July 14, 2015 Canvas Dam Campsite up through Caucomgomoc to Round Pond and Loon Lodge

We slept until 5:45AM and had coffee and oatmeal. We packed up everything and hit the river early at 7:30. There was a nice tailwind that pushed us upstream to the first riffles of the horserace of Caucomgomoc stream. At one point, moving at full speed, a bumble bee cruised past my head buzzed around, and moved on. It seemed effortless for him to cruise a bit faster than 5mph. We began to push and pull the canoes upstream through ever increasing rapids. It was very slow progress and we had hoped to stop for lunch at the dam.

We never saw the horserace campsite. (four years later as this is typed, I notice that horserace campsite is no longer on the map) As a note if you attempt to traverse Caucomgomoc stream wear river shoes with ankle support. Our ankles were all beat up in the water shoes.

We hoped to eat lunch at the campsite or the dam. Eventually, we came to a ledge falls where a portage was necessary. We ate a quick snack and went for a walk to assess the portage. The portage was NOT desirable. We worked together to move the gear 20' and lifted the canoe over that section of ledge. We poled and paddled the remaining stream up to the dam at Caucomgomoc Lake. We didn’t make it to the dam until 2:30.

There was a group of kids swimming in the outflow from the dam. They watched as we landed and carried our gear, and then the canoes, up and over the dam. A quick geocache and we headed out onto Caucomgomoc Lake and into Ciss Stream. The waves were quite defined and there were white caps. We didn't have to paddle as the wind pushed the canoe at 3mph and it was difficult to steer. We were pushed over grass sand bars and it was difficult to stay in the channels. As we progressed, we saw a moose cow and her calf. My son's sail was working great and he was making more than 5mph sometimes. We crossed under a bridge so I knew we were close to round pond. The channel opened up and the waves increased to full white caps. My youngest and I were surfing the canoe and I was catching it on video when my son and Gramp sailed by at high speed. We quickly crossed the pond and arrived at Loon Lodge at 4:30pm. Folks saw us coming and there was a group of folks on the dock admiring the sail as we arrived.

We unloaded and were rewarded for our hard work with popsicles and then a pie. Our hosts were so appreciated by the kids we decided to stay an extra night and head for home the next day. While a huge chicken and stuffing meal cooked on the stove, we took hot showers and cleaned up. I

really thought everyone would pass out asleep but they threw the ball for the dog and played crazy 8s. By 9PM we couldn't keep our eyes open. The cabin was heaven on earth.