The Saco River in the Fryeburg area has a well-deserved reputation for overcrowding -- and sometimes very rowdy crowds! -- but the 14-mile section below the Route 160 bridge in Brownfield is both scenic and quiet.

The big reason is that 14 miles is simply too far for the crowds that float the river with blaring boomboxes and cases of beer. They prefer the shorter stretches in Center Conway, NH, and Fryeburg.

Fifteen members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club paddled the quiet section of the Saco yesterday, taking nearly six hours including a lunch break and a swimming break.

We had 11 solo kayaks and two tandem canoes. One of the kayaks was a Pakboat Puffin, which weighs only 17 pounds and fits into a luggage-sized carrying sack.

Jonathan Keck of Portland and John Kirk of Ecuador prepare to land their canoe on a sandbar while Pam Bailey of Biddeford supervises.
ALL PHOTOS SCOTT ANDREWS

Raised paddles and high spirits.

The flotilla heads downriver.

Meg Michaud of South Portland paddles her 17-pound Pakboat Puffin, a hybrid style craft that's part inflatable and part rigid-frame.

Lynn Frank of Brunswick and Martha Briggs of Windham paddle down the Saco River yesterday.

The river is clear and sandy, with numerous fine sandbars that are ideal for picnics and swimming. As part of the day's educational program, Al Racine of Yarmouth demonstrated his 270-degree roll. Pam Bailey of Biddeford was our comedy queen for the day. We all wished she'd brought along her Billy Bob teeth! Next time, maybe?

By the time we pulled out just above the Route 113 Bridge in Hiram, some of our paddlers had very tired arms.

Although all the participants in yesterday's MOAC trip brought their own boats, rentals are available at two places at the Route 160 bridge: Woodland Acres Camp 'n' Canoe and River Run. Both have riverside campgrounds, rentals and shuttle service.

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