Ethel LaFlamme, bottom left, gives her husband Jim’s kayak a shove Monday morning out onto the Androscoggin River  as they join friends at the Turner Public Boat Launch on Center Bridge Road in Turner. Justin LaFontaine, in the red kayak, and his wife, Erica, right, joined them for an island-hopping paddle. “This is really such a gem, Justin said. “There is not a lot of development along the shore so we see eagles, osprey and lots of other wildlife. You can camp and picnic on some of the islands out there… Jim and I have camped overnight. Today we just packed a lunch.” The foursome reside in Greene. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Friends from Greene paddle Monday morning on the Androscoggin River after leaving the public boat launch on Center Bridge Road in Turner. Justin LaFontaine, top left, is followed by his wife, Erica. Jim LaFlamme, right, and his wife, Ethel, middle, joined their friends for a Labor Day paddle. “This is really such a gem,” Justin said. “There is not a lot of development along the shore so we see eagles, osprey and lots of other wildlife. Brookfield owns several islands that you can camp on and picnic,” he said of the hydropower company. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Ethel LaFlamme, bottom left, paddles Monday morning onto the Androscoggin River with her husband, Jim, bottom right, as they join friends at the Turner Public Boat Launch on Center Bridge Road in Turner. Justin LaFontaine, in the red kayak, and his wife Erica, top right, join them for an island-hopping paddle. “This is really such a gem,” Justin said. “There is not a lot of development along the shore so we see eagles, osprey and lots of other wildlife. Brookfield owns several islands that you can camp on and picnic,” he said of the hydropower company. The two couples are from Greene. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal