spider solo
New member
Sunday Oct 2,05
Well the time and tide was perfect to once again winde my way through some of the coastal estuaries that we have in these parts so I set my sights for a tidal trip over to Essex Bay, from Ipswich Mass.
Now that I look back on Darren's kayak pictures I see it was almost exactly two years since we had been over there.
This time ,solo, I gave it a try from another direction, but I assured myself if we had recreated the original trip we would have found ourselves much younger and more athletic this year than in any year previous ... of course!
This time I put in at Pavillion Beach, Ipswich...just a stones throw by water from the end of Plum Island and Sandy Point State Reservation. This area is known for it's strong currents, but this day was a most gentle and perfect day to be on the water.
I swung around to the right and then south to pick up Fox Creek, which can only be passed in times of high water, generally 2hrs on either side of high tide. I was pleased to pick up the entrance to the creek on my 1st try and head on down with only one wrong turn, which found me back paddling till I found a spot big enough to turn around (I had upgraded my boat size since the last trip).
Finding the right way through brought me out to Castle Neck River. Great White Egrets were there to greet me..stretching out their long necks,
they were quite statuesque' in manner and thankfully my passing caused them no great commotion. They held their poised stances of dignity till I passed on by, (then said all sorts of derogatory things about our species...funny looking people ...all body ... no legs..)
I was able to weave my way around the back side of Hog (Choate) Island.
The window of opportunity, was still open as this can only be passed when the tide is high, give or take an hr or two.
I headed around through the shallows but distanced myself further from shore so as not to panic a mixed collection of shore birds thereabouts.
Time to make landfall and get off my a.. I mean time to stand up and look for a p tree...um nevermind...let it just be noted I stopped for a brief break on Crane Reservation for a bit of a lunch break and then over to Hog Island itself before heading off.
I had to be mindfull of the tide so I did not tour the island, known both as a wildlife reservation and interestingly enough a period replication house built for the movie the Crucible..llamas are rumored to be on the island as well, but I've yet to see one and am somewhat doubtfull..perhaps they were there in days other than this one.
Heading back through Fox Creek can be a bit of a challenge as it is single file an I came head to head with a power boat..both of us stopped and I was able to back up and ease into a tiny nook... the boat passed graciously and mentioned another boat behind them..intold there were five boats, all quite friendly. My biggest concern was to be run over by jet skis ,however they did not reappear till the Creek was wider and they went roaring by...(I will mention they were driven by a couple of middle aged guys, the jetskis about quadruple the size of when they 1st appeared a few years back, however they leave almost no wake)
It was mid day by the time I got back to open water and such a beautiful day!!
I played around for a bit along Cranes Beach before calling it a day.
The Marshes and Estuaries are beautifull in October ...there is just a touch of color now, so if at all you have a chance, these next few weeks should be stunning.
If any of you have access to the coastal areas...most the crowds are gone, as in the mountains, so you might want to enjoy them under some sunny skies
...bon chance...
spdr
Well the time and tide was perfect to once again winde my way through some of the coastal estuaries that we have in these parts so I set my sights for a tidal trip over to Essex Bay, from Ipswich Mass.
Now that I look back on Darren's kayak pictures I see it was almost exactly two years since we had been over there.
This time ,solo, I gave it a try from another direction, but I assured myself if we had recreated the original trip we would have found ourselves much younger and more athletic this year than in any year previous ... of course!
This time I put in at Pavillion Beach, Ipswich...just a stones throw by water from the end of Plum Island and Sandy Point State Reservation. This area is known for it's strong currents, but this day was a most gentle and perfect day to be on the water.
I swung around to the right and then south to pick up Fox Creek, which can only be passed in times of high water, generally 2hrs on either side of high tide. I was pleased to pick up the entrance to the creek on my 1st try and head on down with only one wrong turn, which found me back paddling till I found a spot big enough to turn around (I had upgraded my boat size since the last trip).
Finding the right way through brought me out to Castle Neck River. Great White Egrets were there to greet me..stretching out their long necks,
they were quite statuesque' in manner and thankfully my passing caused them no great commotion. They held their poised stances of dignity till I passed on by, (then said all sorts of derogatory things about our species...funny looking people ...all body ... no legs..)
I was able to weave my way around the back side of Hog (Choate) Island.
The window of opportunity, was still open as this can only be passed when the tide is high, give or take an hr or two.
I headed around through the shallows but distanced myself further from shore so as not to panic a mixed collection of shore birds thereabouts.
Time to make landfall and get off my a.. I mean time to stand up and look for a p tree...um nevermind...let it just be noted I stopped for a brief break on Crane Reservation for a bit of a lunch break and then over to Hog Island itself before heading off.
I had to be mindfull of the tide so I did not tour the island, known both as a wildlife reservation and interestingly enough a period replication house built for the movie the Crucible..llamas are rumored to be on the island as well, but I've yet to see one and am somewhat doubtfull..perhaps they were there in days other than this one.
Heading back through Fox Creek can be a bit of a challenge as it is single file an I came head to head with a power boat..both of us stopped and I was able to back up and ease into a tiny nook... the boat passed graciously and mentioned another boat behind them..intold there were five boats, all quite friendly. My biggest concern was to be run over by jet skis ,however they did not reappear till the Creek was wider and they went roaring by...(I will mention they were driven by a couple of middle aged guys, the jetskis about quadruple the size of when they 1st appeared a few years back, however they leave almost no wake)
It was mid day by the time I got back to open water and such a beautiful day!!
I played around for a bit along Cranes Beach before calling it a day.
The Marshes and Estuaries are beautifull in October ...there is just a touch of color now, so if at all you have a chance, these next few weeks should be stunning.
If any of you have access to the coastal areas...most the crowds are gone, as in the mountains, so you might want to enjoy them under some sunny skies
...bon chance...
spdr
Last edited:
