Paddling Little Egg Harbor
by Lee McQuade

Wednesday, August 6, 2003

The sky was overcast and a strong, continuous wind was blowing from the southwest. My son and I ventured out in our Perception and Wilderness kayaks for a trip to the northern part of Long Beach Island.

We started from lower Beach Haven, at the southern part of LBI, which meets Barnegat Bay to the north. This is also the Intracoastal Waterway, which makes its way south to Cape May.

Although the wind was strong, the bay was abuzz with all kinds of boats - paddleboats and high-powered cigarette boats, sailboats, and jet skis. Several large boats were heading south down the Waterway. We had a number of strong wakes to consider. We saw a lot of kayaks. Many were the self-bailing and ocean types, which are ideal for the bay and ocean, if the water temperature is warm enough.

New, expensive homes dot the shoreline. The perspective of the area is so different from a kayak than it is from the street.

We arrived at our take out several hours later, feeling elated that we had completed our trip. The wind was still blowing, but had shifted to the southeast. A thunderstorm later passed over LBI.

This area is a scenic place to paddle. During the summer months, several shops rent kayaks. The fall is also an ideal time to venture out to the bay. Try it - you'll like it!

Lee