The annual Androscoggin Source-to-the-Sea Trek launches in about two weeks, and it's worth checking out as a wonderful way to get out on the water with canoeing or kayaking friends -- or make some new paddling pals -- and learn about Maine's third largest river.

Kayakers paddle down the Androscoggin in the section between Gilead and Bethel.
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Longtime Andro trekkers like myself might notice that the word "canoe" has been dropped from the title. That avoids the No. 1 question, which is "I have a kayak. Am I welcome?" The answer has always been "come along!"

Kayakers and canoeists paddle below the NewPage paper mill in Rumford.
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What hasn't changed is the emphasis on introducing new outdoors enthusiasts to the Andro, which was once ranked (by Newsweek magazine) as among our nation's 10 filthiest.

The Pulp and Paperworkers Resource Council always participates in the Androscoggin Source-to-the-Sea Trek.
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The trek is organized by the Androscoggin River Watershed Council, and despite the through-paddling implications of the name, it's really a series of independent day trips.

The public is invited to participate. Most people paddle one or two days, but a few do half a dozen or more.

Nearly all sections involve easy flatwater paddling, and the average day only covers about 10 miles. The pace is slow and participation is free; this is neither a race nor a fund-raiser. It's more of an awareness-raiser than anything else.

All sections are led by experienced paddlers (I personally lead two days) and many segments include a free picnic lunch and an interpretive program by a riverside organization.

This year's dates are July 6-25. The paddling starts on Lake Umbagog, on the Maine-New Hampshire border, and continues to tidewater in Merrymeeting Bay and finally reaches Fort Popham on the Gulf of Maine.

Paddling in Merrymeeting Bay last summer.
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Pre-registration for each section is required. Call coordinator Barbra Barrett at 207-527-2163.

If you like paddling to a human zoo, try the Crane Wildlife Refuge, in the Essex River Estuary, on Massachusetts' North Shore.

Two kayakers on the beach at the southern end of the Crane Wildlife Refuge.
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At some 25,000 acres, the Essex and its surrounding salt marshes is said to be New England's biggest estuarine complex. And the 697-acre Crane Wildlife Refuge, a property of the Trustees of Reservations, is one of the crown jewels of the region.

On paper the estuary is a great place to paddle, but there's lots of powerboat traffic in the Essex River, and most of the high-horsepower people are heading out for the refuge's southern beaches to hang out and party all day. By the hundreds. Dozens bring their dogs too, despite "No Dogs" signs that are conspicuously posted every hundred feet or so along the beach. I'm sure the cavorting canines enjoy playing with nesting birds.

I put in yesterday at an informal hand-carry launch on Route 133 in Essex (the main drag) and paddled out the river to the preserve. Despite the powerboat traffic, it's a popular place to kayak. I saw at least one group trip run by Essex River Basin Adventures, the principal outfitter in town.

Part of a group trip, conducted by Essex River Basin Adventures, paddles past Dilly Island yesterday.
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Two kayakers paddle through the Essex River Estuary yesterday.
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A solo paddler in the Essex River Estuary, with the sand dunes of the barrier beach in the background.
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It's about an hour's paddle out to Dilly Island, also owned by the Trustees of Reservations, and another 20 minutes or so to the overpopulated beach where the powerboaters gather. It's a bit quieter a few hundred yards farther north along the beach, where the landing is more difficult for the larger boats -- but fine for kayaks.

After returning to town, I met a kayaking couple from New Hampshire, who commented that their Essex experience "was just like the Saco River."

It's become an annual event for me: leading a trip for the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club on the most popular section of the Saco River. By going in mid-June, we avoid the beer-sodden mobs who mar the experience on mid-summer weekends.

Members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club raft up and raise their paddles yesterday on Pleasant Pond, a brief side trip off the Saco River.
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Seventeen MOAC paddlers -- 15 solo kayakers plus a couple in my Bear Creek Cubby canoe -- launched late morning yesterday at Route 302 in Fryeburg and wrapped up five hours later at Route 160 in Brownfield. Along the way we poked our bows into Pleasant Pond and visited the lovely little island on Lovewell Pond.

Al Racine, a stalwart MOAC paddler, shows off his new water moccasins yesterday at Pleasant Pond.
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By my informal reckoning, our party of 17 outnumbered all others that we saw during our five hours on the river.

Canoes were also outnumbered, trend that I've noted for several years on MOAC trips. Greg and Tracy Ross were the only canoeists yesterday -- versus 15 solo kayaks. The prior weekend, Tracy had attended the Maine Canoe Symposium at Camp Winona in nearby Bridgton. She told me that she'd learned a lot at the symposium, and added that the Saco River trip gave her plenty of time to practice her new skills.

Greg and Tracy Ross were the only canoeists yesterday. A week earlier, Tracy attended the Maine Canoe Symposium in nearby Bridgton.
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We stopped for lunch on one of the Saco River's famous sandbars. A few people braved the still-chilly water temp for a swim.

The water wasn't warm enough for comfortable swimming; nevertheless Cherie Perkins and a few others took a dip at lunchtime.
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After take-out, most of us regrouped at the Gazebo, an ice cream stand in Bridgton. Post-paddling ice cream is a tradition for MOAC.

Following take-out, most of the MOAC group regrouped at the Gazebo, an ice cream stand in Bridgton. Above: Stacie Grove
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There was a distinctly autumnal quality to last weekend's Maine Canoe Symposium, and that observation triggers a few additional thoughts.

Canoeing has deep and continuing roots in this state's culture, conjuring up mental images of Henry David Thoreau, Joe Attean, Cornelia "Fly Rod" Crosby and the tradition of Registered Maine Guides.

But the popularity of canoeing seems to be eclipsed by kayaking. When I run inland paddling trips for the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club, it's common for the kayakers to outnumber canoeists by ratios of 3:1, 4:1 and more.

Look at the ratio of kayaks to canoes on this paddle-n-picnic trip I ran for the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club a couple of years ago.
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So it's good that there's an established ongoing forum where canoeing is promoted and new participants can be introduced to the sport. The lessons and clinics at the symposium teach many skills that might otherwise be lost to future generations, such as canoe poling.

The world's No. 1 canoe-poling guru, Harry Rock, shows how it's done at last weekend's Maine Canoe Symposium.
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Participants in last weekend's Maine Canoe Symposium were exposed to marathon racing. Shawn Burke (above) recently completed a 70-mile one-day race.
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Paul Edwards and Cherie Perkins check out Shawn's 18-foot marathon boat, while the owner explains rigging details.
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In addition to instruction and introduction, the evening paddle-logues by the Hide-Away Canoe Club vastly expand participants' mental horizons.

And speaking of new horizons and new canoeists: The symposium boasted a full roster of activities for the children of the adult participants, thus ensuring the continuity of the sport.

And speaking of kids, let me also add that Camp Winona in Bridgton, the site of the symposium, certainly harks back to a simpler age, when boys were encouraged to spend their summers in traditional outdoor activities that will last a lifetime -- such as canoeing.

I had a nice chat with "Uncle Al" Ordway, Winona's director, who shares my desire to perpetuate this distinctively Maine way of life.

Paddling pal Cherie Perkins and I joined another 130 enthusiasts for lessons and demos at the Maine Canoe Symposium, held this past weekend at Camp Winona in Bridgton.

The high point for Cherie was a poling lesson, where she learned that it's sometimes quite all right to stand up in a canoe. Cherie attended the women-only clinic conducted by Lisa DeHart, a Registered Maine Guide who leads wilderness canoe trips for Wilds of Maine.

Cherie Perkins wasn't feeling too steady in her clinic in canoe poling on Saturday -- but she managed a big smile anyway.
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Saturday's women-only poling lesson was one of the most popular events at the Maine Canoe Symposium held this past weekend in Bridgton.
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The symposium, which has been held every year since 1986, has been a life-changing experience for some people. In 1991, Shawn Burke watched a demo of marathon flatwater racing. After giving it a try, became hooked on the arcane sport -- and recently competed in a 70-mile race.

Now he returns to the symposium to give lessons and inspire others.

Shawn Burke, a marathon canoe racer, conducts a clinic in power strokes using an exercise machine that simulates paddling.
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Other lessons and demos were conducted Saturday and yesterday at half a dozen different waterfront locations plus a number of camp buildings.

Lessons, demos and skill-building sessions were held all day Saturday plus Sunday morning at the Maine Canoe Symposium in Bridgton.
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I chatted about children's programming with Buzz Butler, a member of the symposium's steering committee. "We're very family-oriented," he commented, pointing out that 16 kids (children of adult registrants) were attending.

Buzz described a paddling session for the kids, plus onging activities that included learning about animal tracks, a nature walk and a Voyageur Competition. And axe-throwing. Yup. A necessary survival skill back in Voyageur days. Bet they don't teach that skill in schools nowadays.

A kids campfire wrapped up Saturday's activities.

Saturday marked the first time either Cherie or I had attended the symposium, but we've already marked next year's dates on our calendars: June 5-7, 2009.

The Maine Canoe Symposium has been going on every year since 1986, but I'll confess that I haven't yet attended even once. But I'll fix that egregious oversight this Saturday when I attend the middle (and biggest) day of the weekend event.

It's held at Camp Winona, on Moose Pond in Bridgton. It begins Friday afternoon and runs all day Saturday and half of Sunday.

I feel a very special connection with canoes. I've been paddling one since I was 10 years old. My first was a battered Old Town wood-canvas model. Today I'm paddling another Maine-made canoe, a 12-foot Bear Creek Cubby. It's crafted of fiberglass in the town of Sebago.

Although kayaks seem to be more popular these days, I still prefer canoes on inland waterways. Looking forward to Saturday, I'm hoping to learn more about the techniques and heritage of Maine canoeing. Click here to check out the schedule of events for all three days.

Meantime, I'll share a few pix I took of canoes and canoeing in 2007. The first two pix include members of the Maine Outdoor Adventure Club.

Canoeing has been synonymous with the Maine outdoors since the 19th century. Above: Amanda Blaine and Katherine Birnie paddle my 12-foot Bear Creek Cubby on Cobbosseecontee Lake last fall.
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Jonathan Keck paddles down the Saco River last summer.
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Camping scene along the Saco River last summer.
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Hope to see a few PaddleME readers at the Symposium!