STONINGTON, August 12-15 PICS

[Doug]

Kayak Touring doesn't get much better than this.

Four of us shared the bunkhouse at Old Quarry last weekend. Scott K, Leslie B Konstantin and myself were treated to blue skies and calm seas. We paddled to the town of Stonington for dinner and a night paddle. On the return trip, we were treated to shooting stars and luminescence in the water. On the second day we zig-zaged our way to The Isle au Haut and around Kimbal for a 21 mile loop. Saturday, Barb K joined us for a more northerly route which included Sheep, Saddleback (my favorite) and Enchanted. Scott and Konstantin did a short paddle Sunday to push over the 40 mile mark for the weekend.

Open this attachment to view some of my pics.

Doug

http://www.pixel8er.net/Other/STONINGTON-A...971348239_kVrrT

[chetpk]

Kayak Touring doesn't get much better than this.

Four of us shared the bunkhouse at Old Quarry last weekend. Scott K, Leslie B Konstantin and myself were treated to blue skies and calm seas. We paddled to the town of Stonington for dinner and a night paddle. On the return trip, we were treated to shooting stars and luminescence in the water. On the second day we zig-zaged our way to The Isle au Haut and around Kimbal for a 21 mile loop. Saturday, Barb K joined us for a more northerly route which included Sheep, Saddleback (my favorite) and Enchanted. Scott and Konstantin did a short paddle Sunday to push over the 40 mile mark for the weekend.

Open this attachment to view some of my pics.

Doug

Actually Konstantin and I adventured to all the islands I had yet to visit with another stunning day and conditions in our favor to push us to just about a 50 mile total for our final stay at Stonington as we didn't get off the water till mid afternoon. What a great trip and it would be hard to find a place better then the Stonington area to paddle in.

Scott

[Gcosloy]

Jaw dropping beauty! Perhaps the most gorgeous area to paddle in the entire country. You happy few while the rest of us will curse that we stayed in our beds.

[chetpk]

More pictures and short descriptions of four fantastic days on the water.

Day One:

http://picasaweb.google.com/11132830468888...toningtonMaine#

Day Two:

http://picasaweb.google.com/11132830468888...leAuHautPaddle#

Day Three:

http://picasaweb.google.com/11132830468888...entIsland81410#

Day Four:

http://picasaweb.google.com/11132830468888...tchIsland81510#

Day one we all drove up and decided to paddle to Stonington for dinner. On the return we were rewarded with shooting stars and bioluminescence sparkle from our paddle strokes and bow wakes.

Day two we went all the way out to Isle Au Haut, circumnavigated Kimball and wandered right through the center of the Archipelago on our return. logged over twenty miles under a stella sky and calm conditions.

Day three, Barb came down from Orrington Me. to join us and steered us towards a wonderful loop around Sheep, Saddleback, Enchantment, Spruce, Buckle, Hell's Half Acre, Grog and back. Again another stella day with calm seas. Porpoises, eagles, osprey, terns, eiders, guillemots, were some of the many sightings we had.

Day four I and Konstantin decided to squeeze in one more paddle and went around Crotch Island to George Head, St. Helena, Green and back seeing the Stonington working fleet, granite quarry and the famous swimming hole on Green. We had a good head wind to start, but it gave us a free ride back to Old Quarry to end the trip on.

On the way home my vintage cassette in my tired old truck played Shawn Colvin singing Greg Bown's "One Cool Remove Away" and one cool remove away this trip was. Great place to see and paddle in and an equally great group of people to paddle with.

[Pintail]

Between the two of you -- awesome photos! I wish I had been there with you; but next year shall try to get away, if you promise to arrange some...waves! I am looking forwards to exploring that area: you remind me why I love the coast of Maine!