spider solo
New member
May 21-23 2010
A beautiful trip with sunny skies and calm water !! This was a welcome change from last week's rainy days of hats and gloves on Mooselookmeguntic.
Philippe came down from Sherbrooke Qc as we are practicing for a trip to La Verendrye QC for a couple of weeks later this season. So aside from the fun aspect of paddling in a beautiful area we are trying to refine the gear to the absolute essentials and practice our navigation skills as well.
Fri May 21st was our rendezvous at L.L. Cote and off we go for the launch at the nearby Androscoggin River and up into Umbagog. Reaching the area called Sweet Meadows we scan hopefully for signs of Moose and then weave our way over to where the Bald Eagle nest used to be near campsite 29. It was not to be found, everything looked about the same but no nest to be seen ... leaving a bit mystified we make our way eastward over to Pine Point where I want to follow a compass bearing I had worked out at home.
Turns out my bearing was off (practice, practice, practice) but with plenty of daylight we search out a beautiful campsite and pitch our tents.
Err...well... Philippe pitches his tent. I on the other hand find my poles are not the ones that go with my nice small tent which I had proudly brought.
They do however go with completely different tent.which is happily else where...therefore time for plan B.
The extra small tent. Actually it's a Bivy Bag though in winter terms sometimes called a "body bag". No matter, I have spent many a night in it and it's like an old friend.
Now the big Fri night adventure we have been waiting for ..some awesome night paddling !!!
Lot's and lot's of fun paddling by moonlight. Philippe left a small white light on back at the campsite. Tiny as it was, it worked great so we could have a reference point as we paddled along.
I do manage to make a less than graceful exit from my boat upon landing but not to worry the weather was warm and no one to see so "life is good "on that account.
Saturday, finds us happy puppies...ok maybe a bit like a tired dog...well not that bad either. I would say just about right.
Beautiful morning and we explore Sunday Cove poking around here and there.
Chirds a burpin...every way we go....mucho nice-o indeed !
The plan is to regroup a the campsite and work on some navigation skills.
Plus we have a new destination.
Friends I had never met but knew over the years were camped elsewhere on the lake by sheer coincidence. Social butterflies that we are (not really)
we opted to head over there for a lunch break and a quick hello.
(These group of people were organized by the legendary personage of Sherpa Kroto..though he may deny any portion of that statement).
With compass in hand and on the boat we set out across the lake.
In the distance of the shimmering water sits a lone figure ...It is the gregarious Sherpa himself...a picture of happiness, fishing and soaking up the sun.
After a little photo opt and some blah,blah, blah and an up date of the Disappearing /relocated Eagle nest... seems the Eagles themselves will dismantle and reuse the sticks for a new location..very cool.
Off we head for a lunch visit and introductions with Sue Biscuit, who sure enough, is quite hospitable and we made a nice visit. Very nice to finally put faces with the names of folks I had only known through their writings.
More people arrive in short order to this campsite...as could be suspected, with my trail name of ...spider solo.. well, 4 people or a 3 eyed critter is usually enough to send me on my way. Think I met one soul there named Kevin twice as I hadn't seen that many people so quick since who knows when and I'm like "howdy doody there.. a yah" so off we go to see the sights and feed the mouche noir (black flies)
We make our way down the shore and crossing over to Tyler Cove . Temps are hot, hot, hot and we are sweltering. We loose a few layers of clothes, have a snack, and check out some footprints in the sand, We decided they were unequivocally not those of an ele-phant so we moved on to things we might actually know....
Seeing the eagles nest on our return Philippe has an excellent view of the proud parents... one on the nest and one nearby.
Shortly there after I about startle some poor fellow out of his boat...could have sworn he saw me coming...perhaps I should put a beep beep horn on my boat next time.
Tired when we get back to the campsite I take a snooze on my "petite tent" and settle in for the night after dinner and conversation.
Sunday.....yes the final day.
Up at 5:30 for an early morning tour of Sunday bay. I make my discovery of a Moose. I don't have to worry about it moving off before it can be seen by inquiring eyes.
This is not a happy moose... in fact very unhappy...actually quite dead and we speculate as to why later in the day.
Breakfast and packing up a state employee makes a bee line for our campsite to inform us that it is actually not open yet. Pleasant enough fellow. In French I inform him Philippe does not speak English.
Which is not quite true at all. His English is extremely good. I just didn't want to make him have to deal with all the idiosyncrasy of how we in the "'states tend to deal with perceived figures of authorities ...that plus I was the guy who invited him.
On the other side of the border I'll be more than glad to have him do all the talking for us. Here in the "states" I figured it was my responsibility.
All packed up, hatches secure and off we go to check out Rapid River or at least the last rapid as it enters into the larger waters of Umbagog.
I start heading beyond the entrance for the river but my friend reels me in and we make our turn into the bay for the river.
It turns out to be an exceptionally nice area and we will keep it in mind for future trips. A few scattered islands and some nice habitat for Moose makes it very inviting indeed.
After a brief break at an area called Cedar Stump camping, which I believe, is run by yet another group out of Errol.
We head back to Pine Point and make a direct crossing, in a bit more "bumpy" water this time, searching out the Magalloway River up in the NW portion of the lake. The area is also known for it's "floating islands"
Islands seemingly made up mostly of bushes and grasses where trees eventually take hold and grow but without any real substantial soil. If I have my thinking correct.
The entrance of the Magalloway River turns out to be somewhat elusive for us but we spot another Bald Eagle which had apparently seen us long before we had the pleasure of viewing it.
After meandering here and there we find the entrance for the river and head up it till we reach our 3 o'clock turn around time then head back to the Androscoggin River and back to our vehicles capping off three "picture perfect "days of fine weather and paddling.
Such an excellent trip !! ...and a chance to realize how much more we need to trim down for our upcoming trip carrying 2 weeks of food..yikes !
A beautiful trip with sunny skies and calm water !! This was a welcome change from last week's rainy days of hats and gloves on Mooselookmeguntic.
Philippe came down from Sherbrooke Qc as we are practicing for a trip to La Verendrye QC for a couple of weeks later this season. So aside from the fun aspect of paddling in a beautiful area we are trying to refine the gear to the absolute essentials and practice our navigation skills as well.
Fri May 21st was our rendezvous at L.L. Cote and off we go for the launch at the nearby Androscoggin River and up into Umbagog. Reaching the area called Sweet Meadows we scan hopefully for signs of Moose and then weave our way over to where the Bald Eagle nest used to be near campsite 29. It was not to be found, everything looked about the same but no nest to be seen ... leaving a bit mystified we make our way eastward over to Pine Point where I want to follow a compass bearing I had worked out at home.
Turns out my bearing was off (practice, practice, practice) but with plenty of daylight we search out a beautiful campsite and pitch our tents.
Err...well... Philippe pitches his tent. I on the other hand find my poles are not the ones that go with my nice small tent which I had proudly brought.
They do however go with completely different tent.which is happily else where...therefore time for plan B.
The extra small tent. Actually it's a Bivy Bag though in winter terms sometimes called a "body bag". No matter, I have spent many a night in it and it's like an old friend.
Now the big Fri night adventure we have been waiting for ..some awesome night paddling !!!
Lot's and lot's of fun paddling by moonlight. Philippe left a small white light on back at the campsite. Tiny as it was, it worked great so we could have a reference point as we paddled along.
I do manage to make a less than graceful exit from my boat upon landing but not to worry the weather was warm and no one to see so "life is good "on that account.
Saturday, finds us happy puppies...ok maybe a bit like a tired dog...well not that bad either. I would say just about right.
Beautiful morning and we explore Sunday Cove poking around here and there.
Chirds a burpin...every way we go....mucho nice-o indeed !
The plan is to regroup a the campsite and work on some navigation skills.
Plus we have a new destination.
Friends I had never met but knew over the years were camped elsewhere on the lake by sheer coincidence. Social butterflies that we are (not really)
we opted to head over there for a lunch break and a quick hello.
(These group of people were organized by the legendary personage of Sherpa Kroto..though he may deny any portion of that statement).
With compass in hand and on the boat we set out across the lake.
In the distance of the shimmering water sits a lone figure ...It is the gregarious Sherpa himself...a picture of happiness, fishing and soaking up the sun.
After a little photo opt and some blah,blah, blah and an up date of the Disappearing /relocated Eagle nest... seems the Eagles themselves will dismantle and reuse the sticks for a new location..very cool.
Off we head for a lunch visit and introductions with Sue Biscuit, who sure enough, is quite hospitable and we made a nice visit. Very nice to finally put faces with the names of folks I had only known through their writings.
More people arrive in short order to this campsite...as could be suspected, with my trail name of ...spider solo.. well, 4 people or a 3 eyed critter is usually enough to send me on my way. Think I met one soul there named Kevin twice as I hadn't seen that many people so quick since who knows when and I'm like "howdy doody there.. a yah" so off we go to see the sights and feed the mouche noir (black flies)
We make our way down the shore and crossing over to Tyler Cove . Temps are hot, hot, hot and we are sweltering. We loose a few layers of clothes, have a snack, and check out some footprints in the sand, We decided they were unequivocally not those of an ele-phant so we moved on to things we might actually know....
Seeing the eagles nest on our return Philippe has an excellent view of the proud parents... one on the nest and one nearby.
Shortly there after I about startle some poor fellow out of his boat...could have sworn he saw me coming...perhaps I should put a beep beep horn on my boat next time.
Tired when we get back to the campsite I take a snooze on my "petite tent" and settle in for the night after dinner and conversation.
Sunday.....yes the final day.
Up at 5:30 for an early morning tour of Sunday bay. I make my discovery of a Moose. I don't have to worry about it moving off before it can be seen by inquiring eyes.
This is not a happy moose... in fact very unhappy...actually quite dead and we speculate as to why later in the day.
Breakfast and packing up a state employee makes a bee line for our campsite to inform us that it is actually not open yet. Pleasant enough fellow. In French I inform him Philippe does not speak English.
Which is not quite true at all. His English is extremely good. I just didn't want to make him have to deal with all the idiosyncrasy of how we in the "'states tend to deal with perceived figures of authorities ...that plus I was the guy who invited him.
On the other side of the border I'll be more than glad to have him do all the talking for us. Here in the "states" I figured it was my responsibility.
All packed up, hatches secure and off we go to check out Rapid River or at least the last rapid as it enters into the larger waters of Umbagog.
I start heading beyond the entrance for the river but my friend reels me in and we make our turn into the bay for the river.
It turns out to be an exceptionally nice area and we will keep it in mind for future trips. A few scattered islands and some nice habitat for Moose makes it very inviting indeed.
After a brief break at an area called Cedar Stump camping, which I believe, is run by yet another group out of Errol.
We head back to Pine Point and make a direct crossing, in a bit more "bumpy" water this time, searching out the Magalloway River up in the NW portion of the lake. The area is also known for it's "floating islands"
Islands seemingly made up mostly of bushes and grasses where trees eventually take hold and grow but without any real substantial soil. If I have my thinking correct.
The entrance of the Magalloway River turns out to be somewhat elusive for us but we spot another Bald Eagle which had apparently seen us long before we had the pleasure of viewing it.
After meandering here and there we find the entrance for the river and head up it till we reach our 3 o'clock turn around time then head back to the Androscoggin River and back to our vehicles capping off three "picture perfect "days of fine weather and paddling.
Such an excellent trip !! ...and a chance to realize how much more we need to trim down for our upcoming trip carrying 2 weeks of food..yikes !
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