Spring fuels desire to go paddling

As I drove north toward Old Town a week ago Friday, I was amazed at the number of vehicles headed south on I-95 with Old Town canoes and kayaks on them. As I got closer to the center of the city, it seemed there wasn’t a vehicle around without some sort of boat attached.

The company’s annual yard sale draws folks from all corners of the Northeast and they get there early to get the best deals on factory blems, seconds, or thirds. People were piling boats everywhere. I watched amused, for as long as I could stand it, as a couple tried to stuff a small kayak, a Loon, and a canoe into and atop a Ford Taurus wagon. I can’t tell you if they succeeded; I didn’t have all day to watch.

The fact that local ponds and lakes are still mostly locked in ice probably accounts for the fact that people are getting antsy to get out on open water and paddle. In the meantime, driving around with a canoe or kayak atop the family wagon just oozes a certain Maine style, doesn’t it? This weekend will be a canoe zoo in Bangor, what with the running of the Kenduskeag Stream race. The serious racers have been out for a few weeks now, but this weekend celebrates spring’s arrival (regardless of the weather). Those not-so-serious paddlers will get a chance to take the season’s first swim and entertain all the river vultures gathered for the show.

I’ve come to appreciate the more subtle, laid-back adventure – the ones with half a dozen or fewer friends and no audiences.

There is some open water around. Last Saturday Robert Causey, the Baron of Causey Estates, Lakeside, Glenburn, dropped by to spirit me and my boat away to explore the natural wonders of Pushaw Stream. The ice was out, he assured me. We opted to put in north of the Old Town Trading Post just off Bennoch Road and paddle upstream.

Sure enough, the ice was out. As we paddled upstream we found a few backwaters still locked in, but the main branch was clear and flowing freely. For a season opener it was a pretty good workout. I found I needed to stop a few times, including one time to get out of the boat and stretch my legs.

After a couple of hours I was thinking this was turning into more of a workout than I’d bargained for, but we pressed on into the wind and current. I was lost in the moment when Causey made some comment about getting upstream to his “favorite spot.” It turned out to be just south of West Old Town and Route 43. Since we were so close to Route 43 at that point, we opted to continue to the road. Whew! This turned out to be a trip. All I’d brought was water to drink and my stomach was telling me it was time for food.

We normally bring some sort of snack such as a granola bar, but who thought we’d be out that long? Our short paddle upstream turned out to be 5.5 miles, according to my Maptech software. After a brief stretch we hopped in our boats and headed downstream. I was thankful for the small boost I got from the current. We jumped a pair of geese, innumerable ducks, and four beavers, that greeted our arrival in their territory with resounding tail slaps.

In a week or two this trip should be enhanced by the absence of snow in the woods and new, green growth on the trees and stream banks.

On Sunday, I was invited to tag along with a guide training class in Castine with Karen Francoeur. An outgoing tide and north winds blowing 10-20 mph provided trip planning and boat handling challenges for the group.

Castine’s waterfront was a bit naked looking what with all the floats sitting on the parking lot, but there was some life around Eaton’s Boat Yard. Judging by the number of mooring balls in the water, I’d say Kenny Eaton and his crew will be busy in the coming weeks and months. Gary Brouillard was getting some preseason puttering done at Dennett’s Wharf. He, too, is going to be busy between now and the first of next month when he plans to open for the season.

Our skinny boat flotilla assembled near the town launch ramp and geared up for a day on the water. It gave us a chance to check each other’s gear and help rig boats.

Ocean temperatures were running around 35 degrees, so part of our pretrip planning involved making sure we were all appropriately dressed. The rule of thumb is to dress for the water temperature. In so doing, the theory goes, you’re protected against hypothermia should you overturn. It’s best if you can keep the water away from your skin. Dry suits or a combination of dry top and dry bottoms work best in this mission because they have latex gaskets at the wrist, ankles and neck to keep water away from your body and insulating clothing layers.

Breathable gear is key because, without it, your insulating layers will become perspiration soaked. It’ll likely get damp even if your outer layer is breathable, at least that’s been my experience.

Our intrepid gang launched eventually and headed across Castine Harbor, pushed along by northerly winds. We sought the lee of Hospital Island and then wended our way to Indian Bar at Holbrook Island Sanctuary, taking time along the way to practice strokes and technique.

Lunch on the beach facing Smith Cove was relaxing nestled up against a bank out of the wind. Later we paddled across to the Henry Islands and the shipwreck of the Gardner G. Deering, then into the wind and back to Castine.

A couple of students later tested their gear in the harbor to see how well it kept water out. A pair of Bomber Gear paddling pants worked quite well for Rich Vancil of Hampden. It kept water from flooding in, while hydrowear, which is sort of a fleece material, didn’t keep its wearer, Chad Stiles of Old Town dry, but it did ward off the exchange of cold water, he said.

The hardest balance is dressing warm enough to ward off the cold of the water should you capsize, yet not so warmly you get hyperthermic (overheated) as you paddle. Remember, you’re essentially exercising inside a cocoon consisting of your boat, your clothing, and lifejacket. Some folks perspire more than others, so you’re on your own trying to figure out this puzzle. Had I worn a breathable paddling jacket over my synthetic base layer and fleece insulating layer, I’d have been fine. Instead, I wore a coated paddling jacket and wound up with damp inner layers. A breathable top is in the works to replace the missing-in-action one I had last year.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the third annual Paddle Smart from the Start Safety Symposium at the YMCA beginning at 5 p.m. May 9. I’ve had the pleasure of planning and working with a group that includes Brad Ryder of Cadillac Mountain Sports (soon to be Epic Sports) in Bangor; Francoeur of Castine Kayak Adventures; Lydia Jordan at the YMCA; fellow guide Mark Goff of Hampden; Al Johnson, U.S. Coast Guard recreational boating specialist; and others.

We’re confident that this year’s event will be the best. We’ve rounded up speakers to tell you about the Maine Island Trail Association and Leave No Trace, the Gulf of Maine Expedition, how to communicate from your kayak, how to select the appropriate boat, and what you should learn about navigating. There will be pool demonstrations on rescue techniques for both kayaks and canoes. Static displays will include information on Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge, Lyme Disease, invasive plant species, and others.

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.