KAYAKING THE RIVER.
Day 36 – Dessert was NOT chocolate cake; we got too full on Scampi. We slept well. We do better when it’s cool. 44 degrees again this morning. We dumped tanks and filled with fresh water. All set for the rest of our stay here. Chores done, we waited for it to warm up. We are going to go river kayaking today on the Magalloway. This is a beautiful river which flows from the north into Lake Umbagog. The Androscoggin River flows out of Lake Umbagog at the town of Errol. Below the dam in Errol, it turns into white water and people take river rafting trips there. We prefer the calmer waters of the Magalloway. There are at least three boat launches for us to choose from and we’re going to the northern one. It’s located at Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge north of Errol off of Highway 16. It is about a half hour east of the campground we’re staying at. Highway 16 is also a popular place to spot moose, and we have seen them several times on other trips.
It did warm up quickly this morning, not like yesterday. We drove to the boat launch. It was a completely sunny day, the wind was light. We were the only ones at the parking lot, and we didn’t see anyone until we came back to the launch around lunch time. It was a leisurely paddle. The sky was a beautiful clear blue, the trees were various shades of almost fluorescent green, and the water was cool & clean – a dark brown. White, yellow, orange, violet, and blue wildflowers were blooming by the sides of the road. Just gorgeous. We saw a large red fox. We saw a Common Goldeneye Duck family, the mother and seven babies. No moose, but that’s okay. Click any picture below to see a slideshow.
We drove back to the RV for a late lunch. We decided that the scenery around Dixville Notch on Route 26 between Errol & the turn off for Coleman State Park is some of the prettiest scenery we’ve ever seen! Knocks our socks off every time.
We started a loaf of bread for sandwiches, then went out to the screened tent. The wind had picked up. It was 70 degrees, full sun. Amazingly, the bugs aren’t bad, just a few here & there. New campers came in – the weekend is almost here. More people-watching for us in the next few days. We like to watch as campers set up camp. There are really two categories: people who camp with tents & cook their meals outside, and people who come in with trailers, RVs, and hard-covered living arrangements. Those who camp often, like many of the fishermen, can come in and set up camp in 15 minutes, then be off to cast a line. People new to camping with an RV or trailer, jockey around for ½ hour or more trying to get the vehicles in place. We loved watching the older couple across from us function. They were a well-oiled, husband & wife team. The people who just came in were tent campers with two tents, one truck, and a canopy covering the cook/eat station. They were done and out fishing in a very short time. Almost like a well-practiced ballet.
Later we had leftovers; oh, so good. It was 66 degrees, sunny and breezy at 7 p.m. Perfect. I think we’ll have room for cake tonight. Meanwhile, the girls are doing great. They like it here, too.