]