| Paddle Log — 2015 |
|---|
| LAUNCH SITE |
DATE |
WHO |
DISTANCE |
COMMENTS |
| Henry Hudson |
April 2 |
Both |
3 |
Explored Papscanee Creek & Moordener Kill, many mergansers, some wood ducks, one gbh, no eagles. Warm air, cold water, windy. |
| Athens |
April 3 |
Both |
15 |
Calm & warm, water like glass. Intense avian activity all day, including a dozen eagles or so. Refreshment stops at SMG & MGF. |
| Coxsackie |
April 6 |
Both |
9 |
Strong head wind paddling against tidal current to Stockport Creek. Clouds appeared and wind fizzled after turning around. |
| Coxsackie |
April 12 |
Both |
18 |
Warm & pleasant. Upstream to RI, down past four mile point, side trips into Little Nutten Hook, Empire Brickyard Bay & Stockport Creek. Met Allan, Robin & John, also interesting fauna. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
April 13 |
M |
10 |
Schodack Creek, marshes around eagle nests, windy on return. Stop at RR Village. |
| Henry Hudson |
April 15 |
M |
9 |
Papscanee Creek & Moordener Kill, downstream to 204, up to 214 with breezy interludes. Little activity until mature eagles took to the air on return. |
| Athens |
April 16 |
Both |
9 |
Calm beginning, windy finish. West Flat & Stockport Creek. Very little wildlife activity. |
| North Germantown Landing |
April 19 |
Both |
14 |
Inbocht Island, Roe Jan, Rogers Island, lunch at Dutchmans Landing. Beavers, eagles, ospreys, mergansers & a swan. |
| Coxsackie |
April 25 |
M |
10 |
Breezy visit to Stockport Flats, many ospreys at Stockport Creek. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
April 26 |
Both |
10 |
Schodack Creek, marshes around eagle nests, race preparation at RR Village. Many immature eagles. |
| Athens |
April 29 |
Both |
14 |
Variable breezes, warmth & sunshine, all over Priming Hook & Stockport Flats. Ospreys, eagles, hawks, grebes, ducks, three kinds of turtles & a large snoozing beaver. |
| Coxsackie |
April 30 |
M |
15 |
Calm & bright. Stop at Bronck Island. Many ospreys, few eagles, tons of turtles on Schodack Creek. Lunch at RR Village, no further activity. |
| Coxsackie |
May 2 |
M |
14 |
Early launch, warm & calm, from Priming Hook to Little Nutten Hook. |
| Aqueduct Park |
May 2 |
J |
2 |
Pedal, paddle & run competition. First in class! |
| Vandenburgh-Dunsbach Ferry |
May 3 |
Both |
7 |
Very low water & little activity, very hot paddle, could not enter Wager's Pond, not worth the bother. |
| Six Mile Waterworks |
May 4 |
J & Karen |
3 |
Quiet afternoon, many animals including a beaver. |
| Coxsackie |
May 7 |
M |
7 |
Late morning launch, too hot & dull, water very low. Early take-out. |
| Athens |
May 8 |
Both |
13 |
Early launch to beat the heat. Serene conditions, many eagles & columbines in Brickyard Bay, a three beaver paddle. |
| North Germantown Landing |
May 14 |
Both |
14 |
Around Rogers Island, lunch at Dutchmans Landing, Inbocht Island. Met Adam, young paddler en route to Beacon. |
| Four Mile Point |
May 15 |
Both |
7 |
Quiet paddle highlighted by eagle-oriole encounter on SMG & cow birds squabbling on Gays Point. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 17 |
Both |
10 |
Explored mouth of Coxsackie Creek, Rattlesnake Island & upstream to Poolsburg. First big eagle day this year. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
May 21 |
Both |
11 |
Second big eagle day this year — 14 under a persistent cloud cover, four adults. Lowest water level yet in Stockport Flats. |
| Dunham Reservoir |
May 22 |
Both |
3 |
Cool & breezy. A few turtles, not much else except for a plethora of pink lady's slippers. |
| Athens |
May 24 |
Both |
14 |
Early launch & encounter with low-flying wild turkey. Serene conditions turning breezy, chicks in SMG nest. |
| Four Mile Point |
May 28 |
Both |
11 |
Priming Hook against wind & tide, carp frenzy, swans & eagles. Reversed direction to Little Nutten Hook. |
| Coxsackie |
May 29 |
M |
12 |
Early morning launch, water level at nadir in Stockport Flats. Three separate mute swan encounters. |
| Dutchman's Landing |
June 3 |
Both |
11 |
Explored interior of Rogers Island, many snapping turtles, lunch at Cohotate Preserve, very little debris in cove. No osprey nest at 129. |
| Coxsackie |
June 4 |
M |
10 |
Cool, gray morning. Eagles, carp, wild four-o'clocks and a very skillful gbh fishing in Stockport Flats. |
| Four Mile Point |
June 5 |
Both |
7 |
Bright day in Stockport Flats, extraordinary photo ops involving eagles, gbh's, various fish & a crow. |
| Coxsackie |
June 7 |
Both |
16 |
Full day around Stockport Flats, met a red fox and fellow paddlers from downstate, many photo ops. |
| Four Mile Point |
June 10 |
Both |
10 |
Hot day in Stockport Flats, eagles & carp very much in evidence. |
| Athens |
June 12 |
Both |
14 |
RT Coxsackie, soaking wet eagle on SMG, stiff breeze on return. |
| Coxsackie |
June 14 |
M |
18 |
Early launch into mist followed by long, calm, sunny day replete with eagles at every turn. |
| Mohawk Valley Marine |
June 14 |
J & Julie T |
3 |
Paddle around Alplaus after dragonboat training, encounter with an extended goose family on the creek. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
June 17 |
Both |
15 |
Running with a following wind to Stockport Flats, eagle pair on SMG "singing" together, bobcat above Nutten Hook on return. |
| Coxsackie |
June 20 |
M |
16 |
Early launch into calm water, round trip H-A Light, following wind. Three chicks again on SMG! |
| Henry Hudson |
June 22 |
Both |
7 |
Baby in nest at Papscanee Creek, lunch at 214. |
| Four Mile Point |
June 24 |
Both & Julie T |
7 |
Breezy AM paddle in Stockport Flats, outstanding snapping turtle sunbathing on a log. |
| Four Mile Point |
June 25 |
M |
7 |
Boring paddle rescued by late arrival of mother eagle at SMG nest with a fish to feed chicks. |
| Coxsackie |
June 26 |
Both |
14 |
Quiet paddle to Poolsburg. Lunch at RR Village. Where have all the flowers gone? |
| Four Mile Point |
June 29 |
Both |
7 |
High water from runoff, sunshine alternating with clouds, one big shower. Eagles everywhere. |
| Coxsackie |
July 2 |
Both |
13 |
Many eagles of every description, mostly small gbh's. Lunch at Nutten Hook's new pavilion. |
| Lock 7 |
July 3 |
Both |
7 |
Serene very early paddle replete with photo ops, most notably falcons. |
| Four Mile Point |
July 5 |
Both |
6 |
Foggy early launch, brief paddle around Stockport Creek & SMG, major eagle photo op. |
| Henry Hudson |
July 6 |
Both |
6 |
Quiet padddle highlighted by a mole swimming near Castleton. |
| Four Mile Point |
July 10 |
Both |
9 |
First SMG chick leaves the nest! |
| Raquette Lake |
July 12 |
Both & seadogs |
18 |
Explored inlet, lunch at Raquette Lake hamlet, stop at Tioga Point. Many rose pogonias, swamp roses & odes. Wonderful paddle. |
| Coxsackie |
July 13 |
M |
10 |
Hot, humid, hazy AM paddle through a realm of endless eagle encounters. Lunch at Gays Point. |
| Coxsackie |
July 16 |
Both |
9 |
Breezy day with clear skies, low water. Prolonged lunch at Priming Hook waiting for tide to rise. |
| Coxsackie |
July 17 |
M |
10 |
Pleasant paddle similar to yesterday's, water not so low, highlighted by diving osprey at Priming Hook. Second baby now out of SMG nest. |
| Indian Lake State Boat Launch |
July 19 |
Both & seadogs |
11 |
Lunch & loon with baby on John Mack Bay, followed by picnic island exploration, return head-to-wind. |
| Athens |
July 22 |
Both & Mike R |
12 |
Early launch, immediate encounter with several eagles, many more in the course of a tour of Stockport Flats. |
| Henry Hudson |
July 23 |
M |
8 |
One eagle chick at Papscanee, gbh's at Shad & Schermerhorn Islands. |
| Athens |
July 25 |
M |
13 |
Quiet paddle with David from Hillsdale to Little Nutten Hook & Nutten Hook. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
July 27 |
M |
9 |
Low water, turnaround at Cornell Park, lunch at Bronck Island. Hot & hazy. |
| Coxsackie |
July 31 |
Both |
9 |
Seventeen distinct eagles on way to lunch at Priming Hook, rbg's numerous & high strung everywhere. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
August 2 |
Both |
13 |
Eagle aerial encounter on the way to Stockport Flats, pleasant following wind on the way back, with the tide. |
| Coxsackie |
August 5 |
Both |
11 |
Stockport Flats, West Flat & Priming Hook under varying skies, dodging rain clouds on return. |
| Coxsackie |
August 6 |
M |
12 |
Stockport Flats, lunch at MGF. Five young eagles playing on chestnut mats & dead trees. |
| Four Mile Point |
August 7 |
Both |
8 |
Early aerial thrills provided by four young eagles. Lunch on SMG. |
| Raquette Lake |
August 9 |
M & seadogs |
12 |
Ideal conditions all day. Lunch at Tioga Point, explored Hen & Chicken Islands. |
| Stockbridge Lake |
August 9 |
J |
6 |
Twice around the lake — triathlon preparation. |
| Four Mile Point |
August 10 |
Both |
6 |
Late launch, early exit, unexpectedly windy. |
| Coxsackie |
August 12 |
Both |
10 |
Afternoon paddle on pleasantly breezy day to RR village preceding Farmers Market. |
| Coxsackie |
August 13 |
M |
12 |
Seven hours of photo ops in Stockport Flats, interrupted by one cloudy interlude. |
| Coxsackie |
August 14 |
Both |
10 |
Continuation of previous paddle. |
| Indian Lake State Boat Launch |
August 16 |
Both & seadogs |
14 |
Lovely day — toward Jessup River, Picnic Beach & back toward Jessup River. |
| Coxsackie |
August 18 |
Both & Karen |
7 |
Morning paddle into Stockport Flats on a very hot day, spotted a car at Four Mile Point. |
| Henry Hudson |
August 20 |
Both |
7 |
Attempted blustery weather practice, frustrated by delayed wind, lunch at 214. |
| Athens |
August 22 |
M |
11 |
Delightful morning paddle. First egret this year in Stockport Flats, eagle aerials near Fitch's Wharf, met David again on the water. |
| Athens |
August 23 |
M |
12 |
Continuation of previous paddle. |
| Coxsackie |
August 26 |
Both |
13 |
Late morning launch into lively scene at Rattlesnake Island, cedar waxwings prominent. Lunch at RR village, turnaround below Poolsburg. |
| North Germantown Landing |
August 27 |
Both & Mike R |
12 |
Inbocht Island, Roe Jan, Rogers Island, lunch at Dutchman's Landing. Nice day. |
| Coxsackie |
August 28 |
M |
11 |
Morning paddle into Stockport Flats on a cool day, GBH clash at SMG. |
| Coxsackie |
August 29 |
Both |
19 |
Early launch into morning mist, tide ride to Hudson, return west side of MGF. Long day of numerous & varied photo-ops. |
| West Lake |
Sept 1 |
M & seadogs |
12 |
West Lake, Green Lake, Canada Lake & Stewart Landing Dam. Loon photo ops. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 2 |
M |
10 |
Debut white boat paddle to Priming Hook on a blazing hot & hazy day. |
| Henry Hudson |
Sept 4 |
Both |
8 |
Retro paddle up Papscanee Creek, also Castleton & Vlomankill, radio map turtles on a log. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 5 |
M |
12 |
Upstream to marshes below Stuyvesant, a very young beaver came to the boat. Met David (again!) and paddled to Stockport Creek with him. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 6 |
Both |
12 |
Continuation of previous paddle. Turnaround at Poolsburg. RR village very crowded. |
| Four Mile Point |
Sept 7 |
Both |
8 |
Stockport Flats tour on a very hot day. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 9 |
Both |
11 |
Tested modified kayak seat height. Around SMG on way to Rattlesnake Island. A little chop. |
| Octavio's Landing |
Sept 12 |
Both |
5 |
Lake Champlain — south lake around Crown Point village. |
| Octavio's Landing |
Sept 13 |
Both |
10 |
Lake Champlain — continuation, south lake around Crown Point village. |
| Indian Bay Marina |
Sept 14 |
Both & Eric |
10 |
Lake Champlain — Four Brothers, strong winds on return. |
| St Albans F & W |
Sept 15 |
Both |
12 |
Lake Champlain — inland sea including Burton & Woods Islands, several small islands. |
| Peru State Boat Launch |
Sept 16 |
Both & Eric, seadogs |
12 |
Lake Champlain — circumnavigated Valcour & Crab Islands on active water. |
| Button Bay Boat Access |
Sept 17 |
Both |
12 |
Lake Champlain — Arnold Bay, lunch on Rock Island, Cole Island & Camp Dudley. |
| Westport State Boat Launch |
Sept 18 |
Both & Eric |
10 |
Lake Champlain — Palisades, lunch in Snake Den Harbor, increasing wind on return. |
| Octavio's Landing |
Sept 19 |
J |
1 |
Lake Champlain — reconnoitered Putt's Creek early AM. |
| Stockbridge Bowl Boat Ramp |
Sept 20 |
J |
5 |
Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 20 |
M |
10 |
Upstream to Bronck Island & Coxsackie Creek. Cool, breezy day. |
| Athens |
Sept 21 |
M |
11 |
Early launch into a chilly morning, eventually turning around at Little Nutten Hook. |
| Bolton Landing |
Sept 22 |
Both |
12 |
Across narrows at Oahu Island, continued to Paradise Bay, lunch at Black Mountain Point, return via Dollar Islands & Montcalm Point spellbound by a serene stillness. |
| Dutchman's Landing |
Sept 24 |
Both |
8 |
Rogers Island's marshes twice, before & after lunch at Cohotate Preserve. |
| West Lake |
Sept 25 |
Both |
12 |
West Lake, Green Lake, Canada Lake & Stewart Landing Dam. Calm water. Loons & flickers. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 26 |
M |
11 |
SMG & Priming Hook, many photo ops both places. |
| Coxsackie |
Sept 27 |
Both |
13 |
Continuation of previous plus MGF, again many photo ops. Another gorgeous day. |
| Henry Hudson |
Sept 28 |
M |
10 |
Uneventful paddle to Port of Coeymans on a dull gray day. |
| Thompson's Lake |
Oct 1 |
M |
4 |
White boat testing under mildly breezy conditions — very stable. |
| Stuyvesant Landing |
Oct 4 |
M |
12 |
SMG area on an afternoon of quiet solitude. Few signs of activity. |
| Henry Hudson |
Oct 5 |
Both |
11 |
High water. Papscanee & Moordener Creeks, inlet at Van Wie's Point, lunch at 214. Very quick return on ebb. |
| Indian Lake State Boat Launch |
Oct 6 |
Both |
16 |
Many rock cairns, lunch at Picnic Beach, return via John Mack Bay. Lively fall color. |
| Athens |
Oct 8 |
M |
12 |
Another quiet day in Stockport Flats, jittery dark ducks behind Little Nutten Hook, interesting yellow birds in the phragmites. |
| Four Mile Point |
Oct 10 |
M |
8 |
Pleasant fall day — many eagles, turtles & gbh's. |
| Blue Mountain Lake |
Oct 11 |
Both & seadogs |
13 |
Blue Mountain Lake, Eagle Lake & Utowana Lake. Blustery with beautiful color. Paddle #100. |
| Lock 7 |
Oct 12 |
Both |
14 |
Warm, colorful fall day on the Mohawk. Wildlife a little sparse but sandpipers, two dragonflies, one turtle & a gbh were present on the Alplaus. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 15 |
Both |
14 |
Stockport & West Flats. Chilly morning, comfortable & interesting afternoon including a red fox at Priming Hook. |
| Coeymans Landing |
Oct 21 |
M & Rich's group |
16 |
One way paddle to Athens on a cloudy but otherwise pleasant day. Most wildlife activity at Priming Hook. |
| Athens |
Oct 24 |
M |
10 |
Lively wildlife activity in Stockport Flats, including Brickyard Bay, persistent cloudiness. |
| Athens |
Oct 26 |
Both |
9 |
Crisp & clear, many nautical photo ops. Stop at tip of Gays Point. |
| North Germantown Landing |
Oct 27 |
Both |
13 |
Inbocht Bay, Dutchmans Landing, Roe Jan, many crossings to take advantage of numerous nautical photo ops. |
| Coxsackie |
Oct 31 |
M |
11 |
Quiet visit to Stockport Flats. Many eagles on river side of Gays Point on return. |
| Tivoli |
Nov 2 |
Both & Rich's group |
17 |
Tide ride down west side to Charles Rider, return on east side including both bays. Plenty of waterfowl. |
| Four Mile Point |
Nov 4 |
Both & Rich's group |
11 |
Very warm & clear but no significant wildlife other than a multitude of rbg's & a large flock of geese at SMG. |
| Henry Hudson |
Nov 5 |
Both |
7 |
Mostly quiet except for one eagle, four crows & a small flock of bathing grackles. Lunch at 214, lively return head-to-wind. |
| Four Mile Point |
Nov 8 |
Both & Alan's group |
13 |
Cool, breezy & clear. One eagle at SMG. Long lunch stop at Stuyvesant Landing. |
| Coxsackie |
Nov 9 |
Both |
12 |
Mostly clear blue day, late prismatic effect in cirrhus clouds, like a small rainbow. Five eagles (four adults), several tugs & a schooner. Lunch at RR village. |