To bookend the summer, we usually take two camping trips, one around Memorial Day for a weekend on Cape Cod, the other near Labor Day where we canoe down the Saco River up in Maine. This year, due to everyone’s growingly hectic schedules, we had to plan the Saco trip a few weeks later than usual and we ended up going the last weekend in September. Being nearly fall, and with a recent cold spell, it could have easily been in the low 40’s at night. Not a rugged wilderness survival point, but this is a summer closer meant more for drinking on the sand than hunkering down in a three-season bag. So we packed a few extra layers, even hats, but never actually had to break it all out…aside from the raingear. But when has it not rained on a camping trip?
There are many different canoe and camp operations in the area, but you stick with what you know, so each year we rent canoes for the weekend and a Friday night campsite from Woodland Acres. It’s only $40, so if you throw in $15 each or so for food, and pre-make some meals, we’ve found that cheaply covers B, L &D on Saturday, and even a breakfast on Sunday. That little extra pre-planning makes the weekend that much more manageable once you’ve gotten onto the river, and aside from setting up tents, you’re free to float the barge for the next couple of days.
Being so late in the year, we were also worried we would have to contend with low water levels on the river, forcing us to pull canoes through sandbars every few miles, but because of all the recent rain, the water level was quite high and moving quickly. The rapid pace of the current made it that much more a relaxing trip, where we didn’t have to focus too much on getting the miles done. We actually were able to canoe a total of 19 miles this year, much more than some past trips. We covered just under ten on Saturday before we pitched camp in the woods along an eastern bank. Normally we try to find a beach, but the water was so high that we couldn’t find an adequate space, and since the sun was setting earlier in the evening, we didn’t have a lot of time to spend searching for the perfect spot. And due to the cooler temps, the mosquitoes weren’t nearly as bad as summer months, only slightly harassing us on Sunday morning.
When we put in on Saturday however, it was legitimately raining. Some of the crew were wearing trash bags and hats and raincoats and we were a little nervous it would washout the day. Luckily, the downpour lasted all of five minutes, then tapered off a bit, and never really picked up again enough to be an issue.
The Saco is perfect for the novice outdoors person. The canoeing experience required is minimal and there are usually plenty of beach campsites available. If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend, where you can be outdoors, surround yourself with friends and share some different scenery before the leaves turn, it’s a great choice. Because of the relatively low-impact, it’s quickly becoming infamous for it’s beer barges, so keep in mind that the pack-in, pack-out mentality goes along way in assuring future excursions.
See you on the Saco!
