Proper planning packs excursion with enjoyment Paddle Smart from Start nearing

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The windy and foggy conditions on the ocean last weekend may not have been perfect for a kayak excursion, but “less than perfect” and “on the water” beat “stuck behind a desk” any day, don’t they?

And a night spent camping on an island is a slice of heaven, even if that island you’re on is called Hell’s Half Acre.

A dozen of us, guides and guides-to-be, hit the waters off Stonington to do some exploring, practice guiding skills, and navigate among the islands. The bonus on Sunday was thick fog that made chart and compass necessary. What more could we have asked for?

In contrast, Saturday was breezy and sunny, a great day to practice trip planning to take advantage of the downwind side of islands and sheltered coves for rest and further navigation practice. And on our way between a couple of the islands we had a chance to do some mild surfing while running with the wind.

And the meals! We had divided the culinary responsibilities so two groups did lunches, another dinner, and another breakfast. We ate like kings and queens. I was grateful for being outside where I could work off a few of those excess calories. Having a loaded boat helped in that department. When I got under way Saturday morning I thought I was paddling a submarine.

By late Sunday morning when we began packing for our return trip, each of us was trying to unload extra juice or water in an effort to lighten our boats. I know I dumped a gallon of water (about 8 pounds) and still had a couple of liter bottles left.

You can probably guess I haven’t done a lot of multiday outings. I tend to overpack. Just getting ready for a couple of days seems to take me forever. I’d probably take a couple of days to prepare for a four-day trip and heaven knows how long it would be for a week’s excursion.

That point was driven home Tuesday evening when I watched a slide show at the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club meeting at Epic Sports in Bangor where Bill Johnson and Cathy Fessendon told of their kayaking trip in Belize (formerly British Honduras). The two plus two other Bangor-area friends from MOAC drove south from Maine shortly after the New Year in a Chevy van named Vincent towing a trailer-load of sea kayaks and gear -destination Belize. It took a week to get there. The rest of the members of their expedition flew down and met them there.

I was amazed that all the supplies and equipment fit into the eight boats I saw pictured during the packing process on the banks of the Monkey River. Later I reasoned that even though the trip was during our cold season, Belize sits about 17 or 18 degrees north of the equator where it’s not necessary to dress for 40-degree water temperatures like we have to do here. What a joy that would be. Shorts and T-shirts took the place of fleece and paddling jackets.

After an hour or so of viewing tropical splendor I was getting a bit jealous – until I realized the iguanas, scorpions, and crocodiles I was seeing were really not my cup of tea. I guess everything has its price.

The Maine gang spent a week paddling in paradise, traveling 40 miles down the Monkey River and along the coast to Moho Key. There was time to explore and hike and time to relax (the one hammock got a good workout by the looks of the pictures). While we shivered in January’s icy grip, the MOAC gang worked up a sweat and had a ball.

The return journey took them through Guatemala where they took time to meander through the Mayan ruins.

In all, their trip took three weeks, two of driving, one of paddling and exploring. Upon his return to Maine, Johnson turned around and did a 13-day canoe trip through the Everglades. He had a few slides of that trip as well, but only a few. His camera kicked the bucket early in the trip.

I haven’t been to a MOAC meeting for a long time, and I was surprised at the variety of trips and outings members of this organization undertake. There is a two-week schedule on their Web site (www.moac.org) as well as information on how to join the group.

Some outings are larger and close to home, while others are far-out expeditions. Take, for example, club member Randall Fairman’s upcoming trip (for which he’s looking for a few people to join him) to Ketchikan, Alaska. Here’s his description from the MOAC Web site: “Take the Alaska state ferry (the “Blue Canoe”) from Bellingham, Wash., to Ketchikan, Alaska, leaving Bellingham on May 21, arriving in Ketchikan May 23. Then spend three weeks circumnavigating Revillagigedo Island. A straight circumnavigation with no side-trips is about 150 miles, so we should be able to proceed at a very leisurely pace.”

He plans on leaving Ketchican on June 16 to arrive in Bellingham on June 18. “We’ll be traveling through Misty Fiords National Monument and Tongass National Forest. Most of the route is in sheltered waters. We’ll see more whales and other wildlife than you can shake a stick at. The scenery will be fantastic — they didn’t just make up that ‘Misty Fiords’ business. Cost: I bought a round-trip ticket (Bangor/Bellingham) for $686. Portland/Seattle with a drive to Bellingham seems to be a few hundred dollars cheaper though less convenient. The ferry ride is about $200 each way. Tack on the cost of a couple of nights in a hotel. Call me if interested at 207-234-4280.”

Fairman has a couple of folding kayaks, one of which is a double. You could also rent a boat there. If you’re into some cold water and exotic scenery, this sounds like the trip of a lifetime. Being able to take off from May 21 to June 18 would be great, too.

I’m with you in spirit Randall, but that’s about it.

I heard from Dave Conley at East Grand High School in Danforth. He’s involved in the Outdoor Education Program there and the students are organizing a 15-mile adventure race on May 22 for high school students across the state. The three-part race will feature a 1-mile off-trail compass hike (bushwhacking), a 7-mile mountain bike ride on woods roads and trails, and an 8-mile paddle by canoe on the Baskahegan River.

There will be several required rest stops along the way where snacks and drinks will be available.

Students may enter as teams of two.

Need an incentive to enter? First-place prizes are two $50 gift certificates to Epic Sports of Bangor. Second-place finishers get Kelty hydration packs donated by Epic Sports. Third- place prizes are two Petzel Head Lamps donated by the Ski Rack in Bangor. And the fourth-place finishers will get Silva compasses donated by the Ski Rack.

There also will be door prizes from the Ski Rack and Mac’s Trading Post of Houlton.

The winning team gets to bring home a trophy to be displayed at their school for the next year, and all participants will receive an adventure race T-shirt and a free lunch after the race.

The entry fee is $30 per pair. If your school wishes to enter a team in the race, or you wish to get more information, contact Conley at 448-2743.

Here are a couple of reminders for canoeists and kayakers.

Don’t forget the free Paddle Smart from the Start Safety Symposium from 5 to 9:30 p.m. May 21 at the YMCA in Bangor. It’s scheduled to coincide with the beginning of National Safe Boating Week.

Look for a whole lot of safety information from area sea kayak guides, the Coast Guard, Penobscot Bay Sail and Power Squadron, the Marine Patrol, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Epic Sports and Castine Kayak Adventures, the major sponsors of this event.

You’ll get a chance to check out equipment, try out boats, and watch on-water rescues in the pool, learn about GPS from Master Guide Dick Parker, get information on kayak repair from Mr. Kayak – Earl Baldwin, hear some neat information about tides and currents, learn about communicating from your boat, and when and where it’s safe to paddle. You’ll also hear about canoe racing and risk assessment as well as how to choose the right boat and equipment. And don’t forget the door and raffle prizes. Pizza will be available for sale to help stave off your hunger.

Check out The Weekly this coming Thursday for more information on this event. You can also call Epic Sports at 941-5670 or Castine Kayak Adventures at 866-3506 for more information or to preregister.

And for you canoeists, don’t forget the Maine Canoe Symposium June 4-6 at Winona Camps on Moose Pond in Bridgton. Maine Guides and experts of the canoeing world will teach a multitude of canoeing and camping skills. You can build your own paddle, learn different paddling skills, canoe repair, trip planning, primitive and herbal medicine, poling skills, wilderness trip planning, and much more.

If canoeing is your cup of tea, this is the symposium to attend. The cost is $80 for the weekend per adult, $40 per children under 12. There are meal packages and various lodging options available. Visit the Web site www.MaineCanoeSympsoium.org or call 892-3121 for more information.

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