The Presumpscot!

Its day 7 and I made it to Westbrook! Where it all began! In this modern day, that seems like a radical notion to paddle from Bethel to Westbrook. It’s something the Abenaki did seasonally. How cool is that. I’m just in their shadow following them a little bit to see what I can learn. I’m spending the night near the Chief Polin memorial in a sweet little screened in cottage at the Conant Homestead -courtesy of Michael Shaughnessy, director of Friends of the Presumpscot River. Today I paddled from North Gorham and dealt with five dams. That means the river had little river characteristics and was mostly slow moving expanses in between dams. Two of them didn’t have portage trails so the lovely Jo Weiss picked me up with my truck and delivered me around two closely oriented dams. What a gift. Thank you! The other dams had well marked & maintained portage trails, which I appreciated. They did not, however, offer any friendliness to migratory fish. These dams were constructed in the 1700s 1800s 1900s with archaic beliefs and a very old consciousness. They look like old dinosaurs out there. Just saying. The Gambo dam is particularly rundown and the water that collects above and below the dam pools off to the sides in stagnant deoxygenated coves where algae and bacteria is blooming. I don’t think water likes to sit like that. I was touched by the resiliency of nature and the habitat in between the dams. There is a propensity to live and nature is so resilient. The river has significant lengths of undeveloped shoreline, which is really important for maintaining and improving water quality. It makes paddling it quite peaceful. I saw a lot of beauty today. And it was a rugged day with the portages. And I got bummed out when I think about fish. So I’m speaking up about it. I don’t think it’ll change unless enough of us speak up about it. Tomorrow is my last day on the river and I’ll be paddling to the ocean to celebrate. First I meet with the SAPPI mill and then Falmouth Land Trust to learn and share. Celebration is at 5 tomorrow! Come if inspired! Donate. Support clean water! Thank you everyone. 🛶🌲🌎💚