Throughout
my childhood, my parents organized canoe trips on local rivers. They would
invite their friends, who would bring their children, and we’d take the entire
day to explore someplace new.
What began
close to home – the North River, the South River – spread to points all over
eastern Massachusetts. We canoed the Concord and the Ipswich to the north; the
Bass and the Plymouth ponds to the south. Each trip had its memorable moments:
the kids who stayed warm in garbage bags after their parents capsized the
canoe; the dad who was left stranded over the cold autumn water, dangling from
a rope swing; the dam my high school friends and I almost drifted over at the
end of one particularly long trip.
As a child,
I was spared the logistics, but I still remember the stress of wondering
whether an aluminum canoe would actually remain lashed to the top of a Toyota
Corolla for the duration of a 50-mile highway trek. This was back in the days
when woven cinch-straps weren’t so readily available.
As an adult,
I’ve mused about organizing similar excursions for my own circle of friends.
I’ll begin to consider what such a trip might entail, and then back away
quickly. Even locally, it seems like a lot of work. There are so many variables
– the tides, the wind, the weather in general. Rounding up the right number of
boats and PFDs (personal flotation devices are required by local law). Towing
boats, staging vehicles for one-way trips, choosing a date that works for
everyone. Headache!
Not that
there aren’t alternatives. A number of local organizations offer guided
excursions for canoes, kayaks, and SUPs – on our local rivers and plenty of
other appealing places as well. Some of these trips are the Bring Your Own sort
– you show up with your boat and PFD, and then follow the leader on a
pre-determined course. Others are Full Service. You show up empty handed and they
outfit you with everything you need.
Historically,
I’ve turned my nose up at the “outfitter” excursions. They’re more expensive,
and what fun is a paddling trip if you don’t arrive exhausted from the stress
of organizing it? But I'm beginning to see the light.
This spring
my mother asked if I would like to accompany her on a kayaking trip on the
Green Harbor River, led by Mass Audubon. It would take place on a weekday
morning, while my son was at school, and all we’d have to do was show up ready
to paddle. The cost was around $40 per person. Her birthday was approaching . .
. and after an brief internal dialogue along the lines of “I could borrow a second
kayak and take her there for free,” I remembered that it was HER birthday, and
perhaps it would be nice just to give her what she wanted. I signed us up.
The
excursion day arrived, and with it, a horrible forecast. Driving rain, thunder,
lightning . . . all expected before noon. The trip was cancelled . . . but
quickly rescheduled for two weeks later. Could we still make it? Yes!
When we
arrived at Peter Igo Park in Marshfield, we found that our guides had already
unloaded the kayaks at the edge of the access path. PFDs were provided, so we
just had to find ones that fit us. Paddles had already been carried to the
dock. We were offered a choice between single-person or double kayaks, and once
everyone had selected their boat, we worked as a group to haul them to the water.
And then for the next 2.5 hours, after a brief skills tutorial, we enjoyed an
informative and relaxing paddle up and down the river.
Let me
stress the word “relaxing.” I didn’t realize how much “just showing up” would
make a difference. We saw osprey; we saw herons. Our guides told a little bit
about river ecology. There was talk of a Snickers bar, too, but I never saw it.
And at the end, we were encouraged just to leave our gear in the trailer and go
home. It was a very pleasant morning, and well worth the cost.
Both Mass
Audubon (massaudubon.org) and the North and South Rivers Watershed Association (nsrwa.org)
offer paddling trips on our local waterways. You can find current information
on their websites. NSRWA is hosting a Kayak Tour on the North River on August 6th.
Statewide, Mass Audubon offers something nearly every week. For those who want
to do even less work (no paddling), be sure to check out NSRWA’s weekly Pontoon
Boat cruises.
by Kezia
Bacon
July 2017
Kezia Bacon's articles appear courtesy of the
North and South Rivers Watershed Association, a local non-profit organization
devoted to protecting our waters. For membership information and a copy of
their latest newsletter, contact NSRWA at (781) 659-8168 or visit
www.nsrwa.org. To browse 20 years of nature columns, visit http://keziabaconbernstein.blogspot.com
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| Kayaks on the North River. |
