Starting Off the New Year Right

A New Year's Day kayaking trip is something of a tradition for Chesapeake Paddlers Association folks. There's just something wonderfully audacious about being out on the water on the inevitably cold morning of January 1st when the world is for the most part still in bed fuzzily recovering from New Year's revels. Of course, it is a taste which is less than universally shared: Ralph put a call for paddlers to launch from Carr's Wharf and only three people showed up - including Ralph. As it happens, it was something of a CPA leadership paddle, since the three participants were the organization's Coordinator, the "King" of the Pirates of the North weekly paddling group, and a Steering Committee member (that would be me). OK, maybe the New Year's Day paddle is a tradition only for crazy diehards.

Ralph and Bob

Be that as it may, the three of us met at the wharf at 9 AM. Carr's Wharf appears to be an old ferry landing, too decrepit now to be of much use as a ramp for trailered boats but perfect for launching kayaks. A badly decomposed deer in the middle of the launch area added to the charm.

Getting Ready to Launch @ Carr's Wharf

We launched into the Rhode River and headed back into the coves and creeks, first paddling past the YMCA Camp Letts up into Seliman's Creek, then exploring Muddy Creek, and then finally Bear's Head Creek for a total of about 7.5 miles.

As always with winter paddles, my hands were my main problem. The air temp was above freezing but my hands felt painfully cold from launch through landing and stayed sore the rest of the day. This is a chronic problem for many kayakers and we all experiment to try and find a solution.

After we got off the water Ralph broke out his wife's home-made gingerbread cookies and offered tea & hot cocoa as well - a nice little post paddling snack. Finally, after shooting the breeze for a while, we all headed our separate ways.

A great way to start the year. I hope it's a harbinger of a good kayaking year to come.

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