I'm Still Paddling...I've Just Been Too Busy To Tell You About It. Part 1

I've been REALLY busy lately. This is the time of year that my work schedule is crazy (I'm a painting contractor) and my wife has finally, after nearly 31 years of marriage, gotten me to participate in a social life, with real live friends and everything! I did manage to fit in a few really fun paddles though.

Loyalhanna Inflow Creek - Bush Run to New Alexandria - 6/16
This was a trip that I've been wanting to make for a while now. With little side trips into coves and feeder streams, the total round trip distance was a little over 14 miles. There was a lot to see along the way. Ospreys had a nest built on a pole in a cove that is reserved for their use. They were fishing as I made my way past their cove. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me. Robbin was visiting a friend in Cape May, NJ and had the camera with her. I took a couple of photos with my phone, but they're not as good.

This is the osprey nest. A metal cage is attached to the top of a pole that is standing in the middle of a cove. The osprey's return each year to build their nest in this spot. There are signs at the entrance to this cove explaining that the area is off limits to boaters so as not to disturb the ospreys while they tend to their young.


Robbin sent me a picture message showing me a beautiful restaurant on the water that she was having lunch at. I sent her back this photo showing that I was also dining on the water.

Kiski River
In the past three weeks I've made four trips down the Kiski River. At that time the water level was at the perfect depth. It was high enough to make the riffles a lot of fun, but low enough to see the rocks. We've had a heat wave this past week with very little rain. The river level is down now and we probably won't have those conditions again until fall.
Robbin and I took a trip together from Roaring Run to Vandergrift. Notice I didn't say "a paddle together".

This is Robbin's idea of a perfect trip down the river...feet outside the cockpit...holding her paddle with her toes...floating merrily down the river, paddling only when absolutely necessary!

My son, Jeremy, and I paddled down the Kiski from Avonmore to Vandergrift on Fathers Day. I knew the first time we went that he would be hooked. It was a beautiful day and water conditions were perfect. Each time I paddle this section I find something new to photograph.



We found this stream after stopping to empty water out of the kayaks. You have to walk upstream to find this section, but it's pretty.


Not long after this photo was taken, Jeremy learned a few things:
1. If you hit a big rock sideways in the riffles even a super-stable kayak will flip.
2. When a kayak has no bulkheads, it will fill with water if turned upside down.
3. When a kayak fills with water it becomes very heavy and is hard to get to shore.
4. The Kiski River flows extremely fast.
5. A water tight box is only water tight if it is completely latched (good-bye cellphone).

To be continued....I have to leave now to participate in my social life :-(