Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board

And Mardi Makes Three

Posted By: Robert Woodard
Date: Sunday, 11 April 1999, at 1:23 p.m.

April 11, 1999

http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Trip013a.jpg http://www.tidalwave.net/~woodardr/Trip013b.jpg

My Internet connection is down, so while I wait (and wait, and wait) on the phone for tech support, I thought I would jot down a few things about yesterdays trip on the Patuxent.

I was to pick up Joan at the Patuxent River Park at 8:30 am. We would drop her car there and then go up to where Route 4 crosses the Patuxent to launch. Somehow I overslept and had to hit the floor running, taking only time to put on a football jersey and the pants to my wet suit.

I got to the park just as Joan was looking for a place to put her 'use permit' for the park (whew). Joan had already dropped off Mardi and their 2 kayaks at the launch site. The plan was for Joan and Mardi to paddle down to the park and I would turn around and head back to the launch site, taking advantage of the tail end of the rising tide. We got into my truck and headed up to Route 4 where Mardi was already in the water and waiting for us. I unloaded my kayak while looking over a carbon fiber canoe that was being launched.

Even with the rising tide the wind pushed us a long at a fairly good pace. Not much wave height today (darn), but the paddle downstream was very easy going and required very little effort.

I had just gotten my GPS III+ in from Garmin the day before and I was anxious to see how well it worked. I loaded it with maps of the local area we would be paddling and I was VERY surprised that as I entered the park it showed the names of little creeks I crossed over that were no larger than a small ditch. Very cool.

At Bristol Landing, there were a lot of birds swirling around a post near a dock. We decided to get closer and found they had been swarming around two small bird houses. When we got near the birds went away, but further inland the trees were filled with song birds. We drifted along for a bit just listening.

When we got down to the area around Mondays and Railroad creeks, it was difficult to tell which way to go. This area was large and shallow with very little to indicate where the main channel was. The gulls had set up shop between the 2 creeks, and starlings were buzzing all around. My GPS map does not show the area being this big and in hindsight if I had stuck to the channel shown on the GPS instead of using my instinct, we wouldn't have had to paddle in six inch water through the mud. We eventually found the right channel to follow out. As we came up to Western Branch I commented that this creek looked much bigger on the GPS. As we passed the mouth and could look back in, I could see it WAS much bigger than I originally thought. At that point I decided I would quit using my instinct and blindly believe the GPS when it conflicted with what I thought.

On down to Jackson's Landing where Joan's car was parked without any trouble. Joan and I exited into the mud, while Mardi simply stood up in her kayak and stepped onto the dock. I wasn't watching her, so I made note to pay attention when we got back. After a quick restroom break we decided to paddle down to Lyon's Creek. This was about 2 1/2 miles farther down river.

Mardi again boarded from the dock, but we missed it and asked her to do it again. She happily complied and watching her made it look all too easy. I'd like to think her wide, flat bottom kayak made it easier, but I suspect Mardi just has much more balance than myself.

Down through Jug Bay the water seemed very shallow again. Learning from my past mistakes I paddled further off shore until my GPS showed I was over water instead of land. About half way down we came upon two bright yellow kayaks heading back to the park. We chatted for a few minutes about how to find the creek, and also found this was their first time in a kayak. They had done this plenty of times by canoe, and were really impressed at how easy kayaks were to paddle in the gusty winds we were having today. Directions: Go around the bend and the creek is just passed the pier.

We went around the bend taking the outside edge past Manaponi creek. The GPS showed this to be very small, but it looked very large in person. I suspect very shallow except for the channel showed by the GPS.

We paddled up to a pier but when we didn't see the creek and the GPS showed we had gone too far we backtracked just a little and headed up the creek. This was a nice looking creek but I only paddled up a half mile before we broke for lunch. It was now 1:00 and the tide changed at 2:00. By the GPS I had 4 'miles by air' to get back to my truck. This would end up being almost 7 'land miles'.

I said goodbye to Mardi and Joan for the sprint back. Because of the leisurely pace down with the wind behind us I had plenty of energy to burn. As I rounded the turn by Selby's landing I looked back and could make out Joan's red Breeze about a 1/2 mile back. I guess they had also decided to head back as well.

After getting to back to Jackson Landing I stopped to refill my water jug. I stretched a bit because my seat was putting a lot of pressure on a nerve in my butt and causing my leg to hurt. This happened last week also, although it wasn't as bad this week. I looked out to see if I could see Mardi and Joan's kayaks but did not see them.

Back on the water the tide had turned. About 3.5 river miles left to go so I sprinted off again. At least, to me it is sprinting. I keep the pace between 2.9 and 3.4 MPH according to my GPS. This is based on DMG (distance made good) so if you add in the current speed I was paddling against, I wasn't doing too horribly bad.

Up near Mondays and Railroad creek again and I was having a hard time finding where the river continued North. I remembered the GPS and just moved towards the channel marked on the tiny screen made it out with no problem.

Again around Bristol Landing I took a few minutes to listen to the birds. Up near Galloway Creek I saw my first turtle of the season, then my second turtle of the season, then my thir...no that's just a stick.

From Galloway back to the launch site was very energy sapping. The current was flowing by rapidly now and I just kept up a continuos stroke. Stopping at all quickly started me sliding backward with the wind and tide. By the time I made it back to the launch I was tired but not so much I had any trouble loading the kayak.

Today's trip for me was 13.82 miles as measured by the GPS. Almost 11 miles for Joan and Mardi if they headed straight back after I left.

Woody's Trip Index

Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.