coldfeet
Well-known member
First a big thx to Darren for this site allowing me to hook up with Indian Chris and begin my paddling career!
IC and I drove app 120 miles to the NJ Pine Barrens for a 2 day 1 night canoe/kayak camping trip.....
Gear used, Chris's canoe (14-15 ft) and his cooler loaded with steaks and drinks, my Tempest 170 kayak (17ft) was used for my second time only and my first camping trip....to much boat for the first 4 miles of this 10 mile trip....the first 4 miles were "S" turns the whole way, I was stuck many times hitting the bow into the soil and then the stern hitting when i completed the turn....I think nothing more than a 15ft boat should be used there.....the 2nd half of the trip was much wider so no problem there...
We both brought plenty of cool weather clothing but i was very glad that I left the jonny suit in the car and wore shorts, the weather was 70-80F both days!
We paddled through many different areas, "S" turns with a lot of brush on the sides, old cranberry bogs, went over a few short beaver dams, beautiful green grasses, lily pad flowers about to bloom, saw huge beaver huts, a forest fire burned many pine trees last year, then we got to our campsite after app 6 miles and the Queens College wilderness group was there, all 40 of them, my alma matter....
After we had some Matza ball soup it was time for the steaks and a few drinks, we went on a short night hike to stretch the legs and then it was nighty night for me, Chris did some reading....in the am we had a big breakfast and watched the college kids shove off....we packed up and went on the 2nd half....it was very wide there so I was able to use the kayak paddle, the day before I used Chris's extra canoe paddle because the river was to narrow for me to use the kayak paddle....as we traveled the pine trees were making a wall along the side of the river it was beautiful, hard to explain but it felt like I was in Maine or some other wilderness.....finally we came to our pull out and ended the journey, or should I say it made me start thinking of the next journey! big thx to Chris for taking out the newbi....this place would make a great gathering for us down in this area, maybe late Sept or mid Oct...think about it....one sad note, I left my paddling shoes to dry...NRS size 13 if found....here are pics...
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2888216000065582691rbKlPP
IC and I drove app 120 miles to the NJ Pine Barrens for a 2 day 1 night canoe/kayak camping trip.....
Gear used, Chris's canoe (14-15 ft) and his cooler loaded with steaks and drinks, my Tempest 170 kayak (17ft) was used for my second time only and my first camping trip....to much boat for the first 4 miles of this 10 mile trip....the first 4 miles were "S" turns the whole way, I was stuck many times hitting the bow into the soil and then the stern hitting when i completed the turn....I think nothing more than a 15ft boat should be used there.....the 2nd half of the trip was much wider so no problem there...
We both brought plenty of cool weather clothing but i was very glad that I left the jonny suit in the car and wore shorts, the weather was 70-80F both days!
We paddled through many different areas, "S" turns with a lot of brush on the sides, old cranberry bogs, went over a few short beaver dams, beautiful green grasses, lily pad flowers about to bloom, saw huge beaver huts, a forest fire burned many pine trees last year, then we got to our campsite after app 6 miles and the Queens College wilderness group was there, all 40 of them, my alma matter....
After we had some Matza ball soup it was time for the steaks and a few drinks, we went on a short night hike to stretch the legs and then it was nighty night for me, Chris did some reading....in the am we had a big breakfast and watched the college kids shove off....we packed up and went on the 2nd half....it was very wide there so I was able to use the kayak paddle, the day before I used Chris's extra canoe paddle because the river was to narrow for me to use the kayak paddle....as we traveled the pine trees were making a wall along the side of the river it was beautiful, hard to explain but it felt like I was in Maine or some other wilderness.....finally we came to our pull out and ended the journey, or should I say it made me start thinking of the next journey! big thx to Chris for taking out the newbi....this place would make a great gathering for us down in this area, maybe late Sept or mid Oct...think about it....one sad note, I left my paddling shoes to dry...NRS size 13 if found....here are pics...
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2888216000065582691rbKlPP
