Accomplish your paddling goals for the season?

[ldmrt]

Did you have a specific goal or goals for your paddling or canoeing season this year? Did you get them done? Please tell your goals and if you accomplished them and your excuse for not accomplishing them . We are getting to the end of the season now, since it's already snowed up here.

My goal: Get a few trips down the NW Upsalquitch this summer or even the main Upsalquitch.

A middle of the week or early/late season run down the Restigouche, to avoid all the crowds on the weekends and peak season. I haven't been on the Restigouche in over 7 years.

Did I accomplish them? NOOOOO!!!!

I never even got to sit in the boat this summer!!! I never touched a paddle except for to move it when I was piling this winter's hay in the shed at my mothers.

I blame the weather(it rained all summer!), price of gas, and just being plain busy. My horse had a baby, work schedule was horrible. The worst part is that because we had so much rain it would have made a trip down the Upsalquitch so enjoyable because we wouldn't have to scrape on rocks and get out and walk the canoes over low parts... there weren't any low parts!

Just not a good paddling summer for me.... How about you?

[Ken Corbett]

I got to take my friend Donna in a canoe, we went on the Keswick in early May, when the water was high and the rapids sweet.

Then I fulfilled another goal by getting out with my brother Laurie, we went on the Gaspereau in late May. The water was so low we had to push and scrape until dark. No matter how often I've sworn never to go paddling in low water again, there I was. I hate that.

Another goal was to paddle the Lake Stream by Chipman. The water was too friggin' high when bro and I got the green light. We would have swamped and hit sweepers for sure. Next year, dammit.

But I got a beautiful trip on the Miramichi with Kyle in mid-August. Water was perfect, even the sun was shining. Lots of salmon fisherfolk were using all the campsites, but we found a spot by Trout Creek.

I also went on the Connecticut River with Scooter and Hal. It was great to see my buddies. The Con was dammed and windswept, and it rained to beat J.C. The scenery was nice tho. We should count our blessings to have so many free-flowing streams in our neck of the woods.

Haven't been out since. Sigh.

[mitchell]

I have to say I had another great year of canoeing. I was able to hit several new rivers I have been wanting to do for quite some time. The highlight of the summer was the Allagash trip with my father. The only regrets this year was not running the rivers up north like the Upsalquitch, Nepisiguit, etc. Many years left yet to explore that part of NB though. I refuse to let the season pass us by yet as I am hoping for a week long trip towards the end of November. Hoepfully we will get some more rain so we can do a few more local runs too.

Mitchell