View Full Version : Kayaking this weekend
I was thinking about kayaking in the Batsto area this weekend, likely on Sunday. Anyone interested?
BEHR655
06-30-05, 11:46 PM
I'd love to but can't on Sunday.
I wouldn't suggest the Batsto this time of year. The water is too low.
Steve
I'd love to but can't on Sunday.
I wouldn't suggest the Batsto this time of year. The water is too low.
Steve
Bear, I don't believe that would be correct at all. With the rains it is probably running good and strong.
Steve,
Where would you suggest. I know the Batsto but I am not sure what the other rivers are like in the Wharton state forest area.
BEHR655
07-01-05, 07:13 PM
Steve,
Where would you suggest. I know the Batsto but I am not sure what the other rivers are like in the Wharton state forest area.
The Wading is always a good bet. You can put in at Hawkins Bridge and there are a few places to take out. First would be Godfrey's Bridge, about 2 to 2.5 hrs. Then there is Allens Bridge where the Wading crosses under Rt563, about 3 to 3.5 hrs. Last is Beaver Branch not to far past Bodines Field, about 5 hrs.
The only thing is that you need a vehical waiting to pick you up.
Steve
Thanks. Is the Wading generally deeper than the Batsto? One time at the Lower forge campsite I heard some campers canoeing into the campsite comment that they use the term river loosely in NJ.
Some of the small(er) rivers aren't well suited to kayaking; they can be barely wide enough for a boat to pass through in places, and often overgrown with low-hanging branches and foliage. Single-blade paddles are a better bet. I've paddled most of the rivers in my kayak but the canoe usually works better. Also, it's much easier to get in and out of to pull the boat over logs or other obstructions. I can't go paddling this weekend but would be very interested in getting out some other weekend, if I can free my canoe from the vines and shrubs growing around it in the backyard!
BEHR655
07-02-05, 07:26 AM
Thanks. Is the Wading generally deeper than the Batsto? One time at the Lower forge campsite I heard some campers canoeing into the campsite comment that they use the term river loosely in NJ.
Yes it is and starting at Hawkins Bridge it is farely wide. However I just realized that I just recovered from the worlds longest brain fart. It is the Oswego that has low water not the Batsto. Sorry about that. Man it stinks around here.:mrgreen:
Steve
Thanks again. Low water and River are both used relatively in the Pines. I think it would be fair to say that the Batsto gets low. Does not seem like anyone is interested in joining me this Sunday. Maybe I will just take a stroll around the woods instead.
Ron
BEHR655
07-02-05, 08:59 AM
It's not that I'm not interested, it's just that I can't. I bought myself a kayak as an early birthday present last month and have only used it once. I'm itching to get out again.
Steve
Thanks again. Low water and River are both used relatively in the Pines. I think it would be fair to say that the Batsto gets low. Does not seem like anyone is interested in joining me this Sunday. Maybe I will just take a stroll around the woods instead.
Ron
I would if I had a truck for my canoe Ron. Alas, I sold it, still need to find another.
Believe me, I understand that people are busy. I have two kids and hardly ever have the time to get out of the house. I did not want to sound jilted, I enjoy just meandering on foot as much as meandering down stream in a Kayak.
Roostriz
07-03-05, 01:26 AM
I'd join you but I've got to get a friggin canoe first lol. I was just talking to my wife tonight about that.
Chris
Chris,
I have a canoe that I picked up at a yard sale for $50. I am not sure how often you can find them that cheap. It looks like it went through a war but it does not leak. I would never buy one brand new for the price they ask.
Roostriz
07-04-05, 03:34 PM
Yeah I have had my eye out for one in the bargain box in the paper. I can't justify the cost of a new one for as often as I will use it. I'll come across one eventually.
Chris
Believe me, I understand that people are busy. I have two kids and hardly ever have the time to get out of the house. I did not want to sound jilted, I enjoy just meandering on foot as much as meandering down stream in a Kayak.
Here's a solution! Do both. Buy an old kayak with holes in it. Enlarge the holes so your legs fit thru. Then you can go hiking in your kayak, and tell everyone at work on Monday that you not only went kayaking, but went where no-one had ever kayaked before. Well, it was just an idea...... :confused:
Here's a solution! Do both. Buy an old kayak with holes in it. Enlarge the holes so your legs fit thru. Then you can go hiking in your kayak, and tell everyone at work on Monday that you not only went kayaking, but went where no-one had ever kayaked before. Well, it was just an idea...... :confused:
Me and a few guys did something different about 5 years ago. We started out in a canoe from Atsion and floated down the Mullica River to that wide, open area. We then portaged our canoes throught the woods over to the Batsto River, camped at Lower Forge, and canoed the following morning down the Batsto to the village.
ecampbell
07-08-05, 10:34 AM
OK, who's up for an adventure?
I'd like to redo my Nescocheague River trip from a couple of years ago
Trip report
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/showthread.php?t=316&highlight=campground
A highlite would be Ace Campground.
I would also like to start further up river at Paradise Lake campgroung. We would end up just upriver from Plesant Mills bridge.
Maybe a side trip to the Swamp Monster.
This river is not maintained, lots of logs and brush.
Ed
Count me in. I have a Kayak and a Canoe available.
Ron
pinelandpaddler
07-09-05, 02:09 PM
Bob,
Why didn't you guys just put in at hampton furnace? Water levels too low?
Bob,
Why didn't you guys just put in at hampton furnace? Water levels too low?
No, we did that on purpose. We like doing things that possibly have not been done before....:)
Sounds like fun to me. When are you planning to do this, and about how long of a trip is it? Is there a good restaurant at the Ace campground? :-)
woodjin
07-12-05, 01:47 AM
Don't take offense Wombat but your question regarding a resturante at Ace Campground is going cause a few laughs for anyone who has ever been there. It was abandoned about 12 years ago I think. I was fortunite to have visited it before it was vandalized. I would guess that even in its' hey day you would have been hard pressed to find a decent sandwich for sale there.
When are you thinking of doing this Ed? I have done most of the rivers but have yet to do nescocheague. It has been on my list for some time now.
Jeff
woodjin
07-12-05, 01:50 AM
Oh yeah, the trip that Ed is proposing would probably run about 4 hours.
ecampbell
07-12-05, 02:16 PM
I'll stop in Paradise Lake Campgroung tomorrow to see if we can begin there. If not we'll start down stream. I'm ready whenever, weekdays or weekend. I'm just watching the water level, lots of logs and water helps getting over them. Four hours is abit quick. It's not fast going and Ace is worth an hour of exploring.
The start is roughly here
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=18&n=4392834.0001144&e=523483.000000001&datum=nad83
Get back to me on your day preference. How about this weekend, the water should be OK.
We need a couple of 4x4 to leave at the end to haul the kayaks back. I can hold 4.
Ron, it would be better in a kayak, the shorter the better.
Hey Wombat, why don't you come. The Picalilli Inn is right up the road, great wings and beer.
Ed
NewSchoolPiney
07-12-05, 03:25 PM
Hey Wombat, why don't you come. The Picalilli Inn is right up the road, great wings and beer.
Ed
Amen to Pic's, my local hangout for the past year. However, I just moved to Philadelphia . . . I feel like I betrayed the Pines.
Justin
Actually, I did look at the pictures of Ace Campgrounds, and didn't see a restaurant....but one can always hope........ I can try to make it this coming weekend, but I'll have to make my roof racks fit on the wife's Hyundai somehow. They don't seem to work well on my convertible (midlife crisis impulse purchase). My shortest boat is 12 feet; I could put the top down, recline the passenger seat and throw the boat in the car hanging out over the trunk, but not if there's any chance of getting rained on. BTW, what is the Swamp Monster?
TeeGate
07-12-05, 10:43 PM
BTW, what is the Swamp Monster?
Basically, it is a place that too many people now know about.
Guy
Ed,
I would only be able to make the trip on a weekend. Earlier the better.
Ron
Ed,
Any update on the trip?
ecampbell
07-15-05, 12:11 PM
Ron,
Looks like it's just you and me. Do you like Saturday or Sunday? Where are you coming from? I like early too, cooler and maybe we'll miss the afternoon storms. Check your Private messages. Do you have a 4 wheeler?
Ed
Last call, anyone else?
I have a Jeep Cherokee 4x4. Saturday is best for me, I likely would not be able to do Sunday.
Ron
Ed and me paddled the Nescocheague River that was planned last week but canceled due to the rain.
The day started off with my Jeep breaking down a ½ mile from where I was suppose to meet Ed and his wife. Thankfully a couple with a Canoe strapped to the top of their care stopped to ask me where the road was that would take them to the river. I told them that if they headed down the road and asked the guy with a Kayak on top of his truck he would be able to tell them. I also asked them to tell him that I was broken down waiting for him. Few minutes latter Ed and his wife found me and after a few moments I got the Jeep started. We drove the 6 miles through the woods on one of the rougher roads I have driven through the pines with Ed driving in the front in his Jeep than his wife and than me following and hoping I would not break down again before we made it to the drop off point. We made it to the landing spot and dropped off our cars. Ed’s wife shuttled our Kayaks and us to the starting point at Paradise Lakes Campground just below the lake.
I knew it would be an adventurous trip when I saw ED load into his Kayak a small bow saw and what looked like heavy-duty chain cutters. Only a short way down the river we had to portage around a fallen tree.
Further up the river forked with the left branch looking like a tangle of fallen trees and the right branch flowing under and through an impenetrable assortment of brush. I led us to the Left. We had to portage around another tree only to discover we could go no further due to this branch of the river turning into a swamp. We back tracked portaging around the tree again. Ed got out the heavy equipment and after about 20 minutes cut through the wall of brush blocking the right branch in the fork.
The rest of the trip had its challenges, I would let Ed go first and try to copy his techniques at getting under, over and through obstacles. I was rewarded with learning a lot about Kayaking and an incredible view of the scenery. This was one beautiful river. The river seemed more secluded and less traveled the further down we went.
Eventually we made it to the ACE campground and took a tour of the place. I was most impressed with the clear pristine lake at the Campground.
While trying to squeeze between a fallen log and the bank I did not notice a large rat snake until my paddle almost touched it.
We eventually made it back to the landing site where we had to carry are boats a short way down the path due to a fallen tree blocking the road to cars.
It was a great trip and I thank Ed for letting me trail along.
I will post some pics latter when I have more time.
Ron
TeeGate
07-24-05, 02:33 PM
Nice report Ron! I know you have a long ride home from there....did you have any problems?
Guy
TeeGate
07-24-05, 02:34 PM
Did you check out the dam where you started. Pretty interesting one!
Guy
No problems making it home. The engine seems to overheat at lower speeds and does not want to start once turned off, until it cools down.
The dam is not like the one at the end of the "Up the Cedar" trip at all. No one is going to climb over it anyway.
Roostriz
07-24-05, 04:54 PM
No problems making it home. The engine seems to overheat at lower speeds and does not want to start once turned off, until it cools down.
Hydrolock maybe?
ecampbell
07-25-05, 02:43 PM
It was a very nice trip, a cooler and breezy day than the week before. The river right below the dam was wide and fast flowing, and except for 2 spots had few small obstructions. The campground rents canoes for it's guests to paddle down the river 2 miles and therefore maintains that section of the river, but didn't get to it this year. The manager told me they're trying to find someone to clear it. One of those obstructions was the toughest I've seen. A tree with sticky vines fell over the river at a spot where the river branches out to flow around other obstacles. I managed to cut through it, but it was so dense that I didn't even know if it would get us to the main river. Many scratches and spiders later we made it.
The beach
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=309&pos=10
Ace is still a real gem, even with the graffiti. The vandalism seems to have occured in 2 stages and does not appear to be ongoing. Someone went there knowing exactly what they wanted and took the phones and sign. I have little doubt that my origional post was the inspiration.
no phone
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=309&pos=9
The graffiti was no doubt done by someone from the local comunity.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=309&pos=8
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=309&pos=7
In spite of all that it's still a beautiful setting.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=309&pos=6
I wish I could see pictures of it when it was in operation. When I walk through the camp sites I think of all the prople having fun there, swimming, camp fires....
Now it's just another place the states taken over and allowing to decay, never to her laughter again.
But I will return,
Ed
Here is a pic of Ed cutting through brush to find the river.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=10219&pos=-3261
TeeGate
07-25-05, 09:20 PM
Tough one! That makes it fun. Thanks for posting it.
Guy
Here is a pic of Ed cutting through brush to find the river.
http://forums.njpinebarrens.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=10219&pos=-3261
Damn Ed, that's poison ivy! :eek:
just kidding....
Bob,
Their was a shrub/bush/tree like pant that grew along the river in blossom. The blossoms looked a lot like honey suckle. Would you have an idea what type of plant that is? I also noticed a lot of wild grapes and Ed pointed out some rasberries.
BEHR655
07-26-05, 01:51 PM
Bob,
Their was a shrub/bush/tree like pant that grew along the river in blossom. The blossoms looked a lot like honey suckle. Would you have an idea what type of plant that is? I also noticed a lot of wild grapes and Ed pointed out some rasberries.
Were the flowers orange and larger than a regular honeysuckle? There are many varieties of honeysuckle and it may have been one.
Steve
The flowers were White. The plant was more of a bush than a vine.
That was sweet pepper bush Ron. Smell it next time. It has a sweet peppery smell.
Thanks Bob. Looked it up on Google after you gave me the name. That is it.
woodjin
07-28-05, 12:21 AM
sounds like you guys had a nice trip. Nice report.
Jeff
ecampbell
08-01-05, 05:06 PM
I think we also saw swamp azalea
http://www.delawarewildflowers.org/1675.html
Also sweet pepper bush which is in bloom now
http://foragingpictures.com/plants/Sweet_pepper_bush/h0002.htm
A couple of other thoughts:
Bob, I took a good look at those vines I was cutting, especially since I put my arms and face through it, but had no reaction.
The whole trip took only 3 3/4 hours, faster than I thought, especially since it included our stop at Ace, and getting blocked by the tree. The river is very straight, with a good flow. If it were cleared it could be a primier river on par with the Wadeing and Batsto.
We also came across the remenants of what appears to be a primitive old dam, but thats probably an overstatement. Sand stone and maybe non indiginous rock, but we went by too fast to be sure. Of course I marked it for an expedition in non tick weather.
Ed
BEHR655
08-01-05, 05:14 PM
The whole trip took only 3 3/4 hours, faster than I thought, especially since it included our stop at Ace, and getting blocked by the tree. The river is very straight, with a good flow. If it were cleared it could be a primier river on par with the Wadeing and Batsto.
We also came across the remenants of what appears to be a primitive old dam, but thats probably an overstatement. Sand stone and maybe non indiginous rock, but we went by too fast to be sure. Of course I marked it for an expedition in non tick weather.
Ed
Sounds like clearing expedition is in order. We can get it all clear and not tell anyone and we would have it to ourselves.
Steve
TeeGate
08-01-05, 06:56 PM
You may better off leaving it the way it is.
Guy
I attached below at Ed's suggestions some PMS we shared regarding an abandoned canoe we saw on our Kayaking Trip. He thought some members may enjoy it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think our PM's about the canoe would amuse alot of the members. How about we post it under the trip report?
I still have it in my sent PM's with my reply if you don't.
You may have the honors.
Ed
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Ron, I went back today to find that canoe we found up on the bank, it was gone.
Did you get it?
Ed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Last week. I wish I knew you were interested in going back for it; I would have let you know sooner. I hope you enjoyed looking for it, and not to disappointed when it was not there.
I have no need for a canoe, since I already have one. I had trouble sleeping last Friday and decided to take a chance at finding the canoe. I headed out from my house at about 3:00 am. I was somewhat disappointed when I got to it. It is an old sears fiberglass model with a fist size whole in the bottom center. It has about five patch jobs from previous holes, and one long sealant/patch down the center. The new whole should be patchable also. If you have any use for it you are welcomed to it. I was more interested in the adventure of finding it again than the canoe itself. I think it would be suitable for lakes and such, but using it on the types of rivers in the pines would likely result in further damage. I wrote up a long winded account of my journey if you care to read it.
I started from home at 3:00 am. I arrived at the entrance to the dirt road that parallels the Nesocheague on the North side about an hour and 20 minutes latter. On the way in a Coyote or a possible wolf ran across the road from left to right. The sun was just starting to change the landscape from pitch black to a dark purplish color.
I Had the GPS coordinates marked on my GPS system marking the location of the abandoned canoe. I saw the canoe, on the side of the riverbank, the Saturday before while Kayaking the river with Ned.
My plan was to find the closet landing point approachable by car down stream from the Canoe. I would walk upstream in the river with a canoe paddle in hand. I would than paddle downstream with the canoe back to the landing site. Using my GPS as a guide I was able to find a great landing site about ½ mile down stream from the Canoe. Unfortunately before reaching this site I drove down another road that got really rough a short distance down. I turned off the Jeep and walked to a dead end. The river did not seem to be very close so I decided to go back to the Jeep and keep driving. Unfortunately the Jeep would not start. 20-30 minutes latter I got her started and rambling down the main road again.
Just a short distance down was a turnoff that that ended at a well-used landing site on the river. This spot was about ½ mile from the Canoe. With canoe paddle in hand I decided to walk through the woods following the river for as long as possible before jumping into the river and following it up stream. The woods got thicker and the river seemed to disappear far to my left somewhere. I decided to cut through the cedar trees off to my left in order to reach the river. Eventually the Cedar was very dense and I could still see no sign of the river. My GPS system also seemed to be lying to me. Telling me that my car was in the direction I was heading up river and not behind me down river. I figured I would head back to where I thought the road was. In a short time I found the road and followed it to the Jeep (according to my GPS). Apparently I had the old mark of where I broke down and not the new spot where I parked. I decided to cut through the swamp at the end of this road and head up river.
After a short walk through the swamp along a well-used dear path, I reached the river. I put my shirt around my neck in hopes I could keep it dry, and with paddle in hand jumped into the river. The river was nice and cool; the majority of the time the water level was no deeper than knee high. However some section reached my chest. I hoped that any ticks that I may have picked up would be swept away in the river.
After an hour I passed the banks of the abandoned camp ground (ACE). I knew the canoe if still there would be just around the bend. For a brief moment I thought the canoe was gone, just as Tracy kept telling me it would be. I walked a bit further and saw the canoe. When I reached the canoe I saw that it had a great deal of water in the front. I started to splash the water out with my hands. While doing this my heart sunk when I saw the fist size whole in the bottom. I decided to plug the whole with a towel that was left amongst other trash left behind with the canoe. I shoved off and was making good time. I have to admit I am proud of the one man canoe paddling skills I used to get down river. Than a piece of the towel hanging out of the whole got caught on a log. I had to get out of the canoe to dislodge it. I decided to empty the water that had seeped in through the patch job. This took some time since I had no riverbank to stand on. I patched the whole with a piece of ziplock bag I gathered from the trash I cleaned up at the canoe site. This seemed to work better than the towel. I put the wet towel on top of the patch to help slow down the leaking. I also kept an empty Gatorade bottle handy to scoop out the water that entered the canoe.
A very short time latter I reached the landing site. The landing site had a rope swing which I took the time to enjoy before strapping the canoe to the Jeep.
On the way out, two Owls flew in front of the Jeep. I felt very lucky to have seen a glimpse of them in the wild.
TeeGate
08-11-05, 09:03 PM
It seems to me you need to get that Jeep patched. One of these days it is not going to start at all :)
Nice report! Thanks for sharing it.
Guy
pinelandpaddler
08-11-05, 09:36 PM
Good tale, Lorun! I admire your sense of adventure in braving the creek (one of my favorites).
It seems to me you need to get that Jeep patched. One of these days it is not going to start at all :)
Nice report! Thanks for sharing it.
Guy
I replace something new each time it does not start. It is one of those problems that is hard to determine if it is fixed.
Dang Ron, you are a certified pine barren explorer! Good job!
woodjin
08-13-05, 02:32 AM
That was a great read Ron. Quite an adventure you had there. That coyote you saw is a fairly rare sight. We had some disscussion regarding coyote some time back and found out that the coyotes in the area are believed to have interbreed with grey wolves at some point, thus accounting for the larger size of them in comparison to the western coyote. Again, great read, I can appreciate your determination and adventurous spirit!!
Jeff
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