I feel like Cortez. Maybe de Soto. Lewis and Clark.
This weekend, I discovered the mighty Medomak River, which has been in my backyard for 30-odd years. I don’t know why, but I only remembered that the Medomak River flowed from Route 1 in Waldoboro to the Hannaford store a few hundred feet away.
Needless to say, I am geographically challenged.
On Saturday, Blue Eyes participated in her favorite leisure activity, driving aimlessly around the back roads of the midcoast. She won’t admit it, but she is looking for the perfect farm where she can raise goats and chickens, horses and cows, probably even llamas and zebras. If she had the room she would take in the lot of them. I, of course, have no interest at all in animals, even cats or dogs. I love the little beasts, of course, but am content to visit them at someone else’s house, then say goodbye. I have probably buried 30 cats in my time and that is enough, thank you. If we take her car, burn her gas and she drives, I will go anywhere.
We took some back road from Damariscotta and wound northward, sort of heading home to Rockland. We ended up in the town of Bremen. I wondered what the body of water was off to our right. I just assumed it was the ocean. It was not. It was the mighty Medomak, which I had been ignoring all these years.
Sure, I would pack up and drive all day to the St. Croix, the Allagash and the St. John rivers. No problem. But here was a great river right in my backyard. I could sleep at home instead of some expensive motel at the end of the day of paddling. I usually have my smartphone in hand and Saturday was no exception. I called up Google maps and started tracing the Medomak River upstream. I was shocked.
It came to Waldoboro from Orffs Corner, Flanders Corner and North Waldoboro, where it sprang from Medomak Pond. Who knew? I never knew there was a Medomak Pond. North of the pond the river flowed through Bump Hill and Rice Heath from Burkettville and Route 105. Perhaps I missed the river because it flowed through those hamlets. Bump Hill? I have been driving Route 105 for three decades and had no idea that the Medomak River started there. Checking the other end, it widens past Waldoboro and empties into Muscongus Bay near Friendship. Why wasn’t I informed of this?
What a great river!
The mighty Medomak is now number one on my spring paddling list, if the temperature ever tops 40 degrees. I hate to admit it, but the Ocean Prowler 13 kayak sat in the yard for at least two snowstorms before I dragged it into the safety of the barn. When the weather allows it, I will put the roof racks on the Honda and strap the Prowler down, nice and tight. Once I get it up there I will leave it there for weeks at a time to impress the tourists. I scratch the roof and trunk every time I load the beast, so I keep transfers to a minimum.
I will start with my “home waters” of Megunticook Lake and finally make it all the way to Norton’s Pond and Lincolnville, I hope. Last year I made it to the Kenny Bailey Bridge at the entrance to Norton’s Pond, but had no energy to continue. I think it took 45 minutes to get there, then almost three hours to get back in a sudden, fierce wind. This time, I will check the weather forecast more carefully. Then, and only then, will I attempt the Medomak River. The attempt will have to occur in early spring with high water. I suspect the Burkettville end will be mighty boney at times.
If I am successful and survive the Medomak venture, I will attempt the long discussed paddling of the St. George River from Port Clyde to Thomaston, with the correct tide, of course.
All of this is easy to plan in a nice warm Cobb Manor with the wood stove crackling. When it becomes time to paddle somewhere, the excuses pop up like daffodils. It’s too hot. It’s too cold. It looks like rain. Thunderstorms are forecast. Heavy winds are likely. My back hurts, my knee is stiff. I am so tired.
Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week.
Planning is always the very best part.
Can’t wait to see Bump Hill.
Emmet Meara lives in Camden in blissful retirement after working as a reporter for the Bangor Daily News in Rockland for 30 years.