Terry Anderson’s KLOG

Jul 23 2006, 3:15PM-5:45 PM

Raritan River, near New Brunswick, NJ

Launched from Martins Creek (aka Mill Brook) township boat ramp (at the end of Meadow Road, Edison Township) (NSSKA Ref# LSNJ066)

Google Earth Placmark *

Low Tide: 1:58 PM, High Tode: 8:01 PM

Averaged 3.1 knots

 

Route:

The launch site is a ramp of paving stone (see May 7 description).

 

This time I went down stream.  I went past South River, Washington Canal, the power plant, and Crab Island and explored up a side channel through the reeds just past Crab Island.  Near Crab Island there was a lovely view of the Garden State Parkway Bridge, Victory Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing Bridge.

 

It was an enjoyable but uneventful paddle.  Less boat traffic than last week but still some that left big wakes – one nearly two feet high, so I got some practice at bracing for dealing with waves.

 

Navigate markers 39 (at the entrance to South River), 37 and 35 (at the entrance to the Washington Canal) all had osprey nests.  Marker 39 was occupied by a pair of osprey and 37 by at least one.  I saw no occupancy at marker 35.  I also say three herons and one egret.

 

I averaged 3.2 mph/2.8 knots down stream and 4.0 mph/3.5 knots up for an average of 3.1 knots.  Since the tide was rising there was an upriver flow (flood tide).

 

* If you have Google Earth installed, you can double-click on the attached Placemark file and it will fly you to a location. If not, you will need to install Google Earth first (available at http://earth.google.com).