Brunswick to Point of Rocks

August 20, 2016

This weekend a group of 6 of us met at the Brunswick boat ramp for a float down the Potomac to Point of Rocks, MD.

We started just before noon, paddled up river from the Brunswick boat ramp until we got tired and then paddled about 7 miles down river to Point of Rocks (MD side; there is a POR VA side too).  It took us a little less than 4.5 hours with lots of stops.

The river was very crowded, more so than usual.  We passed a large group of tubers who ended at Lander's Lock as we kept going to Point of Rocks.

We saw a bald eagle swoop down to grab a fish.  We also saw some danger noodles (aka - snakes).  Perfect weather day.

Shenandoah - favorite run

August 14, 2016

On Sunday August 14, 2016, a group of 6 of us met at the Berry's Ferry boat ramp for Sunday Funday.  Hottest day of the year = best time to be on the river.

We had 1 SUP, 1 canoe and 4 kayaks with us.  This is probably my favorite run in the area for an all day paddle.

We started roughly just before noon and paddled over 9 miles in just under 6 hours.  I'm estimating because my tracker wasn't working properly and I didn't stop it for breaks.

About 1/3 of the way into the trip there is a spring fed waterfall/swimming hole on the left just past the 1st set of wires that cross over the river.  You can hear the waterfall from the main part of the river.  The waterfall/creek is called Spout Run and is ice cold compared to the river.  Very much needed after being out in the 100 degree heat.

As is the case each time I've been on this portion of the river, we saw a couple bald eagles.  We were able to get pretty close to them as they hung out in the trees on the side of the river.

Belle Haven

We again decided to meet Josh for a last-minute paddle, this time at Belle Haven Marina in Alexandria, VA.  The weather was not our friend so we were only on the water for about 40 minutes before the storms came.

Parking was easy, we drove all the way down to the right once you enter the marina.  There was no boat launch fee, however, I was told that technically there is but it is not enforced.  They also have rentals.

We started to head toward Dyke Marsh but due to the pending storm we decided to just do a quick loop around so Josh could introduce us to his local paddle spot.  Can't wait to go back here for a longer paddle.  It was pouring by the time we got back to our car.

Annapolis - Truxton Park

In early August we went out to Annapolis, MD on somewhat short notice with our friend Josh who was on a stand up paddle board (SUP).  We launched at the Truxtun Park boat ramp.  The drive there from DC was just about an hour.  There is a launch fee of $8 per car.  You pay at a machine near the ramp, receive a paper receipt that you then need to display on your dashboard.  The ramp was busy with other kayakers, paddleboarders, small fishing boats, and motorboats. 

Once launched you are in Spa Creek which was a nice sheltered marina area surrounded by houses/condos with little coves off to the sides.  There were SUP renters practicing and larger boats heading out to the bay.  We continued out of Spa Creek, under the draw bridge (very cool to see in action/up-close!) into Annapolis Harbor. 

We paddled out of Annapolis Harbor and turned right into the Severn River.  The water here is big.  The larger boats and the big water created some wave action.  Those waves then would hit off the sea wall and come back at us.  It was difficult paddling through but it was fun.  Definitely would not recommend for beginner flat water kayaker.  Josh managed to stay on his SUP.  Chad got seasick :(

We continued along the shoreline until we found a nice little deserted beach where we stopped for lunch.

On the way back we took some time to surf the waves coming in and tooled around downtown Annapolis.  Unfortunately most downtown places don't let you dock your boats to stop in for a drink/food.

This trip is easily customizable depending on how long you want to be out/how far you want to paddle.

rough start to 2016

Our 2016 kayak season got off to a slow start.  Cool weather in the Spring followed by me breaking my foot in May delayed us getting our boats out.

In late July we tried taking my friend from Atlanta out on the Potomac.  She rented at Fletcher's Boat House and we launched there for free.  We got on the Potomac at 11:15ish, paddled up river towards Chain Bridge.  The sky looked ominous so we turned around, making it to the cars just as the skies opened up.  Total time on the water was less than 45 minutes.

Weekend on the Wicomico

Saturday August 22nd through Sunday August 23rd

We spent the weekend at a friend's house on the Wicomico River in Bushwood, MD.  The area is really rural and quiet.  The house was facing the Wicomico River right where it joins the Potomac.  It is actually part of the Wicomico River Sanctuary, which meant lots of good bird sightings.  We saw multiple eagles and osprey.  There was an eagle's nest next to the house so we were lucky to see them up close and often.

The house had lots of water toys including a giant floating trampoline.  The first day we paddled out to a dive bar on the water and stopped in for a drink.  That paddle was about 20-30 minutes each way.  We saw tons of white jelly fish floating around in the river, a couple folks got stung.  They were HUGE jellyfish.  We all came back to the house and watched a beautiful sunset, ate crabs, followed by a beautiful moon set.

The second day, we paddled directly across the river, through the channel to Rock Point beach. We searched for sea glass and swam in the water.  The paddle itself was about 45 min. to an hour of straight paddling. 

The water is so big here you feel like you are on a bay rather than a river.  Beautiful place.

 The structure in the distance is the dive bar we paddled to.

The sandy area in the distance is Rock Point, the place we paddled for sea glass hunting.

Shenandoah to Watermelon Park

Saturday, August 8, 2015

We launched under the Route 50 bridge which is called Berry's Ferry.  Easy launch and no launch fee.

Our plan was to paddle to Lock's Mill boat ramp (about 10 miles) and meet some friends who were at Watermelon Park for camping and tubing.  We started about 10:30 am and paddled leisurely for 3 hours and 45 minutes to Lock's Mill in Berryville, VA.  According to the Fitness Tracker app, our avg. speed was 2.6 mph, with our fastest speed being 10 mph.  I didn't stop the tracker during our stops on the river so the speed stat is slightly skewed.

We first stopped at the Spout Run waterfall off to the left of the river about 3.5 miles in.  After the first set of wires that go over the river, start listening for the sound of the falls.  If you hit the 2nd set of wires you went too far.  The falls are tucked away but you can definitely hear them.  The water from Spout Run was almost painfully cold compared with the river water.  There is an awesome swimming hole back there too but other folks were diving off the waterfall so we just watched for a few minutes.

Along the way we saw a couple of adult bald eagles.  Such beautiful animals.  The trip is interesting, good tranquil spots mixed with small rapids that were deceivingly difficult to run.  The water level was just under 2 ft. at Millwood when we left.  I think much lower and we would have been walking our kayaks through some spots.

Our second stop was about 7 miles in.  We found a good swimming spot that is across the river from a large rock wall.  The water in the swimming spot was moving but not too fast and it was about chest high there.

Once we got to Lock's Mill, there were large groups of tubers that were dropped off from Watermelon Park.  We happened to paddle up to some friends and floated the last bit of river to our campsite at Watermelon Park.

I love this route and like to do it at least once a year.  10 miles in about 4 hours at a very leisurely pace.