Friday, June 1, 2007

Sandy River Festival

Tomorrow is a fun festival. I wish I could be there to go play. But I'm so excited that I can start a list now of "things I want to do in the summer in Maine" and then next summer, I can do them! I'm creating a new label called "to.do.list" so I can mark blog entries that mention fun things I want to be sure to do.

Log rolling? Fishing without a license on the day they stock the river with 1,000 trout? Learn how to tie a fishing fly? Try out the newest gear in kayaking? There's so much to do and see that I've never done/seen before! What a blast. And how high tech is this . . . GPS demonstration and lessons.

Here's the flyer that came in email:


Sandy River Festival starts Friday morning
By VALERIE TUCKER
Correspondent Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel
Thursday, May 31, 2007

STRONG -- Anglers and paddlers will have to share the Sandy River's bounties on Saturday, but there should be plenty of room for everyone.

On Friday, Maine's Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will stock the river below the Strong bridge with 1,000 trout. Saturday is a free fishing day in Maine -- resident and non-resident licenses are not required.

The Strong Area Business and Civic Alliance and community volunteers have organized the annual Sandy River Festival, with activities beginning at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Hall.

"We're prepared for a day of fun, rain or shine," organizer Milton Baston said.

The 9.5 miles of flat water to the Fairbanks bridge is an easy trip for beginners, he said. A free shuttle will offer a return trip to Strong. This is only one part of the daylong celebration of one of Franklin County's greatest natural resources, according to Alliance president Eileen Miazga.

Baston expects lively competition in the old-fashioned log rolling, a log boom run, a canoe relay and an inner tube race.

"The water might be a bit chilly, so bring a change of clothes unless you're sure you're going to take first place," he suggested. "Don't forget your bug spray, life jackets, and sunscreen."

Northern Lights will offer tryouts of their newest paddling gear. Fly casting and fly tying lessons, the art of canoe poling, paddling safety, and GPS tips will round out the day's activities.

For information, call 684-4429.

retrieved June 1, 2007 from http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3953743.html