Piermont Marshes...almost

View Piermont Marsh - non paddle in a larger map



Just before leaving for Oz, I had a couple of hours in which to squeeze what is probably my last paddle for this year. I decided to go up to the Piermont marshes, just north of the city. I have explored a small part of this area before, and I knew it was a protected, safe paddle (water temps are dropping).
I was slightly surprised to see that the launch area, just outside of the Piermont Village was pretty icy, but the channel was still open, so I unloaded and put in.

Put in 

This was my first ever experience with ice, and in my usual way I attacked it with great confidence.
Hmmm.-Lesson Number one - it is actually pretty tricky getting into the kayak when the only place to put your feet is all ice.
Lesson number two, even if the channel is open, (in this case, as it was at the put in) if it is very narrow, you cannot paddle. i.e. the ice stops you putting the paddle in…who knew?
This was not insurmountable; it just meant a lot of poking the paddle in very close to the side of the boat. I managed, in a clumsy manner to get out and face the right way and headed out towards the Hudson, from where I would enter the marshes.
I few minutes of happy paddling ensued, when I slowly realized that the channel which had widened for a short while, was now getting narrower, and narrower, and eventually ended- there was just solid ice.

Going 

Going

Gone

More practice with the skill of paddling in narrow icy confines and seeing whether the ice would actually break if I paddled into it under speed (it doesn't),and I had to admit that my paddling was over for the day . I did a little back and forth along an open area, just to loosen the muscles (it had only been about 10 minutes from put in to ice, and then turned around for home.

While not the most heroic day of paddling, it was at least a worthy experience.

Dec 4th -Delaware Raritan Canal Alexander Av.

View Turning Basin : Alexander St. Delaware-Raritan Canal in a larger map

It was a cold day, about 1 degree C (33 F) , with a wind chill of several degrees.  The wind blew on and off, but for the most part I was fairly well protected from the worst of it. The day was alternately sunny and cloudy, but a great day to be  on the water.

Multiple layers proved successful- thermal, skivvy (turtleneck) t shirt, hoodie , life jacket and spray jacket  were the go. Two pairs of socks and gloves almost did the trick, but after a couple of hours, the extremities were chilly,so I broke out my recent acquisition -hand and toe warmers.

Looking Back to Alexander Ave Bridge

Water Level Gauge

These were unbelievable. Open them to the air and they start an exothermic reaction which lasts for hours. Both my fingers and toes were thawed and warmed to a delightful level. Tooooo good!.

Saw a couple of others on the canal, a Dad and his son  training for the Olympics. They were in sliver thin boats with the most powerful looking paddles I have seen; carbon fibre like mine, but with a scoop angle that  was amazing.
I was out for just over 3 1/2 hours .  The canal is such a boon in windy weather- safe and protected- just a bit of drive out into Jersey, but its all good.