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Monday, October 23, 2006
OOPS!
Forgot to note on this site that my blogging has moved. Actually, didn't forget - wanted to make sure the new site
really worked. SO:
Monday, August 28, 2006
Pamunkey and Mattaponi weekend - where the locals tan.
Another weekend where JP has non-kayaking obligations. So I paddle the Pamunkey river - doing the West Island/Thoroughfare
circumnavigation, and explore some of the creeks.
It was a hot day, and I took a break in the river by getting out of the boat mid channel and floating for a while with
the boat tethered to me with about eight feet of line. Just lying there cooling off. Had several bass boats go
by, but none even looked twice at the guy in the water and the empty kayak.
The area around West Island is a very nice area. Especially up Big Creek. Paddling up on the remains of the
ebb tide I saw what I thought was an animal swimming across the creek, maybe muskrat, beaver, etc. Getting up closer
to it, it turned out to be the tip of the tail fin of the biggest Gar I have ever seen. It was working back and forth
in the ebb current facing upstream. I paddled up alongside, and with it's snout about at my bow, the tail was at my
water bladder on the front deck, making it conservatively six feet long, and swimming in about 4-6 feet of water. I
watched it for a bit, then couldn't resist - I reached down with the paddle tip and touched it. Kabloom! The fish
reacts, bites my greenland paddle, and takes off in a huge wash of wake. I'm upright, but looking at the tip of my paddle,
which is now missing a small piece on one edge and has teeth marks in it. Guess I'll write an article
for the club magazine on how to repair bitten paddles...
Night at Rainbow Acres, and the next day a paddle from Walkerton downstream on the ebb and back on the flood tide.
Two more well timed paddle trips and I'll have done all of the Mattaponi from VA 360 to West Point. Coming back
into the ramp at Walkerton ($3 to launch, owned by the Vol. Fire Dept and a very nice set of ramps), I spotted a aluminum
boat coming into the ramp with me. Three nice locals, who liked the idea of me taking this photo of thier boat:
Monday, August 14, 2006
Lower Mattoponi and Poropotank rivers, VA
With JP working on her skin boat all weekend I decided to throw the camping gear in the pickup and go explore some new
water. I had always heard that the Mattoponi river in VA was a strongly tidal current river, so a check on the tide charts and I was good for a launch at the mouth, heading
upstream on the flood. Chris Conklin's SeMap program helped me locate a ramp across the river from West Point. A roundtrip of 25 miles had me passing several early 18th centurey homesteads and plantations, marshes, and relatively
few houses. The north shore of the river, which is King and Queen County, has a couple of Va. Game Dept public ramps
for use. No launches on the south side except in West Point at a busy ramp.
A consultation of gazetteer and books and I found Rainbow Acres Campground. Mostly summer long RVers, but there is a tenting area in the woods. This would be a good place to paddle in to
camp while doing the Mattaponi some time.
Next day I met up with a fellow club member, Ellen, and we paddled the Poropotank river, which comes off the north
shore of the York a few miles south of West Point. I found this in Andrea Nolan's Sea Kayking Virginia book. We launched at Tanyard landing and headed upstream at the low slack. As the tide flooded with us, we poked into the swamp, the upper end of the
creek, and several side channels. Much wild rice and Ellen finally saw wood ducks. Then back down, past the put
in, to explore another creek a mile or so south. Abut 21 miles of paddling and the sun was setting, the tide
was in full ebb, and it was time to make the drive home. Photos on the recent photo page.
Monday, July 24, 2006
riprap quick trip
The plan was to get out Sat/Sun into the SNP, but Saturday's T storm and rain prediction kept me local - and doubting
weathermen until the storms hit Saturday night. A check of conditions near SNP and I was glad I had stayed home.
Sunday I headed out, but needed to be back by noon on Monday. So, a quick loop around the riprap/wildcat/AT loop, including
a swim in the creek and a night in the hammock.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Boathouse Door Replacement
The long promised replacement of the boathouse sliding door occurred this weekend. Having a professional remodeler
with a truck full of pro-grade tools made the work go smoothly. Thanks Rich, Sue, and JP for your efforts on this!
Now we need to have a contest to come up with the best way to decorate the new door. Seems like no one liked my idea
of a can of white spray paint :)
Photos of the process:
The Old Door, which has been there at least since 1992, and weathered at least two good hurricanes. That's crystalized
saltwater laying between the bottom of the door glass. 
The Professional at work. The old door came apart very easily!
Trying to figure out what goes and what stays....
I'm holding up the wall while the Pro does the installation.
Final product and the work crew:
In true P7 Pirate fashion, the work crew went to cool off with a viewing of
The Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Mans Chest!
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2006.10.22
2006.08.27
2006.08.13
2006.07.23
2006.07.16
2006.07.09
2006.06.25
2006.06.18
2006.06.04
2006.05.07
2006.04.30
2006.04.23
2006.04.16
2006.04.01
2006.03.01
2006.02.01
2006.01.01
2005.12.01
2005.11.01
2005.10.01
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Click on the photos below to go to the
web pages related to the images.
| Backpacking and Hammocking Pages |
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| Hammocking at Assateague, photo by Ralph |
| West Wight Potter Sailing Pages |
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| Wight Magic |
| Sea Kayaking and Kayak Sailing Pages |
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| Kayak sailing in Delaware, photo by JPW |
The goal in 2006:
Spend more nights outdoors.
So far:
January 7, 27, 31. 3 nights
February 4, 25
2 nights
March 11, 31 2
nights
April 14, 15, 28, 29 4 nights
May 6, 19, 20 3
nights
June 17
1 night
July 7, 8, 23
3 nights
August 12, 26
2 nights
September 7
1 night
October
November
December
TOTAL 21
nights
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