Grassi21's Paddling Trip Reprts w/Photos

[Grassi21]

As to not clog up the Misc. forum I will keep my trip reports and pics in one thread like thetrailboss.

Nothing new this week. I had one paddle last week and again this morning at Long Meadow Pong in Middlebury, CT. Normally its really quiet with no one on the water. This morning there were a few fisherman on small boats with either paddles or those small electric motors. Mornings are quickly becoming my favorite time to paddle. I was on the water by 7:15 this morning. Here are a few pics from my last two paddles.

Turtle on a log

Water Lilly

Sunny bow shot

 

[andyzee]

You should try the Delaware River in NJ, ran into these guys while biking last year:

 

[Grassi21]

I doubt my boat could handle those type of conditions. I enjoy the tranquility of paddling in a quiet area, stopping to take some pics and just soak it in. The white water stuff seems action packed. I'll save my action for the winters.

 

[wa-loaf]

Have you been out on the Housatonic yet? I was up in New Milford last weekend at Lovers Leap State park. There were some kayakers out there (I think they belonged to the Housatonic Paddlers Club or something) and it looked really cool. Some steep clifs and turn of the century factory ruins, but the water was nice and flat.

 

[Grassi21]

I was hoping to attend that outing. Actually I have yet to attend a paddle with the Housatonic group. I had to escort my wife to her baby shower and load up all the lovely gifts.

How did the event turn out? I have yet to paddle the Housy, just the Pomperaug.

 

[wa-loaf]

It was pretty good. Lots of speechifying by everyone involved. I was busy trying to keep my 3.5 yr old from running off any cliffs. I saw the place before they started many of the improvements and they've really done a great job with the bridge, parking lot and hiking trails. And I think they still have a lot of projects planned. My mother-in-law was busy writing federal grant requests all week. I'm not sure if you can put a boat in there or not. Ya might have to hike a little bit to find a good place to put in or there's probably a better spot up river a ways.

 

[Grassi21]

Orleans, MA 7/4/2007 - Town Cove

Date(s) Paddled: 7/4/2007

Location Orleans, MA - Town Cove

Total Distance: No clue on distance, but I was on/in the water for 2.5 hours

Difficulty: Easy, except for the T and paddle-float rescue

Conditions: Sunny, light current, wind-speed of 5-10 knots

Trip Report: I arrived at the Goose Hummock boat shop at 9 am. This was my first kayak lesson. My main goal was to learn wet exits and entries. Any paddling technique I picked up was a bonus. I had called ahead to inquire about a private lesson. Since the beginner class covered the skills I wanted to obtain I went with a group class. Since I mentioned the water safety stuff I became the instructors guinea pig which was fine with me. There were just 5 participants, 1 instructor, and guide that brought up the rear and kept the group together.

We started out with 30 minutes of on land instruction and gear talk. We then spent 2.5 hours on the water. We started out with the basic forward stroke and then moved on to sweep turns, paddling in reverse, draw stroke, and sculling (spelling?). As I was leaning too far into my draw stroke I ended up in the water for the first time since I purchased my boat. This prompted the instructor to start the water safety portion of class. He helped me out with a T rescue which was quite easy. After he rescued me I had the opportunity to help another volunteer back into his boat. We then moved on to a paddle float rescue. This was what I was after. The technique was really easy and I nailed it the first time.

I was going to take some pics but the batteries in my camera died on me. The Town Cove is located just behind Goose Hummock, The Orleans Inn and a number of other local spots. The area is quite nice but there is a fair amount of boat traffic. Especially on this July 4th. If anyone is in the area and looking to learn how to paddle, check out Goose Hummock. Their staff was super friendly and well versed in the art of paddling. After chatting with the guide about his white water experience the conversation quickly turned to skiing. I'm loving my 'yak but still have skiing on the brain.

 

[Grassi21]

Southbury, CT - Pomperaug River

Date(s) Paddled: 7/8/2007

Location Southbury, CT - Launched from the S'bury beach and paddled the Pomperaug River

Total Distance: Spent 1 hour on the water

Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Hazy skies gave way to the sun, the water was a sheet of glass, no wind

Trip Report: After my trip to the Cape I couldn't wait to get home. With my improved paddle technique and new found knowledge of self rescue I had to get away from the ponds I have been on and try the local rivers. I was up by 6 am and on the water by 7 am. The skies were hazy but it slowly burned off as I paddled. I started out up stream but this was of little significance since the surface of the water was like a sheet of glass. This was my first time on such slack water and the paddling was easy going. I encountered a number or ducks and swans along the way. I need to study up on the local fish swimming in these waters. At one point in the shallow I looked down and saw a 1 footer swimming by. I continued my paddle up stream until I came these old bridge footings near the Newtown line. Just beyond that I came to a little bridge that crosses from Southbury into Newtown. Heading back down I saw one other paddler and one dude on his porch enjoying the quiet morning. Its tough to beat these early morning paddles. Here are a few pics:

This is 84 and that truck is heading West. This shot was taken from my launch site.

Another bow shot

Old bridge footings

Bridge from S'bury to Newtown

 

[bigbog]

sounds like a good time!........

No matter how much one enjoys paddling a stream/river, those Sunny Bow Shots in the afternoons are money-shots! Haven't had a flatwater canoe in ~7yrs, and miss it just for that reason... ;-)..My ww boat sits fine in flatwater, but with each stroke...there isn't much glide!..don't go anywhere fast.. :lol:

 

[Grassi21]

Housatonic River - Southbury, CT

Date(s) Paddled: 7/21/2007

Location Southbury, CT - Launched from the S'bury beach and paddled the Housatonic River

Total Distance: Spent 1 hour on the water

Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Sunny, low 60s, North wind of 8 mph

Trip Report: Another early morning. I was out of bed at 6 AM and paddling by 7 AM. The temps were in the low 60s and the skies were sunny. I couldn't ask for a better morning to paddle. I saw a bunch of fish enjoying their morning meal. It was so quiet that the first airborne fish startled me. I only saw two small power boats. One of which threw off a decent wake. I turned into it and enjoyed some bumps.

What I also realized today was that I have been on the Housy not the Pomperaug for all these paddles . I usually start out my paddles going upstream. Since I took the road less traveled today and went downstream I noticed a branch off of the river I have been paddling. After my paddle I drove around the side streets and realized that this small river that fed into the Housy was the Pomperaug. Its much much narrower and sees far less boat traffic. So after scouting out this new route I plan on exploring it next time out.

When I got home wifey said she wanted to go for a hike. Time to go fill out a hiking TR.

 

[thetrailboss]

Nice report and pics.

 

[ALLSKIING]

Date(s) Paddled: 7/8/2007

Location Southbury, CT - Launched from the S'bury beach and paddled the Pomperaug River

Total Distance: Spent 1 hour on the water

Difficulty: Easy

Conditions: Hazy skies gave way to the sun, the water was a sheet of glass, no wind

Trip Report: After my trip to the Cape I couldn't wait to get home. With my improved paddle technique and new found knowledge of self rescue I had to get away from the ponds I have been on and try the local rivers. I was up by 6 am and on the water by 7 am. The skies were hazy but it slowly burned off as I paddled. I started out up stream but this was of little significance since the surface of the water was like a sheet of glass. This was my first time on such slack water and the paddling was easy going. I encountered a number or ducks and swans along the way. I need to study up on the local fish swimming in these waters. At one point in the shallow I looked down and saw a 1 footer swimming by. I continued my paddle up stream until I came these old bridge footings near the Newtown line. Just beyond that I came to a little bridge that crosses from Southbury into Newtown. Heading back down I saw one other paddler and one dude on his porch enjoying the quiet morning. Its tough to beat these early morning paddles. Here are a few pics:

This is 84 and that truck is heading West. This shot was taken from my launch site.

Another bow shot

Old bridge footings

Bridge from S'bury to Newtown

Those first two pics made me sit up....What I would do to be able carve up that flat water with my ski.

 

[Grassi21]

Those first two pics made me sit up....What I would do to be able carve up that flat water with my ski.

Early morning on the Housy rocks. Nice and quiet.

 

[wa-loaf]

Early morning on the Housy rocks. Nice and quiet.

I see a lot more early mornings for you, but not in a kayak!

Congrats again and enjoy/survive the next 3 months! It (usually) gets a bit easier after the first three.

 

[Grassi21]

I see a lot more early mornings for you, but not in a kayak!

Congrats again and enjoy/survive the next 3 months! It (usually) gets a bit easier after the first three.

I can finally reseal the bulk heads on the boat and let it cure for a couple of weeks without getting it wet. Lax and the 'yak will be replaced with feedings and diaper changes for some the foreseeable future.