spider solo
New member
Sept-14-20,07
7 Days of Paddling the waters of Mooselookmeguntic and the Richardsons
Lakes . These are the lakes near the NH Maine border part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (map 8).
Upper and Lower Richardson 3 nights....
Day 1. I opted to put in at Upper Richardson at Mill Brook Boat Access.
Thinking the wind would be to my back I was somewhat surprised to find the wind coming directly up the lake from the south big time.
The lake looked like a cauldron of whitecaps!! I figured what willl be will be and unloaded and packed up my boat (kayak).
All set and ready to go by 2ish...I waited and waited. They say patience is what it is all about. I waited some more both working up my nerve and wondering how the boat would handle all loaded down. By 4:30 I convinced myself the wind was moderating and knowing I couldn't even push off without getting spit back onto the shore..I waded out into the lake floated my boat out and around the dock and found by hugging the dock and using it to shield me from the waves I could get in and "skirted up" with minimal amount of water.
It was a wild ride but only for a 1/2hr or so before the wind moderated and I spent the 1st night near BIG BEAVER ISLAND. (My recently self repaired stove won't lite and it's a cold dinner for night..silly fellow.)
The 2nd day: The southern wind had meant rain..rain meant flat water so I headed on down the lake towards a section called "The Narrows"
Well , I learned in a hurry.. Don't hug the Shoreline !! esp. on the west side because it is rocky ! Some nasty sleepers or sinkers just below the surface. I hung up on one.at least it was flat ...shook off it and within the hr I see... to late..the sharp point of a submerged rock. I'm on it with a long SCRATCHHHH
slow motion noise from front to back. The rest of the trip was a constant reminder to stay off shore . It's not the kiind of lake to hug the shore and nose about nooks and crannies !!
Looking for camp that night in "the Narrows" was the only time I had the "oh my God I'm gonna die" moment when I was half way across and a speed boat came screaming down on me around a somewhat blind corner.
No problem. The fellow killed his engine, stopped on a dime, and pulled into the campsite he was heading for... the one just before my location.
Heart in hand I breathe a sigh of relief and call it a day. My campsite choice was between the one with the human footprints and dog prints..or... the one with the moose prints...the one with the moose gets my vote.
The 3rd day finds me looking for Middle Dam. I had read about the area . (at least one member here has done the portage there along Rapid River and over to Umbagog). It is steeped in history and the book "We Took To The Woods" by Louise Dickerson Rich gives a first hand glimpse of life there years ago.
I blew right by it...never made land fall. I didn't have a good idea of the scale of the map in relation to how far or at what speed I was travelling. It seemed way to close to where I had camped. I'm thinking it is something I'll see in half a day..not in half an hour. Off to the side I see what looks to be a huge barn with nice grounds and farm house nearby. Duh that is the dam !!
I had vague thoughts that it might be so but the lake has opened up the wind is behind me and I'm making good time. NO I don't want to be hugging the shore. Not me.
Ok so I missed it. Zipping down the lake is great fun till the far shore starts getting closer and the lake curves putting you broadside to the waves. Pushing you where? Well the hard shoreline, rocky shoreline where a fellow does not want to be. Well not so bad and with a bit of effort I find myself down the southern end of the lake where some nice islands are. Very nice with a few camps and calmer water. The lake on this end has a more intimate feel to it or a more cozy feel to it might be another way to say it.
Wanting to do the circumference of the lakes I enjoy a quick lunch and start up the east shore of the lake.
Pine Island is beautiful !! Sandy as can be with a well established campsite
site and excellent wildlfe.
Thought I would be going further but was fading fast when I noticed how pretty it was. As I headed over to scout it out I see a man and woman coming around from the other side of the island. Turns out they had just landed there in a small airplane using the soft sand as a runway. I didn't even know that was possible.
We had a nice visit and everythng as they were out checking out lakes and places where they might buy a camp. They had thought of landing on Umbagog. Very nice people but it left me pondering the whole subject of what it's like to spend days to get somewhere yet for others it only takes minutes. It's an unresolved issue for me so I'll let other (readers) to ponder it for themselves.
The island was great I spread my still wet gear out. Beautiful sunshine the Chirds were burping..life was good...Moose !! on one of the trips down to the boat near dusk. I Look in the distance and see two Moose one female and one male. Nice big male with a nice full rack. I know what he wants. He wants Mrs Moose
Well, I know what season it's getting to be... . and if antlers were refered to as horns then this would be one (you guessed) horny guy!
Well, Mrs Moose remains to be seen whereas Mr moose is soon gone...I don't think things worked out quite as he had hoped they might.
The morning finds me still there in the tent. "Thunk"... is the sound I keep hearing "ThunK," thunk" again... can't quite figure it out yet I've heard this sound before... thunk.
As I'm loading up the kayak "thunkity, thunkity, thunk" all around me. Pine Cones raining from the trees. I remember now... Red Squirels chewing the cones from the tree to fall on the ground and be gathered up shortly.
but here's one I don't know ...About 20 or so mergansers come splashing around the water like they are 1/2 flying or rowing themselves about on the surface, every which way, but never taking off. I figure some type of hunting food gathering technique ?
will add more later
7 Days of Paddling the waters of Mooselookmeguntic and the Richardsons
Lakes . These are the lakes near the NH Maine border part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (map 8).
Upper and Lower Richardson 3 nights....
Day 1. I opted to put in at Upper Richardson at Mill Brook Boat Access.
Thinking the wind would be to my back I was somewhat surprised to find the wind coming directly up the lake from the south big time.
The lake looked like a cauldron of whitecaps!! I figured what willl be will be and unloaded and packed up my boat (kayak).
All set and ready to go by 2ish...I waited and waited. They say patience is what it is all about. I waited some more both working up my nerve and wondering how the boat would handle all loaded down. By 4:30 I convinced myself the wind was moderating and knowing I couldn't even push off without getting spit back onto the shore..I waded out into the lake floated my boat out and around the dock and found by hugging the dock and using it to shield me from the waves I could get in and "skirted up" with minimal amount of water.
It was a wild ride but only for a 1/2hr or so before the wind moderated and I spent the 1st night near BIG BEAVER ISLAND. (My recently self repaired stove won't lite and it's a cold dinner for night..silly fellow.)
The 2nd day: The southern wind had meant rain..rain meant flat water so I headed on down the lake towards a section called "The Narrows"
Well , I learned in a hurry.. Don't hug the Shoreline !! esp. on the west side because it is rocky ! Some nasty sleepers or sinkers just below the surface. I hung up on one.at least it was flat ...shook off it and within the hr I see... to late..the sharp point of a submerged rock. I'm on it with a long SCRATCHHHH
slow motion noise from front to back. The rest of the trip was a constant reminder to stay off shore . It's not the kiind of lake to hug the shore and nose about nooks and crannies !!
Looking for camp that night in "the Narrows" was the only time I had the "oh my God I'm gonna die" moment when I was half way across and a speed boat came screaming down on me around a somewhat blind corner.
No problem. The fellow killed his engine, stopped on a dime, and pulled into the campsite he was heading for... the one just before my location.
Heart in hand I breathe a sigh of relief and call it a day. My campsite choice was between the one with the human footprints and dog prints..or... the one with the moose prints...the one with the moose gets my vote.
The 3rd day finds me looking for Middle Dam. I had read about the area . (at least one member here has done the portage there along Rapid River and over to Umbagog). It is steeped in history and the book "We Took To The Woods" by Louise Dickerson Rich gives a first hand glimpse of life there years ago.
I blew right by it...never made land fall. I didn't have a good idea of the scale of the map in relation to how far or at what speed I was travelling. It seemed way to close to where I had camped. I'm thinking it is something I'll see in half a day..not in half an hour. Off to the side I see what looks to be a huge barn with nice grounds and farm house nearby. Duh that is the dam !!
I had vague thoughts that it might be so but the lake has opened up the wind is behind me and I'm making good time. NO I don't want to be hugging the shore. Not me.
Ok so I missed it. Zipping down the lake is great fun till the far shore starts getting closer and the lake curves putting you broadside to the waves. Pushing you where? Well the hard shoreline, rocky shoreline where a fellow does not want to be. Well not so bad and with a bit of effort I find myself down the southern end of the lake where some nice islands are. Very nice with a few camps and calmer water. The lake on this end has a more intimate feel to it or a more cozy feel to it might be another way to say it.
Wanting to do the circumference of the lakes I enjoy a quick lunch and start up the east shore of the lake.
Pine Island is beautiful !! Sandy as can be with a well established campsite
site and excellent wildlfe.
Thought I would be going further but was fading fast when I noticed how pretty it was. As I headed over to scout it out I see a man and woman coming around from the other side of the island. Turns out they had just landed there in a small airplane using the soft sand as a runway. I didn't even know that was possible.
We had a nice visit and everythng as they were out checking out lakes and places where they might buy a camp. They had thought of landing on Umbagog. Very nice people but it left me pondering the whole subject of what it's like to spend days to get somewhere yet for others it only takes minutes. It's an unresolved issue for me so I'll let other (readers) to ponder it for themselves.
The island was great I spread my still wet gear out. Beautiful sunshine the Chirds were burping..life was good...Moose !! on one of the trips down to the boat near dusk. I Look in the distance and see two Moose one female and one male. Nice big male with a nice full rack. I know what he wants. He wants Mrs Moose
Well, I know what season it's getting to be... . and if antlers were refered to as horns then this would be one (you guessed) horny guy!
Well, Mrs Moose remains to be seen whereas Mr moose is soon gone...I don't think things worked out quite as he had hoped they might.
The morning finds me still there in the tent. "Thunk"... is the sound I keep hearing "ThunK," thunk" again... can't quite figure it out yet I've heard this sound before... thunk.
As I'm loading up the kayak "thunkity, thunkity, thunk" all around me. Pine Cones raining from the trees. I remember now... Red Squirels chewing the cones from the tree to fall on the ground and be gathered up shortly.
but here's one I don't know ...About 20 or so mergansers come splashing around the water like they are 1/2 flying or rowing themselves about on the surface, every which way, but never taking off. I figure some type of hunting food gathering technique ?
will add more later
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