Delaware River spring 2010

Paddling down the Upper Delaware River, 2010.

Portage power on the Manasquan!

An early crew of paddlers prepares their boats and gear at Howell Park Golf Course before the start of the 40th Manasquan River Canoe & Kayak Race, May 8, 2010. 

Probably best described as a kayak-assisted hike, the Manasquan River Canoe & Kayak Race was incredibly challenging. Although the course was less than 6 miles, there were many portages — I stopped counting after six — and obstacles. I witnessed at least one paddler flip his boat and others taking in serious amounts of water.

 Paddlers of varying skill sets negotiated the course in roughly 1-3 hours. Unofficially, the top time for kayak solo was around 1:13. I placed second in that category at 1:26 (stoked!) Official results have not been posted yet by the crew at Monmouth County Parks, but those folks put on a great event. Special thanks to Ryan Kimble, who managed to sneak me in for a super late registration.

A coffee-colored stretch of the Manasquan at the start of the race.



Summer arrives early on Mullica

(Above) Chris and Kenny (with a limp-wristed wave) just after Beaver City on the Mullica May 1, 2010. (Below video) Kenny, then Chris, glide along the Mullica May 1, 2010.

 

Trip: Mullica River

Put-in: Atsion

Take-out: Batsto

Gauge reading: 2.14' at 166 cfs (1.4' at put-in)

Air temp: 80s

Trip time: 4:20

The sweet air of the Mullica is still in my lungs. We paddled through spudding lilies, fertile river banks and pools of pollen as the woods hinged on spring's full explosion. Pockets of cool air waited under the shady arches of trident swamp maple.

The river was full of life: tree swallows, a great blue heron, red-winged blackbirds, a snake and multiple turtles were among our sightings. 

There were a few campers at the Mullica River Wilderness Campsite, which was about mid-way on our trip. One camper we met at the put-in was planning on staying there the night with a few buddies for a low-impact trip -- he had a small radio taped to a cooler in his canoe so he wouldn't miss the Mets game on the way out. According to this guy, it's $2 per person for the permit which is available at Atsion. Also, his group planned on paying $25 apiece for a shuttle back to their cars in the morning through a local livery (yikes!)

Oh, and lots of bugs. Fortunately, the above camper generously let us use some of the little bug spray he had. Giddy, we lathered ourselves in 100 percent DEET.

It was Kenny's first trip with his new boat -- a 10.6' Equinox(?) made by Future Beach. He got it for a steal at $320 with paddle from Costco. According to Ken, it's a little heavy at 50 pounds. It stays straight, but a little maneuverability is sacrificed. 

After our trip me and Kenny stopped at nearby P.J. Whelihan's in Medford Lakes for $2 Molsons and Chipotle Lime Shrimp.

Shock and Awe on the Wading

Me on the Wading River, March 7, 2010. Horrible photo, but it was the only one that made it -- the other camera took a sink in the drink.

Trip: Wading River Put-in: Hawkins Bridge

Take-out: Bodine Field

Gauge reading: 12.4' (Wading); 3.3' at 140+ cfs (Oswego)

Air temp: 50s (first warm weather since fall)

Trip time: 3:35

For the most part, this long, overdue paddle was filled with bright spots -- we spotted a pair of white-bodied hawks, spooked a flock of mallards, I even found a "beer buddy" drink holder in the mud banks that fit my boat perfectly.

"Could this day get any better?" I asked Chris.

And then moments later, things got real ugly.

We were well ahead of schedule -- probably had about less than an hour to the take-out at Bodine Field. We had been paddling just over two hours and were sort of taking it easy -- me scoping for birds, and Chris, um, checking his fingernails I guess ... and it's in this moment of hangnail discoveries that Chris finds himself pinched in the arch of an old, prickly gray cedar, water rushing into his boat. He was literally caught with his paddle down.

During a futile, few-second struggle, his boat quickly fills and he's flipped into the river. Sigh.

After a few laughs, I paddle toward him, several yards downstream. He's gasping from the shock of the cold water and the surprise flip. He's hanging onto a branch sprouting up from the river, a few feet from the bank, but the water's still over head. He assures me he's OK, and climbs up the mud.

Now, I'm in pursuit of his boat. I try to to push it to the river's edge repeatedly, but it quickly becomes like cattle roping on the river. His boat's filled with water. The river's pushing. It gets hung up in a strainer, so I take a few minutes to paddle back to Chris. He's soaked, but OK.

After a few more tired tries, I manage to get the boat to a bushy riverside area. I wrestle both boats up and over the bank. While his boat drains, I travel on land back up along the river to Chris. He's on the other side of a small feeder river to the Wading, so we're separated by about 15 feet of slow-moving water.

"You OK?" I ask.

"Yeah. Got the boat?" he responds.

"Yep. You got your paddle?" I ask.

"Yeah," he says.

"Great. Can I borrow it?" I say.

That's right, I must've dropped my paddle in the river while wrestling our boats up the bank. Sigh #2.

I manage to hand-paddle in my boat over to Chris. I get his paddle and head back to his boat. While lashing his boat to mine with my shoelace, I drop my camera in the water. Sigh #3.

Finally, we're both in our boats -- me paddling with Chris in tow. We find my paddle stuck in a strainer a bit downstream. It's sort of sketchy getting it without falling in, but I manage, and soon we're back on our planned course. Sigh (of relief) #4.

Battered, wet, stressed, but not beaten -- that's how this trip ended. But, all things considered, it could have been worse. Luckily, we were both wearing PFDs. Admittedly, if it had been summer we may not have had them on. Words to the wise: always wear your jackets and respect the river.

Otherwise, a few helpful checkpoints:

* With a good push, it's about a one-hour paddle to Wading Pines Campground.

* There's a gauge just past the campground on the right. It's like a six-foot, silver cylinder rising up from the riverside.

* The take-out at Bodine Field is Bennie-proof. There's a stop sign, a painted post, an orange road barrel, a naked lady. (Just kidding about that last one.)

Spillover at Cedar Creek



A group of paddlers take a break June 27 at the spillway at Double Trouble.

6/27/09

Cedar Creek / 2.72'' / 169 cfs / 79 degrees (air temp)

Trip: Dover access to Dudley Park (Bayville) 9.5 mi.

Drop in: 9 a.m. / Takeout: 2 p.m.

By far the best Cedar Creek conditions we've ever had. Following weeks of rain and a fresh downpour the night before, the levels were way up for this run -- the creek washed over the service road at Double Trouble!

Although only a few miles, the stretch between Dover access and Ore Pond is winding and narrow. Ferns, flowers and swamp maple line the riversides. It's here that we (me and Kenny) spotted bunches of Slender Blue Flag. Common in marshes and meadows, Blue Flag blossoms May-June (Boyd's; 177). We also spotted a few turtles, Cedar Waxwing and engaged in conversation with a Gray Catbird. Two words for paddlers setting out on this first leg: BUG SPRAY. Without it, you're doomed.

I think most people put in just after this stretch at Ore Pond access, off Pinewald-Keswick Road. Just behind us was a crew of four, who had rented kayaks from Triple T Canoe Rentals, in Beachwood.

At Ore Pond, we saw numerous Tree Swallows eating bugs from lily pads and the water's surface. From a distance, we could hear and see the creek washing over the service road — it looked like an Infinity pool's edge. 

I made a go at paddling down the washover at the road, but it was too shallow. I wound up pulling myself over the concrete/rock mix for about 20 feet, before an extremely uneventful drop into the spillway. Zzzzzz.
Lots of folks on the creek today: a group of Boy Scouts, some kayak renters and even a stalker lady that we met up with three times along the river — seriously, it was strange.

The first leg from Dover access put-in is winding and packed with obstacles.

If you listen closely, you'll hear Kenny bump my boat as he passes.

Daze on the Delaware

Chris, Kenny and me almost make the self-timer at Dingmans Falls.

We paddled along through all of the benchmark spots: beneath the scenic byway, spotting one or two bald eagles; Big Eddy (the 113-foot deep spot at Narrowsburg); then the No. 9 Railroad Bridge, Masthope, Colang and Kunkeli rapids before reaching our takeout at the Zane Grey Museum, just after the Lackawaxen River confluence. We had originally planned to hit the Lackawaxen at some point, but the levels were way too low. We did however find out that release info can be obtained at http://www.lakelevelppl.com/ or (800) 807-2474.

That night me and Kenny played ping pong on two tables, with two paddles each at the main “lodge.” It was awesome.

TUESDAY: After a good night’s sleep, me, Chris and Kenny took it easy and headed to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, for a short hike to Dingmans Falls. At 130 feet, it’s impressive. We hiked to the top. Note: the bathroom facilities at this place must be frequented by human-sized ferrets.

We started happy hour immediately upon our return to “base camp.” We set up at the main lodge at the BBQ pit and pitched shoes, drank beers and waited for Baker to show. Upon Baker’s arrival, we scarfed burgers and chicken sandwiches, cleaned up and headed back to the house, where we said goodbye to Kenny and ushered Baker into our digs.

Baker is an animal. After some prompting on his part, we played Asshole (drinking game) until about 2:30 a.m. It was devastating to all but Baker, who was gone the next day by 8.

WEDNESDAY: Me and Chris slept until about 11, and realized that despite our banged up condition, we had to press on. We set out to put in just above the Staircase Rapids at River Mile 267 to Sparrow Bush. Even nursing a hangover, it was great. The rapids at Mongaup were fun, even a little sketchy. After, we found the hydraulic power plant on the Mongaup River where, with better planning, would have been a great short trip in addition to what we had already paddled.

On that last night, I took it easy and headed home early (6:30) Thursday morning. Chris stayed behind leaving that afternoon. Great trip; next time we definitely have to hit Mongaup.

3 amigos go with the flow



Me, Kenny and Chris at the same spot we mugged at in February. (No floe this time though.)

Box turtle gets spooked, makes a splash on the Toms, April 26, 2009.

Trip: Toms River / Put-in: Winding River Park / Take-out: Rt. 166 biz park / 4.61' at 246 cfs / Air temp: 88

Just can't seem to go wrong with this trip -- it's become the new Oswego. It's a short, easy paddle, so far always runnable.

Me, Kenny and Chris headed out on a Sunday afternoon taking my truck and the van for shuttling. This time Kenny used Tim's boat. It took him a little getting used to, since it's a short, wide, rec-fishing boat. But after a bit he was dodging strainers and eating only just a few bushes on the bends.

We spooked several box turtles sunning on logs after the powerlines. As we neared the downtown area. We spotted 3-4 small, ratty tents on the west side of the Toms that appear to be inhabited by homeless folks.

The weather was great, in the high 80s -- I even went for the first swim of the season.