Apr 26, 2021: Narraguagus (500cfs)

Paddlers: Andrew Carey, Bud Gilbert, Carlisle Landel, Maggie Heherington in kayaks. Helen Hess (TC) in canoe.
This Monday trip was a reschedule of the advertised Sou trip for Sunday which was way too low for anything more than a wet hike. Low water levels have kept us searching for running streams this month, and downeast Maine had some options. The Narraguagus is a beautiful little stream, and at 500 cfs it had just enough water to get us down the river, with a wee bit of scraping in a couple places, but no dragging. There were even a few microsurfing spots, but the main challenge was picking a route among the many exposed rocks and boulders as well as the odd strainer. The wildlife highlight was an osprey flying overhead with a fish in its grip. Andrew drove up from southern Maine for this trip, and his truck got all the people and their boats to the put-in. Even though there was room in the cab, Bud preferred his perch in the truck bed and enjoyed the fresh air but perhaps not the bumpy road down to the put in. Lucky he’s rugged. While Andrew had a long drive, Carlisle and Maggie traveled even further; they came from Santa Cruz, California to boat this gem in downeast Maine.