Kayaking 3 Mile Pond, Maine

Three Mile Pond spans China/Vassalboro and Windsor. Public boat access is off of Rte 3. Since it's about a 1/4 mi off the road and wooded between the road and the pond, it's quieter than Sheepscot Lake. It gets a 3+++ because their is no toilet facility but it is a nice, quiet paddle worth one trip.

Kayaking Sheepscot Lake

Sometimes called a lake or pond: Sheepscot Pond is the third largest lake in Waldo County, Maine. It is in the township of Palermo, on the western edge of Waldo County. The lake has a maximum depth of 132 feet with well-oxygenated water.  

A nice quiet lake in the Mid-coast. Ease of access off Rte 3. But you can hear road noise until you get a ways out. Has a Porta-potty. Rating:

Can't go wrong in Camden Harbor

Kayaking in small, picturesque harbors is a joy. Obviously, you must follow safety rules and be aware of what's going on around you, but the dangers in the smaller harbors are minimal. Weaving among the yachts, schooners, and crafts of all sizes is fun. The calmer waters in the harbors also reduce danger and since motor craft must go slow, their wakes provide non-threatening ups and downs.

Here are some shots of Camden Harbor taken from Mount Battie State Park:

You can launch from a small public beach or the boat landing and the trip around Curtis Island is enjoyable as there's a lighthouse on the east side. It was a slightly foggy morning when we took the pictures.

Inflatable Kayaks on Amazon

Current Amazon listing of inflatable kayaks. Great for boomers!



http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dsporting&field-keywords=inflatable+kayaks

Aquaglide Inflatable Kayaks 2014

 

http://www.aquaglidekayak.com/

Low to high price range.

AIRIS Inflatable Kayaks

 

http://www.airkayaks.com/categories/Airis-Inflatables/?gclid=CjwKEAiAhIejBRCKm_fTxIWyyXcSJABXY0XYw73J6CLgMRBie_2MTgZSrv6vd-RhBZMPSRpCkLadyRoCTMPw_wcB 

These are not inexpensive kayaks. Just an FYI.

The End of the Season

Our paddling season came to an end on Labor Day. This is not to say that the weather didn't permit more journeys. In fact, there were many beautiful days, but the demands of work prevented more outings. What we're going to do is post numerous videos concerning inflatable kayaks. We do not endorse any of the kayaks in the videos, but thought they would help our readers view the large number of options available.

As we have mentioned, inflatable kayaks are ideal for boomers. They are easy to transport and are relatively lightweight. Kayaking is general is also a great form of exercise and lots of fun. The world needs more fun.

Looking forward to a new season!

Kayak Review for Camden Harbor

Camden Harbor is, to me, the quintessential image of coastal Maine. It's a place we go to often for breakfast, shopping, and just because it's a nice place to be. While there is a public boat launch, the parking is quite a distance from it, and there are no facilities. But for kayakers, that's no problem; just go to the public beach a few minutes from the town center. There are restrooms by the parking area.

(Oh, and might it be appropriate to mention here that ever since we started kayaking, there's been a steady refrain of "I want to kayak in Camden Harbor"? -D)

Here are two views of the beach/launch area:

It's a steep drop to the beach and for this reason we have to take off a half kayak in the rating.

The interior of the harbor is to the left which opens to Penobscot Bay to the right.

Heading into the harbor.

The outer harbor area.

That's the library in the background.

There are always 2 or 3 masted schooners at dock.

There are some massive yachts here.

Not a bad cottage!

The homes are are quite beautiful.

Heading out into the bay.

Better not start a fire in that fireplace!

 More photos are posted in the Pages section of the blog. Clearly, this is a beautiful place to visit. You can dock and take in the wonderful restaurants and shop the quaint stores. Of course, many things here are pricey, but most of the shops carry high quality, often locally made, items.

KAYAK RATING FOR CAMDEN HARBOR: 4.5

NOTE: The video is a little shaky. Waves will do that.

Kayak Review for Lower Damariscotta Lake

There is a public boat launch off Rte 213 in Jefferson, maybe 10 miles south of the state park on the west side of the lake. Plenty of parking, but, as of this writing, anyway, there's no toilet facility on site. There is a pad where one might have been located, but it stands empty. Hopefully, this will be corrected, as it is the only negative we can find to this location.

Quiet, peaceful, and picturesque are the words that come to mind. There are power boats on the lake, but they are not any kind of nuisance. This end of the lake is narrower than up by the park, making it easy to get from shore to shore. There are lots of little "nooks and crannies" to explore.  This is a location worth several visits because it's just a pleasant place to be.

KAYAK RATING: 4.5 KAYAKS

It really needs a toilet facility!