First time on my new (to me) canoe

I bought my Old Town Pathfinder used so that I can use it to paddle others around, do some fishing, have more storage room, etc.  Well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  To me, however, there's something about learning how to paddle a canoe (correctly) and there's something very ...um, I don't know, romantic about paddling a canoe that just doesn't seem to have the same thing with kayaks.

So the weather finally turned and it is a beautiful day today.  Although the wind is really kicking up, more than 20 mph are predicted, I needed to get out.  I went to the Passaic from South Orange Ave. in Livingston with the intention of paddling as close as I could to Route 24 in Summit.  I made it most of the way but then came to a blow-down and I couldn't find a way around.  Besides, by the time I got there i had a huge headache and I was ready to turn around.  On the way, however, not quite half way, when I got to the powerlines, I found a nice little place to pull over and half a lunch and rest.  I brought a blanket with me and laid it out on a high spot so it wasn't wet.  I was right next to one of those mystery buildings that I've seen at this part of the river.  I had some lunch, laid down on the blanket and closed my eyes for a bit.  After my rest i continued upstream until I hit the point to turn around.  I did stop along the way back at another spot to rest again.  Along the trip I saw so many waterfowl and deer.  I tried to take pictures and movies but the effort to keep the canoe going straight was just about all i can do.  As I get better with the J-stroke I'll hopefully make it easier on myself.  All in all it was a great trip.

First time on canoe at EveryTrail

Short Black River Trip

I tried to paddle on the Musconetcong River but it wasn't to be.  I headed off the the Musky, having never paddled there before, and came to what I thought was the launch.  I unloaded my boat and after checking a map, realized i was not at the launch.  The water seemed to be moving fairly well and it was cold.  I reloaded the boat and headed to the real launch only to discover it was iced over.  Back to the original spot I went.  I unloaded and launched without any issues.  It did seem to be moving fairly well and I paddled upstream for a little bit.  After only a short time, however, I decided that it was moving too quickly and not knowing the river, and it being cold, I didn't want to risk it so back I went.  I took out and decided to head over to Black River.  I had been wanting to try the "other side of the road" from the lake so that's where I went.  It was a nice, short twisty trip.  I was surprised at how clear the water was and how sandy the bottom was.  I didn't make it too far and then headed back.

Short Black River at EveryTrail

Just had to....

This weekend was the first really nice weather we've had in a while.  It got into the 50's and it felt so wonderful.  Having to deal with above normal snow fall and below normal temps this past winter had me wanting...um, NEEDING to do some paddling.  I was painting a few rooms in the house on Saturday but that left me free for Sunday.  I didn't have a lot of time and I also wanted to see what it was like entering black river from the Ironia road (I think that's what it is)...I got in with no problem and only made it for a very short while before there wasn't enough water for me to paddle.  I MAY have been able to fight my way through but the water was too cold for me to risk dumping so I tootled around for a bit and came back to the launch.  Essentially, I just paddled what they call, Lake Lillian.  It was a short trip but it felt so wonderful to get on the water again!

Piece Meadows alone...

I was supposed to go on the Delaware with my club on Saturday but I had too much work to do packing so I cancelled.  I still had a big desire to paddle, however so I kicked butt packing and was able to get out on Sunday.  The weather was outstanding, low 80's, sunny and beautiful.  I decided that I wanted to do all of Piece Meadows but because I was going alone I had to arrange for a shuttle.  I had Gianna and Joe follow me to Two Bridges and left G there with her car then I drove Joe and my kayak to the put in.  I dropped off my boat and then went back to 2 Bridges to drop off my truck.  The water was higher than I've seen in a while and had some decent current flowing (for the Passaic).  The good parts of the trip were, I had no...zero...portages.  I love that!  The last time I did this trip with Chris we had to portage once and I got covered in mud and mosquito bites.  So that was a welcome difference.  The other notable from this trip was the three speed boats that seemed to want to screw with me.  They went up and down the river three times.  Mostly just joy riding and they reminded me of some rednecks.  One guy, the most obnoxious of them, wouldn't slow down when he passed me and I had to turn and negotiate his wake.  At one point, he passed me, stopped in front of me and his buddy stood up and took a leak.  He's got the whole river...why take a leak right in front of me?!  The other guys were pretty cool and respectful and slowed down when they passed me.

As far as the trip goes, it was pretty as always.  I managed to see a few deer and a heron or two.  At some points, the river was so swollen it was questionable where the channel was so I had to check my GPS to make sure I was still on track.  All in all it was an excellent day paddling.

Black River

Went to the Black River with the club.  The weather was forcasted for thunderstorms but a few brave (or crazy) people gathered up at the mill and headed out to the put in.  The river was, for the most part, a quiet, slow river through the swamps of Black River in Chester.  There were a ton of birds, especially red winged black birds.  The trip started off going up stream a bit, and having to SQUEEZE under a very low bridge.  I wasn't even sure if I would make it to be honest.  Then after a while, we turned around and just before the bridge again, we stopped for lunch.  Then headed down stream.  We came across a few beaver dams which we could run over and it made for a little fun.  Then there was an old bridge that we had to shoot through.  It was good, except I didn't know about the rock right after the funnel and out of the boat I want.  Which, I wouldn't have minded too much but for the LEECHES in the water!!  The only good thing about falling in is that when it started thunder storming, I didn't mind getting soaking wet...I was already there!  All in all, it was a really nice trip...very fun and relaxing.

Black River mapped route

Black River Pictures

D&R Canal

Went with the club to the Delaware & Raritan canal.  It was a gorgeous day and about 15 boats showed up.   It was a fairly uneventful trip as the canal is straight and kind of featureless.  It's also quite slow moving so there was no need to shuttle.  We paddled about 3 miles upstream and then back.  There was one take out about a mile into the trip because we had to portage around a lock.  The history of the place was pretty cool.

D&R Canal pictures

D&R Canal mapped route

Paddling season!

I know for some, paddling season never ends.  It's not that I'm opposed to paddling in the frigid temperatures, keep in mind, I'm typically hunting in the frigid temperatures all winter, but I'm not prepared for frigid water.  I don't have a dry suit, which is really what I need.  So, with this in mind, the warmer temps Saturday meant that I wanted to get back into the paddling so I headed out to the Passaic River for a nice leisurely paddle.  Still not feeling wonderful I decided to take a short trip from Columbia Tpk in Florham Park and head up stream.  I managed to shove off without getting wet, only muddy.  Very shortly afterwards I came to my first downed tree.  I portaged around, getting very muddy and back in.  It was a quiet paddle upstream.  I didn't go quickly and just enjoyed being out.  After about 2 or so miles I came to another strainer that was blocking my way.  This time it didn't look very easy to get around.  I was feeling tired anyway, from being sick, so I just pulled over to the bank and just hung out for a little, enjoying being there.  I turned around and poked my way back downstream.  While I was on my way I came upon three huge raccoons.  When I first got there, one was on the ground and two in the tree top.  The one on the ground ran up the tree and they all proceeded to fight.  It was a cool sight to witness.  I left there and returned to the put in.  I went around 4 1/2 miles and took my time.  It was a very nice afternoon to be out.  I also think I found ever duck in NJ...  The river and little ponds along the way were littered with ducks.