• Kayaking: The Eastport area offers days and days of exploring for kayakers. This web site is a diary of a one week sea kayaking trip in Cobscook Bay. Qross Boats can provide rentals of Old Town kayaks. Visit them on Route 1 in Perry or call 731-9595. Information can be obtained at The Ultimate Directory of Kayaking Links, dedicated to sea kayaking. The USGS Streamflow Conditions For Maine are available here. This gives the information for the St. Croix River from Vanceboro through Grand Lake Stream to Baring.


JASON JAMAR ARRIVES HOME IN TEXAS
IN KAYAK BUILT AT WCTC BOAT SCHOOL IN EASTPORT
By John Miller
On a sunny and warm afternoon in late January, Jason Jamar paddled into Marble Falls, Texas, and his hometown. Jamar’s American river journey had begun in Maine, eight months earlier where he had built his 20-ft customized kayak at America’s oldest boat building school, in Eastport, Maine. His arrival ended an 8,000-mile sojourn of walking and paddling across America. It’s been an awesome, whirlwind, fairy-tale adventure, said Jamar when he landed in his hometown. Hundreds of local townspeople had turned out to shake his hand and see this remarkable American.

Jamar entered the lives of many here in Washington County, Maine a year ago. His arrival came with the New Year.

Thirteen months ago (three days before New Years 2001, to be exact) I returned home to find several messages on my machine to call my old boss, Governor Angus King, in Florida. Without hesitation I returned his call to find out what was up. As it turned out, a young man a former United States Marine, had spent the last year walking across America from San Diego to Maine. His final destination was Calais and would be there around New Year’s Day. The governor wanted me to make sure Jason Jamar had a fitting and appropriate Maine Welcome and Reception when he and his dog BJ reached Calais.

It is a fond memory to think back at how quickly the people of Lubec, Eastport, Calais, St. Stephen and surrounding communities responded. When the young man and his dog reached Calais on January 2, 2001 an impressive gathering of humanity was there. The Maine State Police in dress blues and RCMP in red surge joined the young Texas native for the final leg of his walk from WCTC to The Calais Motor Inn and the International Bridge. All three television network affiliates and CNN were there to report on the moment with print reporters from local, statewide and Maritime newspapers. On that final trek from WCTC to The Calais Motor Inn, Washington County Community College president Bill Flahive chatted with Jamar. Their conversation revealed that Jason was thinking about completing his journey by paddling back to Texas on America’s river system. At the ceremonies that day William Flahive invited the former Marine to build the vessel that would carry him home at The Boat School. That is exactly what he did. With Dr. Flahive’s help and the instructors at The Boat School, Jamar built a Kayak for he and his dog to travel home to Texas.

On May 18th of this past year, Jason and BJ left Maine. On Monday, January 28th, 2002, Jason and BJ arrived in his hometown of Marble Falls, Texas in the kayak built at WCTC’s Boat School. The 3,700-mile sojourn carried the man and canine duo into the Harbors of Boston and New York City. They headed into the Hudson River and from there hit the Erie Canal which carried them to the Allegheny. They paddled to Pittsburgh and picked up the Ohio River. The Ohio carried them to The Mississippi and from the Mississippi they picked up the Atchafalaya. They reached the Intercostals Canal, which carried them to the Galveston Yacht Basin. From there he made his way into the Colorado River and home.

In all, this remarkable young man and his dog walked and/or paddled 8,000 miles across America. They ate lots of food along the way, went through numerous pairs of shoes and boots, and met lots of wonderful people. They built a great kayak of cedar and mahogany and spent half their journey promoting WCTC, The Boat School and Washington County, as they talked to reporters, students and new friends on the journey back to Marble Falls. Congratulations to Jason Jamar and BJ and to that great Kayak built at The Boat School in Eastport, Maine.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: JOHN MILLER, 207-853-2518

Many locations in Eastport have free copies of a map detailing the Eastport/Lubec Quoddy Loop vicinity. Carry one with you. This map details roads and ferry routes connecting the entire area. You'll enjoy each of these day trips more fully if you have a camera and binoculars always at hand. At every turn you have the opportunity for a moose to appear, an eagle to soar overhead, or some other breathtaking sight to awaken your senses. Many days you'll want a sweater or sweatshirt within easy reach. Bring along water and food so you'll have the freedom to explore in every direction.

Eastport, Maine: Easternmost City in the U.S.A.