Pequannock River Jan 1st 2010 _The Ten Minute Paddle

View Pequannock Jan 1st 2012 - 10 minute paddle in a larger map


As waters levels continue be high, I thought I'l try the Pequannock. I found the launch with no trouble. It is on the Three Rivers Trail . 

Freedom Park Launch 

This turned out to be a bad idea. As soon as got on the river, from the  backwater that was the launch, I realized the flow was too rapid to allow me to go upstream. As I paddle solo, I always have to be able to paddle back to where I started, so I always begin by going upstream  As you can see by the photo , there was shallow fast flowing water- It would not work. I jumped back in the car and went further south to the Passaic River. ( See Passaic Horseneck Rd -. Bloomfiled Post ) 

Passaic Dec 29th 2011

View Passaic Essex County Dec 29th 2011 in a larger map


A freezing Day, well below zero C. Many layers and toe and hand warmers made the paddle possible. Put in at Eacgle Rock Rd and headed upriver (south) until  I reached Rte 10 Much water, with lagoons and backwaters all along the  outside of the channel.

Saw:  A red tailed hawk, and a bunch of wild turkeys. Big birds and around a score of them. 

Dec 30th 2011 Passaic River Rte 510

View Passaic River 30th Dec 2011 Rt 510 Launch in a larger map




Continuing on my exploration of the Passaic, I put in at Rte 510 and headed south (upstream). There is such a lot of water, complete lakes, which on Google sat pics, show up as grassy areas. So expansive was the water, that I paddled way off of the river channel and ended up at a dead end. I checked on the GPS,  and I was way off course. Even after I turned around and headed back to the channel, I could not make out the southward channel.  As it was, I was not far from yesterday's paddle so I turned around and headed downriver until I gto the Rte 10  Bridge,which was where I had turned around yesterday. I have now completed that section of the river. 
It was much milder today, around 8-9 degrees C. I had one less layer of clothing on top, and manged to complete the paddle without major freezing of extremities. 
I was on the water for about 3 hours. 

Launch

Rte 510 Bridge

Cedar Hill Country Club

Little wildlife, duck and geese; that's it. 

Pompton River NJ Dec 26th 2011

View Pompton Dec. 26th 2011 in a larger map


A cool day.  Around  5- 7 degrees C ( with a steady wind of 15 mph (gusts up to 25-30 mph) .
Put in at the same launch site from yesterday at Two Bridges Rd.  A pleasant paddle with a steady strong flow. Not much time to take photos. Any time I stopped, I was floating backwards within a handful of seconds. It was not too strong, and provided me with my favorite type of paddling work out. It is a good sized river at this location. I had not expected it to be so wide. 
No mammals, apart form a cat and various squirrels.
I did manage to identify a cute small bird - a tufted titmouse. There was a small group ( 4-5)  hopping around on the ground of the wood, and  flying up into trees. 
2.5 hours upstream and 1.6 hours to return.

Wanaque Pumping Station

I was surprised to see this island with habitation ( from the west side) - There are 6 houses on the island and no bridge.

Houses on the river

You can see the flood water level on the screen windows at the front of the house.

Boontown Turnpike 

Wood Duck 

Railway bridge - At the turn around

One of the locals 

Flood debris under bridge 

Houses on island ( east side)

The island with from the west side -On the return journey

The punt with winches for getting to and from the island.

Flooded and burned