Saint John River - Day 5

We wake up to overcast skies and slightly warmer temperatures. The stream gauge at Ninemile Bridge reads 1000 CFS this morning.


5:30 AM - I take a walk over the to US Border Patrol cabin on the other side of the Big Black River from our campsite.

5:35 AM - An old wood stove rusting in the scrub behind the cabin.


5:45 AM - Fiddlehead.


5:50 AM - The bridge over the Big Black River.


8:05 AM - Back at the campsite we load the canoes as it begins to rain lightly.


8:10 AM - John looks ready to pull a few lobster pots.


8:24 AM - Once in the canoes, a steady rainfall begins.


8:25 AM - Dan dons his raincoat.


10:15 AM - Following Dick and Chris through a small rapid.


11:45 AM - We take a break at Castonia Farm and find this old hand-dug well.


3:38 PM - We spend a wet afternoon checking out the campsites above Big Rapids, but they're either dark and muddy or have been replaced by cabins. We decide to push on through Big Rapids and stop at the old campground at the bottom. Here, Dick and Chris finish the first leg of the rapids. Soon after this photo, Richard and I have a near disaster on the second leg, getting hung up on a pointy rock in the middle of a chute. Thanks to Richard's concise instructions ("Don't lean upstream!" "Don't do anything stupid!") we manage to get off the rock and finish the rapids without incident. My only regret is not taking a photo of our predicament .


4:58 PM - Finally at the abandoned campground at the bottom of Big Rapids. After cleaning a few years worth of beer cans and other debris from the fire ring, Dick (pyro-man) gets a fire going in the rain with the help of Dan and John.


5:00 PM - Chris, Mark and Richard huddle under the small shelter during a downpour.


7:28 PM - Dick decides to use the last of the flour for another bannick bread. Richard helps out by cracking-wise.


8:00 PM - A few of us take a walk up the road for a last look at Big Rapids. From this height they don't look too big.

Saint John River - Day 4

Another cold morning - but no blackflies! The water level has dropped to 1190 CFS at the Ninemile Bridge stream gauge.


5:30 AM - Mist rises over Seven Islands.


5:35 AM - John and Dan do a little birdwatching before breakfast.


5:40 AM - The fields around the campsite are littered with old farm equipment.


5:45 AM - The rim of an old wagon wheel.


5:50 AM - I have no idea what this was used for, but it looks deadly.


6:00 AM - Dick does a little baking before breakfast.


6:15 AM - A path through the woods.


6:30 AM - The Seven Islands sign.


7:00 AM - John pumps water for breakfast.


8:30 AM - Loading the canoes yet again.


9:28 AM - Priestly Bridge.


9:50 AM - Paddling through a small riffle.


10:15 AM - Sternmen portrait.


10:20 AM - A short break on a small island.


11:13 AM - Mark and John negotiate a small rapid.


1:06 PM - Lunch break.


1:14 PM - The first Furbish's Lousewort is spotted.


1:20 PM - An Eastern Comma butterfly.


3:00 PM - We finally reach Big Black Rapids. The rocks along the shore record the power of the water here during spring runoff. However, the river is running out of water for us and our challenge will be to find a way through the exposed boulders.


3:04 PM - Richard points out a good looking line.


3:05 PM - John - "You mean by that boulder?" Richard - "No, more to the left."


3:06 PM - "You mean this one?" "No, further out." "What about over there?" "Yeah, but see the big rock at the bottom of the chute?" "How about we go river right?"


3:07 PM - "So you think we oughta start right and then go left." "No - start left and then go right!" "But what about THAT rock?" "Which one?" "Hey! Look at that warbler!"


3:20 PM - Finally, Dan and John start their run.


3:21 PM - Looks good! Draw right!


3:22 PM - Watch that rock!


3:23 PM - Mark and John take their turn.


3:24 PM - Don't worry - the Blue Hole will just bounce off that big rock.


3:25 PM - Everyone takes a moment to regroup before paddling the rest of the rapid.


9:00 PM - After a tough whiffle ball game, Dan stares into the fire.

Saint John River - Day 3

Day 3 also begins chilly but the wind has swung to the west and is now at our backs. The Ninemile stream gauge has dropped to 1420 CFS overnight.


6:45 AM - Richard and Chris prepare blueberry pancakes for breakfast.


6:50 AM - Dan gets in line for a short stack.


8:00 AM - Loading the canoes in a light rain.


9:15 AM - Richard stands for a better view of the rapids ahead.


9:30 AM - Mark and John cruise the shoreline.


10:10 AM - We take a morning break at Burntland Brook and shed our rain gear.


11:22 AM - Dan and John enjoy the tailwind above Ninemile Bridge.


12:30 PM - Cabin chairs at Ninemile Bridge cabin.


12:35 PM - Lunch siesta at Ninemile Bridge.



12:40 PM - The campsite at Ninemile Bridge.


2:45 PM - Lionel Caron's cabin near Billy Jack Brook.


2:50 PM - Glassy afternoon water.


3:00 PM - Chris and Dick take a floating break above Seven Islands.


5:00 PM - Sawing firewood at Seven Islands campsite.


5:20 PM - Dan updates his journal at Seven Island.


5:30 PM - Once again, Dick tries his luck at fishing.


5:45 PM - Richard makes a coffee cake in the reflector oven.


6:45 PM - John tends the sausages for tonight's dinner.