At the site of the B-52 crash on Elephant Mountain are (left to right, front row) Linda Trueworthy, Sandy Jamison, Nancy Perry, Marcel Poulin, (back) Bill Haefele, Peggy Bickford and Paul Houlares. (CVOA photo) CARRABASSETT — A somber stroll through the site of the B52 bomber crash, a jaw-dropping hike up Mt. Kineo, a rugged bike ride down the Greenville to Shirley rail trail, a gentle paddle down the Moose River to Moosehead Lake —CVOA crammed it all into its “Inland Adventure” outing to Moosehead Lake July 9.

Some 50 members of the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association set their GPSs “north” and headed up to the great north woods for a weekend of hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, sightseeing, nature-watching, feasting and socializing.

The group literally took over Maynard’s, a charming, sprawling, old-time, fourth-generation sporting camp where a clanging bell still summons guests to dinner, porch rockers are de rigueur and a gaggle of geese join the social hour riverside.

Anne Weston kayaks the Moose River with Mt. Kineo in the background. (CVOA photo) “Can we come back?” asked CVOA member Jan Doherty, echoing the sentiments of many members of the group.

Although this marked CVOA’s first trip to the Moosehead area, it won’t the last. The area offers so many outdoor recreational opportunities that it was difficult to sample them all during three packed days.

The local outdoor club sponsors an annual trip to an inland lake, a coastal retreat and a western ski area as well as weekend’s in two of Maine’s most cherished spots: Baxter State Park and Acadia National Park. The group heads to Baxter July 31, the Camden/Isleboro area in September and Bar Harbor in October.

CVOA members started rolling into Maynard’s Friday, their cars geared up with bikes, kayaks, canoes, fishing rods and hiking gear.

Gail Maynard cheerfully and capably handled the crowd, serving dinner in shifts since there were more CVOAers than dining room chairs. Four-course dinners featuring hefty portions and home-baked desserts and full breakfasts with Maynard’s own eggs and maple syrup were served each day and Maynard packed everyone a brown bag lunch for the outdoor adventures.

Evenings, there were social hours by the river and, after dinner, on the front porch. During the day, there were hikes up Kineo, bike rides to the Brassau Dam and the Birches, paddles on the Moose River, boat excursions on Moosehead Lake, fly casting lessons and fishing in many of the local streams, side trips to the historic Pittston Farm, the B-52 crash site, Moxie Falls and downtown Greenville.

CVOA members came home with some first-rate shots of waterfalls, dams, wildflowers and the 360-degree views from atop Kineo… and some up-close photos of local wildlife, including moose, eagles, geese, ducks, rabbits, loons and fish.

All the photos will be featured in an online photo album and some are sure to be included in CVOA’s 2011 photo calendar.

“A great weekend,” said Anne Worthley. “It was wonderful.”

To find out more about CVOA and its upcoming adventures, visit the club’s Web site at: www.cvoutdoors. com. Annual dues are just $10 a year for individuals and $15 for families. The club is also involved in numerous civic projects and operates a shooting range in Carrabassett.