Yesterday morning I got up early and kayaked Mt. Misery brook. I have been meaning to do this for years as i live right next to it, and spend alot of time in with the woods around it.
I started out while steam was rising off the water as the sun broke out on a cold crisp morning. I grabbed my camera from my water bag only to discover my batteries were completely dead. Damn! I would have gotten some great shots. So,I will have to report by words alone.
I kayaked from route 70 to the mt. Misery bridge near Mary Ann forge. The first part of the river was filled with debries and was more of an adventure than a liesurely paddle. The banks were lined with enormous maples and even large oaks, lots of high bush blue berry bushes crowded the very narrow brook. The water varied dramatically from shallow to deep but water levels were generally high and the current was very strong. Once I passed the power lines near the pole branch the river was straight as an arrow all the way to the bridge (obviously this section of the river had been altered for either Mary Ann forge or an alleged cranberry bog).
Highlights:
I saw the mother of all cedar trees. I wish I had my camera. It had branches all the way up. Some of the branches were as large a full grown cedars. Unbelievable!!
On the straight run toward Mary Ann forge I noticed numerous canals that looped toward the high banks through the swamp on either side of the river. While it is possible, I find it hard to believe that this was once a cranberry bog. the canals indicate something else. There were alot of wild cranberries though. The swamp was filled with maples, many of which have fallen because they have out grown their swampy foot holds and the weight has pulled them over. In one such instance a large maple came down and grabbed several medium sized maples in it's decent. The result was the unearthing of a huge root structure over 12' high. I have never seen anything like it. I wish I had my camera. One bank was very, very steep and was littered with fox dens, however, due to the size of the dens I wonder if they might not be coyote. I will have to investigate further.
Ben noted that the river at Mary Ann forge was very deep. I measured it with my paddle and could not touch bottom just down stream from the old bridge. So it's depth is in excess of 7'. That is very deep. There is also a bridge up stream from Mary Ann forge. I have used it for years to cross over on my motorcycle, and it was clearly built for this purpose (in its current state it is unsafe for crossing except by foot) I was surprised to find from the perspective of the kayak that the bridge was built on top of a pre-existing structure, pillongs and a retaining wall that appear to be of the same vintage as the structures at Mary Ann forge.
What a great adventure it was and I am still curious about the canals in the swamp and what purpose they served. I will revisit the area soon with a camera with batteries.
Jeff
I started out while steam was rising off the water as the sun broke out on a cold crisp morning. I grabbed my camera from my water bag only to discover my batteries were completely dead. Damn! I would have gotten some great shots. So,I will have to report by words alone.
I kayaked from route 70 to the mt. Misery bridge near Mary Ann forge. The first part of the river was filled with debries and was more of an adventure than a liesurely paddle. The banks were lined with enormous maples and even large oaks, lots of high bush blue berry bushes crowded the very narrow brook. The water varied dramatically from shallow to deep but water levels were generally high and the current was very strong. Once I passed the power lines near the pole branch the river was straight as an arrow all the way to the bridge (obviously this section of the river had been altered for either Mary Ann forge or an alleged cranberry bog).
Highlights:
I saw the mother of all cedar trees. I wish I had my camera. It had branches all the way up. Some of the branches were as large a full grown cedars. Unbelievable!!
On the straight run toward Mary Ann forge I noticed numerous canals that looped toward the high banks through the swamp on either side of the river. While it is possible, I find it hard to believe that this was once a cranberry bog. the canals indicate something else. There were alot of wild cranberries though. The swamp was filled with maples, many of which have fallen because they have out grown their swampy foot holds and the weight has pulled them over. In one such instance a large maple came down and grabbed several medium sized maples in it's decent. The result was the unearthing of a huge root structure over 12' high. I have never seen anything like it. I wish I had my camera. One bank was very, very steep and was littered with fox dens, however, due to the size of the dens I wonder if they might not be coyote. I will have to investigate further.
Ben noted that the river at Mary Ann forge was very deep. I measured it with my paddle and could not touch bottom just down stream from the old bridge. So it's depth is in excess of 7'. That is very deep. There is also a bridge up stream from Mary Ann forge. I have used it for years to cross over on my motorcycle, and it was clearly built for this purpose (in its current state it is unsafe for crossing except by foot) I was surprised to find from the perspective of the kayak that the bridge was built on top of a pre-existing structure, pillongs and a retaining wall that appear to be of the same vintage as the structures at Mary Ann forge.
What a great adventure it was and I am still curious about the canals in the swamp and what purpose they served. I will revisit the area soon with a camera with batteries.
Jeff
