Blow-out Tide on the Mullica

[pinelandpaddler]

All,

Today I took off from work in order to take advantage of a rare blow-out tide on the Mullica River. First I drove to a few areas along the river to take some pictures, but the river was irresistable, so I went home and hopped into my kayak. The wind pushed me and the water pulled me at a very swift rate. Good fun!

From High Bank, I took this shot of some sandbars that seldom reveal themselves:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6575/ppuser/215

Another shot from High Bank:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6574/ppuser/215

Exposed mudflats near Ireland Cove:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6571/ppuser/215

Near the Sweetwater Casino, I found a pile of ballast rocks that were most likely discarded when a ship got stuck in the mud many moons ago:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6573/ppuser/215

Looking upon the Mullica from Captain Abe Nichol's Landing:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6566/ppuser/215

At Crowley's Landing, pilings from the old moorings can be seen:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6570/ppuser/215

There are many reminders of this once bustling landing to be found along the shore: Limestone (used for flux), ballast (rocks that were used to weigh down sailing vessels), and timbers that were no doubt used as a foundation for the moorings. Here are some of the timbers:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6569/ppuser/215

At Hermann City, I was able to finally see the shipwrecks that lay submerged beneath the mud. They've been there for about 140 years. Here is one of them:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6564/ppuser/215

Another wreck:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6565/ppuser/215

A closer look:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6558/ppuser/215

Another angle:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6561/ppuser/215

Notice the ballast rock that was still on the boat when it sunk:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6560/ppuser/215

Pilings from the moorings at Hermann:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6562/ppuser/215

For quite awhile now, I've been meaning to get out on the water during a blow-out tide in order to see what the river has been hiding from me all these years. Fortunately, I have my priorities straight (work can wait).

 

[LARGO]

And you kayaked in that?
Cool.
Must have been a bit brisk at times.
A day well spent sir.

G.

 

[pinelandpaddler]

I'd have it no other way. There were times when the current pulled me so strongly that my boat moved much faster than it ever has before on this river. Were one to race down the river in conditions like that, they'd probably cover a mile every five minutes.

 

[TrailOtter]

Very cool! Now would be the time for an archaeologist to go out and make drawings, document what is there, if it hasn't been done already.

How often do these blowout tides occur??

Looks like it was a good day off work

 

[pinelandpaddler]

TrailOtter,

Budd Wilson, the local archaeologist, has utilized blow-out tides on many occasions in order to survey the historic areas along the river. The Mullica is rich in history, a fact that is all the more appreciated when one looks upon its silent waters today. I've lived on the River my entire life and I am more and more amazed by it every day.

 

[pinelandpaddler]

I missed your question, TrailOtter. Blow-out tides occur just about every year during the cold and windy months, especially March. They're not always as good as the one we had today, though.

 

[RednekF350]

Awesome photos Gabe. A lot of history laying in that mud.
These photos also give you another perspective to consider before diving off a boat for a little summer swim in the Mullica.
You never know what's down there.
I have photos in work of some good blowouts on the Big Timber at its confluence with Little Timber near the Delaware in Brooklawn.
You get a real window into the history of these waterfronts for a fleeting moment.
Thanks for posting.
Scott

 

[ICANOE2]

Nice pics!
Thanks for braving that wind and cold water to share your adventure with us.

How deep is it normally in those areas at high tide?

 

[pinelandpaddler]

ICANOE, I'd guess that the river was somewhere in between 2-3 feet lower than what it is normally.

 

[ICANOE2]

Wow that definitely blown out, losing that much water.
That is the first time I have ever seen it happen that way.
I have only seen it the other way when the wind blows the water in causing flooding.
Very cool uncovering all that history and how it has withstood the test of time.

 

[bobpbx]

Really Neato Gabe! Thanks for taking the effort and sharing. If I were with you, I would have just kept saying..."man, this is so cool!".

 

[woodjin]

Very Cool Gabe!! Thanks for sharing these photos. I have been up and down that area on the mullica quite a bit (though no where near as much as you) and it is amazing to see it at such low levels. Wish I was there.

Jeff

 

[james ungehajer]

Real nice pics Gabe, and very informative, thanks for posting and sharing.

Jim

 

[ChrisNJ]

They are some great pics of the wrecks, they are in better shape than I would have imagined considering being in a river. I love reading about the revolutionary and pirate times of that area, wish I lived closer to see them in person.

 

[Jerseydiver]

All,

Today I took off from work in order to take advantage of a rare blow-out tide on the Mullica River. First I drove to a few areas along the river to take some pictures, but the river was irresistable, so I went home and hopped into my kayak. The wind pushed me and the water pulled me at a very swift rate. Good fun!

From High Bank, I took this shot of some sandbars that seldom reveal themselves:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6575/ppuser/215

Another shot from High Bank:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6574/ppuser/215

Exposed mudflats near Ireland Cove:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6571/ppuser/215

Near the Sweetwater Casino, I found a pile of ballast rocks that were most likely discarded when a ship got stuck in the mud many moons ago:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6573/ppuser/215

Looking upon the Mullica from Captain Abe Nichol's Landing:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6566/ppuser/215

At Crowley's Landing, pilings from the old moorings can be seen:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6570/ppuser/215

There are many reminders of this once bustling landing to be found along the shore: Limestone (used for flux), ballast (rocks that were used to weigh down sailing vessels), and timbers that were no doubt used as a foundation for the moorings. Here are some of the timbers:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6569/ppuser/215

At Hermann City, I was able to finally see the shipwrecks that lay submerged beneath the mud. They've been there for about 140 years. Here is one of them:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6564/ppuser/215

Another wreck:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6565/ppuser/215

A closer look:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6558/ppuser/215

Another angle:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6561/ppuser/215

Notice the ballast rock that was still on the boat when it sunk:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6560/ppuser/215

Pilings from the moorings at Hermann:

http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/6562/ppuser/215

For quite awhile now, I've been meaning to get out on the water during a blow-out tide in order to see what the river has been hiding from me all these years. Fortunately, I have my priorities straight (work can wait).
[/QUOT

Just came across this post and can't seem to download the pictures. Could you possibly post again? Thanks!

 

[Teegate]

That post was from 2007.

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I still have from that day. One of the shipwrecks at Herman. Can't remember which wreck (there are a few there).

 

[Jerseydiver]

Unfortunately, this is the only picture I still have from that day. One of the shipwrecks at Herman. Can't remember which wreck (there are a few there).



View attachment 14423

Awesome shot, thanks!

 

[oji]

When I look back at old threads and see a posting by James Ungehajer I like to give him a memorial "Lo and behold".

 

[turtle]

here you go Gabe....