08/27/06 Paddling Narraguagus River:
Today wasn't so great. 10am the tide was just coming in, the wind too at 5mph, 60's and overcast. I had the vague idea of paddling out and around Foster Island and maybe, if I was feeling frisky, out and around Dweyer Island. Ha!
The first thing I noticed was no lobster buoys. It looked like I was in a large cove or small bay but I guess I was actually still in the Narraguagus River and I guess lobsters don't like fresh water. There were only a couple of lobster boats and a couple of sailboats moored near the town wharf. No fishermen and few birds.
A sign at the parking lot proclaimed these waters remain 50 degrees year round and lobsters move farther off shore in the winter where the waters are warmer.
I just started paddling without paying too much attention to what I was doing. Little development at the river's edge, some rocky ledges and lots of trees. I knew the wind and tide and current were all against me and I just kept up with a nice even stroke. An hour and a half later, Foster Island, which was originally about 3 miles away, did look a lot closer but not close.
I stopped for lunch and in 30 minutes the wind and tide carried me 3/4 of the way back to my launch site. As I was nearing the boat ramp the wind and waves picked up some and I pulled out and called it a day.