Oswego River

[ICANOE2]

No, not the one in NY but the river rite here in the beautiful NJ Pine Barrens.
Sunday me and my GF and our friends enjoyed a canoe trip on the Oswego river. It was a beautiful day for a trip through the Pines. We started out with a short paddle across Lake Oswego then onto the River after a carry at the dam to set off on our 6 mile journey.
Our friends did great on their first canoe trip.
The river current was flowing swiftly and there was plenty of water. I'm not sure I would run this in the summer with a dry spell, I think you would be doing a lot of walking and dragging the canoe. We were really surprised and relieved at the lack of trash along the river, our trash bag was little of use on this stream.
About a half hour before the end of the trip we decided to inadvertently show our friends how to properly execute a wet exit from a canoe into sub 40* water and the reason to carry a dry bag with extra clothes.
(lame excuse)The current pinned against a tree that was across the river, and when we pushed away the canoe stayed and we went over into the drink. It was hilarious, but a potentially dangerous situation. We were lucky to get out of the frigid water quickly and change into dry clothes avoiding hypothermia or worse.
I wish I had a few photos to share from our trip but my camera is somewhere floating along the river toward Harrisville Pond. I had it strapped to my PFD with the Velcro loop of the case and it popped off sometime when I was wrestling the canoe full of water up the steep bank of the river.
With the frigid swim and all it was still a wonderful day and lesson learned, while exploring one of the finest rivers of the Pinelands..........Mike


Note to self: Buy the extra insurance on the camera at and secure it better. Best Buy would have replaced it if I had something to bring them, and I could have recovered the pics from the memory card.

 

[bobpbx]

No, not the one in NY but the river rite here in the beautiful NJ Pine Barrens.
Sunday me and my GF and our friends enjoyed a canoe trip on the Oswego river. It was a beautiful day for a trip through the Pines. We started out with a short paddle across Lake Oswego then onto the River after a carry at the dam to set off on our 6 mile journey.
Our friends did great on their first canoe trip.
The river current was flowing swiftly and there was plenty of water. I'm not sure I would run this in the summer with a dry spell, I think you would be doing a lot of walking and dragging the canoe. We were really surprised and relieved at the lack of trash along the river, our trash bag was little of use on this stream.
About a half hour before the end of the trip we decided to inadvertently show our friends how to properly execute a wet exit from a canoe into sub 40* water and the reason to carry a dry bag with extra clothes.
(lame excuse)The current pinned against a tree that was across the river, and when we pushed away the canoe stayed and we went over into the drink. It was hilarious, but a potentially dangerous situation. We were lucky to get out of the frigid water quickly and change into dry clothes avoiding hypothermia or worse.
I wish I had a few photos to share from our trip but my camera is somewhere floating along the river toward Harrisville Pond. I had it strapped to my PFD with the Velcro loop of the case and it popped off sometime when I was wrestling the canoe full of water up the steep bank of the river.
With the frigid swim and all it was still a wonderful day and lesson learned, while exploring one of the finest rivers of the Pinelands..........Mike


Note to self: Buy the extra insurance on the camera at and secure it better. Best Buy would have replaced it if I had something to bring them, and I could have recovered the pics from the memory card.

Sorry to hear about the camera. What kind was it?

The Oswego is the pearl of the Pines. Oswego Lake is the jewel. I love them both. I'd love to own Sim Place.

 

[Teegate]

Sounds like a great time. One you never will forget.

Guy

 

[ICANOE2]

Sorry to hear about the camera. What kind was it?

QUOTE]
It WAS a Cannon Power Shot A560 7.1 megapixel. With the memory card, case, and 3 sets of rechargeable batteries I think I spent around $260. for it. It wasn't a year old.:cry:
On the brighter side if I would have spent more money for a water proof camera I would have lost lost it too, the way I had it secured. I used to loop the case strap around my PFD but recently started using the Velcro loop so the case didn't dangle. The old way I carried it I would still have it even though it would have been wrecked.
Back to invest more money in Best Buy. LOL........Mike

 

[LARGO]

Wonderful report and a journey I need to invest more time in.
I love for cold water but yes, when you are not prepared, whether in equipment or mentally it can be dangerous. (to be prepared, or at least excited about it mentally you pretty much have to be an idiot, I know at least one)
I have been reading the occasional post on the cold water canoeing and I have not had a chance to get out, curse you all. Really sorry to hear about the camera, that sucks huge! I try to keep my sensitive stuff in a watertight capsule with a lead on it I can easily recover.
I will say this, forget all rules and have carefully protected matches or lighter handy! Start a damned fire wherever you are and dry out/warm up fast! Thank you for your tale. It entertained and informed.

g.

 

[ICANOE2]

.
I will say this, forget all rules and have carefully protected matches or lighter handy! Start a damned fire wherever you are and dry out/warm up fast! Thank you for your tale. It entertained and informed.

g.

Without a doubt we were totally prepared to start a fire. If the need arises that is. I'm sure the authorities would understand if we had to start a fire to survive.

I had always carried my camera in a water proof box tied to the thwart in front of me, but never really needed it, even in the rapids of the Delaware River. I got tired of missing photo op's because slow camera draw so I liked to keep close at hand. I purchased this camera because I didn't want to risk my expensive Sony, which was double the price of the one I lost. The thing is the cheaper camera took just as nice pics. LOL

I'm glad you enjoyed reading my story and I hope to help others out there understand the dangers of the cold water. ALWAYS carry dry clothes, you never know when you might need them..........Mike

 

[bobpbx]

Sorry to hear about the camera. What kind was it?

QUOTE]
It WAS a Cannon Power Shot A560 7.1 megapixel. With the memory card, case, and 3 sets of rechargeable batteries I think I spent around $260. for it. It wasn't a year old.:cry:
On the brighter side if I would have spent more money for a water proof camera I would have lost lost it too, the way I had it secured. I used to loop the case strap around my PFD but recently started using the Velcro loop so the case didn't dangle. The old way I carried it I would still have it even though it would have been wrecked.
Back to invest more money in Best Buy. LOL........Mike

Ouch! I have the A630, so I feel your pain (a little).

 

[Phil from Philly]

did you go by that beach with the rope swing? that's a really cool spot

 

[ICANOE2]

I don't recall seeing any swings but was told there was one, I may have been under water at the time.........Mike

 

[pinelandpaddler]

Mike,

I had a similar misfortune several years back. It was mid-January and I got my kayak wedged against a fallen tree. I thought I could fight the current, but that simply cannot be done; I went right in. If possible, you have to get out of your boat and stand on the tree and then pull your boat either over or around it. Dry bags are a must in the winter!

 

[bobpbx]

Mike, Dry bags are a must in the winter!

Why you young whipper-snapper, you don't know what a real January is! Why, back in 73, the Oswego was frozen solid from Dec 1st through March 31st.

Dry bag indeed!