It appeared on the map as if Day 3 was going to be mostly lake paddling, especially since our first lake was called Long Lake, but that assumption was only half right. The second half of our day’s paddle would be back on the river and we would start to learn about picking our way through “rock gardens” and shallow water.

We started with a yummy breakfast of french toast, served with sausage links and real maple syrup. As it would be on everyday, oatmeal was also on the menu, this time made from rolled oats. A great start to the day.

We paddled Long Lake, which did not seem that long, and then passed through a narrows into Harvey Pond. There we stopped at the Lost Popple campsite to refill our water jugs and bottles from a natural spring.

We paddled on a short distance to what appeared, from a distance, like another rapid, but was, in reality a broken dam. Long Lake Dam looked as if it had been washed out years ago, but there were still metal spikes emerging from the original structure that could damage our canoes if we tried to find passage over it. Instead got out of the canoes and lined up in the water to pass the loaded boats through the fast water. This process, called “lining”, required teamwork, some agility, and care not to slip on the rocks beneath our feet. We pulled it off without a hitch.

Lunch was at Sweeney Brook, a river campsite, a couple of miles past the broken dam.

We paddled on the river the rest of the day, learning to dodge rocks and shallows that appeared frequently. Fortunately, our guides went first as we proceeded, single file, following their lead. Every time Chris or Lani would stand in their canoe to get a better look ahead, we knew we were approaching another river rock puzzle.

We picked our way to Inlet campsite, which was on Round Pond, the last open water of the trip. From here forward would be all river paddling.

Dinner was grilled Caribbean Chicken, served with onion/zucchini stir fry and rice. Dessert was strawberry shortcake that featured reflector-oven-baked shortcake, strawberries and and whipped cream. Best dinner of the trip!

Another beautiful evening with a full moon, though it started to cloud up.

Third Day in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway – A Gallery

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