The Chesapeake Paddler August 2017 the Chesapeake Paddler
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Page 1 The Chesapeake Paddler August 2017 The Chesapeake Paddler Publication of The Chesapeake Paddlers Association, Inc. Volume 27 Issue VII August 2017 Landing, paddled north around Tizzard Island River Reverie and then headed back down south towards Pocomoke satisfies the curious Mills Island. In the By Jaclin Gilbert Assacorkin Thoroughfare (Is that a The Pocomoke Car Camper was a commitment to name or what?) we battling heat and bugs in pursuit of fine paddling and ran into a nice boater companionship over the long Fourth of July Weekend. who invited us to Luckily, it was a successful battle and fine adventure was explore his historic the reward. house on a tiny nearby island. We detoured CPA campers were fortunate to be clustered in one of over and tramped the prettiest loops of the Shad Landing section of around, marveling that Pocomoke State Park, with a good river view from many it had survived quite a of the campsites. The campgrounds are nicely set up, few storms. Another and those who found themselves heading out early in group of paddlers the morning were rewarded with beautiful misty views Photo/Maxine Mead chose not to paddle on of a pastel river. Evenings were also quietly lovely. salt water and explored the local creeks for the day, but we all met up The paddling was structured so that people could choose from an for a potluck dinner in the evening. Great food led to great informal array of options. On Friday two trips were offered: one, a conversation, mostly about kayaking. paddle on the Pocomoke River from Snow Hill, and two, a trip right Monday morning we were down to one paddling group that headed out of Shad Landing to view the cypress forests along Nassawango back to George Island landing to explore some of the tidal creeks Creek. The wildlife in the protected areas along the Nassawango was dotting the area near where we had paddled the day before. The tidal great. We saw a beaver and many birds, including prothonotary marsh and grasses were peaceful and lovely, but we were warblers. It was a hot day for paddling, but the route became shadier disappointed that the water ran out just before we reached the as we headed up the creek, which helped a great deal. It was peaceful shade. We tabled the exploration of other similar creeks and decided to be so removed from civilization for a day, and the paddlers who to head for a shaded beach attached to the mainland just north of the opted for the Pocomoke River trip were happy, too. put-in. Here we found a little piece of paradise, a sand beach with After showers and rest period, and swims in the pool for some folks, lovely shade overhead. Keeping our legs in the water to discourage we headed into Snow Hill for dinner and the annual fireworks show. biting flies, we became interested in some smallish fish that were very Dinner was at the Harvest Moon Restaurant, which makes a mean interested in us. Rick thought they were mummichog, and they were Oyster Po’boy. The surprisingly robust firework show was a fantastic clearly meat eaters, showing no interest in the bread dropped to end to the day. them by “careless” eaters. After a coordinated attack by the mummichog on Suzanne and me - timed to the exact second - we On Sunday, a group of paddlers decided to try Chincoteague Bay in pulled our legs out and watched them from a distance. hopes of a sea breeze to keep the day cool. The start of the paddle was unpromising, hot and still. As the day progressed, the breeze After the last paddle, some members drifted away home, while others arrived and cooled our circumnavigation of several small Islands on stayed on another night, heading down to Pocomoke City for dinner. the mainland side of the Bay. We departed from George Island All in all, a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July Weekend. Page 2 The Chesapeake Paddler August 2017 THE CHESAPEAKE PADDLERS ASSOCIATION, INC. The mission of the Chesapeake Paddlers Association is to provide a way for people to enjoy sea kayaking within the Chesapeake Bay area and to promote safe sea kayaking practices through educating the local sea kayaking community.and the interested public. Officers Pirate Groups Coordinator [email protected] Pirates of Algonkian [email protected] Bill Smith 407-489-7191 James Higgins 571-659-3319 Membership, subscriptions [email protected] Pirates of Arundell Committee [email protected] Sue Stevens 410-531-5641 Rich Stevens c/o CPA, P.O. Box 341, Greenbelt, MD 20768 Béla Máriássy 410-507-4972 Secretary—Sue Stevens [email protected] Greg Welker 301-249-4895 Treasurer—Rich Stevens [email protected] Sue Stevens 410-531-5641 Steering Committee [email protected] Pirates of Baltimore [email protected] Mike Cohn Marla Aron 301-395-6822 Linda Delaney Ed Cogswell 443-636-0387 Tim Dole 301-412-4785 Pirates of the Eastern Shore [email protected] Ralph Heimlich 301-498-0722 Paula Hubbard 407-619-2896 Paula Hubbard 407-619-2896 Pirates of Georgetown [email protected] Chip Walsh Jesse Aronson 571-969-1539 Librarian - John Gibbs 703-922-7686 [email protected] Tom Heneghan 571-969-1866 Library Rob Pearlman 240-688-6340 Gear Volunteer Gear Page Larry Ichter Marla Aron Pirates of the North [email protected] Webmaster/E-Mail List Administrators Bob Shakeshaft 410-939-0269 Paula Hubbard , Catriona Miller Gary Foster Gregg Banse [email protected] Joan Sweet Newsletter Team: [email protected] Jerry Sweet Co-Editors— Elizabeth Boyd & Lois Wyatt Pirates of Occoquan [email protected] Paddler Profiles - Bob Browning 410-661-6725 Mailing and Distribution Sue Stevens (digital) Jeff Walaszek 703-868-1765 Jenny Plummer-Welker (hardcopy) Jim Zawlocki 703-378-7536 Pirates of Patuxent [email protected] Jenny Plummer-Welker 301-249-4895 Don Polakovics 301-247-8133 Pirates of Potomac [email protected] Dick Rock 703-780-6605 Pirates of Sugarloaf [email protected] CLASSIFIEDS Liz Marancik 301-221-0572 Advertising Rates: Rita Scherping 240-731-9987 We accept display advertising that relates to the interest of our readers. Monthly Lise Soukup 240-205-4341 rates are as follows: size cost dimensions (col) THE CHESAPEAKE PADDLER 1/8 page $20 2.4” x 3.5” (1) The Chesapeake Paddler is published 10 times a year, with 1/4 page $32 4.9” x 4.7” (2) combination issues in Nov/Dec and Jan/Feb. The deadline for 1/2 page $50 7.5” x 4.7” (3) submitting copy is the 15th of the preceding month. Have an idea for Full page $80 7.5” x 9.75” (3) an article, or is there information you would like to see in the newsletter? Contact [email protected] A 5% discount will be given for ads supplied as electronic files in acceptable The newsletter may be reprinted whole or in part if credit is given formats (i.e., .tif, .gif, .jpeg, bit-map). Email or call for more information and for 10- to this newsletter and any identified author (unless an article is month discount. See advertising contact in masthead. specifically copyrighted), and a courtesy copy is sent to the Editor. Public service announcements and personal ads to sell kayaks/ accessories are The download link or file for the electronic version of this newsletter printed at no charge; non-members pay $10 for 3 months. Ads dated three months may not be posted or forwarded to non-members without the before the date of this issue will be pulled unless a new request is received by the express consent of the Coordinator or Editor. 15th of the month prior to the next issue. And if it has sold...tell us! Page 3 The Chesapeake Paddler August 2017 News From the CPA Coordinator - Bill Smith ugust can be really hot along the Chesapeake Bay with do an April paddle among bathwater temperatures and stinging jellyfish or sea nettles the ice flows. There are a A about. Keeping cool can get tricky especially when the few outfitters who really jellyfish are everywhere. August is the time of year I like to plan fall push the early spring paddle trips up north. In the past we would always plan our trips for paddles on the lake. late September to mid-October for decent weather and bug-free One of the trips I led camping. There are many great northern destinations for sea recently was from the kayaking. Some I have firsthand knowledge of and others are bucket Magothy River to the Severn list locations. River with a lunch stop at My very first sea kayak paddle was a November weekend camper in Sandy Point State Park. After the La Chenault Islands in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Lake leaving the beach at Sandy Huron. The scenery and conditions were spectacular with rocky shore Point we continued south line and coves with little sand beaches tucked in. The forests are toward the Bay Bridge which mostly cedar and white birch--there is nothing like the sights and was very busy with boat sounds of a northern forest. traffic. While paddling along we were kept very busy The upper Great Lakes is a haven for sea kayaking along the Huron, watching the boat traffic traveling in sporadic directions when I Michigan, and Superior shorelines and that includes both sides of the spotted a sea kayak near the end of the break water about a half mile border. way. Soon after noticing the kayak I noticed that it had capsized and Two of my favorite places I have visited several times but yet to sea that the paddler appeared to be struggling with trying to right the kayak are Lake Superior Provincial Park in Ontario and Pictures Rocks boat.