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Jun 21-22, 2023: Eastern Egg Rock

Typically, the almost annual Eastern Egg Rock trip to visit the puffins began with confusion about the weather.  Initially, we had a near perfect forecast.  The night before, a prediction for fog raised its ugly head.  When six of us met at the Friendship Boat Landing, the weather was superb.  Our plan was to camp overnight, so we paddled four miles to the campsite on Black Island first.  Two members in the group, decided to remain in the area.  Although there were fog banks to our east and west, four of us had glorious conditions for our cruise to the rock.  Thanks to club member, Liv Ridley, who works on the rock, we knew the puffins were there.  As always, they were a treat.  Our return to Black was equally enjoyable.  Three of us spent the night while ex-president DeCoster logged in a 17 mile day and returned home.  Camping conditions were excellent but we awoke to dense fog.  During breakfast, we experienced a unique fog bow.  We outwaited the fog and paddled to Harbor Island for a trek across the island to cliffs on the west side.  From there, we returned to Friendship completing an exceptional two-day adventure visiting the puffins, experiencing a fog bow, and hiking the cliffs of Harbor Island.  

Participants:  Ellen Nelson, Mark Nelson, Jean Miller, Ken Gordon, Ex-president DeCoster, and TC Ron Chase

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Jun 21, 2002: Sea Kayak to Eastern Egg Rock

Six Chowderheads met at Bradford Point in Friendship for a two-day sea kayak expedition to Eastern Egg Rock to visit the recently arrived puffins.  Paddling to a campsite on Black Island was the immediate goal.  The weather forecast for day two had deteriorated overnight with fog and strong onshore winds predicted.  The four mile paddle to Black Island with sunny skies and light winds was a delight.  Two remaining trip participants, outliers if you will, were met at the large Maine Coastal Heritage campsite on the north end of the island.  After a group discussion regarding concerns about the worsening second day weather forecast, a change of plans was made:  We would attempt to complete the nine mile roundtrip to Eastern Egg Rock during the afternoon.  Excellent conditions were encountered traversing south through the narrow channel between Harbor and Hall Islands and passing Franklin Island Light, the last island before a couple of miles of open water to Eastern Egg.  Light winds and gentle seas continued to Eastern Egg where we were greeted with scores of colorful puffins.  We also had the opportunity to exchange greetings with club member Olivia Ridley who was working on the island as a member of the Audubon staff.  After completing a circumnavigation of the rock in rolling swells, we returned to Black Island with a tailwind and an ingoing tide.  A sunny end of the day with a cool sea breeze made for a very pleasant evening camping on Black Island.  The following morning, we awoke to patchy fog and a strong onshore wind.  Three in the group decided to return to Friendship while the remaining Chowderheads outwaited the fog and paddled to a beach on Harbor Island to hike Cliff Trail.  The trek across the island led to spectacular cliffs with a panoramic view of Muscongus Bay on the west side.  Afterwards, the hiking contingent returned to the mainland assisted by a strong tailwind and a cooperative ingoing tide.  Jean Miller and Ken Gordon took some exceptional pictures of the wonderful little puffins.  Special thanks to Troad for organizing overnight parking even though she was unable to participate.

Participants:  Helen Hess, Rick Farnsworth, Adam Chase, Brent Elwell, Deb Harris, Jean Miller, Ken Gordon, and TC

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Jun 24, 2021: Eastern Egg Rock

The need for a quality forecast makes planning a sea kayak trip to distant Eastern Egg Rock a challenge.  That was especially true this year as strong winds and high seas (due at least in part to Tropical Storm Bill) resulted in four postponements.  We finally got a good wind and weather forecast but 2 to 4 foot seas were predicted.  It seemed like every aspect of the trip was formidable.  Round Pond Landing was crowded and chaotic.  I estimate the seas were in the 4 to 5 foot range approaching Western Egg Rock where we initially thought we’d had a close shark encounter.  Turns out it was probably a sunfish.  It was unsafe to land on Western Egg, a first for me.  That meant remaining in our boats for an extended time.  We decided on a short visit with the puffins with a stop at western on our return.  The seas were still big leaving Western but mellowed as we neared Eastern Egg Rock.  Usually, most of the puffins are located on the west side of the rock but only a few were present this year.   Since a tour boat was circumnavigating the island, we reluctantly decided to extend our trip and do the same.  Our efforts were rewarded as scores of the delightful seabirds were swimming and feeding in large swells on the south side.  Numerous more sightings were made as we continued around the rock.  Hurrying back to Western Egg, it was still unsafe to land.  After about 5 hours in our boats, we found relief at Noyes Preserve on the southern end of Loud’s Island.  Whitecaps were building when we finally returned to Round Pond Harbor.  Despite a multitude of obstacles, we had another successful puffin endeavor.

Participants:  Ellen Nelson, Mark Nelson, Jean Miller, Randy Berube, Laurie Wunder, Tom Meredith, and TC

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July 9, 2020: Eastern Egg Rock

After weeks of disappointing weather forecasts, we finally had a decent prediction.  A 16 mile expedition with substantial exposure, a B+ weather rating is my required standard for a trip to Eastern Egg Rock.  Five of us met at Round Pond Boat Landing shortly after heavy fog had dissipated.  A hot humid sunny day; light winds and two to four foot seas were anticipated.

Participants:  Jean Miller, Brent Elwell, Bill Stafford, Randy Berube, and TC

Paddling against an incoming tide, we departed Muscongus Sound between Ross and Haddock Islands.  Our first objective, Western Egg Rock, could be observed directly ahead with tiny Eastern Egg barely visible in the distance.  Western Egg would be the only place to land until our return to the sound and disembarking on the diminutive atoll is often precarious.  We sent Brent and Randy in to probe.  No problems were encountered this time, so we stopped for relief and snacks.  Persisting southeasterly towards Eastern Egg following a magnetic 142 degree bearing, the four foot seas were gentle and entertaining.  Approaching the rock, the flutters of our little puffin friends began to appear.  While their numbers seemed lower than previous years, the handsome birds appeared less timid than usual providing for some great photo opts.  After completing a circumnavigation of the rock, a puffin tour boat was engaged as we began our return.  My guess is they were a bit surprised to find sea kayakers frolicking with the puffins at that distant location.  Unable to land on Western Egg, we persevered into the sound and found a rocky beach on Loud’s Island for a much needed respite.  An incoming tide and a gentle tailwind helped propel us back to Round Pond completing another exceptional trip to perhaps the finest sea kayak destination on the Maine coast.

Covid concerns:  All participants were requested to bring masks and sanitizer and to wear the masks if appropriate social distancing was not possible.  Anyone feeling sick was instructed not to come.