There was a distinct feeling of fall in the air yesterday when I led eight canoeists and kayakers from the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club to a pair of islands in Merrymeeting Bay.

We put in at the Bowdoinham boat launch -- on the Cathance River -- and followed the falling tide into the bay itself. Numerically we comprised six solo kayaks plus my Bear Creek Cubby canoe.

Two of the solo yaks were lightweight Kevlar, built in Freeport by Lincoln Canoe and Kayak.

Eight canoeists and kayakers from the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club launch yesterday on the Cathance River in Bowdoinham.
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High paddles and high spirits on the Cathance River.
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Al Kimball approaches Bird Island in Merrymeeting Bay.
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My intention was to stop briefly at Bird Island, then head southwest toward the islands near the mouth of the Androscoggin River. But a stiff breeze was kicking up across the bay, and my group and I didn't feeling like paddling two miles against the wind.

Beaching at Bird Island yesterday.
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Instead, we got back in our boats and headed a few hundred yards east, to nearby Brick Island, where we stopped for a leisurely lunch.

Lunch on Brick Island.
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Sue Stableford and Nelle Harnig share a laugh on the rocks on Brick Island.
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Reluctantly concluding that there was too much wind to comfortably continue our explorations of Merrymeeting Bay, we headed back up the Cathance River, stopping briefly to admire some wildflowers. By this time, the tide had turned and we happily accepted a boost from the flood tide back to Bowdoinham.

Linda Gerlach among the cardinal flowers.
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An ice cream stop is the traditional wrapup for a MOAC trip, a tradition obviously relished by Nelle!
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