Canoeing and Kayaking New York

Paddling Shinnecock Bay

2012-01-31T13:51:00.001-05:00

With Sunday's strong west wind, I chose to head out to Shinnecock Bay and paddle in the lee of the Hampton Bays shoreline. There is a great little put-in at the eastern end of Shinnecock Road that I used, putting me on the water just north of the Coast Guard Station by the Ponquogue Bridge. I haven't been there in a long time, but was quickly reminded why I love Shinnecock Bay so much. Here are a few pictures of the short, but awesome paddle from that day.

Wood Burning Camp Stove/Generator

2012-01-31T13:33:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to the GearJunkie website for a review of what looks like an amazing new product for those of us that love camping. It's a small camp stove that burns wood, but also uses the heat generated to charge electronic devices like cell phones and iPods. Amazing!!! (if it works)

A cold, winter paddle

2012-01-16T20:15:00.000-05:00

Nothing like breaking through the early morning ice to get your boat back to the beach!

My New Greenland Paddle

2011-02-07T08:20:00.006-05:00

I just started carving my second Greenland paddle yesterday, using Chuck Holst's directions at the site "Carving a Greenland Paddle". His directions are super-easy to understand and follow, and are almost fool-proof. The problem I had with my first paddle had nothing to do with his site at all. rather, I picked a board that did not have a balanced grain, and thus, was not a balanced paddle.

So, I spent much more time carefully selecting my piece of cedar this time, and am excited about the progress I made so far. The paddle is measured, the lines are all drawn, and the basic shape has been cut out. Now the true carving begins. So far so good...

Someone tougher than winter paddlers?

2011-01-10T08:47:00.004-05:00

I thought I was tough, paddling in sub-zero temperatures and breaking through thin ice with my kayak. At least, I did think I was tough until I saw this guy swimming through the same water I was paddling. He just happened to be wearing nothing more than a Speedo and a bathing cap. Now, that is one tough guy!

Paddling with the Seals

2011-01-05T13:24:00.011-05:00

The day before New Years Eve I wanted to paddle from Jones Beach State Park and see if I could find some seals in the bay. Not one to paddle alone in extremely water, I enlisted the company of my dad who is always ready and willing.

We were a bit concerned while heading down the Robert Moses Causeway when we realized there was hardly any open water to be seen. Ice was everywhere. Luckily, the further west we drove down Ocean Parkway the less ice we saw. Finally, pulling into the parking lot for the Jones Beach Boat Basin we were able to see nothing but open water. And, to our surprise it was completely flat and calm! What a great day for a paddle!!!

Once on the water we headed west towards Lido Beach and the Jones Inlet. I've never paddled the inlet during the summer, but imagine it to be an amazingly busy and potentially dangerous place to be. But, this day it was glass calm, quiet, and totally ours. Well, there were an insane number of Brants enjoying the scenery with us.

And then seals! We almost didn't realize what we were seeing at first. "Was that a bird?" "Is that a buoy?" They seemed to be checking us out as much as we were them. Some swam towards us. Some circled around us to watch from behind. A few were never seen, just heard snorting or splashing in the water.

Of course it is incredibly hard to get a good picture of a seal in the water, especially from the seat of a kayak. But, I did the best I could. Finally, we turned north and headed out of the inlet, paddling a bit deeper into the marshes north of Jones Beach. A thermos full of hot chocolate and a few miles later we rounded Jones Island and turned west towards our put-in. By this time the wind and tide had both turned against us and my dad and I fought for every forward inch. So, cold, wet, and tired I pulled with everything I had to get back to my Jeep fast and get the heat on for us both.

Of course my old trusty truck chose that exact moment to let me down and not start, well, not without a lot of coaxing. But, she finally turned over and began cranking out heat for our frozen bodies.

All in all, it was an awesome paddle on an awesome day!

Soggy GPS

2010-10-09T22:56:00.004-04:00

Hoping my GPS is not a lost cause after going for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean, I am trying some electronics first-aid. I removed the batteries, took the unit apart, and rinsed it with filtered fresh water. Now, I have it sealed in a zip-loc bag with some desiccant to hopefully absorb any moisture that may be left in it. Going to give it a few days, then put the batteries back in and see what happens. Wish me luck!!!

Valuable Lessons Learned

2010-10-09T22:18:00.002-04:00

Since today is my birthday, I figured I'd treat myself and paddle someplace that I've always wanted to check out... Mecox Bay in Southampton. So, with my boat on the roof, gear in the trunk, and coffee in the travel mug, I headed out east.

The wind had picked up a bit by the time I launched on the northern end of the bay, but it was not too gusty to make the paddle uncomfortable. In fact, despite wearing a long-sleeved shirt, I was dressed as if it was still summer and the water was warm. I didn't even put on my spray skirt. The bay was beautiful, the waterfront homes were amazing to look at, and the water was quiet and enjoyable.

Before long, I reached the "cut", where a break to the ocean had been created (by the town?) to allow the salt and fresh water to mix. A quick glance down the channel showed nothing but calm water and a glassy ocean, so off I went. Very quickly the water picked up speed, though, hurtling me towards the Atlantic. I was still under control, that is until I hit the first of the many standing waves at the interface of the bay's and ocean's waters. The first wave hit me in the chest and pushed me backwards. The second swamped my boat and washed my dry bag (contents: digital camera, cell phone, wallet, and car keys) out of my boat and whisked it away. I survived the third, fourth, and fifth waves, but finally succumbed to the sea on the sixth. Amazingly, I rolled the boat and performed a wet exit in heavy surf, all without losing the sunglasses hat were sitting on top of my head!

Long story made short, I retrieved my dry bag (thankfully still dry), pumped out my boat and climbed back in, and paddled back to shore to take stock of my situation. Items lost: my faithful Nalgene bottle, a pencil for note-taking, and my GPS. Things could have been a lot worse... which got me thinking about my safety and what had gone wrong. As the adrenaline and fear left, and I could regain composure, I thought about what lessons I had learned form this boneheaded move.

Obviously, scouting the inlet before plunging down it would have been the smart thing to do.

Donning my spray skirt would have helped as well.

Double dry bags to protect my electronics will also become a fixture on my future paddles.

I always bring a spare paddle with me. Today, this one almost washed off my boat... Checking and tightening all deck lines and bungees will be done tomorrow!

I was wearing my PFD (as always) but had forgotten to buckle the waist strap. This allowed the vest to rise up over my head while in the water... Checking all buckles and straps will become part of my pre-paddle ritual.

My trusty SPOT Messenger was in the pocket of my PFD, powered up and ready to go. But, I had not sent any "OK" messages to anyone. Nor had I let anyone know where I was. Had I really needed help from a friend, how would they know where to find me? And, if they did receive my SPOT's "Help" message, would they know what to do?... After I finish typing this I am going to update my SPOT's contacts and write up an "action plan" for everyone on it, so they will all know what to do in any circumstance.

Scary mishap? Absolutely! Fun trip otherwise? Definitely! Good birthday despite the adventure? You bet!

Fathers' Day

2010-06-20T19:21:00.001-04:00

How did I spend my Fathers' Day? On the water with my kids! Gotta love it!!!

Paddling the Nissequogue

2010-06-11T09:39:00.008-04:00

I have been wanting to map the Nissequoge River for my new book for some time. So, despite the threat of thunderstorms in the afternoon and a rapidly ebbing tide, my father, brother-in-law, and I hatched a last-minute plan to paddle it last weekend. By the time we finished setting up our shuttle, and were ready to launch, the river was quite low. In fact, many paddlers were already on their way back from the mouth of the river, having already completed it that morning. Nevertheless, we launched our boats in the last remaining inches of water and headed north.

My father and brother-in-law launching from Paul T. Given County Park

Thankfully, the depth of the river did increase as we headed downstream, making paddling easier. I always take too long when paddling narrow rivers like this, taking pictures and identifying flowers and plants along the way. Thus, my dad and b-in-l left me behind with only a family of Canada Geese to keep me company.

Turn around little guy, you're heading the wrong way!

We did catch up to each other again, and had a great time floating along with both the tide and wind in our favor. In fact, the wind kept increasing as we progressed, giving a sign of the bad weather to come, though at the time we were still blessed with clear, sunny skies.

A river like the Nissequogue is a treasure because of its varying habitats. It flows from a fresh water pond and empties into the Long Island Sound, becoming increasingly saline along the way. As a result, you get to see a wide variety of plant and animal life throughout your paddle. Anything from snapping turtles, muskrats, ospreys, red-winged blackbirds, trout, striped bass, bluefish, horseshoe crabs, etc can be seen. It truly is a remarkable place to paddle

Snapping Turtle

Egrets on the river

We soon made our way to the spot where the river widens quite a bit into a vast salt marsh-like area. Thankfully, the thunderstorms had yet to come upon us, although the skies were growing increasingly overcast and the wind continued to pick up. Upon reaching the take-out (the Smithtown boat ramp), Eric decided to get out and stretch his legs while my dad and I headed out into the Sound to poke around a bit. It always amazes me how shallow the mouth of the river gets during low tide. People were walking in water about one half-mile out and were not even getting their shorts wet. Water that makes for good wading does not make for good paddling, though, so we quickly turned around and fought the last bit of the outgoing tide and the wind back to the ramp.

All in all, it was a great paddle, highly recommended to anyone with a boat and a paddle!!!

SPOT Messenger

2010-05-31T07:07:00.002-04:00

I've been playing around with a new piece of gear lately... a SPOT Messenger. Specifically, the SPOT 2 Messenger. With all of the paddling I'll be doing in places I've never been before (and don't know what to expect) it seemed like a good idea. Heck, if it's good enough for Survivorman, it's got to be good for me, right?

Seriously, though, I do think it'll work OK for me. I always leave a basic "float plan" with my wife before I head out, and always call her right before I head out on the water. I try to call her every couple of hours after that, and defintely once I am back in my Jeep after paddling. What the SPOT does is let me send her a quick message ("I'm on the water and am OK" or "I'm out of the water and am in my Jeep") that will let her know I'm fine. We've had some close calls in the past where I had forgotten to call or had no cell service, leaving her worried and looking up the phone # of the local Coasties. My hope is that my new SPOT will prevent that.

I had read some different reviews of the original SPOT Messenger, more than a few of which were troublesome. The SPOT 2 seems to be much improved from the original, although it did have its own little problem with its batteries, warranting a recall. There have also been some reports of failed messages, difficulty with reception, etc. Although I've only used my SPOT once on the water, it performed flawlessly, under cloudy, overcast skies. I am very optimistic that it will continue to serve me well in the future. Of course, I'll report back from time to time as it gets more use. But, I do think it'll remain a valuable piece of paddling gear.

Portage to Portage Paddling Project

2010-05-27T19:57:00.002-04:00

How amazing is this? A kayaker named Jake Stachovak is paddling from Wisconsin, down the Mississippi, around Florida, up the East Coast, through the great Lakes, and back to where he started, in Portage, Wisconsin. Here is what his blog says: "The “Portage to Portage Paddling Project” is a 5000 mile solo kayak journey around the Eastern United States. An adventure that will link the Mississippi River to the Great Lakes via the Gulf Coast, East Coast, and New York Canal Systems starting and ending in the small town of Portage Wisconsin.

Beginning in early December 2009 Aqua Adventures kayaker Jake Stachovak (Sta ho vi ack) will put in on the icy Wisconsin River in Portage WI to begin his long time dream trip. The spirit of this trip is as much about the people as it is about the miles and miles of water. The idea is to show everyone the kind of adventure they can find right in their back yard, and to share in that adventure as much as possible."

I've been reading his daily posts for some time now and find myself checking my computer many times a day with hopes that he has posted again. His story is truly amazing. And, the GREAT NEWS IS... He'll be speaking locally, on June 8th, at Suffolk Community College in Brentwood at a special meeting of the Long Island Paddlers'. I 'll definitely be there!

Shore Birds

2010-05-27T10:09:00.008-04:00

As the weather gets warmer, and my deadline (only a scant 13 months away) slowly approaches, I've been paddling more and more. Of course, my camera comes with me on all paddles - thank goodness for digital! I always come back with dozens upon dozens of pictures, many of which are discarded. But, I've noticed that a good number of my shots are of birds - and some actually came out pretty decent. Here are some of my favorites!

A group of Oyster Catchers in Shinnecock Bay

An Osprey in Shinnecock Bay

A flying Least Tern in Shinnecock Bay

Some gulls in Port Jefferson Harbor

My latest project...

2010-05-25T22:38:00.003-04:00

So, really good news here!!! A dream of mine for about 5 or 6 years now has been to write a sea kayaking guidebook to Long Island's waters. That dream is what led me to write "Canoeing and Kayaking New York". It's also what led me to develop a professional development course for educators that explores Long Island's rivers. And now, finally, the book will actually happen. As I type this, my book contract for "Paddling Long Island" is sitting right next to me. All I have to do is sign it, mail it back, and, well, write another book.

So, 50 of the best spots to paddle on and about Long Island, including NYC too. Any thoughts? Favorite spots you'd care to share? By all means, email me and let me know. I'd be happy to share my master list, which is currently upwards of 75 locations.

Maple Syrup

2010-02-15T13:11:00.004-05:00

What to do when it's too windy for a paddle... Today I decided to boil down the sap I've been collecting and make some maple syrup. I've never done this before (Long Island is not known for its delicious Maple Syrup -something a close friend of mine pointed out). But, I tapped a few trees in my yard this year to see what, if anything, I could make of it. And today, I found out!

Because of the ton of steam produced in boiling off the water, I opted to do the work outside in my driveway, using my Coleman stove. Despite the freezing cold wind, my system seemed to work fine. It only took about 2 hours and the half-gallon of sap I had collected to make about 1/2 cup of maple syrup.

As it turned out, the syrup is actually delicious! Now I can't wait for pancakes in the morning!!!

Winter Kayaking

2010-02-14T06:21:00.001-05:00

Ohhhh, the pleasures of kayaking during a Long Island winter. Especially when you leave your boat out on your car with plans of paddling the next day, only to find that it has snowed and now your seat has a layer of ice on it.

Paddling in Constitution Marsh

2009-09-06T08:22:00.008-04:00

Last weekend I had to head up to Albany to help my mother-in-law move. Luckily, though, she didn't need too much help, leaving me with a bit of time and some beautiful weather to do some paddling. Where to go? I decided to head to Cold Spring and the Constitution Marsh.

Since paddling here about a year ago, I have considered this marsh and portion of the Hudson to be one of the most beautiful stretches of water I have ever been on. Indeed, whenever anyone asks me what my favorite place in my book is, I tell them about this spot. So, it was with lofty expectations that I returned to the put-in at the Cold Spring Train Station. And, after only a few paddle strokes on the Hudson, all of these expectations were realized. This really is an amazing spot to paddle.

From the train station, the entrance to Constitution Marsh is only a short paddle to the southeast. Once in the marsh, it is easily possible to spend an entire day exploring the dozens of channels and passageways that wind throughout. Anyone looking for a more direct route can simply follow the white buoys marking the "Trail".

I had spent a lot of time in the marsh last time I was here, so I followed the buoys to the train trestle at the marsh's southern end to gain access to the Hudson. Unfortunately, the tide was still quite high, leaving little room underneath the bridge for a boat to pass. With just a short portage over the tracks, however, I was back on the Hudson. This picture shows the view looking south down the Hudson. Look closely and you can see the Bear Mountain Bridge. The scene is absolutely beautiful!

Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to head further south. So, I turned north to paddle around Constitution Island. This is where something happened to me that has never happened before... I was shot at! Well, OK, I am exaggerating a bit. You see, there was a Revolutionary War re-enactment happening on the island involving some small sailing ships and a cannon on shore. I wisely paddled wide around the sailboats and their musket fire. But, this left me dangerously close to the cannon on shore. Even though I knew it was only a re-enactment, a part of my brain screamed warnings whenever the cannon boomed. Top that with the cries of one soldier telling his fellow soldiers to aim, "at the kayaker!" and my irrational fears grew. Needless to say I dug deep and paddled around the island as quickly as I could.

Skirting around Constitution Island brought me past West Point, heading north on the Hudson. The view in this direction is just as stunning as the one to the south. By this time, though, I was running really short on time so had to head straight back to the put-in on the right river bank.

I wish I had more time to spend paddling here. It really is an amazing place to check out. Hudson Valley Outfitters runs boat rentals here if you want to experience it for yourself. Trust me... you won't be disappointed.

Check out Canoeing and Kayaking New York for more information on paddling here, including directions, maps, GPS coordinates, etc.

Two New Laws for Paddlers

2009-09-06T08:05:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't heard, New York State has just passed two new laws that paddlers should be aware of.

Here's the first:

Beginning November 1, 2009, Section 40, Subdivision 1 of the Navigation Law shall be amended by adding new paragraph (e), which reads as follows:

No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, between November first and May first, unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway.

And the second:

Beginning October 1, 2009, persons 16 years of age and older need to acquire a recreational marine fishing license if they are:

fishing in the Marine and Coastal District or
fishing any water (such as the Hudson River, Delaware River, or Mohawk River and their tributaries) where the angler is fishing for "migratory fish from the sea" (such as striped bass, American shad, hickory shad, blueback herring, alewife).

The Marine and Coastal District includes all the waters of the Atlantic Ocean within three nautical miles from the coast ands all other tidal waters within the state, including the Hudson River up to the Governor Malcolm Wilson Tappan Zee Bridge.

These licenses can be purchased from the DEC's website starting Oct. 1st.

Not Exactly Survivorman

2009-08-27T07:27:00.002-04:00

Check out a short video from Teva. Not exactly Survivorman, but close.
Hipster guru goes survivalist

Homemade Greenland Paddle

2009-08-26T07:35:00.004-04:00

Interested in carving your own Greenland paddle? Check out this website: http://www.carvegp.com

It gives you all of the information (including a video) you need to carve one. Anyone with basic carpentry skills would probably be able to follow it and produce a paddle of decent quality.

Here are some pictures of the paddle I made. I haven't applied a finish yet (Teak Oil was recommended), but have used it 2x. It is fairly well balanced and feels very comfortable, although it is a bit too short I think. I'm very inspired now, though, and will make another one that will hopefully be even better
.

No paddling today

2009-08-26T06:56:00.005-04:00

I took my daughter out to Southampton today to check out the big surf on some Dune Road beaches. While the waves were not as big as the 12 footers reported to be crashing onto shore, they were still bigger than normal. And relentless! As far out as you could see, there was a constant line of waves coming towards shore.

Even more remarkable was the water in Shinnecock Inlet. To call it confused would be an understatement! I've paddled through here with 5-6 foot rolling swells with no worries. Today, though, the waves were toppling over on themselves, and seemed to be coming from every direction. Every so often one would smash into the jetty and create a huge spray of saltwater, to the delight of my 3 year old. She also enjoyed playing in the surf (it was her first time in the ocean!)

Homemade Camp Stove

2009-08-06T06:50:00.005-04:00

One thing I really missed on this last camping trip was my morning cup of coffee. I couldn't find my MSR stove and my Coleman burner was too big to pack away in my kayak. So, I did without a cup of coffee until I could make it into town in the afternoon.

But, I did a little searching and came upon this website that shows how to build your own soda can camp stove. I chose to make mine out of two PBR cans, but I am sure you can use whatever kind you like. Just have to get some denatured alcohol and I can see how this one works!

Saranac Lake Islands Campground

2009-08-05T06:54:00.012-04:00

Well, I came back from the Adirondacks yesterday. I was able to sell a few copies of my book, plus visited quite a few outfitters and bookstores that were interested in ordering some. So, it was a pretty successful trip. I also got to do some paddling while I was up there, which made the trip even better.

I ended up camping at the Saranac Lake Islands Campground, which turned out to be a great place to set up a tent for a few nights. The Campground is stretched between Middle and Lower Saranac Lake, with sites on the lake shore as well as on the many islands dotting the lakes. The best part is, the sites are only accessible by boat, which means no cars, trucks, giant campers, etc. I stayed at site 7 on Sable Island, on Lower Saranac, and absolutely loved it!

There is nothing like stepping out of your tent and right into your boat to go for a paddle. Staying here lets you do that. I had paddled the three Saranac Lakes before, but the weather was so dreary that day I did not get a chance to appreciate them. This time, though, I got to see how beautiful they really are. I spent more than a few hours paddling among the islands on Lower Saranac, exploring their rocky shores and saying hi to fellow campers. I even saw a very cool mink swimming between two islands while there.

Anyone looking for a place to spend some time outdoors in the Adirondacks would be well-served coming here. The lakes and their islands are all beautiful, the water is peaceful, and the people are friendly. I will definitely be back!

Paddleboard Demo's

2009-08-04T20:16:00.002-04:00

Want to try something new? Well... Peconic Paddler is running a Stand-up Paddleboard Demo Day this Sunday, August 9th. The fun starts at noon. Anyone can come and try out a Paddleboard, plus Current Design boats and Ocean Kayak sit-on-tops.

I've wanted to try a paddleboard for a long time, so I'm definitely going to check it out on Sunday.

Book Signing

2009-07-27T14:10:00.005-04:00

I am very excited to be heading back up to the Adirondacks with my kayak this weekend! Adirondacks Lakes and Trails Outfitters, in Saranac Lake, invited me to do a book signing in their store on Saturday, so I'll be in that area for the weekend. My plan is to do the signing, then do some paddling on Lower and Middle Saranac Lake. Instead of a hotel, I opted for a campsite right on Lower Saranac Lake. I haven't slept in my tent since last summer, so it'll be nice getting out again. The forecast is actually pretty good for the weekend too, so hopefully I'll stay fairly dry.

Anyway, for those interested, I'll be at the Outfitters from 10 to 3, showing some slides and signing copies of my book. I hope to see you there!

The Connetquot River

2009-07-27T13:45:00.004-04:00

This past weekend I was invited to paddle with the Long Island Kayak Company on a trip they were outfitting for the local chapter of the Adirondack Mountain Club. I met up with the group from ADK, along with Sal, the owner of LI Kayak Co, at Timber Point County Park, on the southwestern side of the Connetquot River on a warm, sunny summer day, perfect for paddling the river.

It took a bit of time to get everyone situated and fitted into their rental boats (While waiting I helped another paddler get his canoe off his SUV. Amazingly, he turned out to be my 9th grade Earth Science teacher from many, many years ago!), but we finally hit the water and grouped up to hear the game plan. Ross, our intrepid guide from the Long Island Paddlers Club, wanted to head south a bit and poke his nose into the Great South Bay, assuming conditions were not too rough. As it turns out, the water was calm enough for us to head quite a bit into the bay, but not completely around the island he had hoped to circumnavigate. Quite an experienced paddler himself, Ross did not want to subject the group of novice paddlers to anything that might make them nervous.

So, with our trip south cut a bit short, we turned around and headed north, upstream on the Connetquot. The river is quite a busy place to paddle, especially on a sunny weekend. We stayed close to the left bank, though, and out of the powerboats' way. Although most of the group was new to paddling, they seemed to have no trouble keeping up with the rest of us, and everyone seemed to enjoy the scenery, especially when we reached the Bayard Cutting Arboretum. One member, complaining of a bad back, decided to call it quits here and rest on shore for a bit, while the rest of us continued exploring the banks of the arboretum and gazing at their magnificent manicured lawns and gardens. We soon met up with Sal, who was paddling up ahead of us with his 8 year old daughter (amazingly, she paddles better than most adult kayakers), and we stopped for lunch on the riverbank in front of Dowling College.

With an hour passed, and lunches eaten, we all headed back down to Timber Point Park. Despite some tired arms, sore backs, and a little sunburn here and there, I think the entire group had a blast. I certainly enjoyed tagging along with the group and had fun listening to all of their stories about hiking, camping, and paddling around New York. Kudos to Sal for organizing such a great day for us, and for Ross for leading the way!

My First Book Review

2009-06-09T11:30:00.003-04:00

Sue Freeman, of Footprint Press and writer of the amazing NY Outdoors blog, has posted my very first book review on her blog. I had sent Sue an advanced copy a few months back and she was generous enough to write up some great things about the book, many of which ended up printed on the book's back cover.

Now, she has graciously written a review of the book for all of her blog's followers to read. If you follow her blog, you know how amazing it is. The amount of info. she, and her husband Rich, provide its readers is phenomenal. I am honored that she took the time out to include my book on it. Check out the blog here. You won't be disappointed!

Books!

2009-06-05T16:28:00.003-04:00

I finally have copies of my book on hand! They should be in stores soon, but if you can't wait... email me and I can send you a signed copy.

I think they came out great, if I do say so myself!

It's a JEEP Thing

2009-02-10T13:37:00.003-05:00

Well, in my last post I included a picture of my mountain bike (one of my favorite toys). I would be completely remiss if I did not eventually post a picture of my beloved Jeep. Here she is during one of our quests for a bay that had thawed enough to paddle in.

Spring Already?

2009-02-10T13:18:00.004-05:00

I know the groundhog saw its shadow and 6 more weeks of winter are on the way. But, it sure has felt like spring the past few days. With temp's in the 50's most of the ice and snow have melted away. Like most paddlers socked in by frozen water, I was dying for the chance to paddle during last weekend's warm weather. To my dismay, however, the wind was blowing something fierce. But, this made it the perfect opportunity to get my daughter out in our bike trailer and head to our favorite beach. Paddling will just have to wait for another day.

Trekalong.com

2009-02-06T10:37:00.002-05:00

So, this is very exciting... I've been asked to join the "Trekalong Network", a collaboration of outdoor and adventure writers from Menasha Ridge Press, Clerisy Press, and Wilderness Press. They started up a new blog for me called Paddle New York where I'll be posting about my book, my paddling adventures, and anything else that pops up inbetween. I'll keep posting here as well and will try my best to keep each as unique as possible.

In the meantime, check out the other writers on trekalong.com. "Trek tech" is one of my favorites!

World's Smartest Squirrel

2008-12-28T15:53:00.005-05:00

I know this is not directly related to kayaking but I had to post it anyway. I may have found the world's smartest squirrel!

For the past few days I have been watching this little guy trying to figure out how to get to the birdseed in the feeder outside my office window. I've seen him hang upside down from the branch, jump up from the ground, leap from the tree trunk, etc, all to no avail. However, today was different. He actually managed to climb headfirst down the string and hang upside down from the feeder. Strong little guy, right?

He then decided this was a bit too hard, so he went for another approach. This time he climbed the tree, grabbed the string, and nibbled through it until the feeder fell to the ground. Then, he hopped down and ate his full. I didn't have the heart to stop him. Besides, he earned his sunflower seeds today!

Searching for Snowy Owls

2008-12-28T12:16:00.008-05:00

Since taking an ornithology class a few years ago and learning how fascinating bird-watching can be, I've begun my own quest of sorts to see as many common and rare birds within New York as I can. One such bird is the Snowy Owl. Try as I may, however, I have yet to see one. But, with a week and a half off from work, I have made it my mission to find one this holiday season.

Recent reports tell of a Snowy Owl being sighted on Pattersquash Island near Smith's Point Beach on Long Island. So, my wife, my daughter, and myself hopped into my wife's car and rushed down to the beach to see it. Just my luck, the owl was gone, but my daughter did get a kick out of the deer that walked right up to our car, though. Seeing how close the island was from the parking lot gave me an idea, though. Why not paddle out to it the next morning? That way I could satisfy my crave for open water and give myself another chance to find an owl.

So, yesterday morning I woke before dawn, drowsily got dressed, packed up my gear, and drove to the beach for the second time in as many days. Cold air, drizzling rain, and unbelievably loud shotgun blasts from duck hunters greeted me as I launched my boat. Luckily, the hunters all stayed to the west of me as I headed east towards Pattersquash Island. The cold and rain did follow me, though. Two miles later I was circling the island, with no owls in sight (of course).

I was able to take comfort in the fact that none of the other birdwatchers I met saw one either. I did enjoy watching the huge flocks of buffleheads on the bay and crashing waves on the Atlantic. And, any morning spent paddling is a good morning, Snowy Owl or not.

Another report tells of a Snowy Owl on Jones Beach. Sounds like another possible paddle to me!

Some of my favorite photos

2008-10-26T14:32:00.014-04:00

These are some of my favorite shots taken while paddling around the state. See if you can guess where any of them were taken.

Locations

2008-10-08T19:52:00.003-04:00

So, what places are included in the book?

Progress

2008-10-08T19:43:00.003-04:00

So, unbelievably, I have finally finished writing the book. Since my last post I spent a few weeks in the Adirondacks finishing up the rivers in that area, came home and did a ton of writing and map making, then headed out for one last paddle on the Delaware River. I invited a few friends to come along, and was lucky enough to have my buddy Jeff and his brother Edward join me. My dad also came along,which was a treat.

We left around 3am, drove up to Cochecton, and paddled down to Narrowsburg. It was the perfect paddle to end a great adventure. We saw a bald eagle, two red foxes, great blue herons, mergansers, deer, and even found two water snakes on the river's edge. We ran Skinners Falls, took our time on the slower sections, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole day. I had brought along a growler of beer I had bought from the Lake Placid Brewery, and we opened it up to celebrate the end of the last paddle I needed for the book. Finally!

Now that the writing is done, I am heavily into the editing phase, and am already thinking of ideas for my next book. My wife would kill me for doing this but I would love to write a new mountain biking guide to the state next. But, I'll wait a bit after this book is done to begin that one.

Cow Portage

2008-07-25T08:38:00.003-04:00

Like most paddlers, at one time or another I have had to portage around dams, waterfalls, rapids, downed trees, low bridges, etc. These portages come with the territory. However, I recently had a new experience while paddling Conewango Creek in western NY. Heading around a curve in the river brought me to an obstacle in the water I have never encountered before: Cows. While there was enough open water for me to squeeze between the wading bovines and the river bank, I did consider walking my boat around them instead for fear of starting a stampede. Luckily, all cows stayed calm, cool, and collected, although they did seem a bit amused at this crazy guy floating by.

Greenport Kayak Race Results

2008-06-19T20:03:00.005-04:00

Well, the race went extremely well. I was very excited all morning, not knowing what to expect about such a race. Would I be the only one in an average kayak among serious racers? Would there be only a few of us racing? Could I keep up with the other racers? As it turned out, none of my anxieties were warranted.

What I noticed when my wife, daughter, and I pulled into the boat launch was that everyone seemed just as experienced and prepared as I was. This immediately put me at ease. I even ran into one of my most beloved college professors, also racing that day. So, after signing in, reminiscing about good ol' Southampton College, and getting my boat ready, I kissed my wife and paddled out to the starting line.

I am sure it was the adrenaline that made me shoot to the front of the pack when the horn sounded starting the race. I calmed down quickly, though, and settled into a good pace and a solid position (10th place). There I stayed for most of the race, getting passed by only 2 more paddlers along the way. Rounding the breakwater in Greenport and seeing how close I was to the finish, I decided to turn on the gas a bit more and finish strong. I was even catching up to the people in front of me, and likely would have caught them had another paddler in front of me not flipped his boat.

So, what to do in this situation... Paddle past him and keep racing? Stop and offer help? The Coast Guard and Sea-Tow boats were nearby. Surely they would help him. But no, I couldn't just leave him be. So, I sped over to help him out, knowing I was giving up a few seconds in the process. As it turns out, I gave up more than a few minutes, trying to pump out his swamped boat (with no flotation at all) and trying to help him back into it. I finally gave up when the Coast Guard threw him a life ring and I struggled to regain my original pace towards the finish line.

I did finish strong, and was happy to have my wife and daughter cheering for me at the end. Come awards time, however, I learned that the paddler who finished just before me ended up winning $50. I had unknowingly given up the money when I stopped to help the flipped kayaker. Oh well, we can always use a bit of good karma once in awhile, right?

Anyway, the race really was fun. Its organizers promise to hold it again next year, and if it does run, I will absolutely race again. Only this time I will go straight for the finish. No stopping! Every man for themselves! Well, ok, I'd probably do the same thing all over again if I had to. Good karma, right?

Greenport Kayak Race

2008-06-04T08:08:00.003-04:00

Well, next weekend I am trying something that I have never done before. I am taking a break from my travels and research for the book and have entered a kayak race. For those of you who know Long Island, this race starts in Orient Point and finishes in Greenport a bit more than 6 miles later. I am a bit nervous about what to expect but am always excited to add a new element to the sports I love. It should be a great day!

The race itself is to raise money to help with the implementation of a Water Nature Trail that circumnavigates Greenport. It seems like more and more of these "water trails" are popping up everywhere, and I, for one, am glad. Being an avid kayaker and a naturalist, I can really appreciate what these trails have to offer. I am sure this new one will not disappoint.

If you are as interested in Greenport's new trail as I am, you may want to check out the Coecles Harbor Marine Water Trail on nearby Shelter Island. This trail was designed by the Nature Conservancy to allow paddlers the chance to experience the beauty of their Mashomack Nature Preserve. Although I have not yet paddled this trail, I have heard nothing but great things about it.

Anyway, I will post some words and photos about my race next Saturday. Stay tuned...

General Clinton Canoe Regatta

2008-05-27T21:02:00.003-04:00

I had heard of the General Clinton Canoe Regatta before. I knew it involved hundreds of canoes racing 70 miles on the Susquehanna. I even knew it was held every Memorial Day weekend. What I failed to realize was that the weekend I had planned to paddle the Susquehanna was, in fact, Memorial Day weekend. This became obvious to me when I first entered the Cooperstown area and saw canoe after canoe on cars everywhere.

After asking around I learned that the actual race was on Monday (it was Saturday at this time). To be honest, I thought about entering the race, but could not figure out how to swing another day away from home while leaving my wife to tak care of our daughter, the house, and set up for the party we were throwing for Memorial Day. But, even though I could not race on the actual day, I could paddle with some of the participants as they pre-paddled some sections of the course in preparation for the actual race.

I was thoroughly impressed with every racer I met (and saw). They all had amazingly beautiful boats that seemed to exude speed and grace through every pore of their carbon-fiber skins and they all paddled with strength and determination, in seamless unison with their partners. And, they all were kind, friendly, and generous with advice and suggestions. I wish I could have stayed an extra day to see them all race. It must have been an awesome sight to see!

The Susquehanna

2008-05-27T20:53:00.002-04:00

Although I have been enjoying the whole book writing process and have found something unique and inviting about every river I have paddled so far, a few rivers have stood out in my mind. One such river is the Susquehanna. I paddled some parts of it this past weekend and, in all honesty, I did not want my trips to end. The river was just that beautiful... just that fun... just that exciting.

I first put in at the public boat launch in the amazing little town of Cooperstown, on the shores of Otsego Lake. From there, I paddled down the Susquehanna 14 miles or so to the town of Milford. While there were tons of downed trees and strainers, sometimes leaving openings only inches wider than my boat, my whole paddle was great. The weather was gorgeous, the scenery was stunning, and the river had just enough water in it to make things interesting. Paddles like that do not happen often. Luckily for me, the next day brought more of the same thing.

On day two I re-entered the water at Milford and headed this time down to Goodyear Lake. I chose to avoid the portage around the dam there and instead headed to the southeast side of the lake where a DEC fishing access spot exists. This proved to be a great idea and helped make my whole experience on the Susquehanna most memorable.

GPS's do not float

2008-05-05T20:35:00.002-04:00

Well, I learned a hard, expensive lesson recently. Handheld GPS's do not float. Well, ok,they do float for a second or two. More like swirl and bob, though. Nevertheless, when knocked off the deck of a kayak by a tree branch, they will soon be settling on the river bottom.

P.S. - If anyone on the Cataonk Creek happens to find a blue Extrex GPS, it is mine. Thanks.

Paddling Season

2008-05-05T20:15:00.003-04:00

Well, it's finally paddling season again. I promised myself I would start heading out again come April 1st, rain or shine. What I didn't expect was snow. But, 6 paddles into the season and I have been snowed on twice so far. It's ok though. There is nothing quite as beautiful as kayaking through the mountains with light flakes falling down all over.

Anyway, I did a few paddles in the Central New York area around Cortland and Syracuse and loved every one of them. The best by far, though, was the Sangerfield River through the Ninemile Swamp. The swamp is an amazing place to paddle. I cannot wait to go back. My friends would love this place.

Now that Central New York is mostly done, I plan on heading up to the Adirondacks later this month. I will post more of my plans later.

Canoe seat

2008-01-22T17:43:00.000-05:00

So, I had two hours free this past weekend and wanted to take the canoe out for a shakedown paddle. I hadn't installed the new seat yet and was dieing to try it out. The only problem was, once I was in the garage packing up my gear I realized I had mistakenly thrown away the seat brackets. These were custom-made aluminum brackets, mind you. So, needless to say I did not take the canoe out. I opted for an easier paddle in my kayak instead.

My plan now is to retrofit the new seat onto the original brackets. This will require removing the cross pieces and re-installing them about an inch closer together. This sucks but will work, I hope...

Current work

2008-01-22T17:37:00.000-05:00

I have stopped paddling for the winter and am now working on the book's introduction. The paddling season will begin again April 1st, however.