Canal Boat Days

Wednesday, August 31
Cool and Cloudy. We all set sail at an early hour for Portland and beat up against a strong wind. At one spot we saw a number of seals darting their heads above the water, or crawling on the rocks. We arrived at Portland at 10:30 a.m. and passed the two wharves intended for the Great Eastern and fastened our boats to the pier where we were to stop for the remainder of the day and next night. During the afternoon we had a smart shower.

Thursday, September 1st
Weather pleasant. Left Portland at 10:30 a.m. and started on a return voyage "alone in our glory", for the other boats could not make it convenient to start when we did. There is to be a great trotting match at Portland today between Floral Temple and Princess. Leaving Portland, the scenery becomes beautiful - fair cottages elegant mansions half hidden by the rich foliage; green lawns sloping down to the waters edge, where the willow and other shrubs bend gracefully down and are reflected in the glassy surface of the Canal; little boats drawn upon the bank; the many bridges; the view of some distant village; the occaisonal appearance of a canal boat - all comprise to form a picture seldom surpassed. A little urchin digging clams and wearing a tall beaver hat, calls forth many jocular remarks from the boatmen. At one place we pass a host of naked urchins bathing in the canal. Pass the pleasant village of Stroudwater on the left of us. Pass through seven locks meet six boats; - time 2:15 p.m., pass Saccarappa at 3 o'clock - pass "Congin" and another small village 3:30 and across or rather under a railroad - meet two boats - pass through two locks and cross Pleasant River at right-angles, by means of a bridge with water-tight sides and bottom, and arrive at Little Falls, Gorham, at 6:15 o'clock p.m.. Meet another boat, and pass through "Gambo" at 7 o'clock - meet one boat, and after passing through three locks reach "Kemps", where we stop for the night. Time 8 o'clock p.m. - distance form Portland fifteen miles. the Ocean Ranger stays along side of us.

Friday, September 2nd
Cloudy and lowery. Leave "Kemps" at 5 o'clock a.m. and after passing through 6 locks and meeting one boat we arrive at Great Falls, Gorham, at 7 o'clock. Great Falls is quite an extensive as well as a pleasant village; the Presumpscot furnishes a strong water power wich seems to be well improved, but as the boat did not stop I had no time to note anything in particular, with the exception of a country store, and a milinary shop nearby.

Go through four locks and pass a small village containing a sawmill and a few dwellings - meet another boat- pass through another lock. Weather more pleasant. We pass through two locks and are at the head of the Canal. Distance from Portland - twenty miles.

And now goodbye to the Canal which we have been so long sailing and have enjoyed such views
of pleasant villages, farm houses, and villas "cradled mid the clustering hills", roads, rustic bridges, and the Presumpscot River which, a aprt of the way, goes dashing onward many feet below the canal side. We left the canal and sailed up the mouth of the Presumpscot, then across the "basin" and entered upon Sebago Lake when the

  wind blowing a gale we ran for safety into Cape Standish, time; 10:30 a.m.. We were joined by the Ocean Ranger, and about noon by the B. Walker, bringing Mr. Lamson and Mr. T. Hall. After partaking of a most savory dinner we set sail at 1:30 o'clock, but the gale continuing with unabated fury, we ran in and anchored at Fryes' Island; but the Ocean Ranger and ventured to cross though they seemed likely to be capsized at any moment.
The island consistes of a large tract of land covered with the forest, while a house and barn have been erected and land cleared in the immediate vicinity. Four of us went blackberrying with tolerable success.At 7 o'clck p.m. the wind lulleda little we again set sail to breast the foam crested waves of Lake Sebago. But we found that the wind had lessened but at little, but still blowed with great violence from the westward while black clouds just rising form the horizon looked rather squally but we hoped to reach the opposite shore ere we should feel their effects. The waves ran high and our boat tipped sideways to a fearful extent as ever and anon a big wave dashed over the deck; but our little vessel ploughed gallantly through the waters under the guidance on our skilled helmsman; while the faint light of the moon aided in making the scene one of unusual grandeur and sublimity. But we at lenght drew near to the dark outline of tho opposite shores and at 9 o'clock ran safely into the mouth of the Songo, and there the scene changed as if by magic.- no longer the sound of the wind and waves, but, on the contrary, a death-like stillness. The darkness of the forest on either side of the river was intense, but the river itself was visible in consequence of the reflection of the sky upon its surface.
The stillness wa sunbroken, save by the steady tramp, tramp of the boatmen as they walk the length of the boat, pushing it along with heavy poles; while the northern lights alone with remarkable brilliancy, danced to and fro like phantoms, and a wierdlike influence to the scene.
But it was 10 o'clock so I turned into my berth in the cabin. "Where are we at" asked I, the next morning as I peeked out from my berth, "are we out of Songo yet". "Yes, at Mutton Cove" was the reply. I arose and went on deck; the sun shining brightly; th ewind had wholly subsided, and we were at the Bridgton Wharf.

And so that ends Mr Dingley's account of a voyage down and up the Cumberland and Oxford Canal. In the future, we hope to bring you more stories of life on the Canal.