Kayaking Up Morgan Creek in Chestertown

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

The weather forecast for Chestertown this evening is quite windy, chilly, and possibly wet. So it won't be a calm and pleasant paddle like last year. Jake is worn out from moving to Annapolis, so I'll skip this and save my energy for Saturday & Sunday.

Chuck will arrive in Chestertown this afternoon and decide whether he will still do the Morgan Creek paddle. Anyone who wants to paddle today should contact Chuck by email on his profile to see what he plans to do. Otherwise, this is an "on your own" paddle for whoever shows up. You can post a comment below to let other people know what you're doing.

I'm not canceling this event, so the event details will still be here. I'll be in the area later today, and plan to be at the Blue Bird Tavern around 7:00 pm or so. Sorry for the change of plans, but this is the best move for me to make right now.

Let's hope for good weather on Saturday and Sunday! We have some cool events planned, and Chestertown is always awesome to visit.

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Paddling Up Morgan Creek

We did this paddle last year, and everyone agreed it was a beautiful experience as shown by the above photo. The sun setting on the calm waters of the marsh while birds fluttered to their nests was simply a magical moment of peaceful pleasure. We were all enthralled!

You need to bring your own kayak, life vest, and gear for this event. No rentals available.

We'll launch at Morgnec Landing, which is a parking area beside Morgnec Rd. just after you cross the steel highway bridge over Morgan Creek. It's about one mile from Chestertown on Rt. 291. Full details on the link below:

http://crwt.org/chester-river-trail/points/morgnec-road-public-landing

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There is plenty of parking at Morgnec Landing, but no launch ramp. We'll put our kayaks into Morgan Creek at the bottom of a short embankment with a small muddy beach and some rocks. High tide will be approximately 6:45 pm which should give us good water levels for our paddle. But be prepared to get your feet wet getting into your boat.

We'll probably be on the water for about 3 hours paddling up this quiet creek to enjoy the evening light over the marsh and wooded shoreline. We saw a bald eagle there last year. Bring drinking water, a wide brim hat, and whatever refreshments you like. It's a very nice place to sip some evening wine on calm waters.

Morgan Creek is a protected natural area that winds away from the Chester River for 3 miles through marshland past woods and occasional houses. This paddle is suitable for beginners if you're comfortable being in a kayak. It's a nice safe area, and the water is shallow enough to stand up if you tip over.

When we're finished paddling, we'll most likely head to the Blue Bird Tavern on Rt. 213 near the Choice Suites Hotel. It's a real local bar with LOTS of bright neon beer signs, a good beer selection, and decent sandwiches. Like most restaurants in Kent County, they stop serving food well before 9:00 pm. Gotta get your food on time!

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Call Jake at 703-798-8435 if the weather looks doubtful or you have questions.

Directions

Take MD Rt. 291 (Morgnec Rd.) east about one mile from Chestertown until you cross a steel bridge over Morgan Creek. Just past the bridge, there is a large dirt parking area by the side of the highway. Turn into the lot and park there.

Check the Google meetup map at the top for the exact location.