MaineToday.com | PaddleME: Horsepower trumps paddle power

Scott Andrews, a Registered Maine Guide from Portland, began messing around with canoes and kayaks as a child in Oxford County. He enjoys both saltwater and inland paddling and frequently leads canoe and kayak trips for the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.

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July 27, 2007

Horsepower trumps paddle power

Horsepower trumped paddle power yesterday when a ski buddy and paddling pal invited me out for an excursion on Sebago Lake, the Songo River, Brandy Pond and Long Lake.

In addition to a pair of kayaks, Cherie Perkins owns an 18-foot Sea Ray powered by 100 horses; yesterday's heat plus the distance to be covered suggested eschewing paddles in favor of speed. And given the intensity of the sun, we kept the bimini up.

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Cherie Perkins poses by "Perky," her 18-foot Sea Ray powered by 100 horses.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

After leaving Cherie's mooring in Standish, we motored north between Frye's Leap (on Raymond Neck) and Frye's Island, Sebago Lake's unique summertime town.

Reaching the very populated sandbar at the mouth of the Songo River, we proceeded slowly north through the meandering passage, joining a serpentine line of power boats plus a few paddle-powered craft.

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The Songo River seemed like a long, serpentine line of power boats, occasionally punctuated by canoes and kayaks.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

At the landmark Songo Lock -- built in 1830 as part of the Cumberland and Oxford Canal -- we waited while the Songo River Queen exited the lock, then turned around and re-entered.

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The Songo River Queen in her namesake river yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

After reaching Brandy Pond, Cherie killed the engine and dived in, followed by me.

Passing under the swing bridge in Naples, we made a beeline north for the head of Long Lake for lunch at the Village Tie-Up in Harrison.

Thank goodness, the Village Tie-Up isn't the sort of swank eatery that you might expect in a New Yorky sort of cultural and economic environment. This homey, old-fashioned lakeside grocery store boasts good Italian sandwiches and assorted take-out items. The best place to take them out to is the picnic tables beside the docks.

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Cherie at lunch yesterday at the Village Tie-Up in Harrison Village.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Retracing our northbound wake, we passed through the Songo Lock again, this time squeezing rub rail-to-rub rail with a happy crowd of sun-mellowed south-bounders.

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A crowd of sun-mellowed south-bounders filled the Songo Lock yesterday afternoon.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

After another swim off the sandbar, we motored south back to Cherie's mooring.

Posted by Scott Andrews at 08:42 AM

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Comments

Why that is the goldarndest tale I never heard! I could almost feel the lil wavelets lapping at my fanny. You see, I like to be thown overboard and dragged behind Cheries boat by the neck to excape the heat! But it makes it hard to eat lunge. So I just watch everyone else have a good time and have my mind set on the trip back. That Cherie, she sure knows how to have fun. I done never seed a more active person-you would thunk she had ants in her pants. And those big laigs-just how tall is she? Taller than a cartoon character to me. Of course, I'm always slobbering on the floor so everyone looks tall. When they were handing out 'personality,' Cherie elbowed her way to the front of the line and grabbed more than her share. But she does wear it nicely. She should get a pr job to make that smile earn some $. She been wasting all these years with kids that don't appreciate her. Oh well, maybe in retirement, she'll find her dream job. Cheers to you, Cherie, I sure hope you're feeling better. Oh and Scott, thems were some mighty fine pitures you took. You got a real eye with that one eyed monster. Now I'm all over anticipated for the next trip-where are they gonna take us?

Posted by Bibby Burnside
July 27, 2007 11:11 PM