By Don Kleiner
First thing in the morning and the surface of the pond is still, perfectly reflecting the trees that line the shore like a mirror. It is a warm morning with a damp fog that is already wearing through with patches of blue sky above. This tells me that the day will be warm with a sea breeze in the afternoon, the typical summer day in mid coast Maine. Out on the surface of the pond a hundred yards or so away a loon dives for fish watching me out of one wary eye as I unload canoes from the trailer for a morning canoe trip. This is the beginning of a family trip; none of them have ever been in a canoe before so it will be a new experience for the entire family (unless you count the summer spent at camp when the adults were ten). We will be traveling for only a few hours; I am along to show them how to paddle a canoe and to point out what there is to see along the way. This trip is in .jpg)
Union 15 miles from downtown Rockland but could be on any one of a number of quiet ponds in the Discovery coast region.
When the family arrives the kids are excited, I learn that they are planning to paddle their own canoe but at 8 and 10 it might be a challenge. After fitting everyone with life vests and paddles then giving a brief dry land lesson on how to paddle a canoe with a few basic safety tips we are off. The boy and girl are in fact able to paddle together and control the canoe although there is some disagreement about who is doing most of the paddling. The parents are also doing well but having a little trouble figuring out exactly how to keep the canoe traveling in a straight line, I am sure that they will be paddling like pros in a few minutes.
As we pass under the bridge and leave the road behind the rest of the modern world seems to melt into the distance. The only sounds that we can hear are the slight breeze in the trees and the calls of many different birds. It is amazing to think that in the late 1800’s nearly all of the surrounding land was cleared with only a few trees left. The countryside is not the unbroken forest of the far north but rather an agricultural region with pleasant views of farms and hillside blueberry barrens and there are trees down to the waters edge most everywhere and covering most of the hillsides. This area has a rich history it was settled long ago by Native Americans dating back to at least the Red Paint people as long ago as 6000 years. The first Europeans explorers in the area were led by Weymouth in1605 followed by settlers nearly 100 years later.
We paddle up the river for a short while and come along side of a flock of young ducks, not the cute young ducklings of spring but adolescents with enough curiosity to swim out toward us to see what we are and what we are doing there. Parents and kids are handling their canoes very well at this point and we are making good progress in our exploration. We soon enter a second pond that offers wide views of the surrounding hills and country. Overhead an osprey is hovering looking for fish and across the pond a flock of geese sounds the alarm that we have arrived. We stop to visit a beaver lodge where I take few minutes and briefly explain about what beavers eat and how they store food for the winter, the highlight for the kids is getting to take home a stick that the beavers have peeled the bark from. They are surprised to see how big the beaver lodge is and to learn that the average beaver is bigger than the dog they have at home. In the evening there would be a chance to see the beavers swim by quietly leaving only a wake on the surface and slap their tails with a loud splash when startled or warning other beavers that something unusual is going on.
The kids are tiring; there is an increase in discussion about who is doing the most paddling so we stop for a rest and a chance to get out of the canoes and stretch. Everyone is ready to stand up for a few minutes. We sit in the shade; have a snack and something to drink. In minutes the kids are exploring the nearby area; I get out my critter dipping tools (kitchen strainers on long handles) briefly explain what they are for and demonstrate how to use them. In minutes there are a bunch of small creatures in the bucket I have brought along to hold them. Some of them have amazing life cycles that are pretty interesting but not interesting enough to slow or even dampen the process of capturing more. When the excitement dies down we return the pond critters to the water and get back into the canoes for the return to our starting point. It does not seem possible that the mornings gone by, time definitely flies when you are having fun.
Our return trip is uneventful with the entire family now paddling their canoes like they have always done it. We quickly retrace the route we had taken earlier in the day and are now used to the scene. When we reach the boat launch the kids are quickly out of the boat and up in the parking lot with their beaver peeled sticks but they have forgotten to take off their life jackets. I consider that a good sign that the vests are comfortable and the kids have had a great time. The parents gather up the spare clothes and take a few last pictures before loading the kids into the van and driving off to lunch delighted to have been on an adventure in a less traveled part of Maine’s Discovery Coast. I wave to them as they drive up the hill then load up the equipment for another day.
Sidebar
The most important thing with any outdoor trip is to plan ahead and make sure that you have a few bases covered. First make sure that the place you plan to canoe is safe for those involved. The ponds can be difficult to paddle in a strong breeze on a warm summer afternoon. If you don’t know for sure ask someone who does and make sure you listen to what they are saying also make sure that someone knows where you are going and when you plan to return.
Second remember that kids no matter what their age do not want to sit in a boat for hours and paddle. Keep it short, varied and enjoyable. Remember that there is not much to see out in the middle of a lake or pond, every wave looks about like the last one, it is much safer to paddle near shore where if you wind up out of the boat land is close by and you may even be able to stand.
You are required to have along a life jacket for everyone, try and use the more comfortable vests that are more likely to be worn. Everyone should wear them at all times but kids 10 and younger must have theirs on by law. One caution with small kids be careful that they do not overheat. The vests are very warm and on a hot day in the sun it can be too much. I keep cool by dipping my hat in the water and putting it on my head which most kids think is great sport and soon copy. Make sure to take along sunscreen and put it on and I always take a snack of some sort and something to drink on even a three hour trip; it adds an opportunity to take a break and keeps spirits up.
Places to go
St. George River in Union
Sennebec Pond in Union
Megunticook Lake in Camden
There are many local ponds to explore within a short drive. A few are remote and will require that you carry a canoe in but most have good access from the road.
