Couples in tandem dont get bogged down

By Marty Basch

Getting up with the sun for a chance to see wildlife is asking a lot on most days. So thank you to the moose who ambled along at 10:14 a.m. as we paddled down a finger of Brownfield Bog in western Maine the other day.The excursion was an exercise in couple communication. The bog, Im ashamed to say, had thwarted us in the past. Simply, we couldnt find it. So, she actually got on the phone this time and got directions from a knowledgeable person! This, Im told, is called planning, and she likes it.So we got to the bog, even driving down the dirt and bumpy Bog Lane. The directions were right on. When we got there, seeing the oval turnaround round a rundown shack called the Dynamite Shack, we realized we had, apologies to Crosby, Stills and Nash, been here before.So it was dja vu all over again, except this time, because she asked, she knew where the put-ins were.Tandem kayaking is a truly beautiful activity for those who have to compromise. Not that theres anything wrong with each person having a single kayak. But with a boat built for two, both people get to the same place at the same time.She really likes that.We have tried this in other outdoor endeavors, most notably bicycling. In that situation, we tried it both ways: her in front, he in front. With her in front, forget about it. He cant steer from the back. With him in front, she only sees his back and wont let him have chili for lunch.Thats why a tandem kayak works. He can have both chili for lunch and steer from the back.And they both get to the same place at the same time.There is teamwork even before one enters a place like Brownfield Bog. Theres the system. Together, again she likes this, they must haul the kayak on top of the rack, and together, affix the various straps and ropes. Then, together, they go to the paddling spot, and, together, take the boat off the truck, amass the gear and, together, launch into the water under the guise of Burnt Meadow and Pleasant Mountains.Brownfield Bog Wildlife Management Area is nearly 6,000 acres of marshes, shrub wetland and bogs, according to the state of Maine. It encompasses the towns of Brownfield, Fryeburg and Denmark. Not on the state website was the duck blind that we saw or the beaver lodges. There are bugs, plenty, but we dont know how many. Theres also bird boxes galore, lily pads and visitors like orioles and herons.People also go to the Brownfield Bog just for those birds. You might bump into a group of bird watchers, complete with wide-brimmed hats, collapsible seats and binoculars scanning the sky. Then there were the hoots, hollers and barking of dogs being trained nearby. Who knows, maybe they were bird dogs because we heard gunshots, too.Such a busy place.There are lots of nooks and crannies there, coves and fingers of water. It is easy to get lost. Thats why both people have to pay attention and remember landmarks like ducks blinds and mountains. Strokes are made in tandem. So are turns. When you paddle into a dead-end, there must be communication to paddle out.And if youre in the back, she cant tell if you are not paddling.There is joy in communication. Shell turn around and point out a low-flying heron. Through her binoculars shell spot one on the end of a dead branch high in the trees. It is a regal site.Hell point out a the moose, young. Instead of screaming, Hey look at Bullwinkle. Hell whisper, Moose, right, nine oclock, low. Thats how they talk sometimes when looking for wildlife from a boat.Together, they explore, being aware of where they are, where they are going and how long theyve been out. Both make mental notes about where the mucky put-in and both agree to take the boat out at a different easier spot she saw with those binoculars.With care, they help each other get to shore. Then, like a a couple of regimented troops, they assemble and store the gear, get the boat up on the truck, and affix the ropes and straps.Together, they plan when to do it again.Marty Basch can be reached through www.martybasch.com.