This spring has started out very much like the last; cool and rainy. At a time when the kayaks should already be in the water, mid-April brought us one of the strongest April Nor'Easters to hit the New England Coast in a very long time. Saturday, May 12th was my first paddle of any distance, most years I usually have a chance to paddle a few shorter trips to get my muscles more or less accustomed to exercise again. For the most part, it was a perfect day for a paddle. At this time of year I am wearing a dry suit along with a neoprene under layer, so cooler temperatures make for best paddling.
My friend and I launched from
Cousins Island at around 10 am or so; we just planned on a light day of
paddling to give a chance to explore a couple of Islands along the way.
We headed south along Cousins Island, then turning towards the southeast
after passing the power plant. The day started off a little on the cool
side, but quickly warmed up as the sun made it's way higher in the sky.
The water is still very cool at time of year, so a dry suit is a
mandatory part of ones paddling wardrobe. We decide to chart our course
between Chebeague and little Chebeague Island's to make our way towards
an old ship wreck that is located in Chivericks Cove along the
northeastern shore of Long Island. During high tide the wreck is only
partially visible, but during low tide, many of the ships ribs rise out
of the water some 10 to 12 feet.. We stopped on the sand bar that
connects Chebeague and Little Chebeague Islands during low tide and then
decided to head farther down to get out and explore the island some
more. Little Chebeague Island is open to the public and is also part
of the Maine Island trail. During the late 1800's the island was home to
a hotel and resort community. Thanks to Dick Innes, a local historian,
the public can walk the trail and sign system that he has created on the
Island. The remains of these building still exist, although they are
unsafe to enter. A Steel building on the southeast side of the Island
was used by the military during the Second World War.
After
finding a suitable place to land the kayaks, my friend and I took some
time time to hike the trails that wind their way through this little
island. The weather has taken a toll on many of the signs, but most are
still readable and included photos of what the cottages once looked like
before they succumbed to the weather. After spending some time hiking
around the island and eating a small lunch, we headed southwest for a
little ways a then turned westward towards Clapboard Island. We then
made our way back to Cousins Island along a northeast track that took us
along the eastern side of Clapboard and Sturdivant Islands. As we
approached the Sandy Point Ledges, which are located between Cousins
Island and the mainland, we were followed by a couple of harbor seals
that call Casco Bay home. The route took us through 13 miles of Casco's
waters, which is not a long paddle by any means. It was great to just
spend a full day out on the water and taking the time to hike one of the
many islands that can be found in Casco Bay. Please keep in mind that
not all island in the bay are open to the public. Plan your trip ahead
of time and research which islands are open to the public. Remember that
when you do make a stop on a public island to stay on the designated
trails, do not build fires and to "leave no trace".
