The Spring Running
Contact Info:

Dana Morse
Maine Sea Grant
Darling Marine Center
Clarks Cove
Walpole, ME 04573
(207) 563-3146 x205
E-mail

The Old Fort Western "Fort to Fort Canoe and Kayak Expedition"

Old Fort Western, the National Landmark fort, store, and house historic site on the Kennebec River in Augusta, will host its ninth-annual Fort to Fort Canoe and Kayak Expedition on Saturday, June 14, 2008. Note: The expedition's traditional late-June date has been changed to June 14 to coordinate and be part of The Spring Running, the annual celebration of life in, on and along the Kennebec River.

The purpose of the expedition is to celebrate and enjoy the historic 17-mile waterway between Fort Halifax in Winslow and Fort Western in Augusta.

"This is not a race and there will be no competition or prizes," said Jay Adams, Old Fort Western's director and curator. "Rather, it is an opportunity to be on the water, paddling at your own pace, to re-trace and re-explore the route that linked the Fort Western and Fort Halifax in the 1750s and 60s and which was followed by Benedict Arnold's forces in 1775 as they attempted to take Canada from the British at the beginning of the American Revolution."

The official shove-off time and place is 8:00 a.m. from Fort Halifax Park in Winslow but participants are free to put in whenever and wherever they wish. The full Fort to Fort trip is expected to take about five to six hours depending upon weather and current conditions and the pace at which participants choose to paddle. Water and snacks will be available at the half-way point at the Sidney boat landing. Augusta's East-side Boat Landing is the final destination. From there, participants are invited to visit Old Fort Western free of charge. From there, the Old Fort Western trolleys will take expedition participants over to Mill Park, where other also free-of-charge Spring Running events and activities will be going on.

The trolleys will also take paddlers back to the East-side boat landing, where a shuttle bus will take participants back to Winslow to pick up their cars as necessary. Shuttle service will begin at one o'clock. The last run to Winslow will depart Augusta at four. There will not be room for boats on the bus.

To help further celebrate the Spring Running, June 14th has been named "Kennebec River Day" at Old Fort Western. Anyone visiting the Fort by water will be admitted free that day. So if you'd rather put in south of Augusta or come up in your power boat, Fort Western and the Spring Running will be happy to admit you free anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

For the expedition, all Maine safety regulations will be in effect, including the use of approved life-jackets or other flotation devices. Participants should be sure to bring plenty of water or juice to drink (no alcohol please) and snacks to eat along the way. Paddlers owning cell phones are encouraged to bring them along, too, to help out in case of emergency.

To provide some idea of just how many people may be joining the expedition and create a contact list, interested persons are urged to phone Old Fort Western at 626-2385 or e-mail oldfort@oldfortwestern.org no later than June 12th to register their intent to participate. The Fort will monitor river flow on the morning of the race. A message will be left on the Fort's answering machine and an announcement will appear on the main page at www.oldfortwestern.org by 6:00 a.m. on the morning of June 14th only in the event it is necessary to cancel the expedition for weather or dangerous flow condition reasons.

Canoes and kayaks may be rented from multiple locations in the Greater Augusta area.

Phone 626-2385 if you need more information or go to www.oldfortwestern.org