Fruddled Gruntbugglies

Category: Paddling

  • SUP Report

    SUP Report

    Today was my second time out on the SUP, and I have to say I’m really enjoying it. I’m getting more comfortable paddling around, mounting and dismounting, transitioning back and forth between standing and kneeling, etc. Next, I’ll be looking to read up on technique, so that I can paddle more efficiently and go longer distances. Compared to the kayak, I love how quick and easy it is to load the board up onto the car roof for transport. When Cathy and I go paddling, I always dread loading the kayaks back up onto the van roof after we are finished. It takes at least 10 minutes of moving the step stool around, climbing up and down, fiddling around with the straps, making sure everything is tight, etc. With the SUPDawg, the board is up and secured in about 30 seconds, and I suspect 2 boards will only take a few seconds longer. I also think the SUP will be a very nice paddling option for the hotter months, and can see it becoming my go-to watercraft from June through August.

    One change I made this time around was to swap the 8″ fin that came with the board out with an aftermarket 5.5″ fin. The shorter fin did a better job clearing submerged obstacles in the shallow tidal estuary headwaters that I frequent. I suspect that the 8″ fin will track better in deeper water, but my paddling technique hasn’t yet improved to the point where I could notice a difference. I’m sure it’ll get there, and I’m sure I’ll be experimenting with both fins as time goes by.

    Today’s paddling destination was Tanyard Cove, which is the same place I paddled two weeks ago on my rainy maiden voyage of 2024. Next up, I may head to Pasadena at Green Haven Wharf, or possibly the headwaters of the Severn River near Millersville. The latter will require a rather long carry, so I’ll have to think about the logistics and decide if it’s doable.

  • Paddle Notes

    Paddle Notes

    Today was my second time on the water this year. My goal every season is to get out once a week, but I have yet to achieve it, mainly because I don’t like going out when it’s extremely hot. As a result, most of my paddling tends to be in May-June and September-October. We’ll see how the rest of this year goes.

    Today, I went to Homeport Farm Park in Edgewood and paddled on Church Creek. I typically try to get there once or twice a season. Noteworthy is that instead of my kayak, I used the inflatable stand-up paddleboard that I bought for Cathy in December 2023. It is an AquaGlide Cascade 11′ which I bought on closeout at REI. It was our first time using it anywhere except the pool. 2024 was a bust, because I left the board out in the sun by the pool while it was fully inflated, and it sprung a leak in the seam. I was able to repair it with HH-66 vinyl adhesive (link to helpful video), but didn’t get around to that until late fall, so this year was my first opportunity to take the board out on the water.

    Inflating the SUP with a hand pump can be tiring. As the pressure increases, it gets harder and harder to operate the pump, due to the increased resistance. The optimum pressure for the board is around 14-16 PSI, but by 10 PSI, I’m ready for a break. If we end up using the board frequently, it may make sense to invest in an electric pump. For local trips, I bought a Yakima SUPDawg roof rack mount, and I tried that out for the first time today. It was easy to use, and did a nice job keeping the board secure up on the roof. To avoid bursting seams, I transported the board at around 10 PSI, and finished inflating it when I arrived at the launch. Then, I let some air out of it before driving home. I don’t think I’d want to transport it on the roof for long distances (e.g. to the shore) but the SUPDawg does seem to work really nicely for shorter trips, and it saves time on days when I’m on the clock (which, TBH, is most days). Plus, if we ever buy a non-inflatable board, we have a way to transport it.

    It took a little while to get comfortable on the board. At first, I was really shaky and a little panicky. It also took some time to figure out how to paddle straight. It’s nothing like paddling a kayak. I did fall off once, when I made the rookie mistake of paddling into shallow water. The skeg hit a submerged log, the board stopped suddenly, and I lost my balance. Lesson learned: in shallow water, kneel on the board. I will say that it’s much easier to get back on the board than it is to get back into a kayak. No paddle float or bilge pump needed!

    All in all, I paddled around 2 miles. By the time I was finished, I was able to paddle straight and steer the board where I wanted, and I could smoothly transition between kneeling and standing. I really enjoyed myself, and I’ll probably try to do this more often this year. The board is a crap-ton lighter than my roto-mold kayak, which my back appreciates, especially this time of year.

  • Inaugural Paddle of 2025

    Inaugural Paddle of 2025

    It was a slightly late start to paddling season this year — by this time last year, I had already been out 3 times. I’m not complaining, though, because we had a good excuse, namely, our trips to Europe and Utah. We’re back to the daily grind for a while now, and paddling was high on my priority list for this week. My initial plan had been to go yesterday, but I had some issues getting out the door (misplaced wallet) so I ended up going running instead, but I left the kayak on the car in hopes that I could go today. The only thing that potentially stood in my way was the weather, with rain and wind predicted all day long from a slow-moving system coming up from the south. Too much rain and wind would have kept me inside, but this morning, the conditions were pretty good, with just a steady drizzle, light winds, and comfortable temperatures in the 60s. After taking care of a few things at home, I set off for my favorite weekday morning launch, namely, Solley Cove Park in Anne Arundel County, which was completely deserted this morning. This may seem surprising, but while I’ve dealt with sprinkles and occasional cloudbursts while paddling, today was the first time it rained the entire time, from arrival to departure. Everything went smoothly, though. I wore swim shorts and a long-sleeve rash guard with my NRS paddling jacket. I also used a spray skirt to keep rain out of the kayak interior. I bought the skirt 3 or 4 years ago, and I think this was only the second or third time I’ve used it. It did a great job keeping me dry, so much so that I don’t think I’d want to be without it in conditions like this. The only thing I was really missing was something to cover my head, but with the mild temperatures, I didn’t mind my hair and face getting wet. Any colder, and it might have gotten uncomfortable. I debated wearing a rain jacket (which has a hood) instead of the paddling jacket, but I think I made the right call. I may look to pick up a wide-brim waterproof hat at REI or somewhere that I can use in these kind of conditions, as I think my “face sucking” neoprene paddling hood would have been overkill today.

    I paddled just under 6 miles, going out to the end of Tanyard Cove and back, and then south on Marley Creek to Brewer’s Island, around the island, and back to the launch. I had a steady drizzle for most of the paddle, with a few brief heavy downpours. The wind kicked up once or twice, but was mostly a non-factor. I didn’t see another soul out on the water. All in all, it was quite enjoyable, and I’m really glad I came out.

    Solley Cove Park has a sandy soft launch that is great for putting in, but not so good for taking out. There’s a concrete berm separating the sand from the pavement, which keeps me from backing my car onto the sand (good), but reloading from there is awkward, and the kayak and car always end up coated with sand. Today, it occurred to me for the first time that it might be easier to take out from the adjacent concrete boat ramp. After disembarking, I could use my cart to wheel the kayak up the ramp and onto flat ground for easy, sand-free reloading. Seems like a great idea on paper, so I’m going to try it next time.

  • Final Paddle of 2024?

    I’ve found that the keys to successful weekday morning pre-work paddling are:

    1. Use a launch that is 20 or fewer minutes from home
    2. Plan the paddling route ahead of time to estimate how long it will take
    3. Do as much preparation as possible on the evening prior to paddling:
      • Put kayak on car
      • Gather supplies and clothes together
    4. Leave the house by 7:00am

    I was hoping to get out last Tuesday, but didn’t do #2 or #3, and got moving too late for #4. I had better luck today. I launched from Solley Cove Park and paddled upstream on Marley Creek until a little ways past Rt 10. It’s about 3.5 miles one way, and today was the first time I’ve paddled this far along it. It’s kind of like a different world there — very nice and secluded, with lots of waterfowl. The water was deep enough that I didn’t have to worry much about bottoming out. I probably could have gotten a little farther than I did, but the creek was getting narrow and there were a lot of downed branches, and I didn’t want to get stranded by a receding tide (turns out I was there near high tide, but I didn’t know that at the time). I was on the water for a little over 2 hours. The morning started off in the upper 40s, but warmed to near 60 by the time I finished. Initially, I wore my wetsuit, paddling hoodie, neoprene paddling socks and boots, paddling jacket, and pogies. I ditched the pogies after a couple of miles, and at my turnaround point, I traded the hoodie for a hat. Along the way, I saw the usual bevy of blue heron, cormorants, gulls, ducks, geese, and at least one bald eagle. It was a great morning for a paddle, with very little wind (unlike the same day last year). That was my final paddle of 2023, and I suspect today will end up being 2024’s swan song, but as they say, you never know!

  • Paddling Notes

    For the third or fourth straight season, I can say I’ve gone paddling in November. The warm stretch we’re having right now inspired me to pony up the $10 + convenience fees for a WSSC daily watershed usage permit, and we hit Rocky Gorge Reservoir and paddled 6 miles. According to the web site, the Scott’s Cove launch (which we’ve used multiple times) was closed for repairs, so we launched from Supplee Lane instead, which is a little bit downstream of Scott’s Cove, and on the south side of the river vs. the north side. I was familiar with this area because of geocaching, but had never launched here before. It has a standard boat-trailer launch ramp that also works for kayaks. There are also port-a-potties, picnic tables, and a playground. Notably, they do not allow SUPs, likely because swimming is not allowed, and there’s a larger chance of inadvertent “swimming” (falling into the water) with a SUP than with a kayak/canoe. But don’t quote me on that.

    Nice paddle today with the air temperatures pushing into the 70s. The water felt like mid 60s to 70. We did not need any cold-weather gear. The water level was much lower than the last time we were here, in early July of last year. It made for a weird, almost alien kind of landscape around the edges of the reservoir, but it otherwise was a nice, scenic paddle, although the leaves are a little bit past their peak fall colors now. I enjoy paddling here, although I would never come often enough to justify buying an annual permit ($70, or the cost of 14 day-use permits). I could see myself coming once or twice a year, though.

    It looks like temperatures are going to stay warm a little while longer, so I hope to get out one or two more times this season. Last year, my final paddle was November 18.

  • MTB Season Again

    I haven’t been doing much biking lately, outside of commuting to the office once or twice a week. My weekend biking/geocaching excursions have become fewer and farther between, due to a combination of busy schedule, running taking priority over biking, and lack of interesting caches being hidden within biking distance of home. I expect I’ll get out on a few more weekends this year, particularly with the pool now closed, which removes swimming as another exercise option. I’ve been splitting my commuting between road and mountain biking, with a strong preference for the latter. Every time I commute on roads, I wonder how I did it 3-4 times a week “back in the day” without going insane. It’s just a pain dealing with all of the annoying people who are out on the roads. Mountain biking is much more peaceful and enjoyable, though more so in the mornings when there are fewer people on the trails. Other than a week or two at the end of September, we’ve had great weather for mountain biking so far this fall. This morning was in the 40s and sunny, which is just about perfect. I’m taking advantage of it as much as I can, before we start getting hard freezes, which lead to muddy trails in the afternoons.

    One thing I’ve been rather unhappy about this year is my lack of kayaking during the second half of the season. I was really good about getting out in the spring, but haven’t been out since probably June. The brutally hot summer was the culprit early on. September and October are my favorite months of the year to kayak, but this year, schedule and transportation issues have been my undoing. I like to go out on weekday mornings, but I need a car to do that, and this year, my son has been taking the car to college most days. I’ll probably have to break down and go on a Saturday or Sunday morning if I want to get out before the season ends. I suspect that a drysuit is in my future at some point, as I’d love to keep paddling year-round. Not sure if that’s in the cards for this year or not, though.

  • Delaware Paddling Report

    I managed to get out paddling 3 times during my recent trip to Bethany Beach, DE, all in under 48 hours!! Here are some quick notes.

    Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse: Launch is in Cape Henlopen State Park right next to the fishing pier. Need to go early-ish in the morning to avoid bad traffic through Rehoboth. $10/vehicle entry fee for out-of-state tags, paid at an automated kiosk (credit card only). We put in around 8:00am, near high tide. Total paddle was only around 2.5 miles, but lots to see along the way: dolphins, horseshoe crabs, an osprey with chicks, Lewes-Cape May Ferry route a short distance away, and (of course) the lighthouse. Water was nice and calm behind the breakwater, with occasional minor chop from boat wakes and breeze. There were a fair number of people out on the water: a few fishing boats, a whole bunch of kayaks (a few people fishing, and what appeared to be a sightseeing tour). We were able to disembark on the breakwater, walk up to the lighthouse, and find a geocache that was hidden there. It’s not for the faint-hearted, though: there is nowhere to easily tether the boats, so we roped them together and took turns. All in all, a very memorable outing. It would be a great place for sea kayaking.

    Savage Ditch: This is north of Bethany about a mile past the Indian River Inlet Bridge. We came here in the evening. This is also $10/vehicle for out-of-state, paid at an honor box. I missed the launch at first and tried to follow the trail past the picnic pavilion, which was a mistake. It does go to the water, but it’s several hundred feet, and the bugs were fierce. I was swatting them the entire way, and picked up two ticks. My son found the actual launch, which is a much shorter carry and somewhat less buggy, but the put-in is on the muddy side. Once on the water, though, it was quite nice. We saw tons of gulls, lots of water turtles, and a few egrets, terns, and ducks. We didn’t paddle too far since it was close to dusk. The sunset was very nice, as was the near-full moon. Next time, I won’t forget the DEET.

    Trap Pond State Park: After years of hearing people rave about this place, we finally decided to check it out. It is about a 40 minute drive from Bethany with light traffic, or 45-50 minutes with heavy beach traffic. Unfortunately, the trip was kind of a bust, as the water level was extremely low to accommodate emergency repairs to the dam. As a result, most of the really cool places to paddle were inaccessible due to shallow water. Had I done my homework ahead of time, we probably would have taken a pass this year. All the same, we did get a couple miles of paddling in, and we saw some really cool bald cypress trees. We will come back here at some point when things are back to normal.

  • Second and third paddle outings of the season

    So far, I’ve done well with my informal New Year’s Resolution to get out on the water earlier in the season. I’ve been out the past three Tuesday mornings, each time launching from Solley’s Cove Park. Last week, I paddled most of the way down Marley Creek, which is the longest creek upstream of the launch. Cathy came along as well. The last time I paddled here was early November 2022, and that day, I identified several potential hiding places for a geocache series I’m thinking about putting out. I checked each of the sites last week, and all but one still seemed viable. I have yet to paddle all the way to the headwaters of Marley Creek, which looks like around 6 miles round-trip, or a little bit farther if I check out all of the side channels along the way. Today, I paddled Furnace Creek and Bell’s Cove, which lie to the north of Marley Creek. I am pretty sure I did the same paddle last year — it’s a shorter creek than Marley, so I paddled all the way to the headwaters. My somewhat meandering route ended up being 5.4 miles round trip. I identified a few geocache sites along here as well, though there aren’t as many good ones as there are along Marley. A lot of the shoreline is severely eroding, a huge amount of it is developed (as is the norm in Anne Arundel County) and some of the more natural areas have posted private property signs.

    I am working on trying to find a good setup to haul 2 kayaks plus our new SUP on the van at the same time. It looks like I can fit J-hooks for two kayaks outside the rack towers on either side of the van. The SUP mount should then fit in the middle. I have a love-hate relationship with J-hooks, as it seems like about 50% of the time, I don’t get the kayak side-on enough when I’m hefting it up there, and it ends up partially horizontal, requiring me to “finesse” it back and forth until it slips into the J-hook, all the while hoping it doesn’t fall. If I can get my loading technique down, I suspect the hooks will work OK on the van, though, at least for the short term. The Thule Hullavator loader looks nice, but I don’t think I’d be able to get two of them up there in addition to a SUP mount (and they cost $900 each). A trailer is another option, but most of them can’t accommodate a 16-17′ sea kayak. So, at least for now, I’m back to the J-hooks.

    Also on the subject of kayak loading, as often happens this time of year, I’ve managed to tweak my lower back. My back is in remarkably good shape for all the abuse I’ve put it through over the years, but I’m not in my 20s any more, so I have to be more careful with it, which means not bending over and lifting heavy stuff (the old “lift with your knees” cliché). I’ve found that when my back is acting up, it doesn’t like me picking anything heavy up off the ground at all, whether I “lift with my knees” or bend over at the waist. That presents an issue with loading kayaks, as they’re heavy, and they’re usually on the ground. For today, I took the J-hooks off the Honda Civic and put a set of cradles and rollers on that had been on the van. Then, I used a rope extension on the kayak’s pull handles, so I could lift the boat up one end at a time without bending at all. Finally, I used my trusty boat loader extension that slides out of the crossbar and supports one end of the kayak while I lift the other side up. The combo worked out pretty well, and I managed to do my loading and unloading without aggravating my back.

  • First paddle of the season

    Last year, I didn’t take my first paddle until early June, effectively missing out on a couple of months of nice paddling weather. One of my resolutions for 2024 was to get out paddling earlier in the spring, and I was able to make it happen yesterday morning. Spring paddling can be tricky, because while the air temperatures are warming up, the water temperatures tend to lag behind, which is often the reverse of what happens in the fall. When I’m looking to get out, I usually check the BLTM2 buoy to get a general sense for area water conditions. It’s located at the mouth of the Patapsco just north of Fort McHenry, and I’ve found it to be a fairly good gauge of whether the water will be warm enough for paddling in the various estuaries around Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County. Yesterday morning, the water temperature was just under 60ºF, and air temperature was in the low 40s, which was ideal, because it allowed me to dress appropriately for the water temperature without getting all hot and sweaty. I wore my wet suit with paddling jacket, paddling boots, paddling socks, and pogies attached to my paddle. It was my first time wearing the jacket and the boots. The boots (NRS brand) worked out well. They come up past my ankles, and I liked that the extra height kept water from washing inside while I was wading around the launch during put-in and take-out. They also have some fleecy insulation which kept my feet warm, and should work out nicely over a dry suit as well. I think I’ll probably save them for colder weather, and stick with my NRS Kickers or Vibram FiveFingers during the warm part of the season.

    As for the paddle itself, I put in at Solley’s Cove Park and went into Tanyard Cove and back, for a total distance of about 3.5 miles. It was just far enough to get me warmed up for the season. I saw a bunch of deer swim across the water at one point, as well as a rather ill-tempered snapping turtle, and the highlight of the day was a bald eagle that had me wishing I had brought binoculars. I won’t forget them next time!

  • Stoney Creek Paddle

    I had been hoping to get out for one more paddle this season, so I was happy I was able to make it happen this morning. I decided to check out another new-to-me launch, namely Green Haven Wharf in Pasadena. This is about 20-25 minutes from home (depending on traffic) and provides access to Stoney Creek. Last year, as part of a larger improvement project, Anne Arundel County added a nice car-top boat launch. Before that, it looks like there was an unofficial launch that was a short carry from parking. It is free to launch here, and there is parking for several vehicles, but no bathroom facilities. With air temperatures in the mid 50s and water temperatures in the upper 50s to low 60s, I opted to wear my wet suit. I hit the water at around 9:00am, and was out for two hours. The day started off overcast, but the clouds burned off while I was out, and I finished the paddle in bright sunshine. While it was a beautiful day to be on the water, it was definitely on the windy side. I started out by checking out a couple of small coves just upstream of the launch, but soon ran out of real estate and turned back downstream. My initial goal was to paddle all the way out to the Fort Smallwood Rd bridge, but I ended up turning around a little bit short of it, because the water was getting choppy and I was fighting against the wind. With the wind at my back, I headed back in the direction of the launch, and checked out a couple of smaller coves along the way. The water was fairly calm here, and it was quite enjoyable. I saw a couple of kayak fishermen out at one point, but other than that, I had the water entirely to myself. All in all, I covered around 5 miles.

    I’m pretty sure this was the latest in the season that I have ever paddled. I’d lay odds on this being my last paddle of the season, but you never know. In any case, I really enjoy being out on the water this time of year, and I could see myself eventually buying a dry suit and getting into year-round paddling. Probably not this year, though.