AUGUSTA – Old Fort Western, the national landmark fort, store and house historic site on the Kennebec River in Augusta, will host its eighth annual Fort to Fort Canoe and Kayak Expedition Sunday, June 24. The purpose is to celebrate and enjoy the historic 17-mile waterway between Fort Halifax in Winslow and Fort Western.
“This is not a race ,and there will be no competition or prizes,” said Jay Adams, Old Fort Western’s director and curator. “Rather, it is an opportunity to be on the water, paddling at your own pace, to re-trace and re-explore the route that linked the Fort Western and Fort Halifax in the 1750s-’60s and which was followed by Benedict Arnold’s forces in 1775 as they attempted to take Canada from the British at the beginning of the American Revolution.”
The official shove-off time and place is 8 a.m. from Fort Halifax Park in Winslow but participants are free to put in whenever and wherever they wish. The full Fort to Fort trip is expected to take about five to six hours, depending upon weather and current conditions.
Water and snacks will be available at the half-way point at the Sidney boat landing. Augusta’s East-side Boat Landing is the final destination. From there, participants are invited to visit Old Fort Western free of charge.
A shuttle bus will take participants back to Winslow to pick up their cars as necessary. Shuttle service will begin at 1 o’clock. The last run to Winslow will depart Augusta at 4 p.m. There will not be room for boats on the bus.
For the expedition, all Maine safety regulations will be in effect, including the use of approved life-jackets or other flotation devices. Participants should be sure to bring plenty of water or juice to drink (no alcohol please) and snacks to eat along the way. Paddlers owning cell phones are encouraged to bring them along, too, to help out in case of emergency.
To determine how many people may join the expedition and to create a contact list, interested persons are urged to call Old Fort Western at 626-2385, or e-mail oldfort@oldfortwestern.org no later than June 22 to register their intent to participate.
For more information, call 626-2385.
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