Index
Quicklinks

General Information & Directions to Kenduskeag
How To Register For The Race
Rules And Regulations
Other Notes
How To Prepare For The Kenduskeag
Extra Items (News & Weather)
About The Race (History & Trivia)
A Guide For River Vultures (aka Spectators)


General Information
An Overview

The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race, held annually on the third weekend of April,
is the largest paddling event in New England and one of the largest in the country.

Hosted by the Bangor Dept. of Parks & Recreation, the 16.5 mile race begins in
the Town of Kenduskeag and ends near the confluence of the Penobscot River
in downtown Bangor.

Need driving directions to the Town of Kenduskeag? From Portland and points south,
you can get to Kenduskeag via Newport (I-95 exit #161), and you then must connect to the Rt. 222 (aka The Stetson Road). Here is a map with directions.

From points north or south you can also get to Kenduskeag via the Broadway exit in
Bangor (I-95 exit #185). Turn a right off of the exit to head north on Broadway (Rt. 15).
Here is a map with directions.


How To Register For The Race
Registering Early Saves Time & Money

There are three ways to register for the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race:

1. You may register for the race by downloading the registration form
and mailing the form in with your payment. (Note: the 2009 registration form
will be made available in early March, 2009).

2. You may also register in person by visiting the Bangor Parks & Recreation office.
Registration forms are accepted at the Parks & Rec office up until the
Friday before race day; the deadline is 1pm.

3. You may also register in Kenduskeag on the morning of the race.
Registration on race day is from 6:30am to 7:30am.

TIP: If possible, don't wait until race day to register. Who needs the last minute stress
of waiting in line to register when you could be prepping your boat for battle on the
morning of the race? Trust me on this. Register early if you can, get a good night's sleep
before the race. And sleep well knowing that you will only pay $18 per paddler versus
$30 per paddler if you register on race day.

Preregistering also lands you a better spot in your class, which can be helpful in avoiding the masses of paddlers who start later.

Here's a closer look at the different classes of the race in which you can register.

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Rules and Regulations
Please Read Carefully

5 craft per minute will be launched beginning at 8:30am.

No alcohol will be allowed in any craft.

No animals will be allowed in any craft.

You must be at least 12 years of age (with an adult in the craft).

You must be at least 16 years of age (if no adult is present).

You must have consent of parent or guardian (if under 18 years of age.)

Identify your craft number, check points, and the finish line.

Contestants will not be disqualified if they accept only enough help to get them and their craft to shore.

Contestants will be disqualified by the sweep canoe if they have not passed Six Mile Falls by 2:30pm or have not reached the finish line by 3:30pm.

Kayakers and decked boaters MUST wear helmets at all times.

All racers in open canoes will use single blade paddles only. Racers in kayaks or decked boats may use either single or double blade paddles.

Overtaking canoes have the right of way both in the water and on portages.
Coast Guard approved, over-the-shoulder, correctly sized life jackets must be worn at all times.

Numbered vests are to be worn OVER lifejackets.

Any disqualified contestants will surrender their numbered vests to safety personnel.

With Regard To Portages:

No assistance on portages from people, wheels, etc. Craft must be in the water at all flat water checkpoints.

Use grab loops or six foot ropes - tied down or taped.

Six Mile Falls: Optional portage, but must pass under the bridge at the falls.

Flour Mill: Mandatory portage. Must go under I-95 bridge in water.

Maxfield Mill: Mandatory portage. Must portage on upstream side of Valley Avenue bridge from either the left or right side of the stream.

(see the course maps on this website for portage points)

If you pass someone on the water who has spilled or appears to be having difficulty, you are to ask the person if they are OK or need assistance.

The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race would not be possible without the dedication of numerous safety and support crews - most of whom are volunteers. They work hard to ensure a safe experience for race participants.

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Other Notes
Please Read Carefully

Recreational Class includes ANY watercraft sold for general recreational use. In general, this includes ABS and polyethylene canoes and kayaks, as well as aluminium, wood, and canvas canoes.

A beginner is anyone who has not finished 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in any organized race in any class.

Open Class is for race teams numbering more than two canoeists or for contestants entering a watercraft that is not considered a canoe or a kayak. This class is also for contestants who wish to propel their watercraft with something other than a paddle (ie., oars or a setting pole). This class also includes war canoes.

Awards will be presented immediately following the race.

Shuttle buses will be available at the finish line to transport contestants back to the Town of Kenduskeag.

Race organizers are NOT responsible for lost watercraft. It is suggested that you ID your boats, paddles and other gear in the event of loss. Use special tape and/or permanent ink marker with your phone number in case your equipment is found downstream (or in some cases, downriver!)

TIP: If you do lose a boat or other items in the Kenduskeag, check in with Mike's Blog after the race, where a "Lost & Found" section is posted.

To all race participants and spectators: you are kindly asked to remember that you are a guest of the Town of Kenduskeag. Please respect the private property of its citizens, as well as any parking regulations along all race areas!

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Extra Items
News, Weather & Sports

Check in with Mike's Canoe Race Blog for race news and updates.
Post your own thoughts and comments. The blog is active March through May.

Browse through a collection of archived news items and articles.

The links page can assist you in planning your stay during the race.

Keep tabs on the weather conditions in Bangor.

If you are new to paddling or just want to brush up, a paddler's glossary
has been posted here to get you up and running with terms and definitions.

Bangor Dept. of Parks & Recreation contact information:
Telephone: (207) 992-4490
Email: parks.rec@bgrme.org
Mailing address: 647 Main Street, Bangor, ME 04401

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How To Prepare For The Kenduskeag
Tips & Tricks From Veteran Paddlers

Thanks to Jeff Owen and MaCKRO for the following information. I will illustrate this section with photos in the near future.

I. OUTFITTING YOUR CANOE

NOTE: While it is not mandatory for an average paddler to outfit his or her boat in the manner described below, it's something to think about. At a minimum, float bags, grab loops and lines are a VERY good idea!

Float Bags
Float bags are an excellent way to keep water out of your canoe. Even if you do not spill and your boat takes on a lot of water, you'll have to struggle with the shifting weight of heavy water slopping around the hull of your boat, a potential hazard. If your canoe is properly "bagged out" you will have an easier time retrieving the canoe should you spill. Boats that sink to the bottom of a stream or river with a swift current can be very difficult to retrieve.

Float bags can be purchased for the center, stern and bow of your boat. Some people use foam or inner tubes for floatation. You are allowed 10 feet of total floatation for your boat. A four to five foot bag for the center of your canoe and a couple of two foot bags for the stern and bow, for example, could be one of many different configurations depending on how you want to outfit your boat.

NOTE: float bags must be secured firmly. Imagine your canoe dumping upside down or being pummeled with a waterfall. The float bags must stay in place to be of any use. One idea would be to install eyelets alongside the top edge of the canoe (the outwales) on both sides, and lash the bags down with rope or bungie cords in a crosswise pattern.

Splash Rails and Decks
Splash railing is actually a foam material which can be placed along the outwales of your canoe with contact cement. While not necessary for general recreational paddlers, many racers appreciate the benefit of splash rails. Video footage proves that the splash rails can decrease the amount of water splashing up and into the boat as the boat enters a section of rapids. The splashing water is directed outward from the boat, as opposed to up and over (and into) the boat. Splash rails can extend up to one and a half inches from the outside of the hull.

Splash decking is another good way to keep water from blasting over your bow and into the front of the canoe. The deck plate conforms to the shape and point of the bow and can be fastened in place with velcro. The top of the deck plate itself has foam edges (up to one inch in height is allowed under race rules) which helps redirect water off the deck rather than drop into the bow of the canoe. These splash decks act almost like the scuppers on a ship which allow water to run off the deck rather than pool up.

Grab Loops and Lines
A grab loop is usually installed in the stern of the canoe. It's a fixed loop of rope or synthetic line which allows you to lift the stern of the canoe or kayak for portages and general transport. Not all canoes come with grab loops as standard equipment; in most cases you will have to install a grab loop. Recreational kayaks often have some form of grab loop on the bow and stern, but not always. NOTE: The small rounded opening fixed into the plastic in the fore and aft of a canoe which you can grab to lift and carry the boat is not the same thing as a grab loop.

Grab loops are fairly small and as such they are not so easy to work with if your canoe swamps and you want to get ahold the canoe to keep it from going downstream. Therefore it is advisable to install a grab line (also called a "painter") to the bow of your canoe. A grab line is a simple rope which can be six feet in length according to the Kenduskeag race rules, but some prefer longer grab lines when they are allowed. The grab line can be really useful in the water should you spill, allowing you to grasp the rope and swim to pull your boat towards shore. Also, the grab line makes it easier to pull your boat up a steep bank during a portage.

Grab lines should be as long in length as race rules will allow so that you can keep some distance between you and your boat should you have to tow it while in the water. Some paddlers even prefer to install a grab line in the stern of the boat so that the line is always in the water behind them in the event of a spill. Whichever method you prefer, make sure your grab line is lightly secured inside your boat with tape. This will help prevent the line from working its way loose, traveling down the inside of your hull and possibly tangling up.

NOTE: It is VERY important to keep the grab line free of knots or loops. Don't tie knots into a grab line thinking it will make it easier to grasp for towing. Knots can become entangled in trees and branches either above water or below the surface. Avoid such entanglements and go with a straight line for safety.

Hip Blocks and Foot Braces
Hip blocks are made of foam and can be installed (again, with contact cement) on the inside of the canoe where the paddler sits. Think of it as a two foam walls which hug the waist of the paddler. An egg in a carton, perhaps? The foam is cut to fit - not too snugly - but enough to act as a sort of brace. Hip blocks can prevent a paddler from sliding left or right on a canoe seat. Some canoe seats are fairly wide, so a hip block can help a paddler stay centered in the boat.

A foot brace is another recommended item which you can install in the bow of your canoe, or even towards the middle-rear of the canoe for the paddler sitting in the stern. Foot braces are available for purchase at a reasonable cost or you can make your own basic foot brace with a piece of wood and some rope. Why would you want to use a foot brace? Well, the brace provides some resistance for your feet to push against while paddling. This can help not only with paddling efficiency, but with stability as well.

You can use the platform of the foot brace to help "steer" the boat to a degree as you shift the pressure from one foot to the other while making a turn. It's a bit like riding a sled down a snowy hill, in which you can use your feet to push against the front braces of the sled to help direct the sled rails. But as a paddler you are also working your waist, back and upper body, so the foot brace is a sort of "anchor fixture" to push against to improve your performance and help reduce fatigue through wasted movement and energy.

In closing, some veteran racers have told me that if paddlers take a bit of time to outfit their boats with the recommendations listed above they will most certainly notice a difference in how they feel and perform on the water, as opposed to working with an off-the-shelf "stock boat" with no enhancements. Tricking out your canoe with these optional modifications need not be expensive or time consuming. Recreational paddlers and competitive racers alike will enjoy the benefits of these additions.

II. PADDLING TECHNIQUE AND EFFICIENCY

Paddling workshops, sporting good store demos, private lessons, club outings or even instructional books and videos are all good ways to learn more about how to paddle effectively. It's a subject which is beyond the scope of this website, but here are some basics:

Paddling efficiently and effectively is more than a matter of moving quickly through the water. By improving your strokes and minimizing wasted energy, you can decrease some of the wear and tear on your body, reduce the chance of injury, and reduce unnecessary fatigue.

The first ten miles of the Kenduskeag involves flatwater paddling. That can be quite taxing, and you will need your strength and energy the most when you reach the whitewater sections of the stream - meaning the last six and a half miles of the race. Paddlers who are completely exhausted when they reach the rapids often find themselves taking a swim (to the glee of the river vultures watching from the banks). Portages can be downright brutal if a paddler is completely spent halfway through the race. One way to conserve energy and extend your strength is to know how to paddle efficiently.

Veteran racer Jeff Owen advises the following. To begin, "floor it", meaning a paddler should get down low in the canoe, on bottom of the boat and not necessarily up on the seat itself. Spread your knees outwards to your sides while in a sitting position, much like a frog, placing your butt on the bottom of the boat (or close to it). Sitting lower in a boat provides some extra stability as opposed to sitting up higher in a chair, because your center of mass is lower when you squat down.

Also, you don't want to slip and slide around the floor while sitting down. Install some non-skid tape or stripping, or perhaps a swath of low profile carpeting. Whatever it takes to keep you stabilized. This also works well in tandem with the aforementioned hip blocks!

Push the paddle straight down into the water - the paddle doesn't have to go too deep - and use short strokes. It only takes one foot of lateral paddle movement in the water to reach what is called the "power phase" of the stroke. Using short strokes, you will maximize your efficiency by working within the range of the power phase.

You can increase the rate of your strokes by keeping them short and strong. Inefficient paddling and extraneous movement will sap your strength while simultaneously slowing you down. One way to determine if you are maximizing the power phase of your stroke is to simply listen: an efficient stroke is often silent. If you are loudly splashing and thrashing the water with your paddle, you are not paddling efficiently or effectively.

If you are paddling with a partner, a general rule of thumb is to have the more experienced paddler sitting in the back - the stern - of the canoe or tandem kayak. Another rule of thumb is that it's better to have the heavier paddler sitting up front in the bow. As a canoe moves through the water with two paddlers there is often a tendency for the bow of the canoe to rise upward in relation to rest of the boat if the paddler in the bow is lighter than the paddler in the stern.

Imagine you are sitting on the back of a see-saw with a much lighter person sitting on the other end. Thanks to gravity, your weight will pull you down closer to the ground, and the lighter person will be higher up in the air. This same principle works with a floating canoe. What you want to do is level the canoe out as much as possible. This is called "trimming". By trimming the canoe you are leveling the boat out, utilizing the shape and lines of the hull more efficiently in the water, and you reduce the "fanny drag" which slows you down when the stern is much lower in the water than the bow.

An untrimmed boat will most assuredly reduce overall paddling efficiency; it's like paddling uphill. So what do you do if you are the experienced paddler in the stern, but the paddler in the bow is much lighter than you are? Place a weight or heavy stone in the bow of the canoe as a counterbalance. The idea is to distribute the weight inside the canoe as evenly as possible across the inside length of the canoe. Again, trimming the boat reduces wasted energy and improves effiency. Let the canoe and the water do some of the heavy lifting for you!

Many racers also allow the wake generated by other boats to do some of the work for them. It's a technique that must be practiced, but it's possible to "surf" on the waves generated by boats ahead of you. Kind of like driving behind a semi tractor trailer on an interstate highway: you'll encounter less wind resistance against your vehicle going forward. It is also a good idea to stay on the outer edges of wave trains - standing waves which are lined up one after another - otherwise you will be pulled into choppy water which can cause all sorts of problems. When you do approach a wave, it is best to line up perpendicular to the wave and go through it head on. It is NOT a good idea to approach waves or rapids when your boat is at a sideways angle. The wave can overpower your craft if you hit the wave broadside. The danger here of course is that your boat can swamp or tumble (or both).

Try to line up your boat with the current of the stream. Look for bubbles when you are in the flatwater. This sounds obvious, but many paddlers do not actually line up with the stream current, and they lose efficiency and effectiveness in their paddling because of that. Sometimes the optimal section of a stream to hit when paddling is not the most obvious one. The paddler in the bow is largely responsible for pointing out rocks and other hazards, but it is also beneficial to scout out the stream current, often where the water is a bit deeper, to avoid the shallows which will slow a boat down and require more effort to negotiate.

Many paddlers scout the Kenduskeag the evening before the race. It is amazing how quickly the Kenduskeag can change in terms of water levels, sometimes within a six hour period! While there are several factors at play here which vary from year to year, it is widely recognized that a good rainstorm will elevate the water quickly. Without rain, the stream gradually lowers - it is a fairly shallow water system.

Scouting out the last 6.5 miles of the stream with a leisurely "dry run" can be very useful if you have the time. Informal get-togethers usually meet up in the late afternoon on the Friday before the race in downtown Bangor (near the finish line area). You and your boat are shuttled to Six Mile Falls, and you can paddle with a group of knowledgeable race veterans who are more than happy to answer questions, help you pick the best approaches and lines through the rapids, and allow you to paddle at your own skill level and speed.

It is also wise to paddle with someone you can get into sync with. Knowing when to switch sides while paddling and working together to form a kind of rhythm is something the best racers do out of habit. Use a simple shout such as "hut!" or a whistle as it does not require a full breath of air to form longer words. Even of you are not seriously competitive about the Kenduskeag, it helps to paddle with someone who can at least pull their own weight. If one paddler is doing the lion's share of the work, it will take a lot of the fun out of the race for that paddler. We won't even get into the jokes about the "divorce boat" here.

Regarding paddles: long paddles can be unwieldy depending on your style of paddling. Short, lightweight paddles are often preferred by racers. A long heavy ash paddle, for example, might do a number on your shoulder areas, the rotator cuff in particular. Long paddles also require much more effort to work with. One notable exception: Zip Kellogg. He uses a massively long paddle in the Kenduskeag, but then he's standing upright in his canoe much like a gondolier.

It isn't necessary to spend big bucks on a super lightweight paddle (although serious competitors do just that) but a good rule of thumb to apply here might be this: buy the lightest paddle your budget will allow. Bent shaft paddles are very useful for keeping the paddle perpendicular to the water. A strong, lightweight paddle can help to reduce extra stress on muscles and joints. Another part of the efficiency equation.

III. Other Thoughts and Notes

- Preregister for the race to save time and money and to get an earlier placement within your class so that you are ahead of the pack. This is a good thing to know, because you can sometimes avoid the massive "stampede" of the largest groups of paddlers in the large classes. Register early, place earlier in your class, leave earlier and reduce the bottlenecks that clog up the rapids and cause carnage, congestion and chaos!

- Hydration is extremely important. Take sips of water at frequent intervals during the race. Dehydration can occur quickly. Bottled water is fine. Some people like to use Camelbaks with a drinking tube tucked under their life vests fixed near their mouths for hands free sipping.

- Speaking of hydration, be sure to get in line for the Porta Potty at the launch site before you settle into your boat for the race. Those lines get pretty long after everyone has had their morning coffee!

- What about breakfast? There's a great traditional pancake breakfast in the Mystic Tie Grange Hall in Kenduskeag. Definitely part of the fun and part of the spectacle of the Kenduskeag race. However, some racers have mentioned that they eat a very light breakfast, perhaps toast with peanut butter and an orange or other fruit. Having a huge farmer's breakfast just before a 16.5 mile workout on the stream is not for everyone.

- What about clothing? Some folks wear wetsuits, but many racers do not advise this. It really is a matter of personal preference by and large, but anecdotal evidence suggests that paddlers wearing wetsuits often become uncomfortably warm. This is exacerbated by warm weather, but the body heat alone generated by a paddler is sufficient to dress lightly. Many racers wear loose shorts and shirts, maybe some Farmer John overalls or long underwear. I've seen paddlers come down through Six Mile Falls who appeared to be miserably hot in their heavy clothing or wetsuits and when some of them spilled into the icy waters, a sigh of relief could be heard. That's simply too hot for comfort and for a fun day on the stream. Wear shoes that are comfortable and will allow you to exit the boat quickly. Large boots are not necessarily a good idea. Shoes should have some traction on the soles for climbing up steep banks during a portage. Running shoes are usually good enough, some people like to wear Crocs.

- What do you do if you spill? It's a serious question, and dumping your canoe or kayak in the middle of the Kenduskeag (or anywhere else) is no laughing matter, despite the cheers and jeers you'll hear from some of the river vultures. Once you are in the water, you want to lay on your back, with your feet facing downstream. Let your life vest do what it is designed to do. You want to float downstream feet first in case you need to push away from rocks or other obstacles. Moving down the stream headfirst like Superman is never a good idea. As soon as you have determined that there are no obstacles in your way, start swimming towards shore and hopefully you will have the grab line in your hand to tow your boat to safety. You also want to stay on the upstream side of your boat, NOT the downstream side. Being on the wrong side of the boat in the water with a strong current can lead to situations where you are pinned between your boat and something else. You don't want to end up between a rock and a hard place. This is also where the longer grab line comes in handy; you can pull and tow your boat through the water while keeping some distance in between.

- Last but not least. Have a warm change of clothing waiting for you at the finish line. A complete change of clothes - underwear, socks, shoes - the works. It's no fun to stand dripping wet in downtown Bangor in April, shivering uncontrollably while your teeth chatter like a runaway jackhammer.


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About The Race
History & Trivia

The idea of holding a canoe race to mark the beginning of spring came from Ed "Sonny" Colburn and Lew Gilman, who organized the first race which was held in May of 1967.

According to "Tales of the Kenduskeag", a wonderful book edited by Jim Smith and Fern Stearns, the initial idea for the race happened during a phone call:

Ed: "Lew, what do you think about having a canoe race on the Kenduskeag?"
Lew: "It sounds like a helluva good idea to me. Let's meet tonight - get started right off."

The two concocted the idea at a perfect time. While they couldn't round up any interested sponsors, the Bangor Department of Parks & Recreation was looking for a springtime community project to organize after attempting a bicycle race the previous spring, which, in Ed's words, "went zilch". Bangor Parks & Recreation got on board with the canoe race concept and the rest is history. As a side note, the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race has never relied on corporate sponsorship.

A total of 34 contestants paddled down the Kenduskeag Stream in that inaugural year of 1967. Although the number of paddlers varies from year to year, as many as 1,500 contestants have participated in a single race during the mid-1990s. Since 1967, over 28,000 paddlers have participated in the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race.

Race decals, given to all registered paddlers, have been spotted around the globe.
(Example of a race decal).

The current course record of 1:50:08 is held by Robert Lang of Renforth, New Brunswick, who set the record in 1997. On top of that, Lang has dominated the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race with eleven total wins.

I've put together a graphical timeline of the Kenduskeag which outlines some of the highlights of the past 40+ years.

10 miles of the race course are on flat water. The other 6.5 miles are more or less divided into Class I, II, and III rapids, with Six Mile Falls being the most treacherous for paddlers. The Shopping Cart another set of rapids contestants negotiate. This area surprises many paddlers who think that the worst is behind them. There are Class IV rapids on the Kenduskeag depending on conditions, but paddlers avoid them with mandatory portages. Although the Kenduskeag race involves a certain degree of risk, safety is a paramount concern among the race organizers and rescue teams.

No two races are alike. Water levels change each year, throwing a curveball to perennial racers. The amount of snowpack built up over winter, the subsequent melting and runoff, and the amount of precipitation in the days leading up to the race all play a role in the volume and swiftness of the stream, measured in cubic feet per second. Many veteran paddlers wait until the day before the race to make last minute judgments while scouting sections of the stream for tricky areas or portage points.

Conventional wisdom holds that the higher the water, the faster the water.
Throw a skilled paddler into this equation, and you have the makings of a potential
record breaking year. It is no coincidence that ten of the twenty two fastest times recorded in the Kenduskeag race occurred in 1997 and 2007, when the stream was very high and very swift.

Conversely, the lower the water, the slower the race. A paddler must work harder in these conditions, and exposed rocks present yet another obstacle. Some paddlers have noted that the different colors of the many kayaks and canoes can be seen "painted" on the rocks just below the surface in certain shallow parts of the stream, which can take on the appearance of brightly colored aquarium pebbles.

The rapids, rocks and waves represent a challenge to paddlers, but some veterans of the race have claimed that overturned boats and dumped swimmers are the true obstacle course. Canoes and kayaks can pile up at the rapids, leading to the Three C's:
Chaos, collisions and carnage.

The final leg of the race takes contestants through a different sort of Three C's:
The calm concrete canals of downtown Bangor. Onlookers shout out words of encouragement to those who are almost too exhausted to continue.

One longstanding tradition (pun intended) of the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race is
Zip Kellogg (article, photo sequence), who stands upright in his canoe for the entire length of the race. Usually dressed in a white suit with a top hat and a bouquet of roses on the bow of his canoe, Zip is a veteran paddler and a crowd favorite. Another crowd favorite is the Gumby canoe.

Although the race course is 16.5 miles long, the Kenduskeag Stream is twice that length. It is the most intensively farmed watershed in the Penobscot River Basin. Historically, it has been an important producer of Atlantic salmon. Saw mills once dotted the stream and some remnants of the old mills can still be seen today.

The name "Kenduskeag" is attributed to the Penobscot Indians, who called the stream "the place where eels gather", "the eel catching place", or "the place where eels are speared".

On a related note, American eels - snakelike fishes which can grow to 3 feet in length - live in fresh water from early youth to breeding time, when they migrate to saltwater.

Naturalist/writer Henry David Thoreau enjoyed hikes along the Kenduskeag Stream during his visits to Bangor over 150 years ago, taking note of the plant and flower life along its banks. Remarkably, much of the Kenduskeag Stream looks the same today as it did in Thoreau's time.

Want to take a short trip to yesteryear? Check out my small collection of Kenduskeag Stream postcards, some of which are over a century old.

Concrete canoes?! Unlike the proverbial screen door on a submarine (don't laugh, they keep the fish out) concrete canoes are for real. Engineering students at the University of Maine build and race concrete molded canoes, and they have done so since the 1970s. These students have managed to keep the weight of the concrete canoe down to a relatively svelte 150 pounds. Hernia truss is considered optional equipment.

The "Shopping Cart" section of rapids on the Kenduskeag Stream, close to Bangor,
got its name from a large number of shopping carts inexplicably dumped there years ago. To this day, the site is known to many locals as the "Shopping Cart Hole".

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Where To Go And What To See On Race Day
A Short Guide For Vultures Spectators
by Mike Alden

"River vultures...live vicariously through the foolhardy pursuits of others.
We stand beside the stream and wait for the carrion to start piling up.
Then...I'm sorry to admit this...some of us cheer."

- John Holyoke, Bangor Daily News

* * * * * * * *

My neighbor, Chris D'Amico, runs the Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race every year.
He's been involved with this race for well over a decade. The 2003 race was to be my first experience on the Kenduskeag as an observer and photographer. Figuring Chris would be a good source of information, I gave him a phone call the day before the race for some particulars. I wanted to know where to be and when to be there.

Chris gave me a quick rundown of the race and the course.
Then he asked, "Mike, do you want to take pictures of slow and easy cruising, or paddlers going ass-over-teakettle in the rapids?"

It didn't take me long to respond to that question.

Here's the long and the short of it: if you want to bear witness to a bunch of poor souls being dumped out of their canoes into water so cold it often causes momentary loss of breath and pulse, you want to go to Six Mile Falls.
Expect lots of company.

People flock to Six Mile Falls with a sort of morbid fascination that reminds me of some people who go to NASCAR races: not so much to watch the race itself, but because fiery crashes are interesting. Six Mile Falls is a Class III rapid, a place where you are likely to see some teakettle. The bridge near Six Mile Falls becomes a sort of camp for the crowds of "vultures" which include not only spectators but radio and television broadcast vehicles as well.

An anticipatory vulture, I arrived at Six Mile Falls a couple of hours before the carrion.....err.....paddlers appeared so that I could stake out a prime shooting position with my tripod, making sure I had an unobstructed, nearly head-on shot of the rapids. This is not always easy. Rescue personnel, tree limbs and bright yellow police tape often conspire to muck up a photographer's compositions.

Aspiring vultures should arrive early. Bring a thermos of coffee or hot cocoa. Yes, you will have to suffer a few hours outdoors in the cold, and if the weather is bad, it's happening on your head. But the fresh air will do you good, you'll meet some nice bloodthirsty folks and let's face it - watching canoes dump their passengers into a freezing cold stream is a kick!

The first paddlers to arrive at Six Mile Falls disappointed many spectators as they portaged their canoes and bypassed the rapids altogether. A rational person might deduce that the people who portage the falls are serious competitors with the goal of setting a time record or finishing tops in their class, seeking to minimize any hazard which may leach precious seconds from their overall time.
Vultures are not impressed by this. If you portage the falls, you are a wimp.
End of story.

The next wave of paddlers slipped through the falls as though they were a minor inconvenience. It dawned on me that the slower, lesser experienced paddlers were the ones to keep my camera trained on, and that meant waiting patiently for them to arrive. Two more hours went by, and after many of the people in this lesser experienced contingent sailed through the rapids with little apparent difficulty, the vultures grew restless. Feathers were ruffled. Eyes were focused. Feet were cold. Babies were cranky.
Somebody had to spill. And soon.

When the first canoe shifted sideways, spilling its crew into the 34°F whitewater, a roar of oohs and ahhs swept over the crowd of vultures, followed by enthusiastic applause. "That's the way to get yourself on the TV promo for next year's race!" shouted one happy vulture to some shivering canoeists who were being assisted from the frigid waters by rescue workers. "It's about time someone wiped out," grumbled another vulture.
"Now I can go home."

I hung around Six Mile Falls for another hour or so before heading out towards the Washing Machine, and then the Shopping Cart, and (eventually) the finish line in downtown Bangor. If you can hit all of these spots along the race course you'll have even more wipeout viewing opportunities. There are several excellent vantage points, notably the path running alongside Valley Avenue in Bangor.

As you approach the last leg of the race, something magical happens.
Deadly vultures transform into supportive spectators, who love to stand on bridges and overlooks to catch a glimpse of the tired paddlers straggling down the concrete canals of the Bangor waterway. The spectators often shout out words of encouragement.

The finish line and the welcoming confluence of the Kenduskeag Stream and the Penobscot River lie straight ahead. Though exhausted, the faces of almost every paddler seem to reflect contentment, or maybe it is relief; perhaps it is a deep sense of accomplishment. Whatever. They'll be sore for a couple of days.

April in Maine.
When the days are longer but nothing is green, everything is muddy, a snowstorm is still a threat and the blackflies are just around the corner.


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