Board meeting: Surfing lesson at Aquaholics

It's not like we need another excuse to plunge into the cold Atlantic. The heavy heat is already a motivator.

But flopping haphazardly amid the waves, or bobbing in the water like a displaced log, just doesn't look as cool as, say, surfing.

Maybe you've watched the surfers at Higgins or Gooch's Beach and thought, "I want to do that."

Maybe that adventurous musing was quashed by the thought that followed: "But I'll look like an idiot."

No beginner surfer wants to look foolish. We don't want to be called "kooks," even though we won't even know what that means.

The fear of failure (and the impending surf-community mockery) is usually enough to kill anyone's wave-riding potential.

But a surf lesson, in the company of other novices, could be your ticket to surfing mastery.

Hint: Aquaholics in Kennebunk offers FREE surf lessons during Mother's Surf on Wednesday mornings.

[Eugene Cole photos]

Nanci Boutet, owner of Aquaholics and our surf lesson mentor, gave swift and solid instructions to last week's class.

Everything's included during Mother's Surf: board and wetsuit rentals, instruction and the freedom to fall time and time again.

And fall we did last week.

But it wasn't long before I spotted new surfers popping up along the whitewash at Gooch's Beach.


Even I managed to stand up a few times.

The Mother's Surf lesson runs 10:00 am-noon on Wednesdays through August. They'll switch to Tuesdays in the fall.

Registration is limited, so you need to call early to seal a spot. An insider's tip: call on Wednesday morning to get in for the following week. If you wait until Wednesday afternoon, consider yourself "wait listed."

And while it's called Mother's Surf, there were still some childless women in the group and even a fellow or two. So don't bother faking that family photo.

FMI or to reserve a spot: www.aquaholicsurf.com or 967.8650

Thanks to Eugene Cole for use of the Surf Camp photos. See all his images at www.eugecole.smugmug.com or check out his Huge Surf blog

Locked upriver: Kayaking the Songo

There's a reason half the cars in town are topped with kayaks.

Sure, the bright slender boats make good car hats (reducing sun exposure and premature wrinkling). But it's what the kayaks can do in the water that makes them such a splendid summer accoutrement.

Of course not everyone has the storage or the spending cash to own a kayak of their own.

Enter: the rental shop. Rentals make it simple for novice or occasional paddlers to test the waters. Literally.

RAD Jet Ski Rentals on the Causeway in Naples sits comfortably between the shores of Long Lake and the patio of Rick's Cafe. They rent kayaks by the hour, half day or day (as well as paddle boats, jet skis and other tools of the lake).

We took our kayaks to go and headed a couple miles back up Route 302 to Sebago Lake State Park. Entry fee to the park typically costs $4.50 per adult but was free to Maine residents the day we were there.

We opted to put in at the boat launch - for the easy parking and the easy in.

Despite the season's heavy rains, the Songo River was easy to manage. Boats came and went sporadically, but overall it seemed we had the river to ourselves.

It took about 45 minutes of mellow paddling to reach the Songo Lock. We beached our kayaks to take a break and watch the locks in action.

The locks are opened and closed through some old-school mechanics and sheer physical effort. Boaters pay $6 to pass through. On the other side, there's a small food stand with hot dogs, burgers and the like.

With hunger satiated and daddy long legs removed from the kayaks, we headed back the way we came.

At the mouth of the river (just past the boat launch) is a slender sand bar stretched out far, far into the distance.

Boaters were lined up en masse on the lake side, but there was still plenty of room for us to drag our kayaks up, ditch the PFDs and take to the water.

The boat launch is ideally located, giving river-goers the option to stick to the Songo or hang on the lake. And while Sebago is a notoriously busy bowl of water, the river traffic was minimal.

The traffic on 302, however, exploded just after 10 a.m. If you plan to rent from RAD, get there early. We didn't make reservations on the day we went and there were plenty of boats to be had.

Single rentals cost $48 for the day. For rental details or more info: 207-693-8200.

Register for the beerly 10K: Trail to Ale '09

Finish-line applause is intoxicating.

The thrill of completing a 10K is amplified by the crowds of clapping friends and strangers along the way.

But you know what else is intoxicating? Free Shipyard and Portland Pie.

The motivational ovation takes a backseat to the beer and pizza at the end of the annual Trail to Ale 10K. The 6.2-mile run along the East End Trail and around Back Cove benefits Portland Trails and once again boasts a finish line full of beer, pizza and other grub.

Mark your calendars: 9:00 am September 20, 2009.

You might also want to register sooner rather than later.

The number of participants has continued to grow over the last nine years - and this year is expected to top over a thousand. In fact, the starting line is moving to accommodate the throng of beer-motivated runners:

"While the course has traditionally started on the Eastern Promenade Trail at East End Beach, this year's race will start on Thames Street between Hancock and India streets near Ocean Gateway Terminal. Starting on the road will give runners a chance to spread out before merging with the adjacent Eastern Promenade Trail." [From Portland Trails press release]

Through Monday, September 14, runners can register for $18 by calling (207) 775-2411 or visiting www.trails.org. After that date, entry is $20. Runners can sign up the day of the race from 7:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. at the Portland Company on Fore Street.

Nails and cocktails (aka Martinis & Manicures at Jimmy the Greeks)

Local watering holes seem to think the lure of inexpensive booze is all it takes to get women in the door.

Take an average weekday, mix up some $5 drinks and you've got yourself a ladies night.

And that works for your average martini-tipping gal. But the discerning lady drinker needs more.

Like a $5 martini and a manicure.

Jimmy the Greeks in Old Orchard Beach aims to please with $5 Martinis and Manicures Night on Tuesdays from 7-10 pm.

The restaurant & bar was packed last Tuesday - on account of the extensive beer list, fine pizza and freebie finger polishing. (And yes, there were even a few fellas getting primped and filed.)

The manicures are free (but being the courteous and refined customer you are, you'll leave a hearty tip). It's first come, first served at the front table, where the two manicurists are stationed.

With no sign-up list, you're obliged to take a seat at the bar, peruse the martini list and pick out something snazzy.

We even took the liberty of ordering some grub while keeping an eye on the manicure table. Eventually I snuck into an open spot and flayed my hands out for Nancy, the manicurist.

We talked polish options. Since I typically leave my nails naked, I opted to go colorful. As in pink colorful. As in hot pink, a color I've not dared go near since those rad stretch pants I had in 1985.

A little hand pampering and a cocktail - not a poor way to shake off a Tuesday.

$5 Martinis and Manicures runs every Tuesday from 7-10 pm. And if martinis aren't your shtick, there are over 120 beers to please you.

Berried treasure: Blueberry pickin' at Payeur's

Blueberry empowerment.

That's what it is.

It's giving the power of choice back to the people.

The choice to say, "No, I don't want my blueberries decided for me. I want to hand-select each individual specimen, pushing aside the too plump or the imperfect just like I do my friends."

And at Payeur's Pick-Your-Own, the blueberry authority lies in you.

Not far off Otis Allen Road in Sanford, the farm boasts rows and rows of cultivated blueberries. And this, my friends, is the time to pick 'em.

Payeur's sells by the pound ($2.20) and even keeps a stack of blue buckets on hand (the better to keep from staining your shirt with). I judged it'd take hours to actually fill one - berry by tiny blue berry.

But the ripe things were everywhere - on every bush - each looking more tempting than the last. There was no heading to the back to avoid the over-picked shrubs. There was no scavenging to find a tart, pluckable bunch.

My bucket grew heavy in no time.

Balloons moved swiftly up and down nearby rows - alerting pickers to the whereabouts of purple-fingered kids who'd bolted from their chaperons.

Back at the barn, where our buckets of blueberries were weighed out and paid for, we took the liberty of sampling the Payeur's Homemade blueberry ice cream.

Regret No. 1: I purchased only one quart. Utterly insufficient.

Check out Payeur's on Otis Allen Road, Sanford (207-324-3200) or any other pick you own (there's a roundup of some berry picking joints in the summer guide).

And if you find yourself at a blueberry impasse (what does one do with five pounds of blueberries?) here's a noteworthy recipe we snagged at Payeur's:

Vodka Blueberry Liquor
1 C white sugar
3 C fresh blueberries
2 C vodka
In a two-quart jar, dissolve sugar in vodka. Pour in blueberries and cover jar. Store in a cool, dark place for two months (refrigerator is okay). Occasionally shake gently. Strain and serve in cordial glasses or if you prefer, over ice.

An excellent way to salute your newfound Blueberry Prowess and officially "stick it" to the Prepackaged Blueberry Man.