Thanks to John Holyoke of the BDN for this blog post about the annual canoe and kayak sale.

It isn't going to be held at the Old Town shop but rather at eight different businesses around Maine and New Hampshire. April 13th through the 15th.

The Kenduskeag was a great way for many paddlers to welcome in the spring season. So now what?

Well, there are plenty of other races held in Maine which are on the near horizon:

5/3 - Meduxnekeag River Race - (8 miles, Houlton)

And how about this one:

5/10 - 5/11 - Aroostook River 60 Mile Canoe & Kayak Race (60 miles, Ashland to Ft. Fairfield - can be completed in one or two days.)

For more information about all of these races and many other races held in Maine, please visit MaCKRO's race calendar.

If you have lost a boat and/or other gear, you may post your information here for others to see. Good luck!

Conversely, if you are a good samaritan who has found something belonging to someone else (or spotted it somewhere) and would like to try to alert the owner, this is a good place to give it a shot. Thank you for your help!

Celebrating 110 years in the business, Old Town Canoe has offered to award a canoe to the fastest overall craft in this year's Kenduskeag, as well as an Old Town canoe to the fastest Old Town canoe, and an Old Town kayak to the fastest Old Town kayak in the race. Sweet!

The 2008 Paddle Smart Symposium will take place on Saturday, April 12th from 5-9:30pm at the Bangor YMCA.

Paddle Smart is all about safety on the water. There will be many Q&A sessions with guest speakers as well as watercraft safety demos in the pool.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR KENDUSKEAG PADDLERS:
Paddle Smart 2008 will include special discussions and demos to better prepare you for the Kenduskeag!

If you plan to do the Kenduskeag this year and you're a newbie (heck, even if you're not) there will be "presentations on equipping your canoe for the race, race strategy (for those more serious about getting down river in a hurry) and skills presentations on how to get out of the river in the event of a capsize", according to Jeff Strout of the Bangor Daily News.

As if that isn't enough of an incentive to attend Paddle Smart, consider that a $5 donation at the door will get you TWO tickets for a sea kayak drawing (at 9pm). Donations are optional, and there are many free door prizes as well.

Also, anyone interested in becoming a member of the Maine Canoe and Kayak Racing Organization (MaCKRO) will be able to do so at a special introductory rate of just $5.

For more information about Paddle Smart 2008, visit the Paddle Smart web page hosted by Castine Kayak. And there is this article by Jeff Strout in the Bangor Daily News.

One last note: this year, Paddle Smart will be held at the YMCA on Second Street in Bangor, and not at the Hammond Street location as in previous years.

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The 7th Annual Paddle Smart Symposium will be held on April 13 at the Bangor YMCA on Hammond Street from 5:00-9:30pm.

Admission is free, although donations are accepted and tickets will be sold for a sea kayak raffle. (The drawing will be held at 9:30). There are also free door prizes.

The symposium is chock full of interactive workshops and displays promoting education and safety on the water. An informed paddler is a safer paddler!

For more information and a schedule, visit the Paddle Smart website.

UPDATE 4/15/07: I attended Paddle Smart for the first time on Friday, and it was cool! I could sense a "buzz" throughout the venue; people are getting psyched about the upcoming paddling season. Make plans to attend next year if you've never been. It's an annual event worth supporting.