Rangeley Lakes Region - ME
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As may have become apparent by now, we try to vary our travel destinations in order to maximize our exposure to new experiences.  However, there are a few trips that seem to have become part of our annual itinerary.  One of those is a trip to the Rangeley Lakes Region in Maine with the BBC in mid-July.

The Rangeley Lakes Region lies exactly half way between the North Pole and the Equator about 250 miles North of our home in Woburn.  It features 110 sparkling lakes, ponds, and streams, thousands of acres of wild forests, and an abundance of wildlife.

As the mercury begins to rise in late Spring and early Summer; moose appear along the roadways and bogs, loons return to the open ponds and lakes , and expansive patches of lupine, daisies, buttercups and paintbrush fill the open fields.

There are endless opportunities for all to enjoy for outdoor activities such as biking, birding, boating, camping, fishing, golfing, hiking, kayaking, scenic drives, skiing, swimming, tennis and wildlife viewing.

So many wonderful choices yet time always seems to slip away and one never has the opportunity to enjoy them all.

So what to focus our time on?  Well what better way to begin than meeting at the Pine Tree Frosty to connect with the group, discuss the upcoming trip and enjoy some ice cream. 

A hike up Saddleback Mountain provided a great way to start off with some exercise, a chance to enjoy the patches of wildflowers and a chance to view the Bicknell's Thrush, which has one of the most restrictive breeding and wintering ranges of any North American bird.

Now that we are in the Boreal Forest; walks along places such Boy Scout Road, Mill Brook Road, and some of the clearcuts provide the opportunity to see the boreal specialties such as Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker and the hope for Spruce Grouse.


Saturday arrives, which means we're ready for a 3 - 4 hour kayak trip along the Kennebago River.  The time is strictly dependent upon the river current, how many times we stop to get out and what we stop to view along the way. This relaxing paddle meanders alongside Boy Scout Road as we look for herons, kingfishers, and hope to turn the bend and find a moose in the shallows. 

So what to do after a morning of kayaking?  Well that's easy because that means it's time for Eddie Giles' Boreal BBQ. An abundance of food and beverage, time to talk with others about the trip, what they have seen, other places they have been, some campfire games, smores over the open fire and did I mention an abundance of food and beverage.

In 2007, Mocha made his debut to an outdoor wildlife weekend. He just loves to kayak, walk and have any opportunity possible to spend time with us outside.  We found a perfect small cabin that gave him great visibility to the outside when we had sections of the trip that he couldn't come along.

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