tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76379266698967601422024-02-24T07:06:31.060-08:00Maine PaddlingMatt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-58057239058977289192019-06-25T22:00:00.000-07:002019-07-18T11:46:29.852-07:00Brewster Academy TrainingBrewster Academy is a private boarding school in the Wolfeboro, New Hampshire area and sits on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, the biggest freshwater body of water in the state. In the summer months Brewster Academy offers adventure programming to their visiting students. In addition to sailing and backpacking, they also do a great bit of canoeing and kayaking in their programs. Seven Rivers Paddling trains the summer program providers for skills & leadership on the water in canoes & kayaks. Peter asked me to help run the program with him and I could not resist. He has a true love for paddling and is easy to work with. <br />
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On Day One we worked out of touring canoes and ran some basic skill sessions to get everyone up to speed. Strangely, some of the teachers joined us on the water and in my mind, brought down the program some. It was a surprise to me, but I didn't question it since they often join and were taking pictures. However, it did become distracting to students and undermining to Peter and myself. I just reminded myself that it's their program and they're eager to see their new summer staff succeed.<br />
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I try to coach at a slow pace whenever I can. I think a solid foundation is really important for all paddle sports, but large groups like this sometimes means you need to go faster, because they need to follow a curriculum. It's tough to deliver, but I think Peter and I trimmed enough out of their list to leave a good focus on the most important stuff. <br />
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Day Two we worked in sea kayaks until lunch, just about the same time the rain started falling. Luckily, Brewster Academy has a world class boat house on the water's edge and we could seamlessly cap off our program with some serious on-land teaching sessions and trip planning problems. Interestingly, these forced indoor sessions turned out to be my two favorite sessions of the whole weekend. <br />
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I look forward to returning next year. Here are some pics.<br />
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-9223980930352407052019-06-23T20:00:00.000-07:002019-07-17T15:25:45.071-07:00ACA SUP ICW - Portland MaineThis marks my 3rd course in Portland Maine and my sixteenth course overall. Not bad considering I usually offer only 2-3 courses per season. Last year this course was full with 8. This year we struggled to get only 3 and ended up dropping it to a 2-day Level One course, which turned out to be the right move because the candidates weren't ready for Level Two just yet. Cathy, Caitlin & Emma all did awesome and Portland Paddle is lucky to have all of them as instructors and guides. Big thanks to <a href="https://portlandpaddle.net/" target="_blank">Portland Paddle</a> for hosting me again this year!<br />
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East End of Casco Bay is a tough venue when looking for Level One conditions. Turned out that we had to make our way into Portland Harbor each day to work in a small pocket of perfectly flat water, quite nice spot to teach actually. I enjoyed this because it gave me a real good look into each candidates skills while paddling in wind on the way to the harbor and back. What was only a 5-10 minute paddle gave me tons of insight into their experience and comfort level on a board. <br />
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The course was awesome. Super fun, beautiful weather and some great progression.<br />
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What really stands out though, is that I realized Level One courses are way more appropriate these days. Most courses I've run in the past have been combined L1 & L2, which is great when you have paddlers filling out the spectrum. What often happens though, which I dislike, is that some paddlers assume they're paddling at L2 standards just because we're covering it. They don't always understand where they fit on the L1/L2 spectrum and it's hard to tell them they're not as skilled as they think they are. The other thing I really don't like that has happened over the years with combined courses is that some people are meeting L1 standards, not quite L2, but might be close enough to send them home with a workplan to meet those standards quickly. Typically we call this a continuation. Sounds great right? It can be, but most often what happens is people go away with a continuation and never really put the work in to meet the standard, and my time gets wasted. What's the takeaway? I'm not offering combined levels anymore. <br />
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-27862281443425710532019-06-09T20:00:00.000-07:002019-07-17T14:00:48.727-07:00ACA SUP ICW - Cape CodI returned to Cape Cod this year to train SUP Instructors for Mike Morrison at <a href="https://rideawaykayak.com/" target="_blank">Rideaway Adventures</a>. Rideaway is an awesome paddle sports outfitter in the Cape with multiple locations, serving paddlers and bikers with classes, tours and rentals. All of their sup and kayak instructors are ACA certified. This year Chris, Kara, Katie & Jase wer going through the program in a combined Level One/Two Instructor Certification Workshop. <br />
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It was a fun course, as usual and as expected. If these courses aren't fun, I'm not doing my job. In my experience, learning comes easier when a group of people get comfortable with each other quickly, and fun is a way to do that. I felt a bit off at times, but it's early season and it takes a bit to warm up again, right? <br />
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I'm happy to have been joined by Adam Mayer of <a href="https://gopaddleboardct.com/" target="_blank">Go Paddleboard CT</a>. Adam is a past student and a highly skilled teacher and paddler. He is a teacher by trade and has a knack for helping people understand things quickly, which is one of the biggest challenges coaches have. I hope to work with him again soon, because he's incredibly easy to work with and has great ideas about the sport. If you're in Northwest Connecticut, take a class with him. <br />
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We spent three full days on Peter's Pond in Sandwich, going over a huge range of paddling strokes & skills, working on leadership and practicing teaching skills. The candidates were fairly diverse in terms of experience and skill level coming into the course. All improved a vast amount during the course, which makes me so happy to see. I love to watch people improve their paddling, and these courses are the best way to do it. When you're on the water and focused on paddling for two to three days at a time, you have enough time to progress slowly & build skills steadily and build a strong set of foundation skills to pull from. <br />
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After hours we spent a little time visiting <a href="https://www.naukabout.com/" target="_blank">Naukabout</a> & <a href="https://www.lambertsfarmmarket.com/" target="_blank">Lambert's Farm Market</a> - I will return to Lamberts at some point in my life. It's a must in that area. Then, I even got in a quick visit with my parents, who happened to be visiting the Cape that weekend, staying at their friends family cottage. <br />
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Anyways, CONGRATULATIONS to Katie, Kara, Chris and Jase! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew, from the left: Katie, Jase, Adam, Kara, Me (Matt), Chris </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter's Pond. Perfect Day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with fins.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Mayer is so comfortable on a board.</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-58123281307582791402019-05-24T02:34:00.000-07:002019-05-24T02:34:24.455-07:00Lamprey River Source to Sea Paddle & Fundraiser<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvmI5lb3eKSW9A356KU-bDIah8tsRoPyXjy_9T-x-gVnp60oBuXXhvUDijjVexEFkw-_z-iRFdaUETVVmTBwFQCNAvgggp_A6P8UQyK6FgMxn4tISYo6d9iQQ47z55FfDSO5rKGh4Vy0/s1600/IMG_4305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvmI5lb3eKSW9A356KU-bDIah8tsRoPyXjy_9T-x-gVnp60oBuXXhvUDijjVexEFkw-_z-iRFdaUETVVmTBwFQCNAvgggp_A6P8UQyK6FgMxn4tISYo6d9iQQ47z55FfDSO5rKGh4Vy0/s640/IMG_4305.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50 mile scout trip - complete!<br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">On Tuesday May 14th, Peter Sawtell and myself parked our truck at Northwood Meadows State Park in Northwood, New Hampshire, unloaded gear and headed out with the intent of following the Lamprey River all the way to saltwater. This was a 50-mile scout trip and fundraiser to ensure proper planning on an upcoming Lamprey River Source to Sea program that will take 12 kids onto the river for a 5-day program teaching paddling skills, river knowledge and outdoor education. Peter is with Seven Rivers Paddling out of Newmarket, NH and Rivers for Change is partnering with his business to offer this program. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqb51XkRcJRHuaRTJo_ra-Ax0EZ6esIj2qM1UvJ9XL8yWPGIk1j4Wed2I_Rn_AhghpjhQgSxe8Zz4mTohWDHwSa5f6qE9jaSJlKaNukZfRyAn0cFKy4AkWk1eJ8kA_I-0o1Pfji9ITaE/s1600/IMG_4217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkqb51XkRcJRHuaRTJo_ra-Ax0EZ6esIj2qM1UvJ9XL8yWPGIk1j4Wed2I_Rn_AhghpjhQgSxe8Zz4mTohWDHwSa5f6qE9jaSJlKaNukZfRyAn0cFKy4AkWk1eJ8kA_I-0o1Pfji9ITaE/s640/IMG_4217.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Talking with Tim of Newmarket Channel 13</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_ex7l-Eo9gK1EYjldFC1EbS8v9rsB4jXQJUM51Bqb8U8bcMnY3ICi-Uirl4kYH-KPsTYvxb-P430iWIK85WBk6lm8Gh767kZh7mkvDQMnxbRiWvv0W_JkKo5BvQmj-8cBtHDqa0r-hQ/s1600/IMG_4228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_ex7l-Eo9gK1EYjldFC1EbS8v9rsB4jXQJUM51Bqb8U8bcMnY3ICi-Uirl4kYH-KPsTYvxb-P430iWIK85WBk6lm8Gh767kZh7mkvDQMnxbRiWvv0W_JkKo5BvQmj-8cBtHDqa0r-hQ/s640/IMG_4228.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Getting a late start, we made our first portage around 2pm – a 1/2 mile stroll through the woods to find the official source of the Lamprey River, a small pond in the state park. We quickly found the pond and within ten minutes had made the short paddle across the pond, perhaps the easiest section of paddling for the next three days.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">On the far shore, a small stream flowed from the pond, under the trail and into the meadow, full from all the rain in the past couple weeks. Knowing that this was the official source of the Lamprey River, the trip had begun in earnest and once we floated the boats, we were committed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The next 5.5 miles took every minute of five and a half hours of walking, pushing, pulling and paddling the boats downriver. Not being large enough to actually paddle yet, the goal was simply to follow the flow and explore the upper stretches of this river as it changed from meadow to swamp to pond to creek to river. It was truly exciting but took much effort and positive energy to continue, knowing that eventually the river would increase in volume enough to paddle our way towards sea. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7rvUnxNokK96LFTzz-EosKIlM1MALZb7AjHcadAcaREsMv9thttRNDC5Kx_MB4lX3hKb16LwfxjrZXblP53zcqENd7QOPwAxYn6u2fOjqXRjhfnMAqsW1_Jo4wm8d8z1uDLyDpi3wNM/s1600/IMG_4191+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7rvUnxNokK96LFTzz-EosKIlM1MALZb7AjHcadAcaREsMv9thttRNDC5Kx_MB4lX3hKb16LwfxjrZXblP53zcqENd7QOPwAxYn6u2fOjqXRjhfnMAqsW1_Jo4wm8d8z1uDLyDpi3wNM/s640/IMG_4191+-+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Floating boats at the source of the Lamprey</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMWPX7TYg6pLrpn3uGo-B1e5mLok0yFEX3wHIVPtk37tvOvmMalRGzjNbu9mHqff3gD_2NvpUpcYxqKY1BoOUYPe18x5iFyKqPlunGuPbGIxWiep-1iBwTFFErRFfPOn5M8PUfEuJySg/s1600/IMG_4193+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMWPX7TYg6pLrpn3uGo-B1e5mLok0yFEX3wHIVPtk37tvOvmMalRGzjNbu9mHqff3gD_2NvpUpcYxqKY1BoOUYPe18x5iFyKqPlunGuPbGIxWiep-1iBwTFFErRFfPOn5M8PUfEuJySg/s640/IMG_4193+-+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Slowly and carefully following the river downstream</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXiDtoGgeapJ4oPvB1dJBNrfbFPa8WGFu2wDRW3fFQ3_5sl09qAsZoZSNt6gaZBJAYMvCDV_AoShP1XAdmYCVE-97iP-LVijzYFipmnO5M4brdl04AZR0HgYcSHBXJrfQ4zByTooI76U/s1600/IMG_4203+-+Edited+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZXiDtoGgeapJ4oPvB1dJBNrfbFPa8WGFu2wDRW3fFQ3_5sl09qAsZoZSNt6gaZBJAYMvCDV_AoShP1XAdmYCVE-97iP-LVijzYFipmnO5M4brdl04AZR0HgYcSHBXJrfQ4zByTooI76U/s640/IMG_4203+-+Edited+%25281%2529.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Lots of beaver activity to contend with</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YvDEGY7vEjcwxpmbr2k7ZVLWcp314NIwsgSnLWonPLCBxCLeTc1Hy8fzPSgDSXse3WAsjjWP0EDcj57qVcyMAeQMWhfrvt_ebH3aTfxPo8B5RNbWNDg1gleRGsKZsm9pyQ42oSp7N3Y/s1600/IMG_4204+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YvDEGY7vEjcwxpmbr2k7ZVLWcp314NIwsgSnLWonPLCBxCLeTc1Hy8fzPSgDSXse3WAsjjWP0EDcj57qVcyMAeQMWhfrvt_ebH3aTfxPo8B5RNbWNDg1gleRGsKZsm9pyQ42oSp7N3Y/s640/IMG_4204+-+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Miles of walking the upper stretches of river, still just a creek</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabYLwvGZI8ndM-1U6vMcp_dF4VBhlBkIoYK0FlNGQgZQ3ArGTo0Qf5vlGzK4GMdjFFLPthtuAxuWOqGyH1ukZBj3TDXl4ZzAsNJATirv4Obm4fispwJOKX8HetmqL7GpogQ6ptb1XoK0/s1600/IMG_4207+-+Edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabYLwvGZI8ndM-1U6vMcp_dF4VBhlBkIoYK0FlNGQgZQ3ArGTo0Qf5vlGzK4GMdjFFLPthtuAxuWOqGyH1ukZBj3TDXl4ZzAsNJATirv4Obm4fispwJOKX8HetmqL7GpogQ6ptb1XoK0/s640/IMG_4207+-+Edited.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">beautiful surroundings on our walk</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">By 7:30pm, about twenty minutes before sunset, we reached Freese’s Pond and the first dam on the trip. It’s about six miles downstream from the source and is a fairly large expanse of water considering the river had been so tiny until now. Finding a good camp spot, we setup, ate dinner and settled in for a cold 39 degree night, opting to go without a tent since the seasonal black flys had not shown up yet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Hitting the river at 7:00am the next morning fueled with strong coffee and granola, day two would hold twelve hours of paddling at a much faster pace. Luckily, volume continued to increase, even below the first dam and sections became easier to negotiate. To our surprise, the Lamprey holds much more whitewater than we had anticipated. Small drops, modest gorges and dozens of riffles awaited our day as we followed the river, reading and running the entire time.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxQtATalBqsG4W9QvcpUR146tJWweQnWHTRDrbeVvFbtQTQPmJpKu1sLgL-1ljzVCC-7Uq9C5Av38KS5vrbs8OLZtjF9tJRDikwKMrzhyphenhyphenaY06cVVSK0pDCi_ZMJNbiB1xqmj0l26lwQs/s1600/IMG_4271.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1136" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxQtATalBqsG4W9QvcpUR146tJWweQnWHTRDrbeVvFbtQTQPmJpKu1sLgL-1ljzVCC-7Uq9C5Av38KS5vrbs8OLZtjF9tJRDikwKMrzhyphenhyphenaY06cVVSK0pDCi_ZMJNbiB1xqmj0l26lwQs/s640/IMG_4271.PNG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Lamprey flow was great during our three days, 5/14-5/16</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Snack breaks, map checks, portages, strainers and social media posts all broke up the day slightly, and before long we were making true mileage while experiencing the transformation of this mighty river from little to big. The most beautiful sections of river were deep in the woods with nothing around but rocks, trees and the feeling of history with the odd piece of metal or human made rock structure. It was cool, to say the least. A number of weeks earlier, we spent a day scouting river crossings in the snow, peeking at rapids, drops and stretches that became familiar while paddling.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NFVTrAbuegF9-4G7Fmp6Bd3Igq6VKOUOfV3v_SCvGktMWbjNsVpoCjPNkbjKlk68deHWVedw0H5FjYoviIvQ15EdC0BsJIqdQW0vZLQO06QeF6v9c8ggi2atEuC8UsfNuhHvBwd3BBw/s1600/9F168EAB-6C1E-447D-99A4-CDADCD767C22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NFVTrAbuegF9-4G7Fmp6Bd3Igq6VKOUOfV3v_SCvGktMWbjNsVpoCjPNkbjKlk68deHWVedw0H5FjYoviIvQ15EdC0BsJIqdQW0vZLQO06QeF6v9c8ggi2atEuC8UsfNuhHvBwd3BBw/s640/9F168EAB-6C1E-447D-99A4-CDADCD767C22.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80ucBY-LnVA0R1jJ_94SB4MIq1I3-dtb0Z_ulKkApDDki8YeC2ttK_cD7F4rRHSQERAGqmpPU3CYajoxHGByyiq9y83K1YyaFP6iIRxYHPyHzf2JreG6z4l_7f9NZia8ZsWCUzpRSNbM/s1600/IMG_4212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80ucBY-LnVA0R1jJ_94SB4MIq1I3-dtb0Z_ulKkApDDki8YeC2ttK_cD7F4rRHSQERAGqmpPU3CYajoxHGByyiq9y83K1YyaFP6iIRxYHPyHzf2JreG6z4l_7f9NZia8ZsWCUzpRSNbM/s640/IMG_4212.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">One of dozens of strainers we climbed over or under</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">By nightfall, we covered a respectable thirty three miles of river, feeling every bit of it with bangs, bruises & scratches to our bodies and equipment. Finishing the day at Wadleigh Falls, a dangerous set of falls where a historic dam had broken, we portaged and called it a day, opting to finish out the last 11-12 miles in the early morning. The entire day had been spent analyzing the river to decide what sections were safe enough and interesting enough to paddle during the July Source to Sea Camp with 12 kids from the local area. Feeling good about many sections, we developed a rough plan by nightfall.</span></span></div>
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<figure class="wp-block-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; max-width: 100%;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><img alt="" class="wp-image-6074" sizes="(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px" src="https://www.riversforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_4271-940x530.png" srcset="http://www.riversforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_4271-940x530.png 940w, http://www.riversforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_4271-300x169.png 300w, http://www.riversforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_4271-768x433.png 768w, http://www.riversforchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/IMG_4271.png 1136w" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: top;" /></span></span></figure><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdJrQLrJDafB-HILcmI9TbgTJ62FBAZyANBFkDW-_DIjKzfgZUzPg6IZx3b9ZRuyDDuszi3Mxp-sKpfn3jwZ0NSXmNeHsnq-74nrvR6GT74HxMZoyVIN0GYD80tApQH5BtLE3zhgKc40/s1600/2FD765FF-6A97-4FEA-8AAC-B0B6CC070A47.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: black; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIdJrQLrJDafB-HILcmI9TbgTJ62FBAZyANBFkDW-_DIjKzfgZUzPg6IZx3b9ZRuyDDuszi3Mxp-sKpfn3jwZ0NSXmNeHsnq-74nrvR6GT74HxMZoyVIN0GYD80tApQH5BtLE3zhgKc40/s640/2FD765FF-6A97-4FEA-8AAC-B0B6CC070A47.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Way more fun whitewater than we expected</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">A significant portion of the Lamprey is federally dedicated Wild & Scenic river</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">The next morning we had only three stretches of river left to paddle – Wadleigh falls to Wiswall Dam, Wiswall Dam to Packers Falls and Packers Falls to Newmarket, the sight of the last dam on the river and the barrier between freshwater and saltwater. Past that dam lay three miles of the Lamprey River and fourteen more miles of Great Bay and Piscataqua River before flowing into the Atlantic. Before we reached that location, we still had to portage Wiswall dam and run Packers Falls, the biggest stretch of whitewater on the trip, a section of Class III with a decent drop and a substantial volume of water. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Peter threading the needle on some small whitewater barely big enough to run</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Leading the way, I dropped into the falls with my 16′ <a aria-label="Esquif (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.esquif.com/en/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">Esquif</a> Avalon, a far cry from a whitewater canoe. I swamped in the first drop but paddled through the rest of the rapid without incident, clearing the water in the eddy below the rapids. Peter steered his 15′ <a aria-label="P&H (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.phseakayaks.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">P&H</a> Delphin straight into the steepest part of the drop, got slightly worked by water but recovered control quickly to make it through the rest of the falls unscathed and hooting. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">After three days of paddling and only 3 miles from our destination, we made it through the crux. After a quick break onshore to change into board shorts and sandals, we cruised the last three miles of flatwater in warm sunshine, feeling good about the trip and the planning. We are definitely ready to guide kids down the river in July and are much better off knowing the route intimately. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Day One: 6 miles in 6 hours</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Day Two: 33 miles in 12 hours</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">Day Three: 11 miles in 4 hours</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">To learn more about the Lamprey River Source to Sea Program, visit <a aria-label="riversforchange.org/lampreyriver (opens in a new tab)" href="http://www.riversforchange.org/lampreyriver/" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing: border-box;" target="_blank">riversforchange.org/lampreyriver</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">To learn more about Seven Rivers Paddling, visit <a href="http://sevenriverspaddling.com/" target="_blank">sevenriverspaddling.com</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">To make a tax-deductible donation to the program, visit <a href="http://grouprev.com/lampreyriver-mattpalmariello" target="_blank">grouprev.com/lampreyriver-mattpalmariello</a></span></span></div>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-36811967125031463232019-05-12T21:00:00.000-07:002019-07-16T06:57:57.574-07:00Tufts University TrainingThis spring is shaping up to be a busy season on the water and I'm really excited to be working with Peter Sawtell of Seven Rivers Padding. Today we partnered up and led a canoeing skills & leadership workshop for students in the Tufts University adventure program. Later this semester they'll be leading other students on canoe trips in the Maine wilderness and need some vital training to get ready. <br />
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Making our way up to the Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire, we met the students on a small lake perfect for this training. We spent the morning working on hard skills in tandem canoes and all did well. After lunch we moved onto trip planning, more advanced paddling skills and saved our rescue practice for last, since the pond was cold, the air was cold and the students were not as prepared as they should've been. Once in the water, they would be cold since they were not equipped with wetsuits or drysuits. I have to give them lots of credit because they all dug in and completed rescues really well and rather quickly. <br />
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This was a good opener for me this season. I absolutely love paddling canoes and did not even mind keeping the bow seat warm for awhile today. <br />
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-5719020005031914782018-10-03T11:48:00.000-07:002018-12-21T11:50:40.098-08:00Allagash Wilderness WaterwayThe <a href="https://awwf.org/" target="_blank">Allagash Wilderness Waterway</a> is a 92-mile stretch of lakes, ponds and rivers flowing North through the Maine woods. It was established back in 1970 as one of the countries first <a href="https://www.rivers.gov/index.php" target="_blank">Wild & Scenic Rivers</a> and remains as Maine's only federally designated Wild & Scenic river today.<br />
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I've been dreaming of a trip here since I learned about it twenty years ago. I wanted to make the trip on a standup paddleboard, but the management office maintains that only 'traditional' watercraft are allowed in the region. That means that crafts must fall into strict physical dimensions as well as construction methods. Sups are not allowed, so I opted for a good ole' traditional open canoe. <br />
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I've been working with an awesome crew all summer and we've been planning this trip slowly throughout the last couple months. Well, last week we finally had the weather window and the time to make the 5-day trip. Water was still very low this year, so we had to modify our trip a bit and excluded running the river. Quite the bummer, but there just wasn't enough water to make a smooth trip down the whitewater sections, so we opted for a lake trip instead, with a focus on lake tripping, fishing and camping. It was a pretty solid Plan B and none of us regretted it one bit. <br />
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After a long drive north to the area in two vehicles, we unloaded at the put-in and then immediately ran a shuttle further North to the take-out. It was only about 45-50 miles away, but we were traversing logging roads the entire time. Granted, they're in awesome shape, but they're narrow, filled with ruts and have some crazy logging truck traffic. About four hours later we finally made it back to the put-in and launched. <br />
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The next four days we explored some incredible campsites, caught and released dozens of healthy fish, spotted moose and black bear and just had an incredible & relaxing Allagash experience. Now that I'm home, I can begin planning my return trip in order to finish traversing the entire waterway, which means running that section of river we missed. If you ever get a chance to visit, it's worth every bit of travel and planning to get the experience of a remote and pristine water-filled wilderness. <br />
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Enjoy the pics..<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West branch of the Penobscot was flowing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Running shuttle. Waiting for logging trucks to load up and clear the road. Logging companies own this land and the roads, so we're at their mercy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First nights campsite. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring the famous Allagash Trains. Long story short, these trains moved lumber between two lakes. They pretty much portaged full trees and when they were no longer needed, it was much cheaper to leave them there than to dismantle and move them. Today, they draw many visitors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our shuttle vehicles. Little thing did pretty awesome on the logging roads. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NTwuIQOsMC62Z2gYzSftrYtXqO7V20M4rUhMuS9POy1OqBx0Lx4SEhg7pv8pgreFHbM1z0k-_z_6CZVSyAfR7XWlrRx-lr4C8zNk3XdiT8UF-i2d17PjYfgCP3K3KpIZt8CjhcYX0b4/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NTwuIQOsMC62Z2gYzSftrYtXqO7V20M4rUhMuS9POy1OqBx0Lx4SEhg7pv8pgreFHbM1z0k-_z_6CZVSyAfR7XWlrRx-lr4C8zNk3XdiT8UF-i2d17PjYfgCP3K3KpIZt8CjhcYX0b4/s640/IMG_2986.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close to prime foliage season. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love is in the water.. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up lake from Chamberlain Dam.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous weather for the entire trip.</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-13146526134138715872018-07-30T11:18:00.000-07:002018-12-16T11:27:19.895-08:00Untamed New EnglandRecently I had the pleasure of working with Peter Sawtell of <a href="http://sevenriverspaddling.com/" target="_blank">Seven Rivers Paddling</a> to manage risk and safety on the paddling sections of <a href="http://www.untamedne.com/default.aspx" target="_blank">Untamed New England</a>, an iconic adventure race that took place on the New Hampshire Seacoast this year.<br />
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Untamed New England describes themselves as a non-stop race across 250+ miles of New England's wilderness and I can assure you, it's just that. Teams have no idea where they're racing until they show up. Teams have 4 days to complete the rugged courses, which changes each year. Historically, only about 20% of teams actually complete the full course. <br />
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This year, teams did some canoeing in the upper stretches of the race. Then, by the time they reached the Seacoast, they had two more major paddling sections, in kayaks on tidal waters. Our team used vehicles, kayaks, paddleboards and power boats to keep track of paddlers on the water 24/7 as well as give assistance in particularly 'tricky' areas due to currents. As hard as the course was, mother nature increased the difficulty level with thunder storms all weekend. Each night as we camped on islands in Great Bay, we could track teams at all hours of the evening while being barraged with rain and winds ourselves. <br />
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For those of you that know me, I work on events like this all the time and absolutely love it! Long hours, tricky logistics and good people keep it fun and rewarding. Check out the pics for some highlights!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZPBLFbFwZnlG2Wpq4XhQecHdb0RmIdrT-upL1jW629tObSpAAqBHIcVFFmLQLSPpNKROYBdLkK1-MpocD0jRKREUxcu4p2_FTeyG8DvhBAKHBosY1iOfIrUHMTN0GH87HvYXURPBLVY/s1600/MooseBadgeRace.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="315" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZPBLFbFwZnlG2Wpq4XhQecHdb0RmIdrT-upL1jW629tObSpAAqBHIcVFFmLQLSPpNKROYBdLkK1-MpocD0jRKREUxcu4p2_FTeyG8DvhBAKHBosY1iOfIrUHMTN0GH87HvYXURPBLVY/s640/MooseBadgeRace.png" width="434" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">we provided all the equipment for racers..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tracking teams on Great Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tracking teams online</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">moving up river</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting for teams to cross Great Bay. This skiff was our home for three days.</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-48454792292705351362018-06-11T09:26:00.000-07:002018-12-16T09:28:57.728-08:00ACA SUP Certification Workshop Portland, MEPortland Maine is a wonderful paddling destination. This year I once again ran a Level 1-2 <a href="https://www.americancanoe.org/?" target="_blank">American Canoe Association</a> SUP Instructor Certification Workshop in Portland. Nine instructor candidates, myself and an assistant spent June 8-10 on Portland's East End completely geeking out on standup paddleboarding. <br />
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It's so fun to meet new standup paddlers and one thing that blows me away is now I'm seeing way more candidates who are getting into paddling via sup. It used to be that kayakers and canoeists were trying sup, but now the majority are coming from non-paddling backgrounds. That speaks volumes about how appealing standup paddling is, for very different reasons to very different people. <br />
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Thank you to <a href="https://portlandpaddle.net/" target="_blank">Portland Paddle</a> for hosting us! Check out the pics of this fun weekend on Casco Bay and the next two courses are May 31-June 2, 2019 on the NH Seacoast with <a href="http://sevenriverspaddling.com/aca-sup-trainings/" target="_blank">Seven Rivers Paddling</a> and June 21-23, 2019 in Portland, ME.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful weather on Casco Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Graham from <a href="http://wildcraftyoga.com/" target="_blank">Wild Craft Yoga</a> in front of Fort Gorges</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the crew lining up for some challenges..</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-vRVlLNWxg3OCOMKQy15dy05D5A-0kMVeo9G1TGN9iVVZUMFi8FxCu3MqmuOCM722-yu4usLYCQ0pwUimCO45P5d9PK2Jh9c1Zg9zzfoalyuIPevtH-TI0FLxyAWThyphenhyphenpatl4OQBjCd8/s1600/IMG_2411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-vRVlLNWxg3OCOMKQy15dy05D5A-0kMVeo9G1TGN9iVVZUMFi8FxCu3MqmuOCM722-yu4usLYCQ0pwUimCO45P5d9PK2Jh9c1Zg9zzfoalyuIPevtH-TI0FLxyAWThyphenhyphenpatl4OQBjCd8/s640/IMG_2411.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Mike from <a href="https://rideawaykayak.com/" target="_blank">Rideaway Kayak</a> and Leah from <a href="http://www.foreverwild.yoga/" target="_blank">Forever Wild Yoga</a></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAMH4l9A79Nz_U3rtqMMonPFLOp7g4lGLyhYzKbhViKoJt1oo0s7DelYLeCaoTbokCMLVG_L3Kl6ESABDVNECcCu385Av6SgoQ0yBXKH_vGjb1CpbwxdbmRpZhRk9Kv6ZFdRpAf1jm4w/s1600/IMG_E2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1369" height="504" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoAMH4l9A79Nz_U3rtqMMonPFLOp7g4lGLyhYzKbhViKoJt1oo0s7DelYLeCaoTbokCMLVG_L3Kl6ESABDVNECcCu385Av6SgoQ0yBXKH_vGjb1CpbwxdbmRpZhRk9Kv6ZFdRpAf1jm4w/s640/IMG_E2458.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the whole crew! Sarah, Hannah, Dan, Elyse, Mike, Peter in back. Sarah, Matt, Leah, Ashley & Maddie in front.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgni-AZxlqtQ5CHZhpHtfHrRusBwEJVB0f553MDapakOSVWdkJH13eWDuqQxfUdxYhwGVO-nvUcnX8xTaVnAZkViGnuOwGSYtaAj159esCvI8w-5U6GU5ZQKAGFzYiKq9km-A3V4AHI0/s1600/IMG_2585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlgni-AZxlqtQ5CHZhpHtfHrRusBwEJVB0f553MDapakOSVWdkJH13eWDuqQxfUdxYhwGVO-nvUcnX8xTaVnAZkViGnuOwGSYtaAj159esCvI8w-5U6GU5ZQKAGFzYiKq9km-A3V4AHI0/s640/IMG_2585.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elyse Curro from <a href="http://www.paddlehamptons.com/" target="_blank">Paddle Hamptons</a>, Leah Titcomb from <a href="http://www.foreverwild.yoga/" target="_blank">Forever Wild Yoga</a>, Peter Sawtell from <a href="http://sevenriverspaddling.com/" target="_blank">Seven Rivers Paddling</a> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2C8v8-V8vH_H1Rng7sTkqgyjZgX12J73Ff3bouUhTJjZMw2tArv9nqgp2m9GTxLxCNMRzWysC0jGx2hjoNjFTddNL7I7nJNinAMgrfKzrE4gZrNwjI_eehFf-0jqMeioivyY46x364mI/s1600/IMG_2414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2C8v8-V8vH_H1Rng7sTkqgyjZgX12J73Ff3bouUhTJjZMw2tArv9nqgp2m9GTxLxCNMRzWysC0jGx2hjoNjFTddNL7I7nJNinAMgrfKzrE4gZrNwjI_eehFf-0jqMeioivyY46x364mI/s640/IMG_2414.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfZ2V01Kjg46_XsqnQD8-XzbaXQbhoA6710jaNFlxLbNyBk3txogDZfkTE5nSK86E5HCT1_nycx6py1qxeBEYqbx2x4bPqxSUKIxsrW3Yylhh-S_bqM72SBJt5WZ9-9vG6ompAzhQ-ss/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfZ2V01Kjg46_XsqnQD8-XzbaXQbhoA6710jaNFlxLbNyBk3txogDZfkTE5nSK86E5HCT1_nycx6py1qxeBEYqbx2x4bPqxSUKIxsrW3Yylhh-S_bqM72SBJt5WZ9-9vG6ompAzhQ-ss/s640/IMG_2454.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike, Leah & Elyse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YBXHaJpLVdfwC8_wij5oOsjN1YrlI6B7frDK3DNSsJ4f78Qrais5PsyfjQKZVo4dBrcYIBwP4I8_DXoRHHG7iL3rRcg7tdMS3eSurY2kBlW2rSrR9pqmcSq2Wv6zh__qG6JOt0qdP4I/s1600/IMG_2503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6YBXHaJpLVdfwC8_wij5oOsjN1YrlI6B7frDK3DNSsJ4f78Qrais5PsyfjQKZVo4dBrcYIBwP4I8_DXoRHHG7iL3rRcg7tdMS3eSurY2kBlW2rSrR9pqmcSq2Wv6zh__qG6JOt0qdP4I/s640/IMG_2503.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah & Peter strategizing before our next challenge. Fort Gorges is a wonderful place to coach sup.</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-56407791439557335172018-05-07T08:44:00.000-07:002018-12-16T08:48:17.996-08:00Black Canyon SUP TripI've written blog posts about Black Canyon in the past. I don't always say a lot, but the fact that I keep on returning to this incredible paddling destination pretty much says it all. For this trip, I co-guided with Erin O'Malley of <a href="http://sunsetstanduppaddle.com/" target="_blank">Sunset Standup Paddle</a> out of Laguna Beach, CA. She's now offering this trip in a 4-day format a few times per year. <div>
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For now, I'm just going to let the pictures speak for themselves. Until the next trip, I'll just daydream of fast water, unbelievable eddy hopping, slot canyons, hot springs, wildlife and vast panoramas...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9ezIjdYUUr42cIoNGzX1nluncsbz2y_H_ZDeQ5nyJKyvYI0k8ancL7jLRKhi-Z_cYv4CzWMFnoRXvtzWoGWH1mnURx-lVTxkezpvWqGelEO04rZPw9XYVEAyKksRhdUuUkjx2lfUIio/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir9ezIjdYUUr42cIoNGzX1nluncsbz2y_H_ZDeQ5nyJKyvYI0k8ancL7jLRKhi-Z_cYv4CzWMFnoRXvtzWoGWH1mnURx-lVTxkezpvWqGelEO04rZPw9XYVEAyKksRhdUuUkjx2lfUIio/s640/IMG_2290.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">simply spectacular</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsYY-iQYd0owKrK0z22dPkOkw2B9wS-EG9DvcOG4oEmpm5ogo-C0BKBvovHVB7B6_mxnYzW8g-bsQ9CurV7r9EdOmCb9K3zsWCvng6SWcs51vF5n-PnLf2qVY5c72t3sR1873LRNR3wQ/s1600/IMG_2220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsYY-iQYd0owKrK0z22dPkOkw2B9wS-EG9DvcOG4oEmpm5ogo-C0BKBvovHVB7B6_mxnYzW8g-bsQ9CurV7r9EdOmCb9K3zsWCvng6SWcs51vF5n-PnLf2qVY5c72t3sR1873LRNR3wQ/s640/IMG_2220.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a view of camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FErlNeQim8huAnkKqlzLCOH90rBXYm8REps6cLi89TMMylev2GR23pi7MqK_i7tewTpg_wDbVjl2ggk4jSeuFp7zB5mZo-P4QwlsfPD2EipXiB7qv2EV05z2pnx9m3X4bhXqklruyAE/s1600/IMG_2231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9FErlNeQim8huAnkKqlzLCOH90rBXYm8REps6cLi89TMMylev2GR23pi7MqK_i7tewTpg_wDbVjl2ggk4jSeuFp7zB5mZo-P4QwlsfPD2EipXiB7qv2EV05z2pnx9m3X4bhXqklruyAE/s640/IMG_2231.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">every good day of paddling starts with some good coffee. Compliments of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kickinghorsecoffee/" target="_blank">Kicking Horse Coffee</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNigQ97GFT3d9rLkjpZ6B0toklqCF0vnAF-LQQJC_kUHaqwucOnUnUnhyphenhyphendfByRxXKSP-UKQKYNXLjy1oDEU2MF1RBeEqbGXyFueBV9LDPYkjEziiUYlT_wD9eSSbVXF4EtlUtBmhff5Q4/s1600/IMG_2236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNigQ97GFT3d9rLkjpZ6B0toklqCF0vnAF-LQQJC_kUHaqwucOnUnUnhyphenhyphendfByRxXKSP-UKQKYNXLjy1oDEU2MF1RBeEqbGXyFueBV9LDPYkjEziiUYlT_wD9eSSbVXF4EtlUtBmhff5Q4/s640/IMG_2236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting ready for another day on the water</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE6_fbJctHpga3aUSZeF9iFzSO2oFRhzremnIprmXW04LUwUakyZHW1D1xqLmA1pTqtxAyW08g6Z9Vz9C20FoC214KAfjG9s61U_dkXPJj_9GITXeBYqNPcFgIf3a70_EYWQFcS6L8hU/s1600/IMG_2262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVE6_fbJctHpga3aUSZeF9iFzSO2oFRhzremnIprmXW04LUwUakyZHW1D1xqLmA1pTqtxAyW08g6Z9Vz9C20FoC214KAfjG9s61U_dkXPJj_9GITXeBYqNPcFgIf3a70_EYWQFcS6L8hU/s640/IMG_2262.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love waking to this view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzJEzba2ah9-MddBfF6jdDNVKfuQ8U2b63OyKIUhD_p_ydpbVw4pzOFZuctwXeihXX-xfFE6JUb_tkDZ95xxDA-UiXi-ckl8gQvjLGWVkHiqtBsJ4kAsO0ZbpxRr55ROV2zW9yOoOr4g/s1600/IMG_2238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzJEzba2ah9-MddBfF6jdDNVKfuQ8U2b63OyKIUhD_p_ydpbVw4pzOFZuctwXeihXX-xfFE6JUb_tkDZ95xxDA-UiXi-ckl8gQvjLGWVkHiqtBsJ4kAsO0ZbpxRr55ROV2zW9yOoOr4g/s640/IMG_2238.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maggie from <a href="https://www.bluepaddlesup.com/" target="_blank">Blue Paddle SUP</a></td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-43485695954974504472018-04-28T07:10:00.000-07:002018-12-17T07:12:07.124-08:00Sea Otter Classic 2018The best event of the year!<br />
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I think 2018 was my 9th or 10th year working for the <a href="http://www.seaotterclassic.com/" target="_blank">Sea Otter Classic</a>, the best cycling event in the US. This is probably the event I work the hardest at each year, but somehow it just never feels like work. The team of people that gathers year after year to pull it off is nothing short of incredible and I've made lifelong friends, even though I only see them once a year for two weeks. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe6NQhwpbGe_xzH2K7e-aeMaqjgMkUWHqH0u9WVrawP3hF7dCOut7F7jvPzIL_2ZvKTe3zP6hkUeRPvyd0rlwRSjl-hRRwucM_EC5BRV4E4OqVmyt6ADpB4Q4v05pxa_tvGq6yRaqWtU/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXe6NQhwpbGe_xzH2K7e-aeMaqjgMkUWHqH0u9WVrawP3hF7dCOut7F7jvPzIL_2ZvKTe3zP6hkUeRPvyd0rlwRSjl-hRRwucM_EC5BRV4E4OqVmyt6ADpB4Q4v05pxa_tvGq6yRaqWtU/s640/IMG_2022.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Monterey / Salinas valley area is beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkPIRWUOARQx6OoRr9l1tY_F429ZXCRBDh8BMnXybjL_dbjzqBpAlSCfnmnBtpl3tOqzbQF88M-9Jmf2hXmIFnMtmw_qFRlTmuSVa9Fs6-tKHz5fFpsohNYqmp0R-LV9biYFplKPgVXo/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkPIRWUOARQx6OoRr9l1tY_F429ZXCRBDh8BMnXybjL_dbjzqBpAlSCfnmnBtpl3tOqzbQF88M-9Jmf2hXmIFnMtmw_qFRlTmuSVa9Fs6-tKHz5fFpsohNYqmp0R-LV9biYFplKPgVXo/s640/IMG_2028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trucks look better in tall grass</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7CnC_4ukOzMSJ3XisMLi5GfuDmgYW3d5RsJr995KDlbjRp2_nU_sSteUMRzcOyAe_lkyQ3wYz88-fHzMvSeduS8F5JEnS8OyM8n9KH3sMDVrtgnaxj-GuHJvL_dqWmrk-mq2j704c68/s1600/IMG_2035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI7CnC_4ukOzMSJ3XisMLi5GfuDmgYW3d5RsJr995KDlbjRp2_nU_sSteUMRzcOyAe_lkyQ3wYz88-fHzMvSeduS8F5JEnS8OyM8n9KH3sMDVrtgnaxj-GuHJvL_dqWmrk-mq2j704c68/s640/IMG_2035.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">end of day rituals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxma61Z2rx5MijkLbTTOYb3roSGJ53_VQD5_apeW_WakSz09eIdRtR0xoykfP_6rJioQEKsFPQAztCgw6Jl_QzEfQGItm-HKX_xhgS4JAfTTxT3Tw4YFMRAu97OWHeJCS3W3iouUk2KA/s1600/IMG_2059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikxma61Z2rx5MijkLbTTOYb3roSGJ53_VQD5_apeW_WakSz09eIdRtR0xoykfP_6rJioQEKsFPQAztCgw6Jl_QzEfQGItm-HKX_xhgS4JAfTTxT3Tw4YFMRAu97OWHeJCS3W3iouUk2KA/s640/IMG_2059.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter studying the venue from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfisQllq7pzluWuI0MxmX7AjsQANTXYxBWn_ZtBiSW0BICwWT4Pd4cS-LHwQt3MsT1QNK3sFK4WSH-0i9ZXms3eDEFnDsN3QVgcsbYuRmA70mcYCHkcOfuOCHwC3zjbNOAO6xurFdB66k/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="1600" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfisQllq7pzluWuI0MxmX7AjsQANTXYxBWn_ZtBiSW0BICwWT4Pd4cS-LHwQt3MsT1QNK3sFK4WSH-0i9ZXms3eDEFnDsN3QVgcsbYuRmA70mcYCHkcOfuOCHwC3zjbNOAO6xurFdB66k/s640/IMG_2075.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Rainbow! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's serious work</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">testing e-bikes on the track</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Danny MacAskill draw a crowd</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dual Slalom! One of the best spectator races at the event</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">running shuttles at Dual Slalom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">venue</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">overlooking Laguna Seca from the top of the Dual Slalom course</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-41853579840933275892017-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:002017-10-24T10:34:57.807-07:00Grand Manan Through Hike<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXKrTa7IhtsSeP9OP-kO3DG_V2Z4Y_wgtw0E-eX4j1G6PM-NLBaowHh1Yi605pavT_6wnV4_Rbss7q6SG9thnDk0u4SFI9OfX-KFUTGLspslPcL4oM0_6q3_d5JGk30PuUEsq1JHy0RU/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXKrTa7IhtsSeP9OP-kO3DG_V2Z4Y_wgtw0E-eX4j1G6PM-NLBaowHh1Yi605pavT_6wnV4_Rbss7q6SG9thnDk0u4SFI9OfX-KFUTGLspslPcL4oM0_6q3_d5JGk30PuUEsq1JHy0RU/s640/FullSizeRender+%25281%2529.jpg" width="484" /></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I recently spent two days walking the backside of Grand Manan Island, a small New Brunswick Island set on the edge of the Bay of Fundy and the Gulf of Maine, about 9 miles off the Maine coast. I've been casually planning (or dreaming of) a SUP trip around the island and had been gathering information from locals and fisherman who know the coast. Over the last year I've gotten some conflicting information about safe landing zones & currents, especially on the backside. This trip was pretty rad because I got a true first-hand view of the entire 25km West Coast of the Island, which is stunning!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Around noontime we got dropped in the dirt parking lot at the South tip of the island at the Southwest Head Light House. In a few quick minutes in a very casual manner we prepped our packs, made our last adjustments and said our thank-you's and goodbyes. We set off from the light, snapped a few quick pics of our start location and immediately found ourselves just a few feet from the edge of 100ft cliffs, staring at down at tiny seals floating in the eddies and vying for space on dry rocks. The trail quite literally follows the cliff rim for much of the hike. <br /><br />While we slowly made our way North, the landscape got more beautiful, more diverse and way more challenging. Under-prepared with less-than adequate sneakers, terrible socks and a pack that wasn't designed to hold the amount of weight I carried, it wasn't long before I was feeling the pain of a long walk in wet shoes. But the air was warm, the visibility was outstanding, wildlife was all around us, cell phones were off and we were immersed in a new natural environment, so my discomfort didn't matter all that much until day two. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">We snapped photos as we walked, discussed life and took in the ocean vistas, it was an absolute treat to be outside and feel the stress of the last few weeks disappear. Unplugging from technology and plugging into this coastal environment was much more important than I even realized. Around each corner was a vividly beautiful landscape worthy of a painting. Salty air mixed with forest scents that made deep breathing more enjoyable. Sounds were rare, mostly birds, waves and the compacting ground beneath our shoes. This part of the island has very few inhabitants and we passed only a half dozen homes in two days. <br /><br />Grand Manan is a special little island with rich history dating back to the Maliseet, Passamaquoddy & Penobscot Indians. It's rich in tourism and fishing and is an incredible place to get away and relax in the outdoors. After a day of rest on our return, we spent the rest of our visit mt. biking, sailing and visiting family. <br /><br />As I write this, I'm prepping for a standup paddling trip around the island in 2018 and now feel completely prepared for the journey. Now it's in the hands of mother nature. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two straight days of perfect weather</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">buoy garden. 100's of buoys and sea flotsam</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">below an eagle's perch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">danger!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking down at Dark Harbour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The last big outlook</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Manan is fat bike friendly</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-29674534445753473352017-06-25T05:42:00.000-07:002017-06-25T05:42:24.611-07:00ACA SUP ICW @ Portland, Maine<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiarPUEB-iqs67U7FkuqZEn8ilNKk03_SEZ02ZIGuWdzdJR62WHyFVIaT4Fm4I87dYbTPOASKUqSPFPf2nwTNlQeoMSAyuakjmra4S_URDc2mLYdalH8aJETJFIkCq2l82p59fMt2IGnI/s1600/IMG_9833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiarPUEB-iqs67U7FkuqZEn8ilNKk03_SEZ02ZIGuWdzdJR62WHyFVIaT4Fm4I87dYbTPOASKUqSPFPf2nwTNlQeoMSAyuakjmra4S_URDc2mLYdalH8aJETJFIkCq2l82p59fMt2IGnI/s400/IMG_9833.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful days in Maine</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Seven candidates and another awesome course. My favorite thing about offering these courses is getting to meet so many cool people and making new paddling partners. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This group was no different and I've already spent time paddling with some of them. We had a pretty intense session over three full days with some very skilled and knowledgeable personalities. Group learning at its best! <a href="https://portlandpaddle.net/">Portland Paddle</a> hosted us at their location at East End Beach, which turned out to be a fantastic venue for the course. When you're in Portland Maine, visit them and take a trip on Casco Bay, home of some incredible paddling opportunities and rich with history.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Last season I did a Jewell Island Trip on Casco Bay that you can read about <a href="https://mattpalmariello.blogspot.com/2016/10/jewell-island-sup-camping-trip.html">here</a>. Definitely recommended!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shane talks about boards</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casco Bay</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-35397948247169988832017-06-25T05:33:00.000-07:002017-06-25T05:43:54.711-07:00ACA SUP ICW @ Bar Harbor, Maine<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matt, Cosmos, Allison, Curtis, Jessica & Wendy</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Congrats to the newest ACA Certified SUP Instructors in Maine!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">This is the 2nd year I've travelled up to <a href="http://acadiasup.com/">Acadia SUP</a> in beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine to run an <a href="http://www.americancanoe.org/?">ACA</a> SUP ICW with Chris Strout, owner of Acadia SUP. He runs a great operation on the edge of Acadia National Park and is focused on quality instruction and safety. Next time you're up there, stop in to take a class, do some sup yoga, rent a board or visit his shop. He's the only dedicated SUP retailer in Maine and introduces thousands of people to SUP each season. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Long Pond, Bar Harbor, ME</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wendy flips Cosmos back onto the board</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning knots</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-69027857907523875992017-06-22T07:58:00.002-07:002019-01-07T12:40:40.640-08:00May Black Canyon SUP Adventure<div style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Hour!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9c-PUeHZc5vgWISN8ycFWLrqYyfcCWOQVPul2h5S62m9P0tvJ2gaGDx2Lx434v_zceOImU9MJFTltiXW2MGaJuSrR2ww6WmCZvJUhXGSdAL9RlfJRROtjX5vYV84ucuY-kElZLFRMyY/s1600/IMG_9587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="741" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT9c-PUeHZc5vgWISN8ycFWLrqYyfcCWOQVPul2h5S62m9P0tvJ2gaGDx2Lx434v_zceOImU9MJFTltiXW2MGaJuSrR2ww6WmCZvJUhXGSdAL9RlfJRROtjX5vYV84ucuY-kElZLFRMyY/s400/IMG_9587.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Erin & Matt making coffee</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Hot Springs & Happy Hour is how we described the trip, but really it should’ve been called strong winds and stronger paddlers. Our team of 8 met up early on Friday, made our way to the river and were paddling off by 10:15am. Impressive start for an impressive crew.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">The rest of the trip blended together seamlessly with an assortment of fun, food, celebration, soaking, exploring & relaxing. Huge THANKS to Erin of <a href="http://sunsetstanduppaddle.com/">Sunset Stand Up Paddle</a> in Laguna Beach, California for co-organizing with me. She’s awesome to work with and paddle with and whenever you’re in Southern California she’ll show you a good time. Our next Black Canyon SUP Adventure is October 27-30, 2017.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">What made it so fun? First, we had a group of skilled paddlers who were all about having fun. Second, the Black Canyon is a magical place with great energy. Hot air, cold clear water, beaches, cliffs, wildlife, caves, hot springs, currents, fun eddies, waterfalls, no electricity, no cell phone service! It’s a playground for those that like to adventure. It’s a dream for those wanting to develop board control, water reading skills & basic river skills. It’s a paradise for those that want to relax, forget about work, unplug, unwind, dream, breathe, contemplate and smile.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Enough said – here are a few pictures..</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCHgiJQhehcJviKwqA-takUNdyv6HHNxSxpi1arhywbSjOvgAMhaPwJz8tkST8udHvMu6KhOrw8ZCZbD7uBySfkniHQG2wrLGp3Hm-Veno-O6qO8j09I6zab0eoqq2eNbRimmXzeGNdk/s1600/IMG_9585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCHgiJQhehcJviKwqA-takUNdyv6HHNxSxpi1arhywbSjOvgAMhaPwJz8tkST8udHvMu6KhOrw8ZCZbD7uBySfkniHQG2wrLGp3Hm-Veno-O6qO8j09I6zab0eoqq2eNbRimmXzeGNdk/s400/IMG_9585.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring Black Canyon on our way upriver - day one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDTNi2WzmcCYhplgdoi9_dnIIU0mffdSXAJNlyQsqcIEeQSoprhwDEasDTuV5Lui8U-dxb_vGVkggDoP0XfY58mBsJikgDzmZAWdeaexsbhAbAHH3JEQpqOF8_o1WUdHsbZ8T77yAD9k/s1600/IMG_9591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCDTNi2WzmcCYhplgdoi9_dnIIU0mffdSXAJNlyQsqcIEeQSoprhwDEasDTuV5Lui8U-dxb_vGVkggDoP0XfY58mBsJikgDzmZAWdeaexsbhAbAHH3JEQpqOF8_o1WUdHsbZ8T77yAD9k/s400/IMG_9591.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun scramble to this hot spring - my first visit to this one. day two.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WST1bvH2s7VhhMCfsFXP4djXf5FbP02cDfS5uUXreO0X4XWOJZRJwv5zJ-jTbe_2EM5p2fBO0V2Tr9m8jwGD6bfoKHWTXb8axwSSBjdfWxdsv1A97OzZJkX_Y44rx-tWcQFo6PJXTxo/s1600/IMG_9656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WST1bvH2s7VhhMCfsFXP4djXf5FbP02cDfS5uUXreO0X4XWOJZRJwv5zJ-jTbe_2EM5p2fBO0V2Tr9m8jwGD6bfoKHWTXb8axwSSBjdfWxdsv1A97OzZJkX_Y44rx-tWcQFo6PJXTxo/s400/IMG_9656.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our camp, viewed from above</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XgTdVtR51Ajt_uWcqXizAvhxrqYScVP_dz24W0NfgHUifrZqZz2PwoNnfYzzDH3f5h45A9wczg75PyDy-bcMzHLvCn9L9RW-AqMD_xnDOOdPKM7FKch4-B436s5NGFibRp3QQogjNTI/s1600/IMG_9658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XgTdVtR51Ajt_uWcqXizAvhxrqYScVP_dz24W0NfgHUifrZqZz2PwoNnfYzzDH3f5h45A9wczg75PyDy-bcMzHLvCn9L9RW-AqMD_xnDOOdPKM7FKch4-B436s5NGFibRp3QQogjNTI/s400/IMG_9658.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristen leads the pack upriver - day one</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi5FZPDEIBgzK4FIx2C3BrNI5ZJfeBGBQxWK2FV5Igi__rbaVSsD7pZ4EzF2AOaUjDNXuU8nMJHt7Obkrx__uMykodO93DlcC7rhzFOcALdxG44jYqWH-lcKmZ-UmZVCQMQqSRQP_LIM/s1600/IMG_9682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1280" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBi5FZPDEIBgzK4FIx2C3BrNI5ZJfeBGBQxWK2FV5Igi__rbaVSsD7pZ4EzF2AOaUjDNXuU8nMJHt7Obkrx__uMykodO93DlcC7rhzFOcALdxG44jYqWH-lcKmZ-UmZVCQMQqSRQP_LIM/s400/IMG_9682.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">paddling the Red Paddle Co. Dragon. 34" wide x 22' long</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-58838390256507391512016-12-12T07:02:00.000-08:002016-12-12T07:02:48.423-08:00Baja Sea Kayaking VacationAt the end of October, Trish & I took some time off to paddle with <a href="https://seakayakbajamexico.com/" target="_blank">Sea Kayak Baja Mexico</a> on a 6-day relaxing tour of the Loreto Islands & Coast. Ramon & Daniel guided our group of 8 from Loreto out to Danzante then down the coast a bit. If you ever get a chance to paddle the Sea of Cortez, connect with SKBM for guide services or equipment rental. You won't find better trained, more professional guides with any other company and you definitely won't find better equipment. We toured with top of the line P&H & Sea Kayaking UK sea kayaks, Werner carbon paddles, Kokatat pfd's and MSR camping equipment. <br />
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For me, this was just a chance to relax with Trish, spend some time in the desert and reset myself after a long summer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">working on our relaxation techniques</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">early morning on the Loreto waterfront</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loreto harbor before sunrise</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBDTeUIwsPGc8jtUbsj6sOfnyDzn-I_uYfzuYtOwOr0PpzaZdf0cjaOhyphenhyphenLA8e_Vpsp4R6bignoRD7mWmd8AaBzxWSGejrQK28Y9ZJ7Zfs8qTHTe7Ch-6xhT7zuSVs5AUc-TIhZLUIvpY/s1600/DSC_1246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqBDTeUIwsPGc8jtUbsj6sOfnyDzn-I_uYfzuYtOwOr0PpzaZdf0cjaOhyphenhyphenLA8e_Vpsp4R6bignoRD7mWmd8AaBzxWSGejrQK28Y9ZJ7Zfs8qTHTe7Ch-6xhT7zuSVs5AUc-TIhZLUIvpY/s640/DSC_1246.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trish makes a friend</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first night camp on Danzante Island</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yup</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st tarantula of the trip</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">awesome group of people from Baja, Canada, Washington, Wisconsin, Maine</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbi0k9eLUOXE1rEn53_rRmipoiwlrus4vW2PFY44YK_PIQkEnMsOGA6Xn-hULoTF4kg7d9G4SYK3K9OLf32KUL0ukNrGqLiZmQVa1kvXMAVuhiqXfyWhj4yyREPpQ7i3We4v9ZGFDLXo/s1600/IMG_8021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbi0k9eLUOXE1rEn53_rRmipoiwlrus4vW2PFY44YK_PIQkEnMsOGA6Xn-hULoTF4kg7d9G4SYK3K9OLf32KUL0ukNrGqLiZmQVa1kvXMAVuhiqXfyWhj4yyREPpQ7i3We4v9ZGFDLXo/s640/IMG_8021.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baja is so beautiful</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hiking to see cave paintings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramon, our guide</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwQGteXQJNPpTePbPIYCsRbwBpOjq6pR2g-v7tep5NMCO5LjHgSqGsdX7MuSV3T-ljzX_PyTAvyolnHdAClZ5Y02jpcoV5kS2B2WkxPMLknTZieTHazjN1D-6qmHWE-t0HYrwgnyYYm8/s1600/IMG_8094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwQGteXQJNPpTePbPIYCsRbwBpOjq6pR2g-v7tep5NMCO5LjHgSqGsdX7MuSV3T-ljzX_PyTAvyolnHdAClZ5Y02jpcoV5kS2B2WkxPMLknTZieTHazjN1D-6qmHWE-t0HYrwgnyYYm8/s640/IMG_8094.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just the ladies.. Polly, Leanne, Sydney, Kathy, Margaret, Trish</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-80598798640284434212016-10-04T06:07:00.001-07:002016-10-04T06:07:34.436-07:00Jewell Island SUP Camping TripJewell Island is a 221 acre island named for George Jewell and sits on the outer edge of Casco Bay, an eight mile paddle from Portland, ME. According to history, he traded a bottle of rum to the local indians for it in 1636 and used it a fishing base. After George Jewell drown in Boston Harbor the island became home to many settlers who continued to fish and farm on it and by the early 1700's settlers even tried to mine gold, silver and salt on this rugged coastal island. <br />
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During WWII, 400 troops were stationed on Jewell Island to watch for the enemy and protect Portland Harbor, the closest US Harbor to Europe. Island infrastructure included watchtowers, searchlights and anti-aircraft guns. Casco Bay was never threatened but a German U-boat was spotted off the shore in 1942. <br />
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The state of Maine acquired the southern end of the island in 1972, the northern end four years later and has administered it as an undeveloped recreational use island since. In 1988 Jewell Island became one of the first islands on the <a href="http://mita.org/" target="_blank">Maine Island Trail</a>. Last week it became our base for a 3-day paddling vacation.<br />
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Since an injury in April and surgery in May, I've done very little paddling. In the past couple weeks I've tested the arm on a few short and moderate trips and felt stronger each time. This paddle was another test for me since it would be the longest paddle since surgery with the most difficult conditions. A loaded board, an unsettled weather forecast and an unprotected route had me a little concerned. But, I was traveling with some strong sea kayakers and felt ready. <br />
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In the end, conditions turned out better than anticipated with some fun wind on the third day. The highlight of the trip for me was spending a day exploring the island on foot. It's a really cool destination with beautiful forest and walking trails. Nine large campsites dot the island along with bits of history in every direction, from fallen down buildings to old foundations to underground bunkers to chimneys standing tall and straight. The pictures below begin to tell the tale.<br />
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Goodbye Summer. Hello Autumn. Thank you Drew, Sara, Emily, Ashley, Zack & Mitch from the <a href="http://portlandpaddle.net/" target="_blank">Portland Paddle</a> crew for a relaxing yet challenging sup camping trip back in time.<br />
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-25060829599424608202015-10-25T10:40:00.000-07:002015-10-25T10:40:27.699-07:00Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea<div>
In June I moved to Maine, completed my work on the <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/california-100/" target="_blank">California 100</a> and joined the board of directors for <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/" target="_blank">Rivers for Change</a>. Shortly after I decided if I was going to work with an organization built upon a founding principle of source to sea literacy, I ought to see what a source to sea is all about. After mentioning it to founding board member Danielle Katz, her immediate response went something like "yes, absolutely, yes lets do it!".<br />
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I wanted a trip twice as long as I'd done before, so that put me in the 200 mile range. I wanted a river that could be completed start to finish using the same craft, so that eliminated rivers with class IV / V whitewater. I wanted to paddle a river of interest. All that led me to the Androscoggin River in Maine. It begins in New Hampshire, travels 177 miles to Merrymeeting Bay where it flows into the Kennebeck and then travels another 17 miles to the sea. It has class I and II+ whitewater, flows through the White Mountains and has a fairly extensive history to it. My research led me to believe it was the perfect river for this trip.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEAPXGHcOOrDowuozwjV6Jwt9cMMbkfboAiWSfqoTqqVklyc7ZMf9wSlDxRu6bi8mGP1dfhRborkVSavr2fDo7QVdq7q2pMJcSgKM9u6TSYK5Cp1QleTEY38w1CkN6EdT7ZmgXAygorA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-10-23+at+12.36.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAEAPXGHcOOrDowuozwjV6Jwt9cMMbkfboAiWSfqoTqqVklyc7ZMf9wSlDxRu6bi8mGP1dfhRborkVSavr2fDo7QVdq7q2pMJcSgKM9u6TSYK5Cp1QleTEY38w1CkN6EdT7ZmgXAygorA/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-10-23+at+12.36.30+PM.png" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Umbagog Lake to the Atlantic Ocean.</td></tr>
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We slowly did some additional research and preparations - Danielle contacted some other non-profit agencies whose work involves the river, I planned routes, scanned maps and collected gear. We decided to do it on SUPs - her taking a 12'6" Race by <a href="http://redpaddleco.com/" target="_blank">Red Paddle Co</a> and myself a 14' Elite from Red. We travelled self supported with tents, sleeping bags, cookware, clothing, cameras, enough food/water for up to 5 days at a time and everything else we needed. Restocking food and water was simple and fit right into our plan. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Before. pre-packing the day before.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1. packed and ready.</td></tr>
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On October 5th, Danielle arrived in Maine. On October 6th, we drove north of Errol, New Hampshire and made a late-day launch on the Magalloway River at the National Wildlife Refuge office. We paddled roughly two miles to Lake Umbagog and staged there to start the trip the next morning. Waking up to beautiful weather and 'peak foliage' was a treat and really set the tone for the entire trip. As we travelled across Lake Umbagog to the outlet (the official source of the Androscoggin) we got pretty darn excited that the time was now. From that moment it was very simple for each of us to forget about email and cell phones and to be present on the trip. We were traveling through the heart of New England's mountains at the most colorful time of year with the intention of continuing until we reached the sea, much as each drop of water in the river eventually does.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04WklvpZwH-uH5E3wnAuz0CO2uVGCz_sdgDJtJ4OOvsH7uOncyLzSE6diRzH3dIzWJ-LpEr_lhiL7pS7D8JN5mwFCN9K4ujTrK_EUpcwLAXHbAAKzlHH_naUasXhhcpsAT48zuhSISFY/s1600/IMG_5296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04WklvpZwH-uH5E3wnAuz0CO2uVGCz_sdgDJtJ4OOvsH7uOncyLzSE6diRzH3dIzWJ-LpEr_lhiL7pS7D8JN5mwFCN9K4ujTrK_EUpcwLAXHbAAKzlHH_naUasXhhcpsAT48zuhSISFY/s640/IMG_5296.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1. About to launch. October 6th. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBTZBItNdGWTA_G2M_zS-M1UtQ0tmwPjDPHfb4nnbzX8AcJpzfvolln3ZJ-j2dc3KvMuZ5fOALFBVUWB1hQBAKmlk2xUmgYl83oDO2y6Y1iuJxLkLDIKvBEgjWxTEUYwSZ6NP1byqtSo/s1600/12108263_10156217977195389_2944333554881208266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBTZBItNdGWTA_G2M_zS-M1UtQ0tmwPjDPHfb4nnbzX8AcJpzfvolln3ZJ-j2dc3KvMuZ5fOALFBVUWB1hQBAKmlk2xUmgYl83oDO2y6Y1iuJxLkLDIKvBEgjWxTEUYwSZ6NP1byqtSo/s640/12108263_10156217977195389_2944333554881208266_n.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1. Magalloway River on our way to the source of the Androscoggin. </td></tr>
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On that morning we sort of agreed that the first nights campsite may perhaps be the most beautiful. Luckily we were wrong. Along the trip we encountered some very beautiful and perfect campsites - sites along the banks of the river, sites along portage routes, in town parks & private campgrounds. We were told that camping would be one of our two biggest problems on this trip, and it just didn't exist along the river. We we were both okay with low-impact camping, and using LNT principles, were very lucky to find some exquisite spots. Never did we camp somewhere that said 'no camping', 'no trespassing', 'private property' or anything of that nature. Maine is still a wild state with lots of land and we were reminded of that regularly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2hcPQqouUhSHWZnmg6XXGhpD0rP8CbUtFwI10pH7WJifjwGbOuglxaCNyK5aGH2N-Qu8rwm9Go7alpUobINya5-VPUw3g9PjJWEainHDqaQ1GYs4mnGFblVvHWn95QB5tgIAPb5-t8s/s1600/IMG_5319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2hcPQqouUhSHWZnmg6XXGhpD0rP8CbUtFwI10pH7WJifjwGbOuglxaCNyK5aGH2N-Qu8rwm9Go7alpUobINya5-VPUw3g9PjJWEainHDqaQ1GYs4mnGFblVvHWn95QB5tgIAPb5-t8s/s640/IMG_5319.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Two. Morning on Umbagog Lake. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypRxP1A7sckCLJk7dxrQ-xjRl-jtp22sLjbw2nrypMAP_EHpzDm2-4OTSq01tqVtsRin_xvz654UD0YcEFtF5ZNV4_HQx_Pbn-CmK1yz37cZCer1Lgd1RhI4bq4J2FsYvv58cboU1et0/s1600/IMG_5349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypRxP1A7sckCLJk7dxrQ-xjRl-jtp22sLjbw2nrypMAP_EHpzDm2-4OTSq01tqVtsRin_xvz654UD0YcEFtF5ZNV4_HQx_Pbn-CmK1yz37cZCer1Lgd1RhI4bq4J2FsYvv58cboU1et0/s640/IMG_5349.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day Four. Camped along the Androscoggin in Gorham, NH. </td></tr>
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Our second biggest problem, according to research, would be low-water. Six inches of rain two weeks before we started did a great job filling up the lakes and solving that problem. Dams held back that water and slowly released it over time. We opted to run four inch fins on our boards, in order to provide more clearance in the shallow waters. That helped tremendously, but we did have to remove fins altogether for a long stretch on day two. Below that, we cursed and praised the four inch fins, until it became ever comical. The clearance is awesome! They track like shit! I didn't use my long fin until day 13.<br />
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We also decided to line two rapids throughout the trip. Upon scouting, we did not find a clean line down through rocks and decided that lining the shallows would be smarter. For those new to lining, it's a method of upstream or downstream travel involving lines from your nose and/or tail. We opted for single lines, going downstream. With the extension of the line, you can control the speed and direction of the board downriver while you follow on land. Letting the river do most the work, you simply 'guide' the board downstream, letting more line out or taking more line in to control the board. It's a classic canoeing technique that crosses over to sup perfectly. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbZIP7_hdbOQO48GWhE_6yvHevdZAroYJ5jHk16jXEpr16TFvJWz2jSjEu8WltfkErkMyr-OiEFATLX7u2EzZ5ig3cnTpBL5KOos-o_MjawSzK4eFIKK2uXy5E-9HRCIVh7qe1S0jvJE/s1600/IMG_5800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbZIP7_hdbOQO48GWhE_6yvHevdZAroYJ5jHk16jXEpr16TFvJWz2jSjEu8WltfkErkMyr-OiEFATLX7u2EzZ5ig3cnTpBL5KOos-o_MjawSzK4eFIKK2uXy5E-9HRCIVh7qe1S0jvJE/s640/IMG_5800.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniellle lines a shallow rapid on the Androscoggin. We lined two rapids over the course of 192 miles. </td></tr>
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<br />
Portaging is an art. Above the Lewiston Dam, we landed at the take out late in the day with light beginning to fade. We made quick work of unloading the boards and re-loading them together onto the portage cart. As we were about finished a man got out of a Jeep parked nearby and expressed his amazement at how organized we were. We introduced ourselves, chatted him up and continued our portage into town. It was a common interaction. <br />
<br />
Okay, maybe portaging isn't quite an art, but we got pretty damn good at it. With the exception of pouring rain, a flat tire on the portage cart, stairways, long hauls, steep hills, flipped carts, another flat tire on the portage cart, locked gates & muddy embankments, the portages were easy. In total we walked over 13.25 miles during 15 portages. Not too bad considering we passed 24 dams. They became fun challenges and provided comic relief, especially through towns and along busy streets. It's a good feeling being self sufficient and able to haul all your gear across water and land. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWRd-qZ4Cablixjwo1aVxvXgemjR-MybnJawrzCMq878FXKKktYxUkx7iIFvJKmWtTrSLFYgk4dEoqVDf4BmQ_a7fiEvCmWpbWlEHtL6F2efGa4w_vH8AUinf5FKMQuSttIBcAW4pRKU/s1600/IMG_5499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWRd-qZ4Cablixjwo1aVxvXgemjR-MybnJawrzCMq878FXKKktYxUkx7iIFvJKmWtTrSLFYgk4dEoqVDf4BmQ_a7fiEvCmWpbWlEHtL6F2efGa4w_vH8AUinf5FKMQuSttIBcAW4pRKU/s640/IMG_5499.jpg" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4. Getting a flat repaired in Berlin, NH.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp7gMTX16CQ04-ydlMM8-hYpy6Kju3Bha0UAsA-YEfxI8Hs7-CtqjOhr22SZql-mQ9ybVq11pmnQea_RPJowPPWfp9JDdZObDjhU5h2usdziU0jhQUSm-LWTN_bk8x9FURmRJFCsv3Y4/s1600/IMG_5540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpp7gMTX16CQ04-ydlMM8-hYpy6Kju3Bha0UAsA-YEfxI8Hs7-CtqjOhr22SZql-mQ9ybVq11pmnQea_RPJowPPWfp9JDdZObDjhU5h2usdziU0jhQUSm-LWTN_bk8x9FURmRJFCsv3Y4/s640/IMG_5540.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4. Making the Grand Portage through Berlin & Gorham, NH. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUB2ZpxRifzKsqh3v59cWv1AvxNiGoBhWBGES5rO2Cnkkqhe4tE0rooiawDghm6S2yeqiggHFIpbmyAX0zmdHOYoHGDW85ecaHr8y1VegNf0eLXw12AanAosoWZ7-FDzebVis1-b1ZdI/s1600/IMG_5754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUB2ZpxRifzKsqh3v59cWv1AvxNiGoBhWBGES5rO2Cnkkqhe4tE0rooiawDghm6S2yeqiggHFIpbmyAX0zmdHOYoHGDW85ecaHr8y1VegNf0eLXw12AanAosoWZ7-FDzebVis1-b1ZdI/s640/IMG_5754.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 9. Enjoying the portage through Livermore Falls, Maine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8HvNSXn5vVOcRPciquPVQGm4CJlEMArutSS9ErIVkrvAJS8blxSUXZ6fxtgRa4ukYV4ZCgVZugXbNjfMColzECbD8w5ig1gpwzl5i55f869StRIJzda3JYss_j5gh0udGtptVus2nj8/s1600/G0075091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8HvNSXn5vVOcRPciquPVQGm4CJlEMArutSS9ErIVkrvAJS8blxSUXZ6fxtgRa4ukYV4ZCgVZugXbNjfMColzECbD8w5ig1gpwzl5i55f869StRIJzda3JYss_j5gh0udGtptVus2nj8/s640/G0075091.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4. Still on the long walk. </td></tr>
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<br />
One of the pleasant surprises of this trip were the unplanned connections we made with locals. Two connections standout. In Rumford, while on a portage and busy trying to repair a flat tire, we got chatty with a local named Eric. He was a just a happy person, interested in our adventure and willing to help out any way possible. He graciously loaned me his bike so I could travel the 2 miles to the tire shop and back. By the time I finished and returned the bicycle, it was getting late and our daylight window was about to close. It didn't take long before Eric made the offer to let us stay with him that night. I accepted, collected Danielle and returned to his place just in time to watch him feed his bees. The night was filled with Q&A, shared photos and memories and ideas on sustainability and self sufficiency. He was an interesting person and we both very much enjoyed his company.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl64RLIVj0RPU34iOkWzRDM0SsBX25ePYGjR2ZHGGAX-4aztruMeIKPI98MZTQgDgIWz0puArkuPyDxu8EJgh1C8eScNtKjAwRxycXeGAGJ9aG3f7lifwa77Hqu2HUnai9TvB3duUkqg/s1600/DSC_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBl64RLIVj0RPU34iOkWzRDM0SsBX25ePYGjR2ZHGGAX-4aztruMeIKPI98MZTQgDgIWz0puArkuPyDxu8EJgh1C8eScNtKjAwRxycXeGAGJ9aG3f7lifwa77Hqu2HUnai9TvB3duUkqg/s640/DSC_1099.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 7. Eric feeds his bees in the evening.</td></tr>
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<br />
Judy Marden was the next person to leave a serious impact on our trip. She's a long time member of the Androscoggin Land Trust and we'd been in contact with her leading up to the trip. She gave us some valuable insight into camping, portaging and current issues with the river. She's an avid kayaker and jumped at the chance to join us on the water one day. Our first time meeting Judy was on the river above Gulf Islands Dam. In the magic hour of the morning as we were paddling downriver and her upriver, we connected on the water. She paddled with us until we were downstream of Center Bridge and getting into the windy part of the day. Later, near the Lewiston Dam, she picked us up in town and opened her home to us providing us a warm bed, clean clothes and delicious food. We stayed up late discussing non-profit organizations, their challenges, their wins and the state of the Androscoggin River. In the morning she returned us to the river where we were able to meet another member of the trust, Deb Charest. Judy also arranged for a reporter from the Sun Journal to meet us there that morning and Danielle put her wonderful interviewing skills to work. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0oVDsllXXXnnAPoIsjZGTVptXsDGaHSH9SiOwKkhqtrBhMS79LX3uzlskbe_UQ-UekyYU3Nn2_Q3mTvak1CmOs61TmF-Hdx86h0SBYy6PoB5RagT3kWIfeQc5J_s0Cqk0ca5_9qJeVo/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0oVDsllXXXnnAPoIsjZGTVptXsDGaHSH9SiOwKkhqtrBhMS79LX3uzlskbe_UQ-UekyYU3Nn2_Q3mTvak1CmOs61TmF-Hdx86h0SBYy6PoB5RagT3kWIfeQc5J_s0Cqk0ca5_9qJeVo/s640/IMG_5869.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11. Danielle answers questions for Daryn Slover of the Sun Journal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWoeaMz4vi7wYgim6sE6L4Buwn5EkwShROZW2EmiTGYPiOP-UaR8Xuri-_UiB7EtAKS_YY6vWAtOhEPtne5w8bIfbzCSZLx_tN5DLJpM7afsmoGBeCTlL7b9Sn0ulxPJRCQQq1H1BiKE/s1600/IMG_5894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWoeaMz4vi7wYgim6sE6L4Buwn5EkwShROZW2EmiTGYPiOP-UaR8Xuri-_UiB7EtAKS_YY6vWAtOhEPtne5w8bIfbzCSZLx_tN5DLJpM7afsmoGBeCTlL7b9Sn0ulxPJRCQQq1H1BiKE/s640/IMG_5894.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11. Danielle, Judy & Matt in Auburn, Maine.</td></tr>
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<br />
Our next trip guests came on Day Twelve when my girlfriend Trish, sister Jill and brother-in-law Michael joined us for possibly our hardest day. Danielle and I woke up to 5am thunder and lightning and exited our tents to find hail. After paddling about five miles and making a difficult portage, we met up at Michael's sisters house right on the Androscoggin River in Brunswick. Trish, Jill & Michael are all avid standup paddlers and were anxious to join us. Riding out the remainder of the Androscoggin into Merrymeeting Bay, we witnessed 'the chops' firsthand. Two currents colliding in a shallow bay with sustained 12mph wind created some little bumps for us to contend with. Merrymeeting Bay drains about 40% of Maine's water to the sea. We pushed on and thankfully made it through the confluence while the ebb tide was still running. We finished up the last four miles on the ebb and landed in Bath, Maine putting in about 19 miles for the day and leaving only 13 or so left. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup__Lu6w8xVnMYUvLxN_KQaUZlV3dy7FXKBrFC2sTWb2swI_Coxk0PhJiXZWwKNgU9N2_OwbB1S21D7392JikxGPTGOb-H5kk2_CESgjLg_SGx0Mg89zOhoQSIfZtbTA0llI_EXzCkZo/s1600/IMG_5924.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup__Lu6w8xVnMYUvLxN_KQaUZlV3dy7FXKBrFC2sTWb2swI_Coxk0PhJiXZWwKNgU9N2_OwbB1S21D7392JikxGPTGOb-H5kk2_CESgjLg_SGx0Mg89zOhoQSIfZtbTA0llI_EXzCkZo/s640/IMG_5924.PNG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12. Jill, Trish, Danielle & Michael at the confluence of the Androscoggin River & the Kennebec River in Merrymeeting Bay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA0ZiRHYpOtDNCVjh-2v9AXYVBu1PcT2CHgSo9Z4DsMdg2aiWbML6f1Q6rd16sWXMvpWGZlsabMTaOK2OLz05ZLBatnmxUiO7rCJi6d6gWpY9I9YACFs9z48Lxg9WXl8LDx0oi2WgaKI/s1600/PA170747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA0ZiRHYpOtDNCVjh-2v9AXYVBu1PcT2CHgSo9Z4DsMdg2aiWbML6f1Q6rd16sWXMvpWGZlsabMTaOK2OLz05ZLBatnmxUiO7rCJi6d6gWpY9I9YACFs9z48Lxg9WXl8LDx0oi2WgaKI/s640/PA170747.JPG" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12. The hardest day of paddling. Joined by Michael, Jill and Trish. </td></tr>
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<br />
At 11:35am on Sunday October 18, we landed at Popham Beach after making fast time down the Kennebec. We'd made it 192 miles to the sea, self-supported on standup paddleboards without problem. For me, it reinforced the idea that sups are really fantastic paddle craft. We need to keep pushing the boundaries of what we can do with them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZzP1B9kWDXIoue98RgKkldLjUe8pSdJP-Wpcnw6vqkauVD8l1yG9oUPgbXxNIwgPWthmT_frvzVzQffIm6sE9dCetzqHNqoprTLwTAQUjnzNBsvg59bkrbkv_2ze7Ng_UA_cnYCpRXo/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZzP1B9kWDXIoue98RgKkldLjUe8pSdJP-Wpcnw6vqkauVD8l1yG9oUPgbXxNIwgPWthmT_frvzVzQffIm6sE9dCetzqHNqoprTLwTAQUjnzNBsvg59bkrbkv_2ze7Ng_UA_cnYCpRXo/s640/IMG_5946.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 13. Popham Beach, Maine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjbVEvKu0Vdize8JZ4PoZEZUIV3SvjvgMf_zn5rvKz52wgK9enD4ryR5XzWiIjWDGBYaTzCzqcRbN-E26fhgCe9NWDswQQ-yBwyj97-9RFLXloktTFTra9x2CF0kYUb4lrCAPzvOEcCk/s1600/IMG_5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjbVEvKu0Vdize8JZ4PoZEZUIV3SvjvgMf_zn5rvKz52wgK9enD4ryR5XzWiIjWDGBYaTzCzqcRbN-E26fhgCe9NWDswQQ-yBwyj97-9RFLXloktTFTra9x2CF0kYUb4lrCAPzvOEcCk/s640/IMG_5950.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 13. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_nCJ7uvCCeIeko3plEIN08stANZtiXP9L5IeyGI8owgm90tWQvK6fx_nnCKcxPPYMtCITVZ3h99_nieDUi8PDRdLGGfOq4G83OCJeLM6tE7_xfZdAuc-lbksAXfNo7LjynpUBAe-Jys/s1600/DSC_4096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_nCJ7uvCCeIeko3plEIN08stANZtiXP9L5IeyGI8owgm90tWQvK6fx_nnCKcxPPYMtCITVZ3h99_nieDUi8PDRdLGGfOq4G83OCJeLM6tE7_xfZdAuc-lbksAXfNo7LjynpUBAe-Jys/s640/DSC_4096.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 13.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG5LqiAl0UHKjGgreFGu4dwugFnZmGWt9Yrjb1SXTZDywIKxhk5uQ0frUFQNG49A3qJzXnD_viziAzgJkFVsjUeC2WksVM52BnF21cnU1ubppw3cU2gjUQCZTTJ8qmojtF19BOUiGcgg/s1600/DSC_4101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGG5LqiAl0UHKjGgreFGu4dwugFnZmGWt9Yrjb1SXTZDywIKxhk5uQ0frUFQNG49A3qJzXnD_viziAzgJkFVsjUeC2WksVM52BnF21cnU1ubppw3cU2gjUQCZTTJ8qmojtF19BOUiGcgg/s640/DSC_4101.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 13.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj8kRc3wn3AXCKle35e1QD0dTxQoni9Uc8pFgTUsOEa6STHmfoig3_7w2uKldukgWKPKsU7rnXMvZMpokAHuN2Ak-XNrHMCq4gZACOu-6TJnU4NChJ1uUAXnc1buwGslLJS5_ZifQ-Gw/s1600/DSC_4121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcj8kRc3wn3AXCKle35e1QD0dTxQoni9Uc8pFgTUsOEa6STHmfoig3_7w2uKldukgWKPKsU7rnXMvZMpokAHuN2Ak-XNrHMCq4gZACOu-6TJnU4NChJ1uUAXnc1buwGslLJS5_ZifQ-Gw/s640/DSC_4121.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 13. A perfect day to finish.</td></tr>
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<br />
So what did we accomplish? Well, the mission of <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/" target="_blank">Rivers for Change</a> is to connect people to rivers and I believe we did that. We conversed with locals along the entire route. We befriended people we never would've met had it not been for the river. We connected with other non-profit groups to collaborate. We used social media to reach hundreds of others and show them the beauty of the Androscoggin River. I got to complete my first source to sea, and I'm proud. And I'm hooked. We contemplated ways to make river running a bigger piece of the RFC strategy. We buried the negative views we had of this river - it has a way to grow, but it has come so, so far from the old days. No longer is it an open sewer, a dump site or a method for getting rid of toxic production waste. The fish population has returned and with it, the eagle and osprey population. We witnessed fisherman, paddlers and people congregating around the river. It was beautiful and I'd suggest the trip to anyone. <br />
<br />
Want to get involved? <br />
<br />
First, follow Rivers for Change on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/riversforchange" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/riversforchange" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://instagram.com/riversforchange/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Next, signup for our newsletter on our <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/" target="_blank">website</a>. Read the official Rivers for Change Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/sourcetosea/2015-androscoggin-river/" target="_blank">blog posts</a>. And, if you're interested in taking a trip with us, <u>contact Matt</u> for info on our next two East Coast SUP Source to Sea Adventures. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TZOUmZJZX-pslx4KDqkVyrlzkFITX3A5M4Fo_uOUj2Uosmjfgo9MDdiqg0cAM6Jp0MjHukLG7mSp11j4bE74cCFFkSghlLyR0UVOFjLB7st7Gp3sloY_UoXls-c25pgvKHkHLcLhHQI/s1600/GOPR4974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_TZOUmZJZX-pslx4KDqkVyrlzkFITX3A5M4Fo_uOUj2Uosmjfgo9MDdiqg0cAM6Jp0MjHukLG7mSp11j4bE74cCFFkSghlLyR0UVOFjLB7st7Gp3sloY_UoXls-c25pgvKHkHLcLhHQI/s640/GOPR4974.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2. The Androscoggin River is home to the Northern Forest Canoe Trail for a short stretch. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRtL-tBAVuFnyL_NBAhO3EYo0R5oSDBuCvsP21y7_3VdEOpaqykxDEKwivag8NRglqG0lE96ZtttVazYlE8WwmVB1ozaSSblTkhhjRmvGP1HoTs6jj0SXuZgsEqdoeVchuME3JEN1KcM/s1600/IMG_5931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNRtL-tBAVuFnyL_NBAhO3EYo0R5oSDBuCvsP21y7_3VdEOpaqykxDEKwivag8NRglqG0lE96ZtttVazYlE8WwmVB1ozaSSblTkhhjRmvGP1HoTs6jj0SXuZgsEqdoeVchuME3JEN1KcM/s640/IMG_5931.JPG" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 10. Taking off the river in Auburn, Maine.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl97T8aiYrftbkRqLjlC2zOGf6jLUqZbFipVgw15uvLZ_-uIuyAphLa7167EX5gkw9SMPq0oa1OUQ5tSlfpKLro7qgXMaMvbGICXs4SIbFyqxrXz9J1rRB5uFgQDh6gbANssUYm5VgNc/s1600/PA090231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSl97T8aiYrftbkRqLjlC2zOGf6jLUqZbFipVgw15uvLZ_-uIuyAphLa7167EX5gkw9SMPq0oa1OUQ5tSlfpKLro7qgXMaMvbGICXs4SIbFyqxrXz9J1rRB5uFgQDh6gbANssUYm5VgNc/s640/PA090231.JPG" title="" width="538" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBVcBSVi2MJSxla4oG3fhxb8OXuUPFj9q8Q7QwrXl4Xhgtgv-ysaOOeBzS_px3phnTQsBr60sIQD0vAms1om-NyqFy_8sqdeQ84yWoFZXRNaaovqwo-0njeg1kJzFVtjbHdU6OqhwZOs/s1600/G0235611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBVcBSVi2MJSxla4oG3fhxb8OXuUPFj9q8Q7QwrXl4Xhgtgv-ysaOOeBzS_px3phnTQsBr60sIQD0vAms1om-NyqFy_8sqdeQ84yWoFZXRNaaovqwo-0njeg1kJzFVtjbHdU6OqhwZOs/s640/G0235611.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 9. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgag1Ec37IHsENpkmFXmurpimUoKhT2JPzeLqF4lzxqJCmUutOBrbKhc3Ut44Wgvm-p2KA4eyCKR-mgPf6Oy-NKB8J-7VmBK8Lbmbzr-JMueuHzf2gSKEixUM1VRnlL1h4e51IuhWV9xsY/s1600/G0265792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgag1Ec37IHsENpkmFXmurpimUoKhT2JPzeLqF4lzxqJCmUutOBrbKhc3Ut44Wgvm-p2KA4eyCKR-mgPf6Oy-NKB8J-7VmBK8Lbmbzr-JMueuHzf2gSKEixUM1VRnlL1h4e51IuhWV9xsY/s640/G0265792.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEm3vTa0KgdYxe2soTtDkkeU4egbrvTGRNkBnnRTSrd2ZAvx-H7Z5ZV_KY5HM2wmqj3Bku0benWLR8iKAV_vEWjgOrN49W2AlJL9F_AnjDw1fMKHoQc1kwlohUF9eNEwuDNoWWpyQhPI/s1600/G0275800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaEm3vTa0KgdYxe2soTtDkkeU4egbrvTGRNkBnnRTSrd2ZAvx-H7Z5ZV_KY5HM2wmqj3Bku0benWLR8iKAV_vEWjgOrN49W2AlJL9F_AnjDw1fMKHoQc1kwlohUF9eNEwuDNoWWpyQhPI/s640/G0275800.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPdyE8mVvzFGHBRyNfcd_4Baq7X5NUvsqlNfDEuobPFIkmSZIToaV_FIlgsZdG0CAf0lSTti8ReB-xhXGYQ6z_DG9Qp5kjB_ayHNjasNHwxc-3TXbleN6Qbup1ZR3h8byKv5OYt0mUnw/s1600/G0295925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPdyE8mVvzFGHBRyNfcd_4Baq7X5NUvsqlNfDEuobPFIkmSZIToaV_FIlgsZdG0CAf0lSTti8ReB-xhXGYQ6z_DG9Qp5kjB_ayHNjasNHwxc-3TXbleN6Qbup1ZR3h8byKv5OYt0mUnw/s640/G0295925.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11. Another challenging portage. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl2kqboTis4XYo6ThnESxI6-xBVIK1jgxzTC9mxy2IQVHyu3Frlu2eQpvHqbI_gmwAZkAbCH6ogzd7VBRScZ_hbjs1xtsnGmWSAMcN-DeKH-I8J8dyDj6f07NyGCJgtiuM_75fjBbgS4/s1600/G0295938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNl2kqboTis4XYo6ThnESxI6-xBVIK1jgxzTC9mxy2IQVHyu3Frlu2eQpvHqbI_gmwAZkAbCH6ogzd7VBRScZ_hbjs1xtsnGmWSAMcN-DeKH-I8J8dyDj6f07NyGCJgtiuM_75fjBbgS4/s640/G0295938.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 11. After sending everything up and over the locked gate, Danielle was the last thing to come over.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1JHO8jFUzVSAkwEQiP76wXJpG_frASnR6NqsMVW7_hc63ZGeuHdNk9Us7ObQA8fkSN0Pp4eLQvxb33B7Ya2hhhjMBjLMKPcfNGymfn4AfSUU0jAjsty6rcghUau0Y1IHs-MPG35_u7Y/s1600/IMG_5861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1JHO8jFUzVSAkwEQiP76wXJpG_frASnR6NqsMVW7_hc63ZGeuHdNk9Us7ObQA8fkSN0Pp4eLQvxb33B7Ya2hhhjMBjLMKPcfNGymfn4AfSUU0jAjsty6rcghUau0Y1IHs-MPG35_u7Y/s640/IMG_5861.JPG" title="" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 9. Portaging Livermore Falls and stopping for a sweet treat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeJwvlTqslZuuL9wza6QgOvbcMzdx0dQvJT42SZl5ZNcGyVGU5lcchOVLo1Wz_kq-PEOLT_fF0mN50oVqir4I_A6F_Nl2SQ39BwfqaMH9TODqqKY56WQVme3wpeDu0IWTbbdWlJsef1M/s1600/IMG_5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNeJwvlTqslZuuL9wza6QgOvbcMzdx0dQvJT42SZl5ZNcGyVGU5lcchOVLo1Wz_kq-PEOLT_fF0mN50oVqir4I_A6F_Nl2SQ39BwfqaMH9TODqqKY56WQVme3wpeDu0IWTbbdWlJsef1M/s640/IMG_5924.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 10. Another challenging portage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8ArkchBaG4O9BUJ7OGw_a6O_3NggONv0hV2yTOpPRRXtkJ8EsE54ayDvQ4YslS3bK-K3naz-tY0qIYzDtsoY6XNtmcUMIOUWdMcBYILQStmAhagegrpKQHOROKHFwdLza0Ng4-iVZ70/s1600/IMG_6080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB8ArkchBaG4O9BUJ7OGw_a6O_3NggONv0hV2yTOpPRRXtkJ8EsE54ayDvQ4YslS3bK-K3naz-tY0qIYzDtsoY6XNtmcUMIOUWdMcBYILQStmAhagegrpKQHOROKHFwdLza0Ng4-iVZ70/s640/IMG_6080.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PVH8uqBfe_ZfMTMqrQzuGzGzbB-ST1aNM_rn521gLXRIKqoTVf8D5bPKd66PfSYQY1DS1qST1l8s0vXJ88r_x86q1CxnrTy_bWwsaDLCkRtbv0oVAgxFymBTKJA_2wf6qS-pkhyphenhyphendyB0/s1600/IMG_6084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PVH8uqBfe_ZfMTMqrQzuGzGzbB-ST1aNM_rn521gLXRIKqoTVf8D5bPKd66PfSYQY1DS1qST1l8s0vXJ88r_x86q1CxnrTy_bWwsaDLCkRtbv0oVAgxFymBTKJA_2wf6qS-pkhyphenhyphendyB0/s640/IMG_6084.jpg" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12. Approaching the confluence of the Androscoggin River with the Kennebec River.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOq7DB-KE4bnmbR6vu4uqoNjQ1QTHqGiVvdgKuisvBFGv0SUGXiSeBhv-duWUOjBgiFihh7qHdO_sAWdovSSqgjEPxdhmbAC_5kpmqDbE15pdAUej54EAlMPxzgqogWLvhb0p5WY5bJ0/s1600/IMG_5683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrOq7DB-KE4bnmbR6vu4uqoNjQ1QTHqGiVvdgKuisvBFGv0SUGXiSeBhv-duWUOjBgiFihh7qHdO_sAWdovSSqgjEPxdhmbAC_5kpmqDbE15pdAUej54EAlMPxzgqogWLvhb0p5WY5bJ0/s640/IMG_5683.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 4. Trying to use Google Maps in the rain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV9_rZqxLZEomxClwiZtZizFVcN8IEooxmhElKF66AtKdtT2PElhmrxeXIjslGNv2CIj_ZK79OQJ4nZHS7uMDMOQEyVzh5VQq_wioRrsP-SzXcB8hHiBnOm6pcmAxM6zDM19AcUliklA/s1600/IMG_5787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXV9_rZqxLZEomxClwiZtZizFVcN8IEooxmhElKF66AtKdtT2PElhmrxeXIjslGNv2CIj_ZK79OQJ4nZHS7uMDMOQEyVzh5VQq_wioRrsP-SzXcB8hHiBnOm6pcmAxM6zDM19AcUliklA/s640/IMG_5787.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItv4E8cSv5NrnanNGn5-z8DrTbnWaxZfnXcJI7h8E8sENIOGgEb1K_x0Q7Id6C9gvzWXwSvRjT20sYbKJG09vROHRBrIsWg0NuLb1WtWYX3E-SstC6GFSLCnIdYm3A1mGxe5EQYI6M3k/s1600/PA170788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItv4E8cSv5NrnanNGn5-z8DrTbnWaxZfnXcJI7h8E8sENIOGgEb1K_x0Q7Id6C9gvzWXwSvRjT20sYbKJG09vROHRBrIsWg0NuLb1WtWYX3E-SstC6GFSLCnIdYm3A1mGxe5EQYI6M3k/s640/PA170788.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12. Paddling saltwater!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9leoFTuI1eyGd9n-TICb3_dD0Y6T5aV7ckwxQVmqbtnzVhcQmTqDX8hmwCkhk_TUoDT7B7PpS1pSMKQMYeoXvO8FvzcALTmYu_8QNZiJBmQMj4LtMxbLfMOb4mqtGfFxzvKGQd09TTs/s1600/PA080078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9leoFTuI1eyGd9n-TICb3_dD0Y6T5aV7ckwxQVmqbtnzVhcQmTqDX8hmwCkhk_TUoDT7B7PpS1pSMKQMYeoXvO8FvzcALTmYu_8QNZiJBmQMj4LtMxbLfMOb4mqtGfFxzvKGQd09TTs/s640/PA080078.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 3.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUT1aIdXJqlJMpMiGg7gAMYA3D88V_Xu4Ieg2mlh21uXlui9PGFkq5pIwxS5O2B_wEwkB3D8VjlGTng3FYPGhzwCSK3BYDZ42iUL4K3lKtaerlkzMdWMt3k8nVCNorU_394r_K5wwVfg/s1600/PA100293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxUT1aIdXJqlJMpMiGg7gAMYA3D88V_Xu4Ieg2mlh21uXlui9PGFkq5pIwxS5O2B_wEwkB3D8VjlGTng3FYPGhzwCSK3BYDZ42iUL4K3lKtaerlkzMdWMt3k8nVCNorU_394r_K5wwVfg/s640/PA100293.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 5.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKsnl45d7QavZ7ViEt1xQzl63Bo67aQzWjAu8Z2Xxkb5NU6Z3osyRM77-FUlIBovjTxl4Vy0RjyKuDnc6m3Ym943fCZKLmFUMnSupQ4YedBOejHN-sR4jk4rUI5yWz0J_yH2t77tGNCI/s1600/PA120331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKsnl45d7QavZ7ViEt1xQzl63Bo67aQzWjAu8Z2Xxkb5NU6Z3osyRM77-FUlIBovjTxl4Vy0RjyKuDnc6m3Ym943fCZKLmFUMnSupQ4YedBOejHN-sR4jk4rUI5yWz0J_yH2t77tGNCI/s640/PA120331.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 7.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8px8aqHjm8dhkzkhrjlg7jWxOGX6ZIsMbZuaJj0mkAaIqINy7Vk8jT53mC3oZu97PP-2Phq_V2lsxIYkwS2-d3da2wfFozdhRQw-eJuvb_jYOjp9oyppExkUZLkqnG7TqT37pjWLGn2U/s1600/PA120334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8px8aqHjm8dhkzkhrjlg7jWxOGX6ZIsMbZuaJj0mkAaIqINy7Vk8jT53mC3oZu97PP-2Phq_V2lsxIYkwS2-d3da2wfFozdhRQw-eJuvb_jYOjp9oyppExkUZLkqnG7TqT37pjWLGn2U/s640/PA120334.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 7.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4epKjrocRqWnCep5PWJgMm2JbEP2HstuixKkFd2abKo-ggh5V_23N59fVhghWNDl5mZ_kUs5ok38QETa-8QBrjzL6FaMi5mEQrsT6Xk3ZOFx72cFoj_PuvNvCAc-xw06w405-haHkReM/s1600/PA140466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4epKjrocRqWnCep5PWJgMm2JbEP2HstuixKkFd2abKo-ggh5V_23N59fVhghWNDl5mZ_kUs5ok38QETa-8QBrjzL6FaMi5mEQrsT6Xk3ZOFx72cFoj_PuvNvCAc-xw06w405-haHkReM/s640/PA140466.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 9. We flipped the portage cart.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMkHi1gC0fNFhpTXsPPpkFf5sde3yL22kK5VjbH7UyzIylQbpR2PvyVa6u__xpIRFxKwOjaHhJCdImC8x-vv5TzrydElTNHMeOd39SbnOo0-wuv3ZYfCP4yFDpef7p8T6hEimlgGmhhM/s1600/IMG_5776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMkHi1gC0fNFhpTXsPPpkFf5sde3yL22kK5VjbH7UyzIylQbpR2PvyVa6u__xpIRFxKwOjaHhJCdImC8x-vv5TzrydElTNHMeOd39SbnOo0-wuv3ZYfCP4yFDpef7p8T6hEimlgGmhhM/s640/IMG_5776.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 9. Twin Bridges.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKSut7vSAdFEa3WLomyAhAKANWWp-2Kav2WdMy_aBMmbaKyAwIkatLzr2lN456oRLY5T7v7HVMs1dJPOCHRwKWsR3_jotmJlQFlnGGUt0fya_A5VYkWRVpGFIIb2UYsxV9NXawr2CF6o/s1600/IMG_5868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKSut7vSAdFEa3WLomyAhAKANWWp-2Kav2WdMy_aBMmbaKyAwIkatLzr2lN456oRLY5T7v7HVMs1dJPOCHRwKWsR3_jotmJlQFlnGGUt0fya_A5VYkWRVpGFIIb2UYsxV9NXawr2CF6o/s640/IMG_5868.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 10. Freeman's Landing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 12. Hail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv7TFVTGMlZcd2DYtDG8EM0Azl6NrEn61TJj0MNnuq1YIRM-4-eg0BjtgHC9MD2LZJd7zangOp2h9p9fHq1OVCOdj4E6EtGM1RF3kwoK_bs7JYqv2kRVH_T3SSZiN0Q18GEmYluxBn40/s1600/IMG_5929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Androscoggin River SUP Source to Sea" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv7TFVTGMlZcd2DYtDG8EM0Azl6NrEn61TJj0MNnuq1YIRM-4-eg0BjtgHC9MD2LZJd7zangOp2h9p9fHq1OVCOdj4E6EtGM1RF3kwoK_bs7JYqv2kRVH_T3SSZiN0Q18GEmYluxBn40/s640/IMG_5929.JPG" title="" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 13. Bath, Maine.</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-70903699225048512972015-09-04T17:16:00.000-07:002015-09-04T17:16:16.748-07:00A different Sacramento river"No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." <br />
<br />
Heraclitus said it so certainly and believed strongly in change in the universe. I experienced universal change very clearly on this trip. If you study the map, the 100 mile stretch of river I recently paddled is exactly the same route I've paddled in the past, but my experience this time was so much different. Like looking out your window in different seasons to find the same view but in a different way, this Sacramento River looked different, it felt different & it flowed different although it was the same view. Not better, not worse, just different.<br />
<br />
I joined up with three other <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/" target="_blank">Rivers for Change</a> board members and some knowledgeable advisors for an on-water meeting to discuss the future of the organization and how to get there. It's a fantastic group of wise-minded individuals with vision who all happen to be in love with rivers. So, as the noon hour approached on Saturday and we loaded our rafts, canoes and sups, I launched onto the river to experience it again for the first time. 18 miles downriver we pulled into an eddy, setup camp on an unnamed island and got to work.<br />
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By noon on Sunday after an evening and morning of discussions we all arrived into Balls Ferry, checkpoint one for the <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/california-100/" target="_blank">California 100</a> and a place familiar to me even though I've never approached it by water. We shuttled the vehicles, said our goodbyes and then 7 of the 8 other people on the trip with me departed for home. Danielle Katz and I were left with our boards, camp gear, a car 78 miles downriver and no agenda. Off we went. <br />
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As we negotiated the current, worked on our strokes and discussed RFC we were tuned in to the sights and sounds of California's central valley. The hum of water pumps pulling water for irrigation, the roar of large-scale industrial sized farming machinery stirring up dust, the screech of eagles circling their territory. All new sounds to me as I had not heard them my first trip down this river. We kept a mental list of our surroundings, from the bald eagles & osprey above to the river otter & fish below to the deer and landmarks on the shores. We waved to the happy fishermen on the river and contemplated the unhappiness of the ones who didn't wave back. We counted the broken down and pinned boats on the river, reminding us of how quickly things can go wrong. We empathized with less experienced paddlers racing their way down the <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/california-100/" target="_blank">California 100</a> course and discussed the balance of safety & adventure. While paddling river left I vaguely remember running the safe riffle river right the last time. Just as sandbars at the beach move around, so do rivers and their flows. This river is changing and it's wonderful to experience it as a different man. <br />
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-87859373740659145612015-08-31T07:32:00.000-07:002015-08-31T07:32:29.539-07:00Traveling SUP setupI've been working on a system for SUP traveling for some years and at every step I've made changes to improve it. My parameters are simple. It needs to be 50 pounds or less, it needs to hold everything I need for a trip and it cannot include any unnecessary equipment.<br />
<br />
THE GEAR:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://redpaddleco.com/usa/board/140%E2%80%B3-elite/#.Vd7-srxViko" target="_blank">Red Paddle Co 14' Elite</a> (14' x 26" x 6")</li>
<li>HP Pump with gauge and hose</li>
<li><a href="http://wernerpaddles.com/paddles/stand-up/nitro-m" target="_blank">Werner Nitro M</a> 3-piece adjustable</li>
<li>composite fin</li>
<li>repair kit</li>
<li>FCS leash</li>
<li><a href="http://drybags.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=368ffe9d6d09e9fefb7ccf8a00572b26&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=D&Product_Code=FGW-OCO&Category_Code=Duffels" target="_blank">Watershed Ocoee</a> drybag</li>
<li>PFD</li>
<li>Camelbak Molokai Hydration Vest</li>
<li>MSR 3L dromedary bag for additional water capacity</li>
<li><a href="http://www.cascadedesigns.com/sealline/packs-and-duffles/pro-pack/product" target="_blank">Seal Line 115L Pro Portage Pack</a> to hold everything while traveling and then double as an on-deck drybag for camping gear.</li>
</ul>
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IMPRESSIONS:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The 14' Elite is hard to beat. It continuously exceeds my expectations for performance & durability. If I could own just one board, this would be it. The only thing I've had to do is trim the battens, add deck attachments & repair the fin box. </li>
<li>The Werner Nitro M is pretty great. I do plan to shorten the two longer pieces by about 1" in order to make packing easier and more streamlined. Right now, those are the longest pieces in my kit and are a bit too tall for the pack. </li>
<li>The Seal Line 115L Pro Portage Pack is awesome. It's well designed, well built and very comfortable with a 50lb load. I am disappointed that I've worn two holes in the bag after just one flight, but I blame myself for bad packing. Holes are easily repaired anywhere since the repair kit includes everything necessary to do the job quickly. </li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKFdUkyyjYkKUqsktzq6oeDYcHXSh2xtrvVRtsE_L7HDRfqi2x_Tn1_ZD97czGjdLkDytl9y2CYiJypl5iGkwia8f2K1ie0AdZGqD0Abmw7IlptILY7-fSGF3ZV-KNw9FZbPQwIzvKgo/s1600/DSC_1017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKFdUkyyjYkKUqsktzq6oeDYcHXSh2xtrvVRtsE_L7HDRfqi2x_Tn1_ZD97czGjdLkDytl9y2CYiJypl5iGkwia8f2K1ie0AdZGqD0Abmw7IlptILY7-fSGF3ZV-KNw9FZbPQwIzvKgo/s640/DSC_1017.jpg" width="548" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">packed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ua7wRSO4A0Gbmeu92Nb0xa0nN1P4r2Dgo6I-LcFYvDdu03GYDbNLwswxpdQiBY1LWJpj0n9vYgonu9CWByNEgVHO-00xgI28ufi54SWxrlf6VnhRLzYEj3lXihwMDLZrnFVN3LagXR0/s1600/G0014601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ua7wRSO4A0Gbmeu92Nb0xa0nN1P4r2Dgo6I-LcFYvDdu03GYDbNLwswxpdQiBY1LWJpj0n9vYgonu9CWByNEgVHO-00xgI28ufi54SWxrlf6VnhRLzYEj3lXihwMDLZrnFVN3LagXR0/s640/G0014601.JPG" width="572" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">packed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVQZIs7LF-ekiybaM4gbaRYwy1RD2sicbYEFguNlIZQzWQavOs0OdCjVjPaJrJGdkXu0Oh_memRtZPDwsR5C6jvFSdwTSLuaw4fJGNZd5wydkvkw3Lbz1bIPpvKObE_YNADS3DSwDV1o/s1600/G0014621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVQZIs7LF-ekiybaM4gbaRYwy1RD2sicbYEFguNlIZQzWQavOs0OdCjVjPaJrJGdkXu0Oh_memRtZPDwsR5C6jvFSdwTSLuaw4fJGNZd5wydkvkw3Lbz1bIPpvKObE_YNADS3DSwDV1o/s640/G0014621.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">unpacked</td></tr>
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-86637037850038156422015-07-13T09:01:00.000-07:002015-07-13T09:01:50.621-07:00canoe camping sup tripOn a recent canoe camping trip to a class I & II section of the St. Croix river in New Brunswick we brought along a <a href="http://redpaddleco.com/usa/#.VZ8Y-8ZViko" target="_blank">Red Paddleboards</a> 9'2" Surfstar for some added fun. This was my first time traveling on water with an additional board, although it's the main reason I got this board in the first place. Designed for surfing, it has enough volume and stability for flat-water use and does pretty well in whitewater. Throughout the trip we used in on flat sections, for morning meditation sessions and to play in Little Falls, the biggest and longest rapid on our trip. It was damn fun to have along and will definitely be joining me on future canoe trips.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">packed and ready. Notice the Surfstar in the Old Town Tripper.</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-74270456006673926462015-07-10T06:37:00.001-07:002015-07-10T06:37:18.495-07:00ACA July Instructor of the monthI've been working hard in the paddle sports industry for 15 years. In that time I've never considered it a career, although it has accounted for a large percentage of my income each year. I've met many wonderful people through this sport including many of my best friends. I've helped people achieve paddling goals and it's felt wonderful. I've had paddlers injured under my watch and it's felt terrible. I've failed and succeeded. I've won a couple races. I've taken trips to incredibly beautiful places and pushed my paddling limits over and over. I've guided. I've coached. I've managed events. I've worked hard on my personal skills all these years. I've been mentored. But most importantly, I've learned. I've learned a great deal about myself and about others while working in this industry.<br />
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So, I'm honored to have been awarded the <a href="http://www.americancanoe.org/default.asp?" target="_blank">American Canoe Association</a> July instructor of the month. <a href="http://kokatat.com/" target="_blank"> Kokatat</a> sponsors the program and has graciously sent me a new PFD as a gift. I'm proud of this award and of all the work I've contributed to the paddle sports industry. <br />
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<b>ACA:</b> What drew you to become an ACA certified instructor?<br />
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<b>Palmariello:</b> In 1999 I was finishing an internship in the ski industry and looking for a summer job on the coast. Without experience, I was positive I'd like sea kayaking so I bought some equipment, taught myself the basics and talked my way into a guiding job for the summer. I quickly realized how much I didn't know and sought out the best training I could find. That led me to the ACA. I was hooked after that first course and on a mission to become a competent well-rounded paddler. That summer job was the beginning of a new lifestyle and my introduction to the ACA and paddlesports.<br />
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<b>ACA:</b> Do you have any memorable trips, events, or stories that stand out as your ‘favorite paddling moment?’<br />
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<b>Palmariello:</b> One of my most exciting and most memorable padding experiences took place in 2013 when I entered a 100 mile river race in California. In a field of one hundred twenty paddlers, five of us accepted the 100 mile, 1 day challenge on standup paddleboards. I approached the race with the goal of finishing but just 25 miles into the race my competitive side took over. A paddling colleague, Michael, was clearly racing hard and took a lead over me by a few minutes. I chased him for a long time and thirty miles later I was only thirty seconds behind him. For another fifty miles we battled downriver within a minute of each other. In the end we finished that 100-mile race in 12 1/2 hours and just five minutes apart. The real enjoyment, however, came from the paddling community that embraced each other and the people I met that weekend. I bonded with Michael on the water that day and was so impressed with the camaraderie that I became involved with the non-profit group that runs the race. <br />
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<b>ACA:</b> Have you participated in any particularly meaningful paddling programs, outreach events, educational sessions, or projects?<br />
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<b>Palmariello:</b> From 2009 to 2014 I managed the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium. Bringing an amazing community of paddlers together once a year to celebrate sea kayaking made me incredibly proud. Witnessing all those people paddling outside of their comfort zones and achieving success was very rewarding to me. More importantly, a diverse group of people with various backgrounds were making friends and memories on and off the water. I've met some of my best friends through paddling and it has been such a meaningful piece of my life.<br />
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Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-32067450879653260382015-07-09T09:14:00.000-07:002015-07-09T09:14:01.410-07:00Backpacking the BOLD CoastAbout 15 years ago I spied some photos of the Cutler Coast and desired a visit ever since. This area is part of the famed Bold Coast in Northern Maine and is an amazing representation of how beautiful it can be when untouched rocky coastline meets the sea. <br />
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Trish and I spent two days backpacking the trails in the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land and were treated to lush mossy forests, thin old trails above cliffs, a calm sea, miles upon miles of visibility and best yet, some solitude. It was arguably one of the hardest and most strenuous short hikes I've ever done and fully worthy of its nickname and a visit. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bold Coast extends north to Quoddy Head and around the corner to Lubec, easternmost town in the United States. Across the Bay of Fundy lies Grand Manan.</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-58669387983228592662015-06-18T19:13:00.000-07:002015-06-18T19:13:14.456-07:00Settling in to the Maine way of lifeI moved to Maine. <br />
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I never thought I'd live on the East Coast again, but things change and people do to. Change is good and I'm embracing this one. <br />
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After a five-day cross-country drive listening to a Short History of Nearly Everything, sleeping in the backseat of my Subaru at truck stops with everything I own and toting 5 standup paddleboards and a bike on a trailer behind me I arrived in Maine only to find out I still had another hour and a half to go. Trish surprised me by renting a cabin for the week on a little lake chain in central state. I quickly unloaded my crap into a small storage unit, dropped the trailer and headed Northwest to Belgrade Lakes with bikes and sups for a week of unwinding on the lake. Northwest? Yes, Northwest. I have to get used to that again. If I'm looking north the ocean is to the East, not the West. And I just spent the last ten years learning it the other way. Whatever - by the end of the day I was paddling with loved ones and was off to a good start settling in to the Maine way of life. <br />
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In the next week I relaxed, read a book, visited family, got some mountain biking in and paddled just about everyday. I canoe commuted to the market to pickup groceries for dinner and to the post office to mail some work. I paddled in a downpour when I ventured too far across the lake (it rains here!). I portaged Main street in order to explore another lake in the chain. There is water everywhere and coming from a California drought, this is a huge treat. I've renewed my love of canoeing and I'm excited to undertake some downeast adventure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scouting some streams. Site of a canoe poling competition.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dock life is the good life</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mountain biking the Bigelow range</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exploring Great Pond</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">freshwater & a borrowed canoe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">training on Long Pond</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-51060555460993276432015-06-04T18:56:00.001-07:002015-06-04T18:56:55.187-07:00Last paddle on San Francisco BayI'm leaving town soon so when I got the call from Gretchen to do one more paddle before I left, there was one particular paddle I had in mind. Looking at currents and weather, everything appeared perfect for a trip going west and then east. I'd always wanted to paddle to Angel Island and hike to the top so it seemed the perfect day to give it a try.<br />
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We met in Berkeley at 5:45am with Shanna surrounded by fisherman and power boats. By 6:50am we paddled out of Berkeley Marina right into a quartering chop. Winds weren't strong yet, but were showing signs and it was the chop that slowed our progress. What I predicted as a two-hour crossing turned into three hours. Not big deal though, because we still made the island before the wind turned on. <br />
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Taking our time on the beach, we changed into dry clothes and proceeded to hike to the top of Mt. Livermore, 781ft above sea level in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It was my first time to to the top of Angel Island and on a great day with great company. It really couldn't have been better for my last paddle in the area. But wait, it got better. While we ate and relaxed, the wind did pick up and was blowing about 20mph when we re-launched on the east side of Pt. Blunt. This was exactly what I wanted, although the wind didn't line up for perfect straight downwind rides. It lined up well enough that we could catch some bumps, paddle south and repeat. We zigged and zagged right back to Berkeley in ninety minutes with a bumpy mix of 2ft wind chop and swell. We spent about 8 hours on the trip and covered 16.7 miles of paddling and hiking. So fun to mix paddling and hiking! <br />
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7637926669896760142.post-78814287093785830422015-05-27T08:20:00.001-07:002015-05-27T08:20:42.697-07:002015 California 100<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The <a href="http://www.calriver100.com/" target="_blank">California 100</a> is an important grass roots paddling race & fundraiser in Northern California. From Redding, CA to Chico, CA racers paddle their sups, surfskis, kayaks, canoes and outriggers downriver, touring the central valley of this gigantic state. In one day they cover 100 miles of class I & II river in the heat, taking between 10 and 20 hours to finish. This was my second, and last, year as Race Director and although I won't be holding the reigns next year, I will be back to race again. </div>
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My team is made up of a couple key staff, lots of incredible volunteers and four board members from <a href="http://www.riversforchange.org/" target="_blank">Rivers for Change</a>, a great CA non-profit with the mission of connecting people to rivers. Founded by Danielle Katz and John Dye in 2011, they've been successful using paddling as a catalyst to engage, educate and excite people on river issues. They're connecting people to rivers in a very important time as water management in California is of utmost importance. RFC is a young, growing organization and I'm proud to have worked alongside them for these two seasons. Now that my role as Race Director is finished, I'm brainstorming new ways to stay connected to this organization from across the country. </div>
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The race this year did not disappoint. Racer attendance was down, river flows were low (8000cfs), but energy was higher than ever and lots of new paddlers completed this journey and accomplished their goal. Check out the photo album here: <a href="http://facebook.com/QuiverSurf/media_set?set=a.10205231149113150.1073741970.1078961496&type=1">facebook.com/QuiverSurf/media_set?set=a.10205231149113150.1073741970.1078961496&type=1</a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keeping up with the Live Update.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning to the launch after starting the Adventure Class at 6am. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvczWD5Cj00btsey0NApSoJ5LZsgRkFRgicbHLDIR6YjE58HKcCo6YkqAFm6btdPMSEvm_h8IEE6L9DdQc4-5gO5bXp2dK7SUCgb_RLmxK9oceMIUDcnEVGE06RcvloLA5bX_D3wCBICY/s1600/11119121_10205231174993797_6417814066995055030_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvczWD5Cj00btsey0NApSoJ5LZsgRkFRgicbHLDIR6YjE58HKcCo6YkqAFm6btdPMSEvm_h8IEE6L9DdQc4-5gO5bXp2dK7SUCgb_RLmxK9oceMIUDcnEVGE06RcvloLA5bX_D3wCBICY/s640/11119121_10205231174993797_6417814066995055030_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Morning Workout.</td></tr>
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<br />Matt Palmariellohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04331063317532520952noreply@blogger.com0