dan_f Posted June 5, 2005 Share Posted June 5, 2005 Thanks to David for organizing a relaxing and fun trip on a beautiful day. Advanced technology in the form of David's GPS helped us navigate the marshes with no trips up dead end creeks. Lots of horseshoe crabs were floating around in shallow water, apparently laying eggs. (see http://www.beach-net.com/horseshoe/Bayhorsecrab.html) I posted some pictures at http://home.comcast.net/~d.fabricant/ including a pair of horseshoe crabs. The male crab is apparently the smaller one of the pair. This was one of the few times that some of us have seen live horseshoe crabs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlewis Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 More details... We launched 9:20, with no wind to speak of. My new mapping GPS made finding routes easy and reliable amongst the marsh byways and culs de sac. In fact, it gave us the confidence to identify and paddle Lord’s Creek, a small stream parallel to the Rowley that stays in the marsh and meets the river farther upstream in a high-tide-only opening. We made Rowley by 11:15, where we sat on the grass under the shade trees amongst the cars and boat trailers and had a leisurely lunch. We talked of insects not present and other delights of paddling on a gorgeous spring day. We launched for return at 12:30. Emboldened by the GPS, we changed the return route to explore more marsh streams around Roger Island rather than shoot directly down the Sound. Upon entering the wide part of Eagle Hill River and Plum Island Sound, we had SE wind 10-15 and a little chop from the long fetch to the east, but it was no problem for anybody. Current was with us at max ebb in the lower sound on the way back, about 1.7 kts, and that resulted in one incident. The group had split in two, and one sped ahead back to the beach, Patty leading and Kevin Beckwith (unofficially) assisting. Gary, Anne and I stayed with the slower group. We were hugging the shore, and the current there wasn’t bad. But a dock just north of the yacht club required us to paddle out, and the current was quartering the T end of the dock at a good clip. One paddler failed to clear the T and capsized against it. He later reported being momentarily pinned against the dock, but managed to get out and up quickly, though losing his boat in the process. Gary Baxter was right there and rode him to shore on his bow. I had hung back a little to watch people pass the dock, knowing it was a tad dicey, and so was in position to snag and empty the wayward boat quickly, after settling the rest of the group in an eddy. The "victim" was fine, launched himself from shore and resumed paddling. We met up with the lead group at the beach, having informed them by VHF that we were OK. On the trip, we had: none of the predicted rain, only one short patch of mild chop, a little headwind on return, tons of birds (many identified), that paradisiacal expanse of sky and marsh at high tide, and a good time despite the capsize. Lessons learned: (1) A mapping GPS is a major boon in the marsh. Yes, you can find every route by chart and compass, but it takes longer and people would get impatient while you worked to identify various turns with ranges and bearings. The GPS made every option quickly and reliably clear. (2) The max current in PI Sound is not to be underestimated. Everybody had the skills to handle it, paddling with the current – the trip was rated 2+ -- but the leaders should still watch out for current-related hazards (moorings, docks, etc) and help the group avoid them. At the very least, a leader might stand nearby such hazards to make sure everybody clears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlewis Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 The route out was in Roger Island River. Returning, we cut between Holy island and Roger Island (the big unidentified island between the two tracks.) http://djlewis.smugmug.com/photos/24790327-L.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlewis Posted June 13, 2005 Share Posted June 13, 2005 http://djlewis.smugmug.com/gallery/590652 (Not one of us, but obviously a serious kayak fisherman) http://djlewis.smugmug.com/photos/24788447-L.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayong Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 please: where can I locate charts like this? thanks tom h epic black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djlewis Posted June 17, 2005 Share Posted June 17, 2005 That was produced by Garmin BlueChart software running on my Windows PC, with the track uploaded from a Garmin GPS. What are you interested in -- computerized charts? paper charts? both? There are lots of options. --David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.