Cedar Creek, NJ
by Robyn Lowenthal

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Twelve HRCKC paddlers met at the Ore Pond Canoe Access for a leisurely paddle down Cedar Creek. We had a good variety of boats - Marty, Sumonnat, Rich, Mike P., Bill, Monica and Nick in solo kayaks, Maureen and Jeff in a tandem kayak, Mike R. in a sit-on-top, Alice in a Hornbeck canoe, and me in my red canoe.

The weather was perfect and the water level was quite adequate. We had one beaver dam to negotiate, but the big one at the beginning of the pond was gone! Although some paddlers in our group had never paddled in the Pinelands before, everyone did fine, hopefully learned a lot (paddling a Pinelands stream is one of the best ways to learn to steer your boat), and had a good time.

We saw a lot of unripe cranberries along the banks, water lilies and some late-blooming summersweet. We did encounter some other paddlers, but they were all quite well behaved. It was fun watching local folks bring their children ( and dogs) down to swim in the stream. We stopped to swim at the White Bridge and again at the last Park bridge. As always, the take-out at Dudley Park was pleasantly occupied by families enjoying the beach and creek. And the bathrooms were open.

After the paddle, a bunch of us went to the Shady Rest for dinner. They have enlarged the outdoor seating area and now have a nice bar area (not quite Tiki).

It was a beautiful, relaxing day with good paddling, good folks and lots of fun.

Big thanks to Rich and Jeff for helping with the shuttle, Nick and Mike P for helping at the dam, Maureen for helping boats get over the beaver dam, and Monica for documenting the trip in the great photos.

Robyn

> Photos from Monica Orso (be sure to check out the underwater photos!)