On Thursday I flew in to Donnell Pond, a wonderful little lake east of Ellsworth, with a couple of people from the Department of Conservation, the state agency which holds it in trust for the people of Maine. It looks like a good place to paddle next year!

It's got a largely undeveloped shoreline (with several paddle-in campsites) and a cluster of appealing islands.

Donnell Pond from the air, with several of its islands
Scott Andrews photos

I arrived via a Cessna 185 Skywagon, piloted by John Knight, of the Maine Department of Conservation

Bring your hiking boots, too, because a trio of attractive mountains lie south and east of Donnell Pond: Schoodic, Black and Caribou.

Canoe and kayak access is via an official state launch, located on a gravel road off Route 182 in Franklin, Map #24 on your DeLorme Gazetteer. Most day hikers arrive via a couple of roads that approach the south end of the lake.

Yesterday my hosts were Karin Tilberg, Deputy Commissioner of Conservation (L) , and Brooke Wilkerson, assistant ecologist with the Maine Natural Areas Program (R). Above, they're standing at one of the campsites, checking the map

Click here for more information on the Donnell Pond Unit.

Kayaks for $250? That's the story at the Eastern Mountain Sports store on Marginal Way in Portland this weekend. With rentals and demos selling at discounts of up to 40 percent off the wholesale price, this means that you can paddle away some plastic rec models for as little as $250.

Used rental kayaks are on sale this weekend at discounts of up to 40 percent off wholesale
Scott Andrews photos

With discounts of up to 40 percent off wholesale, some plastic rentals will be floating away from EMS for $250

They've got about 20 'yaks to sell.

This is all part of the storewide "Upgrade Your Gear" sale, which runs all this weekend. That includes paddles, PFDs, floatation stuff, GPS gear etc.

Additionally, Thursday night features added discounts for members of outdoors organizations, such as the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club, according to store manager Pam Famous.

Phone is 541-1919.

A handsome lighthouse plus an attractive archipelago of islands: That's the coast of Maine, right?

It's also the picture of paddling on Cobbosseecontee Lake, located quite squarely in Central Maine in the inland Winthrop-Monmouth area.

Grabbing our one good opportunity to get out in our canoes and kayaks this week, a group of friends and I paddled the length of Cobbosseecontee on Wednesday.

It was the same bunch as last week -- see Oct. 5 'Fogbound? Not us' -- plus Pat Ledlie of Buckfield, who paddles a Necky named 'Gavia.' That's Latin for Loon. Also met Pat through the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.

Shortly after launching at the East Winthrop boat landing, we passed a fine-looking lighthouse, built in 1908.

This lighthouse, built in 1908, is the dominant feature of the northern part of Cobbosseecontee Lake
Scott Andrews photos

Another mile south, and we threaded amongst a handsome set of islands, several of which are owned by the Kennebec Land Trust and open to careful public use.

Pat Ledlie paddles amongst the islands of Cobbosseecontee Lake

Pat's kayak is named 'Gavia,' Latin for Loon

We took out at the East Monmouth boat landing, after about eight miles of paddling.

Pat and Anne Tarbell get kayak-cozy for my camera

A brisk northeast wind helped propel us along, and late afternoon's low sun angle reminded us that there won't be too many more days like this in the 2005 season.

Two paddling pals and I wanted to get out on the water Wednesday, so we headed inland to avoid the fogbound coast. Cruising down the Androscoggin River between Durham and Lisbon Falls, the sun burned off the haze about noontime and stayed out the rest of the day.

Jonathan Keck, of Portland, and Anne Tarbell, of South Portland, took turns trying out my kayak, a 12-foot Pungo from Wilderness Systems.

Jonathan Keck, of Portland, paddles down the Androscoggin River in Durham, before the sun burned through the fog and haze
Scott Andrews photos

Anne Tarbell, of South Portland, enjoys paddling my little Pungo

We saw at least three eagles, two mature and one large immature. Plus lots of great blue heron, kingfishers and cormorants. The foliage was just starting to turn and was well below peak. A good excuse to plan another trip!

We enjoyed brilliant sunshine from about 1 p.m. on

Jon prefers canoes

I've been paddling with Jon and Anne for years, having met both through the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club. The club's got at least four more paddling events scheduled in the month of October, including a beginner-oriented canoe/kayak trip on the Saco River in the Buxton area on Oct. 15. I'm leading that one. No doubt readers of this blog will see a report.