CANOE NJ PINE BARRENS

September 28, 2001 Friday Drive to Pine Barrens

I got up at 7:08 and ran 5.1 miles. I couldn't go on the regular Friday bike ride because I didn't have enough time to go, pack for the canoe trip and drive to New Jersey. I took care of some minor chores then started packing for the trip. As usual, after packing everything I kept remembering little things that I needed so I ended up with many loose articles just thrown in the car. I put the roof rack on my car and lowered the canoe from the carport roof onto the car and tied it down.

I finally got going 35 minutes late at 2:35 p.m. I drove through the neighborhood to US-29 north to the Superfresh supermarket for 2 cold cut subs and a box of chocolate cream cookies for $4.99. Continuing north to I-70 north to I-495 around the top of Baltimore to I-95 north. Before leaving Maryland I contributed $2 in tolls to the state. Almost immediately I stopped and gave Delaware $2 toll money to cross the Delaware River bridge into New Jersey on I-295. I exited after a few miles onto US-40 east for 35 miles to Buena where I turned north on NJ-54 for 12 miles to Hammonton. Continuing north on NJ-206 for 7.4 miles, I turned left on Atsion Road for 1.5 miles then turned left on a dirt road signed Goshen Pond Camping Area. Proceeding .4 of a mile I took the 2nd right at the Camping sign for .3 of a mile. I arrived at the Mountain Club of Maryland camping area 39 44' 46" W by 74 45' 37" W at an elevation of 36' at 5:51 having traveled 149.4 miles from home in Columbia.

As I pulled in 5 or 6 cars were headed out so I looped around and followed them back to Hammonton and the Silver Coin Restaurant. There were about 15 of us so I sat at a table with Adrienne Shriner, Bob Carson, Sue Bailey and Ron. I had a Heinekens beer, salad, blackened red snapper, baked potato and stewed tomatoes for $20.

We returned to camp in the dark about 8:00 p.m.. It is overcast and occasional spitting rain with the barometer at 29.90". I checked in with leaders Mike and Bonnie Jenkins then set up my tent and unloaded my gear into it. I joined the circle of chairs around the camp fire and we chatted and laughed until 10:00 p.m.. There are 26 people on the trip after 2 dropped out. We are in 11 doubles and 4 singles including myself. I know the majority of the group but many I have forgotten their names. Some that I know are Ted and Fran Sanderson, Marcie and Duncan Crawford, George and Mary Drake, Kevin and Cheryl Presson, Wayne Lipscomb, Amanda Greene, Bob Hale, Eva Barnhill, Al Davis and Dal Bunker.

September 29, 2001 Saturday Canoe Mullica River

I slept soundly until 6:20 when I heard Bob Carson pumping water on the old rod and

sucker hand pump and firing up the Coleman two burner stoves starting breakfast preparations in the gray light. We had a little light rain during the night. I packed up and struck my tent loading everything in the car. I ate a banana I brought from home then drank some orange juice and ate an omelet with bacon bits, mushrooms and peppers. Everyone helps out so I took over the dish washing chores in the boiling hot water.

We broke camp and caravaned out about 9:30 in 15 vehicles with canoes on top. We drove back to NJ-206 and crossed it where we unloaded our canoes and gear at the put in. The 15 drivers then drove the vehicles in a caravan to the take out point. We were quickly entangled in a bike event with at least a thousand numbered participants.

We eventually got our cars parked at the take out and returned in 3 vehicles to the put in point.

We packed our canoes and I was the first to push off at 11:05 am. It is overcast and windy but the wind doesn't cause any problems in the narrow wooded stream. The water is an ugly brown from the tannic acid from rotting vegetation and everything in it is stained brown. The river is very narrow not as wide as my 16' 9" canoe is long. There is a constant tangle of trees across the river some out of the water and some just below the surface. There are numerous stumps mostly unseen that are always hanging you up. There are numerous hairpin curves with a good current so you can't make the turns without stopping or running into the brush covered banks. You were constantly busy struggling over obstacles, maneuvering around, between and under others so the time flew by.

Since I was alone in the canoe I could get through obstacles quicker than most so I was soon by myself despite frequently waiting. About 12:05 I stopped and ate my lunch of a cold cut sub, chocolate cream cookies, an apple and Squirt. A few canoes caught up with me as I finished lunch.

We continued on through the afternoon and things didn't improve very much. We had a few short stretches where you could actually paddle. We went over several beaver dams and one was so high we had to line our canoes over it. My canoe line got hung up on a dead tree and when I stepped out on it to disentangle the rope it snapped off and I was in the river. The weather alternated between sunny and warm to dark threatening clouds and cool to chilly all day. I arrived at the Mullica River Wilderness Camp 39 41' 27" N by 74 40' 29" W at 6" elevation at 4:15 p.m. having traveled about 9 miles which is my best guess. That is not very far in over 5 hours with a good current.

I beached my canoe, unloaded it and carried my gear to our camping area. I set up my tent then helped set up the cooking area under a couple of tarps. I sat in front of my tent and ate some cheese with a Scottish Ale home brew. There are several other groups in the woods nearby. We have an old reliable rod and sucker hand pump for water, a pit toilet and plenty of sand for a fire.

I got 3 large pots of water as Bob and Duncan fired up the stoves to boil the water. I was drafted to make the minestrone soup moving up to a skilled position from the lowly dishwasher of this morning. Everything was ready before dark and we feasted on salad, soup and spaghetti followed by homemade brownies and donuts. As dark settled in we again gathered around a fire in a tighter circle as it got quite cool. Everyone must have been tired as people started drifting away about 8:30 and everyone left by 9:30 leaving Mike Jenkins asleep in his chair by the fire. The barometer is at 30.05".

September 30, 2001 Sunday Canoe Mullica River & Drive Home

It rained during the night. Got up at 6:30 and packed up a wet tent. Ate a banana, drank a cup of hot chocolate and ate blueberry pancakes. Took over cooking the pancakes. Helped take down the kitchen tarps and pack up. It had started to rain lightly. Loaded my canoe and shoved off at 9:00 am.

The river is getting wider but still has some narrow spots. There are still many obstacles but not nearly as many as yesterday. There are many stretches that you can actually paddle for some time. I am towards the front of the fleet but we are starting to spread out so that you are often alone. We stop at a nice beach area for a cookie break. All but two canoes arrive. The two canoes have gone ahead. We have a large variety of cookies and chocolate covered nuts. The raisin oatmeal cookies Adrienne made have to be rationed.

Underway again, the river is getting wider with fewer obstacles. Everyone is moving well with few interruptions and are spread out. The rain is slowly picking up. I start to hear highway noise to my left and cross under the highway bridge. I am quickly beached at the takeout at 11:38 am where I can see my car through the trees. My guess is that we canoed 6 miles this morning.

I quickly unload my canoe and pack the gear in my car. I drag the 85 pound canoe to the car and Bob Hale helps me lift it onto the roof rack. I tie it down in the increasing rain. All the early arrivals help each canoe unload as they arrive. Finally everyone is in and loaded into their vehicles. Shuttles back to the three original shuttle vehicles are arranged. I settle up with Bonnie Jenkins for the cost of the supper, two breakfasts and camping which comes to $9.25. I take off my wet hooded raincoat and change into dry shoes.

I turn left on the highway at 12:35 p.m. and head for Hammonton. It is 45 degrees and raining steadily. From Hammonton I retrace my route coming in on Friday. I stop at a huge Wawa store in Malaga, NJ for $10.50 of gas at $1.189 per gallon for 87 octane and an attendant filled the tank. Continuing on I cross the Delaware Memorial Bridge and pay $3 for the privilege. Again I have to pay Maryland another $2 toll. I stop at Chesapeake House and eat my lunch of cold cut sub, chocolate cream cookies, an apple and Squirt. The rain stopped somewhere around the Delaware River. I arrive home at 4:00 p.m. after about 155 miles of driving, unload the car and rehang the canoe.