3 amigos go with the floe

Me, Kenny and Chris take time to chill on the Toms River Feb. 8, 2009. Notice Chris sitting on a slab of ice.



Kenny decked out in Baker's goods, enjoying his first solo paddle.

 
Put-in: Winding River Park, off of Oak Ridge Parkway

Take-out: Industrial Park on Route 166

Weather: 61 degrees, little windy

River conditions (reading as of Feb. 11): 4.18'' pushing at 195

The Toms may soon become our "Oswego north" because it's a quick paddle with a good amount of obstacles and turns -- perfect for a mid-afternoon winter trip. From what I read, and have so far experienced, the lower Toms is always passable.

This trip took just over two hours, but with a little more consistency and much less Fosters, we could have made it in less than two hours. Also, it was Kenny's first trip in a single -- Baker's 14-foot Dirigo touring boat. Kenny did really well. I was really hoping he'd take a dunk, but no such luck.

Ken takes a little turn, dodges a tree.