Mileage: 11.5 miles (plus 3 banked paddling for groceries in Oquossoc)
Weather: Scattered showers and chunks of blue sky between big, fluffy stratocumulus clouds
Portages: 1
250 yards around Upper Dam (easy, quickest to just carry everything, but could be wheeled)
Wildlife: Loons, eagle
Packed up camp early and paddled two miles across Upper Richardson to Upper Dam with light winds. Took pictures of what looked to be old ice houses (?) near the portage point. Reminded both Joyce and I of the ice-making film that the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay shows in the "Edge of the Inland Sea" historical exhibit. But perhaps they were merely boathouses...
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| Buildings adjacent to the Upper Dam portage take out. |
The portage took us past fly fishing legend, Cary Gertrude Stevens, inventor of the Gray Ghost Streamer fish fly that nabbed a nearly 7 lb. brook trout at the Upper Dam. (A little trivia for my fly-fishing sisters.) There was also a wonderfully icy spring just behind the commemorative sign where we filled our water bottles.
Mooselookmeguntic Lake had some high waves blowing our way when we first arrived, but had settled down considerably by the time we were ready to launch after looking at the dam. And then it died down completely and was calm for 8-9 miles of paddling. This lake was very pretty, although wide. We stuck to the western shore.
We had been chattering away for some time when I stopped Joyce to point out an obvious curtain of rain that was sort of adjacent to us. We watched for a while...decided it might be moving toward us...and then...paddled like crazy. We actually did out paddle it and watched it move behind us. Headed on to Lunch Island, where we ostensibly had lunch, now in the scattered sunshine.
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| The advancing shower on Mooselookmeguntic Lake |
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| Leaving Lunch Island |
Headed to our reserved AND confirmed Stoney Batter Point Campsite (THANKS Stephen Philips Preserve!) and set up the tarp as we watched some more, darker, clouds roll over. The tarp is working great. Kept us completely dry from the shower that opened up on us. So far, the rain has fallen at rather convenient times.
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| Waiting out another shower. |
After the rain moved on and the skies cleared, we headed over to Oquossoc (paddled a mile or so) to consider eating out or buying fresh food for dinner. Left the canoe at Haines Landing and started walking into "town." The road leaves the landing and groupings of cottages and passes through some forested areas before the businesses start appearing. That description received a very quizzical look from a person who we asked if we were heading in the right direction to town. But a town it was to us. There are businesses, a market, a general store AND a nice restaurant. Decided that we had a nice campsite and it was early enough, so we bought marinated sirloin tips for grilling over the open fire, pan squash/potatoes/onions to bake in foil, lettuce for a fresh salad, cookies and, beer. I started scoping out people in the store to ask a ride back to the boat landing (it was about a mile walk). I'm getting more fearless to ask outright for favors as well as identifying the best prospects. A very nice father and son on their annual family summer vacation from New Jersey delivered our groceries and ourselves right to our canoe. We have to rewalk this portage tomorrow with all the gear.
Joyce really knows how to char-broil using only a stick. The weirdest thing for me was how MUCH I craved that meat. And I'm not a huge meat eater. I never order steak (but that will change in the weeks to come.) I know camping can make just about any food taste better, but I think that was one of the best dinners I've had.
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| A very nice site. |
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| Yeah, we have a site! |
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| Joyce shows off her sirloin grilling technique. |
