If it had not been for last weekend’s Arctic gales moving our fresh snow about horizontally, I might have entertained a thought or two about spring. Come Monday and Tuesday, though, with temperatures in the mid-30s and lower 40s it wasn’t hard to let my thoughts drift a bit.

There are a few signs of spring around despite winter’s icy grip. Check out the day’s length. The sun is rising a few minutes earlier each day and setting a few minutes later – we’ve gained about an hour and a half since Dec. 22! I don’t know about you, but the more daylight the merrier.

Along with the sun’s march northward comes a noticeable warmth and intensity. If you can find a place out of the wind, you can feel it, particularly if you’re wearing dark-colored clothing.

Despite winter’s icy blasts I was fortunate to have paddled with friends last Sunday. We broke out the sea kayaks, fought freezing fingers to strap them to the roof racks, and headed north to the balmy confines of Old Town High School’s pool. As we shook off winter’s cobwebs we could watch the fury of the wind outside through slider windows.

Come Monday morning I was feeling the pains of using arm and shoulder muscles that have been neglected since last I paddled in November. Ouch! (Could it be age sticking its ugly nose under the tent?) I feel obligated, however, to subject myself to more of this pain under the guise of research on “seasonal laziness disorder.” I’ve been so sedentary of late! I need to get out!

Besides, I may have to perform at the upcoming annual Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show sponsored by Penobscot County Conservation Association at the University of Maine. The show (which is a sure sign of spring) is scheduled March 19-21 (spring begins March 20), and my paddling friend Karen Francoeur of Castine Kayak Adventures volunteered her services to demonstrate sea kayak rescues in the pool on March 20. Only problem is she did the same for the Kittery Trading Post show at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., the same weekend. Being in two widely diverse places at one time is difficult unless one delegates responsibilities. That’s where a few of her friends come in. Some of us may be the trained seals in the pool in Orono that day.

So there’ll be a few more practice pool sessions scheduled to brush up on rescues so we don’t look too foolish (although I don’t know why I worry about that; I’ve never been much more than a fool). Maybe it’s modesty, maybe just a longing for the water, but I needed to get wet and as usually happens when we get together in the pool with our kayaks, we had to try new ways to pull capsized paddlers from the water.

Another sure sign of spring is the Fourth Annual Paddle Smart from the Start safety symposium scheduled for May 21. Planning is under way to bring you all the safety information and demonstrations you’ll need to make your outings on the water safer. If you haven’t attended the past three events, mark your calendar and plan to come to this free event held at the YMCA in Bangor.

Epic Sports, Castine Kayak Adventures, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Department of Marine Resources-Marine Patrol, the Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron, and others (including yours truly) are conspiring to bring you an evening of useful information and entertainment.

Topics being considered for presentation include choosing the right boat, GPS and what it can do for you, communicating from your boat, navigation, tides, and on-water rescue skills.

I’ll tell you more as the date approaches. I hope to see you there!

Another way you may want to think about rushing spring is to take a course to learn how to be a sea kayak guide or recreation guide, or one on navigation for sea kayakers and boaters, or maybe a paddling skills clinic. Francoeur sent me a list of classes and clinics she’s teaching.

The sea kayak guide course ($390) is 45 hours and is offered through United Technologies Center on Hogan Road. The course begins March 17 and runs through April 28. You could take a supplementary, 15-hour course ($125) dealing with the recreation guide license. Testing for the licenses ($100) is done by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

If you’re simply interested in learning how to paddle or improve on your paddling skills, why not take a four-session beginner or intermediate skills class or a rolling or rescue clinic? For more information on times and charges call Tammy Wieder at UTC at 942-5296 or Castine Kayak Adventures at 866-3506.

Polar Dip Update: The students at Washington County Community College presented the Ronald McDonald House of Bangor a check this week for $34,000-plus (can you do that?)! John Miller, the school’s spokesman, said the students hope when all the outstanding pledges are collected the final tally will be $35,000, but as of now the amount collected has exceeded $34,000. Anyone with outstanding pledges is urged to contact Miller at 853-2518 and get their money to the school.

Buoyed by the outstanding support the Washington County community gave to the effort, Miller said, next year’s goal will be $40,000, which when realized will bring to $100,000 the amount donated to the Ronald McDonald House in just five short years. So sock away that pocket change and be ready for next January when the students come asking for your support. Miller’s challenge for next year is to try to double the number of participants, hence John Holyoke, Diana Graettinger, and I each are going to have to try to conscript another NEWS staffer to join us. (I don’t hold out much hope. All of the people I work with are content just sitting back and watching from afar. The thought of jumping into frigid ocean waters in January is regarded around here as an act of lunacy.)

Banff Mountain Film Update: If you couldn’t make Thursday evening’s performance of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour at Peakes Auditorium sponsored by Epic Sports, put a note on your calendar so you’ll be sure to attend next year’s performance. The traveling show is the best of the best culled from more than 300 films shown each November at the Banff Centre in the Canadian Rockies for the Banff Mountain Film Festival, now heading into its 29th year.

Some 54 films make it to the final pool and the best 25 are sent on the road throughout the country with seven Banff representatives. At each viewing location the local sponsors pick the evening’s selection, which on Thursday evening included eight selections featuring extreme downhill skiing, biking, and snowboarding in “Rock Stars” and some more extreme chute skiing and boarding in “Teton.” I cringed throughout each.

One of the two longer films, “Eiger: North face in foot prints of the first climbers” showed a modern-day assault of the famous rock wall by two climbers who outfitted themselves with equipment made to 1930s specifications. It was literally a cliffhanger.

And “Cost of Freedom,” a film on the gray wolf recovery program in Idaho, had the audience spellbound at times, reactive at others as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and ranchers fumbled through the project which began in the mid-1990s.

There was levity as well. “French Fries to Go” featured one man’s successful efforts to recycle French fry grease and turn it into fuel for his diesel-powered International Scout. Daryl Hannah, Dennis Weaver, and health guru Dr. Andrew Weil have cameo appearances. And “Extreme Tramping – Lord of the Springs” was a hilarious spoof by three guys on SWAT team-style hits on neighborhood trampolines. And the final film, “Biscuit,” featured a Jack Russell that was quite adept at rock climbing. All-in-all it was a great evening of entertainment, thanks to Brad Ryder and the folks at Epic Sports.

Looking for a handy guide to the wildlife of Maine? The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in conjunction with Wildlife Forever has on its shelves “Critters of Maine Pocket Guide” that has pictures of around 50 animals you might run into around these parts. Each critter has its own two pages that include a full-color picture, some “Did you know?” facts, information on size, habitat, range, food, mating habits, their dens, the number of young they have, their predators, pictures of their foot prints (where applicable), and a description what they look like.

At the back of the book is a checklist for your sightings. The book’s only 4 by 6 inches so it’ll fit in a shirt or pack pocket handy for quick reference, and for $5.95 plus tax it won’t hurt your wallet too bad. If you’re in Augusta, drop by the DIFW headquarters at 284 State Street and pick one up. Or you could have one sent to you for $5.95 plus tax and $3.50 shipping and handling. Call 287-8000.

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8000 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.