Thirteen members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club paddled 14 miles of the scenic Saco River yesterday. Make that 14 MOACers, if we count Cuzzin' Clementine.

We launched at Rt. 160 (Brownfield Bridge) and wrapped up at the River Run take-out in Hiram.

Members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club launch their boats at the Brownfield Bridge (Rt. 160) yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Numerically we had one tandem canoe (my Bear Creek Cubby) plus 11 solo kayaks. Six guys and seven gals who came from as far south as Kennebunk to as far north as Windsor.

MOACers show their enthusiasm at the start of yesterday's trip.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Pam Bailey paddles toward the camera.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Boats beached on a sandbar for a swimming break.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

MOACers swimming in the Saco River yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

We made two stops to swim and one for lunch. In each case, we found an inviting sandbar.

Lunch stop on a sandbar.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

At lunch, Pam Bailey's Cuzzin' Clementine entertained us with her comedy act.

Cuzzin' Clementine, a close relative of Pam Bailey, entertains us.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Although the 14 miles of the Saco between Brownfield and Hiram sees less traffic and less trash than the more popular shorter sections in the Fryeburg area, we did see some appalling abuse of the river. At one point, several MOAC paddlers stopped in order to completely extinguish a fire that had been left smouldering by careless campers, and I stopped to photograph a gross pile of trash that was left on another (otherwise) beautiful sandbar.

Trash pile on a sandbar on the Saco River yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

Our total time on the river, including the three breaks, came to just under six hours. After taking out and loading up, about half of us stopped in Standish for ice cream -- the normal wrapup for a MOAC summer trip.

Kim Matthews enjoys an ice cream cone on the trip home. Note Kim's official MOAC T-shirt!
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

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