Paddle Day 5: Placid Seas, Riding the Currents and Kayak Sinks (Not Mine)

Calm Seas off Old Orchard Beach

First day paddling alone on this solo expedition.
Most of the paddle was with very calm seas, where the water and sky blended at the horizon.  It was so peaceful with just a light breeze.  Quiet meditation occasionally interrupted by a small group of porpoises.  What a contrast to the Small Craft Advisory with extreme thunderstorms of the day before.  I was so glad I spent that day visiting Rotary Clubs rather than kayaking.  Had a wonderful time with my hosts Rick and Deb Murphy and their Rotarian friends and family.

Paddled out the Scarborough River, which drains the largest marsh in Maine.  It was swift going with the outgoing tide.  The only tricky part was getting out though the waves at the mouth of the river with surf breaking on either side.

On the way out the river I met a paddler looking for the kayak he lost the day before.  He had set an anchor in the swift current to fish.  When he went to pull his anchor as the water was flooding in, he couldn't get it up.  The swift current and rising water swamped his boat and eventually pulled it under.  Looking for a tan kayak over the tan sand churning in the swift current did not sound very easy.

Talking to the guys looking for a submerged kayak

By the time I reached the Saco River it was incoming tide and I again rode the current right to the town landing.  If all days are like this one, I might get bored during this expedition.  But boredom is fine by me.  Constant boredom is far superior to constant terror.


Paddle Day: 5                                                     Date: July 17, 2014
Start: Scarborough                                              End: Saco
Distance: 7.69 miles                                           Total distance: 40.6
Max speed: 6.4 mph                                           Moving ave.: 3.8 mph
Kayak storage:  Saco bait shop                          Hosts: Saco Bay Rotary Club