The Crew and Equipment: Well, the original “Three Amigo’s”, Mike, Billy, and I, have somehow talked three other intrepid canoeists to join us for our latest NFCT adventure. I have decided to paddle solo on this trip, using my new Hemlock Canoe Works SRT; Mike has been joined in his Mad River Explorer by his brother-in-law, Al. Billy is paddling tandem with an old friend, Jim, who brought along his kevlar Rockwood Outfitters Prospector. And finally, Tommy, a friend from the local paddling message board, has joined us in his own solo boat, a Swift Osprey.
The Androscoggin (let the rains begin): We all spent our travel time to Errol enjoying the fine weather. Most of us left from RI, and we met Tommy up in Errol with plenty of time to do the shuttle. After checking in with the ranger for camping on Umbagog, and checking the weather forecast (80% chance of grimness), we dropped off our gear at the put in just above the dam in Errol on the Androscoggin River.
There, Mike & Bill & I waited while the others shuttled two of the vehicles over to our planned take-out in Rangeley. And waited, and waited, watching the clouds grow thicker and “staying hydrated”. A couple hours or so later, the crew arrived, and we started to get underway. That is precisely when the rain started. Fortunately it stayed light, and did not dampen our spirits as we paddled 3.5 miles up-river to Lake Umbagog and our campsite on Moll’s Rock. The lake greeted us with a bald eagle and a temporary reprieve from the rain.
Umbagog Lake (Hello Hurricane Kyle): The rain held off while we set up camp and cooked dinner, and even for a little while after we got a fire going, but then it came back in earnest.
A hurricane was coming up the coast, due to hit Maine the next day, and it was pushing moisture well inland despite our best efforts to convince ourselves the forecast called for starry skies and fair winds. An hour after it started, Jim found that he had left his tent door wide open, and was greeted with a wet sleeping bag and the need to move the tent under a large tarp. This would be the first of a string of unfortunate events for Jim who, while he has been canoeing for decades, was experiencing his first canoe camping on this trip. The tarp soon had a population of other canoeists chased away from the fire by the rain. Someone made a motion for an early bedtime, it was seconded, and the motion passed. It poured all night. Total mileage for the day (incl. shuttle-portage to put-in): 5.2 miles
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