My son, Caleb, and I just got home from running Chiques Creek in Lancaster County. We took our Imresboat (open cockpit kayak) and our Payson Pirogue. Caleb took the kayak and I was in the canoe. My passenger was our English Springer Spaniel. He walked in the shallow rapids and swam through deep spots. When he was tired he came to my canoe and I hoisted him in. We were able to do this even in deeper spots that were over his head. We put in at the covered bridge Bridge Valley road and took out at the Marrietta Pike bridge. It took us about 2.5 hrs. I got one hole to repair in my canoe. Great run and we will do it again some time. Look out for the low head dam and the ford.
Apparently the Conestoga River is the only thing that can get me to blog!
The weather forecast was favorable and my son and I got our Kayak out and dusted off the dust from winter time boat building. It was still a little cool but the sun was breaking out. By 4:30 we had the canoe ( a payson pirogue) and the kayak (a Jim Michalek "Imresboat") in the pickup truck. My son and daughter and I drove down to the river and launched from Rock Hill assess point. The river was about 2 feet higher than when we ran it last fall. Fast current at the launch point. We floated down about 2 1/2 miles and took out at the Safe Harbor picnic area. Along the way we saw a Bald Eagle, Cormorant, a flock of Wood Ducks, a King Fisher and a Canada Goose on her nest. Wild flowers were blooming everywhere. After taking out my daughter and I walked back the 2.5 miles to get the truck. The road follows an ancient Indian trail, known to white people as early as 1638. It goes past Rock Hill tavern which claims that it was founded in 1700. All and all a fantastic start to spring water sports! Yesterday I took the boys to the Conestoga River. We kayaked about 2 miles to the mouth of the river where it joins the Susquehanna River. We saw a Bald Eagle, herons, egrets, Gizzard Shad and much more. The Imresboat is much faster than the plastic 10' kayak we had along. Turning was of course more difficult. I think I am going to take an inch off the skeg.
Start blogging by creating a new post. You can edit or delete me by clicking under the comments. You can also customize your sidebar by dragging in elements from the top bar.
|
AuthorI love being on the water in a boat that is quiet and non-polluting. On the water I relax and start to see my life and the world around me from a fresh perspective. I sense God's pleasure! Archives
May 2011
Categories |