August 24th 2016
Avalon, NJ
I awoke with excitement today for today I’d be rendezvousing with Rich Brand in Avalon. Rich left New Orleans in a kayak about seven months ago and is headed north to Maine before he stops for the winter after which, he’ll continue up to the St. Lawrence River and then head over to the Great Lakes and back down the Mighty Mississippi. His trip should take about two years.
Al drove me back to my kayak and I hit the water just before 11am catching the last of low tide and grabbing a ride on High Tide. As with any long paddle, the tide would be helping me at first, but will turn against me at some point. NOAA was reporting that the light breeze I was feeling now would pick up by mid afternoon and become a South Westerly blowing in at 15-25 knots.
I followed the Intracoastal south as it left the shoreline and began winding its way through the saltwater marsh again. I grabbed lunch at a kayak launch just before noon and right after that the tide turned on me. I was making good progress through the narrow channels despite the fast water, but up ahead lay a different story. Just as they had predicted, about 1pm the wind began to pick up. By the time I hit open water, it was blowing on my nose at about 20 knots and I was running straight into high tide. As long as I kept paddling I could manage forward movement so I dug in and paddled hard. Up ahead was the bridge I was aiming for and it marked the entrance to Sea Isle.
Upon reaching the bridge, the houses sprang up on the waters edge and they helped block the wind. I took a short break to stretch and then hit the water again. My next stop would be Avalon and she lay on the other side of the next inlet, but I had to get through Sea Isle first. Sea Isle was a very quaint, though I am sure expensive place. I got to enjoy its charm, free of charge though, as I paddled through.
The tide that had been fighting me started helping me as I neared the next inlet and I reached the end of Sea Isle in record time. I was surprised at how small this inlet was. There was a drawbridge that had to be opened to let the big fishing vessels in from the ocean. I easily paddled across this inlet and reached Avalon just after 5pm. I checked in with Rich and he was still a couple hours out so I set to finding us a place to camp.
Directly in front of me was the Avalon Yacht Club. Since I had plenty of time, I figured I’d check into here and get the first No out of the way, but that didn’t happen. One of the guys on the dock told me to ask for Jarred. I found Jarred inside at the bar and I told him what I was doing. He immediately hooked me up with a place to camp on the grounds and access to the bathroom and showers as well. I couldn’t believe it. I called Rich and told him the good news and I waited for his arrival.
Once Rich arrived, we unpacked the kayaks, set up camp and then we began swapping stories.
Tomorrow I should hit Cape May and I’ll need to decide my next move. Do I go up into the Delaware and across the C&D Canal or do I take the ferry across the bay and portage over to the Chesapeake. Decisions Decisions.
Day 54 Done
