Yesterday a friend and I got out on saltwater for the first time this season when we paddled the New Meadows River in the West Bath-Brunswick area.

I haul my kayak up to the New Meadows a couple of times each summer, but for paddling pal Cherie Perkins, yesterday marked a first.

Paddling pal Cherie Perkins, pictured shortly after launching her kayak yesterday in the New Meadows River.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

It's a long estuary on a north-south axis and it has many attractive islands. Due to the strong breeze from the south that kicked up some chop in open sections, we put in at Sabino on the West Bath side, which is several miles from the open ocean.

Cherie paddles across the New Meadows River yesterday.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

After paddling past the red daymark near the entrance to the Sabino area, we crossed the river, continued past Bragdon Island and stopped for lunch at one of the attractive little islets marked "Three Islands" on the chart. It's one of my two favorite lunch stops in the New Meadows.

With a rapidly rising tide and not much beach to haul up on, we tied our boats to a line which I anchored with a couple of large rocks. By the time we'd finished eating, both boats were bobbing at anchor.

Kayaks float at their informal anchor at Three Islands.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

After lunch, we paddled north past Indian Point up into the Gurnet area, stopping at Iron Island, which is another good lunch spot. By the time we returned to Sabino, thunderclouds were evident, and it poured by the time we reached Brunswick on the drive back.

Cherie enjoyed her first day paddling the New Meadows River.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

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