Jersey! With ice still locking up the Northern lakes up in the NY Adirondacks it was time to take the Chestnut out on it's first campout and travel South towards Philadelphia PA and spend 2 days and 1 night paddling the meandering Mullica River with friends.
I planned this trip in March but can't remember why it didn't happen then, instead we were lucky to go last week on a very windy dry day. The 175 mile drive was interesting with the little Chum catching lots of wind as I drove over a few bridges near the NYC area. My friend had a tougher time with the 17ft Dagger on top of his car. Later the next day we spoke to another paddler whose roof rack was blown off his vehicle near the put in because of the high winds. Not to sure about the condition of the boats but he said the 3 boats were still strapped onto the rack when they went back to get them.
So, the Mullica river is a narrow meandering river in the Wharton State Forest which is located in the Pine Barrens. The water color is a tea color from the tannin in the pine trees and iron in the soil from what I was told. There is a lot of leaning pine trees and bushes that used to get cleared by the local scouts but again I was told that doesn't happen anymore. It's about an 11 mile paddle from put in to take out but if you want to camp out there are designated sites around the midpoint. NJ website is where you now pay, no longer Reserve America.
So the Chum was loaded as usual, local firewood was purchased, wannigan gift was filled up and strapped closed with the design looking right at me (thanks R), a few stoves were on board, cooler placed inside a Canadian canvas pack (Memaquay's) with the precious Matza Ball soup and my Piragis pack with a camping hammock that I just picked up recently after a snowy camping trip (different story). Off I went, the current was quick enough that when I went to take pics I had about 2 seconds to snap a pic, grab the paddle and duck or avoid blowdowns.
I had turned the Chum around so that I was paddling from the bow with all the gear in front and cooler behind me. Felt a bit cramped because of the thwart close to my legs, I am used to stretching out my legs and wondered if I should have just paddled from the stern with all the gear in front like the CT website pic. Then I though about why i didn't set the Chum up as a solo last year when having it restored. It is tipsy when my wife and I paddle together in it. Just a few thoughts as I made my way through the brush.
Good news was that I did not tip over! I did come close when my lousy paddling skills let me get caught sideways a few times with some big strainers. Tried some ideas that worked and some that didn't. I did use a seat back and had to unclip it a few times to lean way way back under a few hanging trees. One time as I bent forward clearing the tree I was about to smile when suddenly I was yanked back! What the heck? Yep, like a giant hand grabbing me a branch had caught the back of my pfd and wouldn't let go. Oh crap, what the heck do i do now? So since that has happened before on other trips I somehow prayed that my Chum would slowly back peddle and help me get unhooked. It somehow knew that I needed help and got me off that branch. Of course it happened again but got caught on Mem's backpack. Freekin hanging branches, had to duck so many times, also got poked in the neck and realized how dangerous that could have been. The other guys were experiencing the same, it even stole a hat from one of our CT family members (bcelect).
Once in a while I didn't make it through carefully and bounced off a branch here and there. each time I wondered if I was gashing up the canvas or cracking a plank or rib. I was talking to the Chum telling it how sorry I was and the next trip would be on open water with no blowdowns.
After the overnight, great time eating and campfire as usual it was about a 3 hour paddle to the take out with again a few narrow spots but some more open areas. There were scout trips, club trips on the water so one had to be careful not to get clogged up waiting at the strainers.
So the first overnight with the restored Chum was a fantastic trip to the NJ Pinebarrens! Fun was had by all, especially me. Hey, I think I finally downloaded pics .
I planned this trip in March but can't remember why it didn't happen then, instead we were lucky to go last week on a very windy dry day. The 175 mile drive was interesting with the little Chum catching lots of wind as I drove over a few bridges near the NYC area. My friend had a tougher time with the 17ft Dagger on top of his car. Later the next day we spoke to another paddler whose roof rack was blown off his vehicle near the put in because of the high winds. Not to sure about the condition of the boats but he said the 3 boats were still strapped onto the rack when they went back to get them.
So, the Mullica river is a narrow meandering river in the Wharton State Forest which is located in the Pine Barrens. The water color is a tea color from the tannin in the pine trees and iron in the soil from what I was told. There is a lot of leaning pine trees and bushes that used to get cleared by the local scouts but again I was told that doesn't happen anymore. It's about an 11 mile paddle from put in to take out but if you want to camp out there are designated sites around the midpoint. NJ website is where you now pay, no longer Reserve America.
So the Chum was loaded as usual, local firewood was purchased, wannigan gift was filled up and strapped closed with the design looking right at me (thanks R), a few stoves were on board, cooler placed inside a Canadian canvas pack (Memaquay's) with the precious Matza Ball soup and my Piragis pack with a camping hammock that I just picked up recently after a snowy camping trip (different story). Off I went, the current was quick enough that when I went to take pics I had about 2 seconds to snap a pic, grab the paddle and duck or avoid blowdowns.
I had turned the Chum around so that I was paddling from the bow with all the gear in front and cooler behind me. Felt a bit cramped because of the thwart close to my legs, I am used to stretching out my legs and wondered if I should have just paddled from the stern with all the gear in front like the CT website pic. Then I though about why i didn't set the Chum up as a solo last year when having it restored. It is tipsy when my wife and I paddle together in it. Just a few thoughts as I made my way through the brush.
Good news was that I did not tip over! I did come close when my lousy paddling skills let me get caught sideways a few times with some big strainers. Tried some ideas that worked and some that didn't. I did use a seat back and had to unclip it a few times to lean way way back under a few hanging trees. One time as I bent forward clearing the tree I was about to smile when suddenly I was yanked back! What the heck? Yep, like a giant hand grabbing me a branch had caught the back of my pfd and wouldn't let go. Oh crap, what the heck do i do now? So since that has happened before on other trips I somehow prayed that my Chum would slowly back peddle and help me get unhooked. It somehow knew that I needed help and got me off that branch. Of course it happened again but got caught on Mem's backpack. Freekin hanging branches, had to duck so many times, also got poked in the neck and realized how dangerous that could have been. The other guys were experiencing the same, it even stole a hat from one of our CT family members (bcelect).
Once in a while I didn't make it through carefully and bounced off a branch here and there. each time I wondered if I was gashing up the canvas or cracking a plank or rib. I was talking to the Chum telling it how sorry I was and the next trip would be on open water with no blowdowns.
After the overnight, great time eating and campfire as usual it was about a 3 hour paddle to the take out with again a few narrow spots but some more open areas. There were scout trips, club trips on the water so one had to be careful not to get clogged up waiting at the strainers.
So the first overnight with the restored Chum was a fantastic trip to the NJ Pinebarrens! Fun was had by all, especially me. Hey, I think I finally downloaded pics .
