2010-10-18 – Kayaking the Passaic River to the Rockaway Solo

This Monday looked as if it were to be a nice day following the weekend, so with the autumn leaves beginning to turn, I decided to take the day off and take a solo kayak trip.  Water levels in the area are still low due to a lack of rain but I still wanted to hit the close personal meandering of the Passaic to catch some of the burgeoning colors.

I guess the trees that grow along the river bank are less colorful than the trees I see in the woods around my neighborhood because for the most part they were green and yellow with an occasional colorful tree.  Additionally, the sun never came out in a good way.  While I got some good photos, I’m still too early to catch the leaves peaking. Additionally, the low water level limits my solo kayaking abilities in the Passaic River to certain areas.  In any case, a successful day paddling  on the river is better than any day of work.

I grabbed a roast beef sandwich at the new Fairchild Market and Bakery on the way to the river and off I went.  I parked at the convenient Essex County Environmental Center at Eagle Rock Avenue and the Passaic River.   Unloading there was quick and easy and the launch was clean and easy.  Easy seems to be the word of the day and the Passaic without a current was easy to go down and up.  When I reached the Rockaway River I made a left turn and took that upstream for a half-hour so so.  I turned around and retraced my voyage.  Back to the Passaic, back under Route 280, back under Eagle Rock Avenue and I was back where I started.  I headed upstream, past the abandoned railroad trestle and turned around and headed home.

While I was marginally disappointed in the photographic opportunities of the foliage, I was pleasantly surprised by a good chance to photograph both a blue heron and a turtle.   I was afforded pretty close access to the two of these creatures before they moved on.

To view a slideshow of the photos taken or to purchase downloads ($0.99/download), prints or other items go to my SmugMug link below.  There is some nice foliage just on the brink of turning.  In addition, there are some good shots of a hawk, a heron and a turtle.
http://fidogenic.smugmug.com/Kayaking/Passaic-River/2010-10-18-Kayaking-the/14335816_DaUWS

Timeline of the trip based on the photo time-stamps was:

• 9:28 – First picture on the water
• 9:33 – Crossing Eagle Rock Avenue
• 9:40 – Go under the I280 Bridge
• 10:19 – Reach Rockaway River and turn upstream
• 10:53 – Reach furthest extent up the Rockaway and turn around to head home
• 11:13 – Reach Passaic River and turn upstream
• 12:09 – Go back under I280 bridge
• 12:10 – Photograph blue heron
• 12:19 – Go back under Eagle Rock Ave. bridge
• 12:36 – Go under abandoned railroad trestle
• 12:38 – See tremendously large flock of black birds
• 12:49 – Reach furthest extent up the Passaic River and turn around to go home
• 12:56 – Go back under railroad trestle
• 1:07 – Photograph brown-tailed hawk
• 11:11 – Photograph turtle
• 1:21 – Last Picture on the water