Warren and I arranged to meet at Odiorne to do a Gerrish circumnav on Saturday morning as I would be coming down from an on-land Coastal Navigation course with John Carmody up in Boothbay. Armed with my new knowledge, I was able to turn my back to the wind, stick out my left arm, and identify the low pressure system that would be affecting the first part of our day. Of course, it was also possible to just look west, see the clouds with blue sky beyond, and know that the west wind would push it over us and out to sea. Which it did.

We paddled out under a grey-pink sky with light beams pouring down through the clouds onto the water. There was almost no boat traffic, and the Piscataqua crossing was the easiest ever. We headed to Chauncy Creek, where we continued under the little bridge and through the meandering stream out to Braveboat Harbor. The light was clear and amazing, the breeze fresh, the air cool, and some trees were just beginning to show changing colors. Snaking through the marsh, it truly felt like a new season, and after the occasionally hectic summer, that felt wonderful.

As Katherine noted in her post of her Sunday paddle, we too saw flocks of white egrets - and many blue herons. An abundance of birds that I hadn't seen on this trip before. We stopped at the harbor for an early lunch and watched the clouds and the water. I found a nice big rock to take home for the garden.

We headed out to continue the clockwise circumnavigation. The wind pushed us along for a time. We were well off-shore, and we noticed that we were being escorted by monarch butterflies. There were never less than two fluttering off our bows, and we could often see more than six hovering over the water ahead of us. What were they doing out there? Getting organized to head to Mexico for the winter? They were indeed going generally southward.

After a benign morning, the wind picked up and was eventually in our faces, and it was a slog back across the Piscataqua. Of course since Warren powered through 25 knot winds for miles last weekend in his camping trip with Rob, he proclaimed that this was mere child's play. Tell that to this child. It was a lot of work!

There was more boat traffic by now, and as we crossed the channel, we speeded up through the wind and waves to avoid being overrun by the Isle of Shoals ferry bearing down on us as it headed back to Portsmouth. Nice waves on the backside of that!

We hugged the shore out of the wind heading back to Seavey Creek, stopping to weave between some more benign offshore rocks. And then it was another slog - into the wind, into the ebbing tide - back to the launch.

A lovely day that really seemed to mark the beginning of fall - at least for me - on the water.

Pru,

Thank you for a great trip report and for capturing the beauty of those waters. It had been over a year since I paddled that section of the Maine coast and it truly is a wonderful location. Now Pru, that was simply a "fresh breeze", hardly worthy of an effort!

Warren

Great report Pru,

I've done this route several times with groups and solo. It's always something new. If you guys decide to do this again in the months ahead (I paddle all year)I'd be interested in joining you. This is my backyard if you didn't know! By the way Pru, 15K is my new limit, at least on planning. If I'm caught I do 20-25-beyond that I'd say I planned badly.

Gene,

I love this trip, too, and would be interested in doing it again as the season(s) progress. So please post when - on the wknd - you might be interested.

pru

The weekends of Oct. 13/14 and 27/28 might be good. Late in the season makes using the Kittery town docks easier and there is always the option to launch from York harbor which, In my opinion, makes for a much nicer trip than from Odiorne. I'm interested.

Ed Lawson

Ed -- glad that you're interested in doing this trip later in the fall. I don't know if I'll be able to make either of those times, but let's all stay in touch about it.

pru

I'm also interested, if you plan this trip again!

The weekends of Oct. 13/14 and 27/28 might be good. Late in the season makes using the Kittery town docks easier and there is always the option to launch from York harbor which, In my opinion, makes for a much nicer trip than from Odiorne. I'm interested.

Ed Lawson

York Harbor is about 5 mi north of Brave Boat while the circumnavigation of Gerrish/Cutts is close to 8 mi. this would result in an 18mi. trip-too long for this paddler. Launching from the town dock at Kittery results in 8-9 miles. An alternative when the dock is too crowded is the culvert at the end of Chauncey Creek. Launching from Odiorne only adds 4 miles round trip and has the advantage or disadvantage depending on your taste of crossing the mouth of the Piscataqua.

I like the start at Odiorne because it's right down the road from the home of good friends of mine (!) - which makes it very convenient and it's a shorter distance to drive for those of us coming from Boston. I'd rather spend extra time on the water heading north across the river than driving across it!

pru