Sea kayaking off the Maine coast

(More blog entries from sue)

Just leaving the mainland

Hoping for a little sunshine...

This afternoon I head out on my second sea kayak camp trip of the summer.  Eric will be my co-leader.  We'll be picking the kids and their two AMC instructors up in a few minutes from Pinkham Notch Visitor Center.  They'll have come off the backpacking portion of their trip this morning.

It's always a bit of a scramble trying to get all the gear together for these camps.  Sea kayaking is an equipment intensive sport, and we go out on the ocean for 4 days, 3 nights.  Our first couple nights are still on the mainland--we have a full day paddling on Pemaquid Lake to teach and prepare the group with kayaking skills for the trip.

The first trip went well.  It was a really nice group--they got along well for the most part, were eager to learn, good listeners and helpful when asked.  We coped with some wet weather, but also had some sunshine.  That's always a big plus.  Watched seals as they swam near our boats.  Saw many coastal birds--a lot of great blue herons, an eagle, of course seagulls, and eider ducks.  Some of us saw the fins of two porpoises swimming by Thief island.  I don't see that every trip.  And Brian, one of the AMC instructors with Lauren, spotted a lobster swimming on the bottom.  I think everyone had a chance to watch it, which is the first time I've seen one swimmming free on the bottom.

So, off I go for another adventure . . . personally hoping for calm seas and no thunderstorms!
 
Sue Wemyss

Comments

Re: Sea kayaking off the Maine coast
by elise on Jul 18th 2007, 1:26 am

Wow! I wish I had your job! Have fun, be safe and let us know how this trip goes.

Re: Sea kayaking off the Maine coast
by Ryan on Jul 19th 2007, 8:20 am

Did you say sea kayaking was "equipment intensive"? Where do I sign up?!?!?