Long paddle at Low Tide

Friday I worked from home in the morning (I'm working on a Certified Aging & Disability Specialist certification), so after I finished I could head straight out.  I loaded up my board around noon, and headed back to Birdseye Dock, my go-to launching spot.

When I got there I was shocked by how low the tide was.  As I unloaded my board and gear I noticed the tide was so low all the duck and goose poop was exposed at the bottom of the ramp.  Disgusting, but I had no choice but to walk through it to get my board into the water.  I strapped all my stuff to my board and launched, being careful to clean the bottom of my feet before putting them on the board.

Once on my feet I headed across the river.  After going out Wednesday night and being rejected by the wind, it was a pleasure paddling across.  Wednesday it was so windy I had to paddle on the same side the whole time, leaving me exhausted after only reaching the marsh after which I turned around and went back.  So on this day I easily made it across to the marsh and paddled upriver towards the entrance.

Upon reaching the entrance I was amazed at how low the tide was.  I slowly made my way up the main channel of the marsh, but quickly realized the water wasn't going to be deep enough to explore the smaller channels as I wanted (hell, they were 4 feet above my head at the moment!), so I decided to go back to the river and head down to the Washington Bridge.  On my way out I noticed something swimming along the edge of the marsh.  Initially I thought it was a turtle, but it was moving too fast and I could see a sleek body behind it.  "Must be a snake," I thought, and I spun around to paddle quietly after him.  If he saw me he paid me no attention as he continued to make his way up the edge of the marsh, slowly weaving in and out.  Occasionally ducking under the water only to reappear a few yards ahead.  As I continued to follow I realized it wasn't a snake - it looked like a ferret or a weasel!  After it turned around and headed back down the marsh, with me following the whole way, it finally came out of the water onto the beach and I realized what it was - a huge RAT!

Anyway, after the rat ducked into a hole in the marsh, I headed out into the river.  As I paddled towards the Washington Bridge a boat approached, slowing beside me.  "You okay?  Do you need a lift?" the driver of the boat asked.  I told him I was great, but he didn't seem to believe me.  "I can throw you a line and tow you back if you want" he again offered.  "No I'm great right here, couldn't be better!" I insisted.  I guess he got the point because he took off, his young daughter waving as they disappeared up river.  I had a few other boats full of people wave as I passed, many looking surprised to see a paddleboarder out in the middle of the river.

I got to the Washington Bridge, and as I passed underneath on the Milford side I could see kids hanging out up in the rafters.  I crossed into the harbor and snapped a few pictures, enjoying my new waterproof case for my Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  The case is a DiCAPac, which I highly recommend if you have an electronic device that needs protection from water.  It has very clear plastic windows, and seals just like a dry bag, with a ziploc type closure at the top, which rolls down and is secured with velcro, which is then secured by another velcro latch.  Highly recommended, and worked fine in conjunction with my screen protector.

I had a smoke and some water, then spun around and headed back up river.  I made my way back to the marsh, going in as far as I felt I comfortably could with the tide as low as it was.  I sparked a joint, but the current out of the marsh was quickly carrying me back to the river.  Rather than coasting out into the river I paddled towards the beach, and anchored myself with my feet.  I finished off my smoke then had a cigarette and some water before pushing off the beach.  I paddled further into the marsh, making my way a few hundred yards in before turning around and paddling back out.  I headed down river, making my way past the dock.  I passed a sailboat full of hot girls, waving as I passed, and finally slowly eased my way into Birdseye Dock.

Another great day on the water!  Was nice to know my DiCAPac lets my Note 2 take excellent photos still, and I can't wait for my waterproof bluetooth speaker to arrive!

Marsh Madness Part 2

After having so much fun in the marsh Saturday, I headed back out Sunday.  I launched from Birdseye Dock around noon, with the tide very low but coming in.  I paddled upstream towards the northern entrance to the marsh, but rather than going to the main channel I instead went up a smaller side channel with a decent flow of water almost directly across from Bonds Dock.

As I paddled up the channel it broke off into two; I took the left because it seemed to have more water flowing through it.  As I continued into the narrowing channel, I noticed something sticking out of the water ahead.  As I approached it ducked below the surface of the water, and as I coasted over I saw a turtle swimming beneath my board.  Knowing to look for them, I noticed turtles at almost every turn in the smaller channels, their heads peaking above the water to check me out then quickly fleeing as I neared.

After half an hour or so of cruising around channels of varying sizes, I decided I better start trying to make my way back out to the main channel or the river.  However try as I might I couldn't find my way out!  Every time I found a channel with some current I would follow it, expecting to find my way out but instead running into a dead end every time.  After about an hour in the marsh I was getting a little concerned, so I sat down and burned one, had a cigarette and some water, then again made my way forward.  And what do you know, right after I finished smoking the slow-moving channel I was resting in lead right into the main channel!

Once in the main channel I headed upstream, out of the marsh and into the river.  There was lots of boat traffic, but my Ark seems to handle wake and swells very well as only once did I even feel off balance, and that was only because a following wave caused the nose of my board to dip about 8 inches into the water, and even then I was able to maintain my balance with a sweeping brace.

I got down to the George Washington Bridge before turning around.  I headed back downstream as I started to feel winded from the wind and waves.  I alternated between kneeling and standing, making my way down the river as passing boats honked and waved.  I passed the main channel of the marsh and again entered where I originally had that day.  I paddled up the channel but took a right this time, which led me down a nice, lazy path that went by a large egret nest with the bird sitting on top.  I also saw more turtles, and two mother or father birds with a bunch of babies who were not happy with me passing by them.  I came to a fork, but taking a left quickly brought me to a dead end.  There was barely enough room for me to turn my 11 foot board around, but I managed, and headed down the other path, only to find it also lead to a dead end in short order.  Fortunately this one was easier to turn around in, so I slowly paddled my way back out to the river.

I headed back to the dock from there, and as I unstrapped my gear from my board a women in her car commented "Aww I was waiting to see you go out, I thought you were just leaving!" and then proceeded to lecture me about why I should carry a knife in case I'm attacked by a shark, because the Housatonic River is a perfect environment for bull sharks which can live in salt and fresh water!  I tried to explain to her that bull sharks and other dangerous sharks are not found in the Housatonic or even Long Island Sound for that matter.  There are some sand tigers in the Sound, but they feed primarily at night and aren't large enough to eat a person anyway, and while a Great White could technically find its way into the Sound, you'd have a better chance of winning the powerball jackpot than getting bit by a great white in Long Island Sound.

Looking forward to heading out into the marsh again, but after getting lost I decided to order a waterproof case for my phone (a Galaxy Note 2).  Since I was ordering that I figured I might as well get some water resistant headphones, and I also ordered a Pyle Waterproof Wireless Bluetooth stereo speaker.  Once I have the waterproof case I will finally be able to add pictures to my blog!  Tune in!

Marsh Madness, Part 1

Saturday I headed out around 11:30am and launched from Birdseye Dock.  This time I kept my t-shirt on, and was careful to put sunblock on my neck, face, ears and arms.  Having the rigging on the front of my board is great - I brought a frozen Vapur anti-bottle of water, my type 4 pfd, my inflatable lifejacket and my dry bag, which held my car key, cigarettes, lighter and sunblock.

It was low tide when I launched, so I headed across the river towards the marsh.  I paddled upstream a short ways to the main entrance to the marsh and made my way in.  There were not a lot of boats as people tend to avoid the marsh at low tide, but it's perfect for a paddleboard!  I paddled up the main channel a ways until I hit a spot where the wind was whipping through and I had to kneel down to cut down on the resistance.  I was about 1/3 of the way through the main channel when I took a left and headed into a smaller channel in the marsh where I could see very little current and protection from the wind behind the tall marsh grass.

As I slowly eased into the narrower channel, I was worried about bumping my fin on the bottom.  I sat down and had a cigarette and some water, then slowly made my way forward through the smaller channel on my knees so that I could clearly see if I was going to run aground.  After continuing for a ways the small channel broke off into two, and having been paddling through for 10 minutes or so I stood up, confident I wouldn't be hitting the marsh floor.  I took a right and continued forward a bit, with every bend bringing another set of shocked ducks bursting from the water!  Soon I spun around and headed back the way I came, concerned about getting lost (a justifiable concern, see Part 2!).

Before exiting the small channel I sat down again and burned one, then had a cigarette and some water and continued out towards the main channel.  I headed upstream a ways, then turned into another smaller channel that had a decent flow of water through it.  As I paddled through I could see fish splashing at the surface along the banks, and as I continued forward I again encountered a lot of shocked ducks.  I continued through the channel as it widened out, and started thinking about where this channel was going to come out.  I was heading downstream quickly and was approaching Milford when I finally saw the way out to the river.

Paddling out towards the River was quite a chore.  The current was pushing against me strongly, and the wind coming off Long Island Sound made standing and paddling a pointless endeavor, as any forward motion was defeated by the wind and current.  Kneeling down I paddled towards a beach at the entrance to the river, working hard to fight my way there as I passed two kayakers leasurely paddling in the opposite direction.  As I reached the beach I was relieved, as I needed some water desperately.  I drank most of the remainder of my water and sat for a few minutes, preparing for the remaining trip back to the dock.

As soon as I launched from the beach I was surprised by the size of the waves.  It didn't help that boat traffic was at it's max, with large vessels charging through the waves leaving big wakes for me to contend with.  Most of my way back to the dock was done kneeling as I can make a lot more headway in the wind and chop kneeling.  I actually like to almost sit but in a kneeling position, and use my core muscles as much as possible as I maintain a windmill-type motion with the paddle, six strokes per side.

When I finally got back to the dock I was spent but at the same time felt great.  It's a very freeing feeling being out in the open water, nothing but you and the board.  I did try fishing with my homemade trolling rig, but it's too awkward trying to let the line out while paddling or even drifting and trying not to have it tangle on my leash or end up on the bottom from going to slow.  Sometime soon I'm going to bring my regular fishing pole out with me in 2 pieces and just assemble it out there.  Can't wait to get out there again!