{"id":63565,"date":"2022-08-01T20:48:01","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T00:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/?p=63565"},"modified":"2022-08-01T20:48:04","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T00:48:04","slug":"going-sea-kayaking-pack-some-layers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themainemag.com\/going-sea-kayaking-pack-some-layers\/","title":{"rendered":"Going Sea Kayaking? Pack Some Layers."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The incoming tide quickly covered the exposed rocks and sand bar during a foggy afternoon on Little Hog Island off of Naskeag Point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the first July of the pandemic, Andy Gagne, who regularly reports for this magazine, found himself in possession of a rare commodity for a Maine-based photographer in the summer months: free time. He and his now-fianc\u00e9e, Sarah Kearsley, both certified sea kayaking guides who have worked for Rippleffect, packed up their gear and shoved off from Naskeag Point in Brooklin. They spent the next seven days on the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) trail exploring and camping the breathtaking archipelago between Stonington and Isle au Haut known as Merchant Row, which features 11 Maine Coast Heritage Trust island preserves, finishing up the trip in Blue Hill Bay with views of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. \u201cIt turned out to be a really unique adventure because, as you can see, we experienced every type of weather throughout the time we were out there,\u201d says Gagne. From rough seas and thunderstorms providing little visibility to calm bluebird days when Kearsley and Gagne were able to paddle 10 to 20 miles at a stretch, the mood for their escape from reality became one of complete mindfulness. \u201cOn the ocean, the weather is so much more extreme and always changing,\u201d says Gagne. \u201cThis tells that story\u2014how you never really know what to expect. It really helps you appreciate those beautiful sunny moments. It was a trip in July, and yet I was thinking, \u2018Man, I would really like my puff jacket.\u2019\u201d In other words, the old adage rings true: if you don\u2019t like the weather, wait a minute. Gagne and Kearsley now live in western Maine, where much of their time is spent exploring the mountains and rivers, but they always look forward to packing up their sea kayaks and reconnecting with the coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sarah Kearsley paddling at sunrise in Blue Hill Bay with the mountains of Acadia National Park in the background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The view from Gagne and Kearsley\u2019s campsite\u2014a swath of tall grass in golden light\u2014on Harbor Island in Penobscot Bay.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kayaks prepped and packed for a foggy morning paddle off the shore of Spruce Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Kearsley setting up camp and drying out gear after a full day of paddling.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Fine dining over a driftwood fire on Harbor Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The kitchen, set up beneath a leaky tarp during a two-hour-long, ground-shaking thunderstorm on Little Hog Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The final morning of the trip provided calm water, blue sky, and a view of Sellers Island.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\t\t
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