Kayakattack!

Growing up on eastern Long Island, we spent lots of summer days in Southhaven Park and a bunch of them were with my family, camping and canoeing. 

Out there, you can canoe the Carmen's River from source to sea.  It's an amazing trip that includes a nice section of paddling through Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.  Canoeing is great and I have such fond memories of paddling with my dad and my younger brother and mom in the middle with the picnic cooler. 

Nowadays, it's just me and my wife and I love my one-man kayak.  I mean, we have two of them so my wife and I can enjoy each other's company paddling side-by-side instead of having to deal with the front person having to lean back or turn around every time they want to talk.  Honestly, I wish she'd be able to join me more often, but my work schedule allows me to go on a random weekday and it's quiet and I get my alone-time.  I love it. 

Last summer I discovered the boat ramp at the south end of town on Lake Zoar and enjoyed a couple of trips as far as I could paddle up the Pomperaug River and back.  That's about a 5 mile round trip and a great day out across some really different conditions along the way.  It's a great afternoon trip.  

I've been wanting to get back in the water in the worst way this year.  I'd like to continue up Lake Zoar and paddle up near the dam and enjoy the whole River Rd. section.  To me, it's one of the finest drives in town and I just wish it were a longer stretch.  Surely I am related somehow through LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace to SOMEONE who lives on the other side of the water!  I would promise to bring beverages of your choice if invited over for an afternoon BBQ!  Shameless, I know. But you never get anything unless you ask or in this case, suggest.

I'd like to figure out if anyone has ever asked the property owners along Rt. 172 if you could respectfully portage a boat over the little waterfall on the Pomperaug River so I could start much further upstream, somehow…  Can that be done? 

Either way, look for more from me on the topic of kayaking and/or canoeing.  You'll be one of the first to know of my little day trips.  And if you have any good info you're willing to share, it would be most appreciated.  Get out there and paddle!  :)

View my Southbury - Kayak Lake Zoar & Explore trip in a large Google map!