Already been home for over a week now but haven't written about my great trip up to Northern New York yet.It all started with fixing up the little 1965 Valiant Station Wagon . Got her all ready to go and packed her up.Strapped my kayak to the roof and got the 6AM boat across the LI Sound on Saturday .The trip up was smooth with the car running great and good weather. Everything was as I left it back in October the last time I was up and I jumped right in setting the place up for my stay.The only work I had planned was to buy and cut new boards to cover the windows and doors . Last Fall when I was there on the BMW K100 I had a real hard time hanging them when I was packing up to head home.They were all water logged from a few years of use and very mushy and heavy so new ones were needed. Aside from this small amount of work the rest of the trip was vacation time to be spent in my kayak .
My first river was just down the road from my camp about a 5 minute drive. The Santa Clara Flow . It's a section on the St Regis River that is nice flat water for a few miles back into a wilderness area.It was a great paddle that was about an hour and a half up river and then back with the flow. I figured I went about 3/4th way up to where the first rapids are.Next time I'll start earlier and go the distance.Here are a bunch of photos from this wonderful place
What a great afternoon this was.I was out there all alone with nature and it was amazing.Heard some bull frogs croaking ,saw a great blue heron ,a couple hawks and some fish in the water that were good size.
Spent the next day doing the chores like getting the plywood and going to the food co op .It was a rainy day so it was time well spent getting the chores finished.Things at my camp are good.I like being there all alone.Gives me time to think and get my bearings . Had plenty of music to listen too on my MP3 player that I run thru a car stereo into speakers.It's kinda cool living off the grid up there.The pump worked good so I had cold showers at will which came in real handy on the hot days.The generator worked good so I had electricity to charge the 12v car battery I run the stereo with and the water pump . Had to light the wood stove one morning but only that one time this trip. It was really beautiful weather. The next river I did was the east branch of the St Regis River over by Everton Falls off the Red Tavern Rd. I like this place .Been here a few times and always enjoy it.It's flat water up stream for a good ways then I turn around and let the river take me back.Lots of twists and turns on this river and it's not wide like the other place so there is more current.Met a group traveling down stream from a few miles up stream from my turn around point.They walked the rapids and had cars waiting down where I put in.Nice people .After a brief chat I was on my way back into the woods
As I got upstream some I came across an old beaver lodge and just a little farther a dam they built to make a pond in the wet lands.
This was another good afternoon of paddling. It is so relaxing being out in nature like this. Quiet and peaceful , no people , no cars , and so much beauty my brain almost shorts out .
The next day I went to a lake over near Paul Smiths called Jones Pond.It was another very nice place.Lots of fish jumping and again,very private but public land there to be enjoyed.Met these two women just finishing up their time out on the water.They loved my old Valiant Station Wagon. Had a nice conversation with them and in the water I went.
The rest of my time was spent at my camp relaxing and just enjoying my little piece of paradise . It was a very restful and enjoyable time for me this time.The car never missed a beat,the weather was really good,and I was happy to be out in the woods again at my camp.
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