Yesterday I joined Al Racine for the after-work paddle that he hosts most Thursdays for the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club. For July 27, Al picked Little Sebago, and seven of us launched canoes and kayaks at the official state boat ramp on the western shore.

Yesterday the official state boat ramp at Little Sebago Lake was bustling with powerboats, canoes and kayaks.
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Jim Fitzgerald, Little Sebago's milfoil checker, chats with Al Racine.

Kayakers from the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club near Little Sebago boat ramp yesterday.

Paddlers gather near an island.

We were greeted by Jim Fitzgerald, the state milfoil checker. He gave us several brochures on invasive plant species and suggested that anybody online should check out www.littlesebagolake.com.

After passing Horse Island, the largest in the lake, Al directed us to a group of small islands near the east shore, where he demonstrated some safety techniques for new kayakers.

But I was more in a mood to keep on paddling, so I set off by myself to explore Little Sebago's many islands and rejoined the group at the boat ramp a bit after sunset.

A variety of viewpoints were represented when the Androscoggin River Trek-a-Thon wrapped up on Saturday. A flotilla comprising 12 solo kayaks and three tandem canoes paddled six miles through the large impoundment in the river that's created by Gulf Island Dam, one of Maine's largest hydro-electric projects.

A number of people representing various interests and causes made presentations to us. The most avid listener was one of Saturday's youngest participants: Mariah Pfeiffer, a Bates College senior who is researching an honors thesis that's centered on the Androscoggin River.

Mariah Pfeiffer, a Bates College senior, is researching an honors thesis that's based on the Androscoggin River.
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She's spending a lot of time this summer in three communities -- Berlin, N.H., Rumford and Lewiston -- talking to old-timers who remember the Andro from many decades past, including loggers, river drivers and mill workers.

On Saturday, she was developing a more contemporary, more recreation-oriented perspective.

Recreational canoeing will become one of the primary uses of the Androscoggin River in the future.

Kayakers and canoeists on the Gulf Island Pond section of the Androscoggin River on Saturday.

This canoe represents the Pulp and Paperworkers Resource Council, a national group that seeks to balance environmental and economic issues.

Several people made short presentations. Ed Friedman, representing Friends of Merrymeeting Bay, outlined his group's struggle to protect migrating eels, catadromous creatures that are killed in great numbers in the whirling hydro-electic turbines of the many dams on the Androscoggin and the Kennebec.

The Androscoggin Land Trust was represented by several people, including executive director Jonathan LaBonte and stewardship director Michael Auger. Their most interesting project is currently in progress: acquiring 325 acres that surround an attractive cove in the south Turner section of Gulf Island Pond. Ultimately it would be added to the Turner Riverlands and provide additional public access to that 2,000-acre tract. Another new ALT project aims to create a riverside park in the city of Lewiston just a bit below Deer Rips Dam.

Dave Govatski, representing the Androscoggin River Watershed Council, the Trek-a-Thon's sponsoring organization, spoke of increasing the number of recreational canoeists and kayakers. The ARWC aims to create a 170-mile water trail from Lake Umbagog to Merrymeeting Bay. Part of it, a few dozen miles in the Bethel area, already exists.

Dave also gave a talk on Leave No Trace, plus we picked up trash on a small island. There wasn't much; the island seems to be a picnic stop for thoughtful people.

I was especially intrigued by Mariah's senior thesis, in which she's using oral narratives to define a sense of geographical and socio-economic place around the Androscoggin River. I hope to present some additional details on Mariah's research in the near future and I hope the ARWC will invite her to speak at next year's Trek-a-Thon.

Merrymeeting Bay is a curiosity of nature, a large lake with tides. Formed by the confluence of six rivers -- the Kennebec and Androscoggin being the largest -- waters from the bay must funnel through a very narrow constriction --- The Chops -- before flowing out to sea.

Because of this constriction, the strong tides of the Lower Kennebec act as a "plug" with the familiar 12 1/2-hour diurnal cycle, thus causing tides in the bay even though saltwater seldom enters.

Yesterday a few friends and I -- all members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club -- spent the afternoon exploring a part of Merrymeeting Bay. With just-perfect planning, we put in at the Bowdoinham boat launch on the Cathance River, rode the ebb tide into the Bay, spent a couple of hours out there at the cycle's low, then followed the flood back up the river to the point where we'd started.

We put in our canoes and kayaks at the Bowdoinham boat launch on the Cathance River yesterday.
ALL PHOTOS SCOTT ANDREWS (except as noted)

Great day to be out on Merrymeeting Bay!

Merrymeeting Bay is one of the best places in the country to see bald eagles. We enjoyed numerous sightings, including a pair in a nest in a pine tree along the Cathance River. Lots of info can be found at the Friends of Merrymeeting Bay website.

Checking out an eagle. Merrymeeting Bay is one of the best places in the country to see bald eagles.

We had lunch on Brick Island, then paddled across to The Chops, where we noted the flood tide rushing into the Bay, continued behind Sturgeon Island and hugged the southeastern shore for a mile before re-crossing near Bird Island and returning up the Cathance River.

Returning up the Cathance River: The low-angle, late-day sun on a yellow kayak makes a striking image.

MOAC has many cultured members, and some of us finished the day by attending the Bowdoin International Music Festival Upbeat! concert last night. The Cassatt String Quartet appeared. Ditto Brunswick restaurateur Marty Perry and members of the Juilliard School faculty.

The Cassatt String Quartet performed last night at the Bowdoin International Music Festival.
PR photo courtesy of Cassatt String Quartet

For the past 10 years, the Androscoggin River Source-to-Sea Canoe Trek has been one of the summer's premier paddling events. Intended to spread the word about the river's remarkable renaissance from its polluted past and to promote recreational use, this year's edition has been downsized to four days and morphed into one of those "A-Thon" fund-raising events. It is the chief public face of the Androscoggin River Watershed Council.

Jon Luoma's beautiful artwork for the Androscoggin River Source-to-Sea Canoe Trek posters and tee shirts is one of the event's signature visuals.

Returning for 2006 is the raffle to win a new kayak from Lincoln Canoe & Kayak, the Freeport manufacturer and retailer that has long been a mainstay sponsor of the Trek.

I was among the 46 canoeists and kayakers who pushed off from Mexico on Saturday and paddled about 10 miles downriver to Dixfield. Along the way we had several eagle sightings and passed a few fishermen. Weather was hot and humid and quite a few of us swam in the river.

A few of the 46 canoeists and kayakers who paddled on Saturday, with the NewPage paper mill in the background.
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Paddling past an island through a side channel.

Fran Dragoon and Deano Gilbert, representing the Pulp & Paperworkers Resource Council, have been mainstays of the Trek for many years.

We stopped near the Webb River in Dixfield, where NewPage paper company, a Trek sponsor, provided box lunches to all participants. NewPage employs about 1,000 people -- not counting suppliers and contractors -- at its Rumford Mill. Its primary product is fine coated printing papers for a variety of markets. It has been a mainstay of the western Maine economy for more than a century.

Two mill employees, Fran Dragoon and Deano Gilbert, demonstrated how paper is made, and kids got a chance to make a sheet of their own. Fran and Deano have represented the Pulp & Paperworkers Resource Council on the Trek for many years. The purpose of the PPRC is to seek a happy balance between the region's environmental health and its economic well-being.

Kayakers were a minority on Saturday, but they were definitely in high spirits!

The 2006 Androscoggin River Trek-a-Thon concludes Satuday, July 22 on the section known as Gulf Island Pond, a large impoundment created in the 1920s by the construction of a major hydro-power dam north of Lewiston-Auburn. Because of its lack of shoreline development, it's central Maine's largest "wild" lake. I will be among the participants who will meet at Center Bridge boat launch in Turner.

To partipate, check out the ARWC's website or call coordinator Dave Govatski at 603-586-7776 or email him at pondicherry@wildblue.net.

With due respects to Ecclesiastes, there is something new under the sun: The inaugural Maine Saltwater Kayak Fishing Tournament is scheduled for this weekend on the New Meadows, Kennebec and Sheepscot rivers.

It's strictly catch-and-release, and prizes will be awarded for stripers, bluefish and mackerel. Verification is via tape measure and photos.

Scott Shea, owner of Seaspray Kayaking in West Bath, is the founding fisherman behind the inaugural Maine Saltwater Kayak Fishing Tournament, scheduled for this weekend. Scott is shown here at last April's Maine Sportsman's Show.
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The driving force is Scott Shea, owner of Seaspray Kayaking. Captains meet Friday evening and the actual competitive fishing takes place Saturday and Sunday.

Click here to visit the tournament's own website. It's got the rules, registratation forms etc.

Seaspray is located on the New Meadows itself, and Scott has rental boats available at minimal cost to tournament participants. His shop can also outfit boats for fishing, with rod holders etc. Call 888-349-7772.

The New Meadows is very well sheltered and boasts numerous attractive islands. It's definitely one of my favorite places to kayak. Here are two photos I took on a paddle-and-picnic outing last summer.

Nadya Pearson of Portland paddles in the New Meadows River last summer.

The New Meadows River boasts many attractive islands. Nadya prepares to land on one last summer.

The Saco River in the Fryeburg area has a well-deserved reputation for overcrowding -- and sometimes very rowdy crowds! -- but the 14-mile section below the Route 160 bridge in Brownfield is both scenic and quiet.

The big reason is that 14 miles is simply too far for the crowds that float the river with blaring boomboxes and cases of beer. They prefer the shorter stretches in Center Conway, NH, and Fryeburg.

Fifteen members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club paddled the quiet section of the Saco yesterday, taking nearly six hours including a lunch break and a swimming break.

We had 11 solo kayaks and two tandem canoes. One of the kayaks was a Pakboat Puffin, which weighs only 17 pounds and fits into a luggage-sized carrying sack.

Jonathan Keck of Portland and John Kirk of Ecuador prepare to land their canoe on a sandbar while Pam Bailey of Biddeford supervises.
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Raised paddles and high spirits.

The flotilla heads downriver.

Meg Michaud of South Portland paddles her 17-pound Pakboat Puffin, a hybrid style craft that's part inflatable and part rigid-frame.

Lynn Frank of Brunswick and Martha Briggs of Windham paddle down the Saco River yesterday.

The river is clear and sandy, with numerous fine sandbars that are ideal for picnics and swimming. As part of the day's educational program, Al Racine of Yarmouth demonstrated his 270-degree roll. Pam Bailey of Biddeford was our comedy queen for the day. We all wished she'd brought along her Billy Bob teeth! Next time, maybe?

By the time we pulled out just above the Route 113 Bridge in Hiram, some of our paddlers had very tired arms.

Although all the participants in yesterday's MOAC trip brought their own boats, rentals are available at two places at the Route 160 bridge: Woodland Acres Camp 'n' Canoe and River Run. Both have riverside campgrounds, rentals and shuttle service.

The town of Brunswick has many charms, including canoeing and culture. And yesterday a friend and I did a twofer: In the afternoon we paddled down into Merrymeeting Bay, then in the evening we attended the opening MusicFest concert of the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Carol Meerschaert and I launched my little Bear Creek Cubby at Brunswick's Water Street boat ramp, then paddled down the Androscoggin River through the numerous islands, including Cow, Cornish and Driscoll. After leaving Driscoll Island astern, the river opened wide to the broad expanse of Merrymeeting Bay.

Carol Meerschaert of Falmouth paddles my Bear Creek Cubby canoe on the Androscoggin River in Brunswick yesterday.
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Despite being a sunny Friday before a big weekend, we hardly saw another soul on the river or the bay. A couple from Virginia paddled past us, and we saw three powerboats. Hardly a crowd for being on the water three hours!

A couple from Virginia paddle into view in a tandem kayak.

Enjoying a Maine summer on Merrymeeting Bay yesterday.

Got a good closeup view of an eagle and a great blue heron, plus numerous ospreys.

Leaving exploration of of Merrymeeting Bay for another day, Carol and I returned upstream just in time to change clothes, quaff some liquid pick-me-up and attend the music festival. Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrapped up the day's adventure.

A classic day!

In 2006 the world celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the consummate classical composer.