An Unexpected Paddle

We drove to camp yesterday to be here for the fiber installation today (yeah - high-speed internet).  The installers were early so we had time to enjoy the gorgeous weather by paddling from our place, up the river, carrying around the dam, and paddling into Tupper Lake then heading back home.  It is a good thing we got to enjoy our time here, because it looks as though we have to drive back to NJ tomorrow to do what we can to get ready for Hurricane Sandy.  Sigh.

Paddling Summary 2012

What a strange and interrupted summer.  We didn't get much paddling done.  I did the following 16 paddles:
Axton to Raquette Falls
Bog River
Cedar River Flow
Church to Jones Pond
Floodwood Rollins loop - twice
Henderson Lake
Lake Abanakee
Little Tupper
Lower Osgood
Moose Pond
Raquette Lake to Blue Mountain Lake
Round Lake
South Creek to Second Pond
South Creek to Weller
Upper Osgood

Traditional Paddle and Picnic on the Bog River

Today is Columbus Day and therefore the day to put in at Low's Lower Dam and paddle up the Bog River to the picnic area on Hitchins Pond.  About 20 of us enjoyed the good food and company.  The temperature was about 40 degrees when we started out but the sun was warm.

We drive back to New Jersey tomorrow.

Paddling Henderson Lake

A group of us paddled Henderson Lake today.  We were hoping to see the leaves at their peak but the rain the last couple of days had knocked off lots of them.  It was still pretty, though we didn't get much sunshine.  It rained a bit, but mostly while we were in the lean-to having lunch.

Paddling from Raquette Lake to Blue Mountain Lake

Nine of us did the traditional paddle from Raquette Lake, up the Marion River, through Utowana and Eagle Lakes to the beach at Blue Mountain Lake.  We had fairly high winds, but they were mostly behind us and gave a nice ride.  We of course ended the day with dinner at Hemlock Hall.

Paddling Cedar River Flow

Finally got back on the water again today.  6 of us braved the winds and paddled Cedar River Flow.  It was great to go with someone who knows where they are going.  We had no trouble finding the river on the southern end of the flow and paddled down almost to the rapids then back to the lean-to for lunch.

Paddling the Lower Osgood

A group of us had a great paddle on the Lower Osgood River today.  I had never done it as a one-way paddle before.  We put in right off Rt 30 - drive past the Hayes Brook trailheads then look for a mailbox on the left.  The put-in is just opposite on the right side of the road.  We had no obstacles to go over/around and the water was high with a nice current.  We paddled about 7 miles.  Lunch was on the beach at Meacham Lake where we saw a huge bald eagle perched in a tree near the shore.

Paddling Round Pond

I led a paddle around Round Pond today.  It was cut a bit short by a threatened thunderstorm.  It never hit there but went north and really pounded Tupper Lake and our camp.  After the paddle friends came by to visit with W since he is not paddling yet. 

Paddling Floodwood-Rollins Loop, Again

The temps in NJ were so high that we drove back to camp yesterday, a day earlier than planned.  That meant we could join the gang on today's paddle.  The bridge on Floodwood Rd is open, so we put in there and did the usual loop.  There were not many other people around, which was a surprise.  The temperature was in the mid-70's, a big improvement over the NJ temps.

Summer Solstice

The group celebrated the summer solstice by paddling around Moose Pond and then having a picnic for supper.  The swimming was good too, especially since the temps got over 90 degrees today.

Paddling Lake Abanakee

 

This morning we drove to Cedar River Flow to paddle with the group.  But when we got there the winds were high and there were LOTS of black flies, more than we'd seen anywhere else this year.  The group decided against fighting the wind, which can get very bad on the Flow, so we headed for Lake Abanakee instead.  We had never paddled there so we've added another to our list of paddles.  We put in from the beach north of Route 28 (the swimming season has not started yet so we could put in there instead of further north) and paddled south as shown on the map then retraced our steps for a total of about 8 miles.  We especially enjoyed paddling up Round Pond Brook until the rocks forced us to turn back.  Big Brook Road, where we stopped to have lunch, seems like a good place to bike ride.  We'll have to try it sometime.

Another Beautiful Day

Today was very calm so a group of us paddled on Little Tupper Lake.  We had a very nice paddle, stopping at campsite #10 for lunch.

Paddling the Rollins-Floodwood Loop

We did a variation on the usual Rollins-Floodwood loop today.  The Floodwood road is closed so we put in at the northern parking lot on Follensby Clear, portaged to Fish Creek, paddled up to Copperas and did the loop through Whey, Rollins, Floodwood, then back down Fish Creek through Square and Fish Creek Ponds, up Spider Creek and back into Follensby Clear for a total of about 12.5 miles of portages and paddling.  It was a beautiful day.

Paddling to Raquette Falls

A group of us had a nice paddle from Axton Landing to Raquette Falls and back.  The current was strong, so after paddling hard upstream it was nice to basically float back again.  As usual, the group was a good advertisement for Placid Boatworks.

Memorial Day

A large group of us (21 to be exact) did our annual Memorial Day paddle plus picnic.  We paddled the Upper Osgood, stopping for lunch at the campsite which this year was unoccupied.  Then we went to M&P's for a picnic.  A very nice day.

Another Paddle with Friends

We couldn't resist another paddle today since the weather is so nice.  Nine of us put in at South Creek again, this time heading for Weller Pond.  The winds ended up being much stronger than expected, so we got quite a workout.  At least the winds kept the bugs away.

Paddling with Friends

Thirteen of us had a great paddle today in beautiful weather.  We put in at South Creek and paddled through Middle Saranac, down the river through the upper locks, and out into Lower Saranac, taking out at Second Pond.  We did some exploring of the creeks flowing into the river and explored Pope Bay on Lower Saranac where we had not been before.  So we ended up paddling nearly 10 miles.  Then we went to hang out at B&G's afterwards.

Paddling Church to Jones Ponds

We drove back to NJ late yesterday after a nice paddle with friends.  We put in on Church Pond at Paul Smiths, crossed Osgood Pond, and paddled out the stream (including over/around a couple of beaver dams) to Jones Pond where we had lunch on a nearby campsite before retracing our steps for a total of about 7 miles.