2010-10-10 Split Rock Reservoir with Scraps and Rags

After dog agility class with Rags in the morning, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather on 10/10/10 and head to Split Rock Reservoir with Scraps and Rags.  I decided to DVR the Giant game, load the car up and head north to Split Rock where we could hopeful get in some colors from the changing foliage.  It was still premature but still very nice.

It was in the 70’s and sunny with a little breeze on the water.  Though it was picture perfect out there it wasn’t quite nice enough for Scraps so after a paddle across the narrow part of the reservoir we decided to head home.  The whole trip was about only one half hour but it was too bad because the photographic potential of the day was really good.  We even saw a few other dogs in boats on the reservoir.  Enjoy these pictures of Scraps on the kayak, it’s probably the last time you’ll see him out on it.

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 are some great pictures of Rags on the water and the beauty of Split Rock on a sunny day in early fall.

http://fidogenic.smugmug.com/Kayaking/SplitRock/2010-10-10-Kayking-Split-Rock/14131523_Afst8

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2009-09-06 – Kayaking Splitrock with Scraps and Rags

It’s the Sunday of Labor Day and even though September 6 is as late as you get for Labor Day weekend, the weather was warm and beautiful. We haven’t been kayaking for about 2 months now but the weather and the timing of the day dictated we get back on the boats with the dogs.  I loaded up the car this morning and we arrive at Splitrock around 11:30am and were in the water right about noon.  Once I check the video tape it will give me a more accurate schedule of the paddle.  Though the parking lot was crowded we were able to squeeze into  a spot, unload, go to the bathroom, and head down hill to the reservoir.

There was a group of around six boats getting into the water with us which was good because this one lady with a lifeguard shirt on helped us enter the boats by holding them steady,  Getting in was no problem.  Within a few minutes Rags plopped in the water wanting to get to Kathy’s boat.  That was okay, it was nice out and the water is clean.  We headed toward the eastern side of the island proceeding counterclockwise.  This was opposite to the way we went the previous time we went to Splitrock.  The water was very calm with just the slightest of breezes and only a few wispy clouds in the sky.  Short of dragon flies we saw no wildlife.

I flew ahead at the beginning always liking to get some speed but I left Kathy in the dust, leaving Scraps to pace back and forth.  When we got to the skinny channel on the eastern side of the island the water turned to glass.  We stuck together for the most part through the channel and then for the next 20 minutes I towed Kathy and the dogs at a pretty good pace.  We went further north than we did in our initial paddle at Splitrock and then we zoomed back to the put-in/take out point just east of the dam.  It felt good to tow them all, ’twas a good work out.

Take-out was less busy than the last time we came here but there was still plenty of activity in the ramp area.  Kathy got out first, not worrying about getting your feet wet makes it a lot easier on these rocky shores.  I followed and then 20 minutes and we were packed and gone.  A nice day on the lake for two and a-half hours in perfect conditions.  Probably the last time we will be warm while paddling this year.  Hopefully we will have some beautiful autumn colors to photography on the colder days ahead.

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2009-06-28 – Kayaking Splitrock with Scraps and Rags

It was a beautiful Sunday in late June and we decided to violate our number 1 rule, not to take the dogs on a kayak trip that we have not take ourselves.  We have heard Split Rock Reservoir in Boonton Township was a beautiful place with a dedicated launch area, and the fact that it is a reservoir and not a river meant we could take the risk and break the number one rule.  We did fine and access was all very easy.

According to the sign the parking lot, Splitrock Reservoir is located in the Farny Highlands section of New Jersey.  It’s a 625- acre reservoir and is 1,500 acres of surrounding land owned by Jersey City through Green Acres Program. There is a 13.8-mile hiking trail that loops around the reservoir, so that gives you a perspective on how large the reservoir is.  We probably did about half of the reservoir on the paddle.  Loos like a great place to boat and swim and have fun for a whole day.  There were lots of fishermen but I didn’t get any sense they were catching anything.

Time Line in accordance with the photo log.

• 11:30 – Arrived and parked at Split Rock Reservoir’s southern shore.
• 11:50 – Kathy is in the water with Scraps and Rags.
• 11:55 – I’m in the water taking pictures of Kathy and the dogs.  Kathy soon hands Rags off to me and we are off.
• 12:15 – We reach the western shore of the reservoir. just north of the dam.
• 12:32 – We see a cormorant basking in the sunshine.
• 12:44 – We encounter two snakes basking in the sunshine on some rocks.
• 1:00 – We reach the island in the middle of the reservoir and start looking for a place to pull out for lunch.
• 1:28 – we land on the island and enjoy a lunch of honey dew and granola bars.
• 1:53 – We are back in the boats after lunch.
• 1:59 – We are heading south on the eastern shore of the reservoir in the narrow channel formed by the island.
• 2:12 – We see a couple of turtles basking in the sunshine on a log at the southern tip of the island.
• 3:09 – We tie the two boats together and slowly paddle back to the launch area.  We probably got out of the boats at 3:30
• 3:56 – We are in the car traveling over the dam that forms the reservoir.
• 4:30 – We are home and I unload the car, shower, download the photos and begin to
• 5:15 – Blog of the trip begins.

It was a perfect day, in the low 80’s with low humidity and fluffy clouds int he sky.  Being on an open reservoir a day like this proves to be a bit hot for the dogs.  It’s wasn’t easy finding shade pooped the puppies out during the 3 and one-half hour trip.  Rags, of course, was never too comfortable in my boat when Kathy was close so she eventually fell into the water off of the bow of my kayak early on.  It was cool that she swam for quite a while trying to reach Kathy kayak in front of her.  I let her swim, then she eventually turned back to me and I picker her up and placed her wet body in the boat.  A quick shake and a wet camcorder but we all had fun and I hopefully captured her swimming.  While in Kathy’s boat during the second half of the trip, Rags fell twice into the sink as she and Scraps wrestled for space on Kathy’s boat.  Scraps never fell in and seemed to have a relaxing experience.  Rags would often chill in the cockpit either looking over the edge at the other boat or sleeping on the floor.  I think she was okay with the whole experience.

Getting out of the boat was bedlam as the launch area was packed.  Right as we were getting out the two middle aged mean capsized in their new rowboat.  It happened really quick and the guy in front lost his glasses and looked dazed during the whole thing.  The big fat guy in the back of the boat who caused it to tip responded with the “my bad” as his friend looked as if he ‘d seen a ghost.

We packed up quickly and easily, explored the dam and went home.  There are lots of beautiful homes in this section of Boonton Township.  One house turned all thir rock on their property into cool rock sculpture.  Great stuff.   It was a great paddle and a great day.  Can’t wait till we kayak again.  I’m glad we discovered another great place to kayak with  30 minutes of our house.

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