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Greetings!

As of this time on the tour we have paddled approximately 250 miles. We've flowed with the swift current of the Little Missouri River, scraped through the low water and rapids of the Buffalo River, took a ride on the roller coaster rapids of the New River and fought the narrow rapids and beaver dams of the Upper Chub River. As a result of all of this we broke three paddles and sustained enough damage to the boat to warrant repairs. So as we sit here and wait for our Kevlar canoe patches to dry, swatting black flies and mosquitoes at our base camp on the banks of the Penobscot River in Maine, let us fill you in on our latest adventure.

Located near Lake Placid, NY in Adirondack Park lies the Upper Chub river, which flows from the Chubb River Marsh. Unlike our previous float trips, a shuttle service was unnecessary because the only way to access the Upper Chubb and the marsh was to start at the Ayerville Road Bridge and paddle upstream. We attempted to start four miles downstream from this location at the Old Military Road Bridge. The reason for this was because the Lake Placid Volunteer Fire Department provided safe haven for our vehicle. Also, their parking lot was only a quarter mile from the bridge, compared to two mile from the Ayerville Road Bridge. We started paddling against a swift current. After assessing the situation, we both agreed we were up for the challenge. The swift current soon turned to rapids and it became evident that we would have to drag the canoe up river. After a couple of hours the rapids became bigger and bigger. With no portage trail available and waters levels reaching chest high in the rapids we decided to turn back. On the bright side we got to run some nice rapids back to where we started. The river corridor was narrow, intensifying the run. As we navigated the chutes and rapids, the shoreline became a blur. Our hike/drag up the rapids took two and a half hours, while our exciting run down took less than a half an hour.

The canoe had to be unpacked and loaded on to the truck. It was now back to the Ayerville Road Bridge. We once again unloaded the gear from the truck. It was decided that Kevin would drive the truck back to the fire house and jog the two miles back to the bridge. Meanwhile Steve began portaging the gear to the put in spot upstream. After the portage was complete we paddled one and a half miles of flat water through the thick Adirondack forest dominated by Tamarack, Spruce, Fir and Pine trees. Green plants carpeted the forest floor. The water was cool and tea colored from the abundant vegetation.

Our campsite was located at about the halfway mark on our second portage trail. The New York Department of Environmental Conservation maintained the site. It had a level tenting area, fire ring, a wooden table fashioned from a large tree stump and a sitting log. Unfortunately, the site also provided five billion mosquitoes! Well, at least it seemed like that many.

The next day we encountered our first rain delay of the tour. Our plans to explore the Chubb River Marsh would have to wait. We passed the time in the tent by reading and napping. Finally, in the early evening, the sun burst through the clouds. We decided to go for a sunset paddle in the marsh. As we entered the marsh, low grassy shorelines and mountain vistas took the place of the thick forest. The river snaked through the marsh for about five miles and divided into two feeder streams. We explored both feeders as far as the brush would allow. We shared the spectacular sunset with jumping fish, a couple of beavers, a pair of White-Tailed Deer (including a huge buck), Black-Capped Chickadees, Cedar Waxwings, Wood Thrushes, Great Blue Herons and common Crows.

The following morning we headed back into the marsh for further exploration. We encountered many of the same animals and two canoes. That evening we packed up and began the journey back to the truck. It was decided that because of the low water levels in the rapids, and the damage to the bow of the canoe, that Steve would run the rapids solo while Kevin portaged some of the heavier gear. At the bridge we organized our gear, loaded up the truck and headed off to Maine.

We'd like to send thanks to Kevin's mom and dad, Miriam and Rodney, for the numerous meals, comfortable beds and much needed supplies.

We'd love to share more, but the skies up here in Northern Maine have just opened up and it's time to batten down the hatches.

See you in the Outback!

Kevin and Steve