MAY 22, 2013 - Paddle Quivett Creek from Paines Creek Beach, Brewster

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/4/3/4/event_233446132.jpegThe entire parking lot was destroyed 2 winters ago in storms and the existing parking places are for residents with a parking sticker. Perhaps a Brewster resident with a sticker will offer to drive us between the launch and where we can park our cars, so that we can do this paddle during the summer. But, we'll at least paddle this lovely marsh before Memorial Day TWICE and after Labor Day. Or maybe stickers are not needed until June 15?

We'll launch at 9:00, earlier than ideal for a potentially cool May morning. High tide in Sesuit Harbor is about 9:23 AM on May 22, 2013, the same time as it was on May 6 when we launched here. On May 6, when we launched at 10:00, the water was going OUT Quivett Creek when the tide chart indicated it should be still going IN. We did not understand why this happened, but the resulting water depth and flow at the end of the paddle made it difficult to paddle the last 500' back to the launch. So, we'll try a 9:00 AM launch for this paddle.

This is a beautiful paddle, but bad in high wind. High wind, rain or general meteorological nastiness will postpone the paddle until the next day, May 23...when the tide will also be good for this location.

We'll paddle from Paines Creek Beach and hug the shore going west to the mouth of Quivett Creek. As we make our way up this wonderful creek, we'll be surrounded by extensive marsh. Unlike Scorton Creek and Chase Garden where the reeds and grasses are too tall to see over, the vegetation along Quivett Creek allows distant views at high tide.

Even though the vast majority of the paddle is in protected water in the marsh, the paddle from the launch to the marsh is wide open. Only strong paddlers should launch if there is moderate wind this day. If the wind is out of the north, then kayaks are pushed in toward land and water is splashed over the side of the kayak. If wind is out of the east, it can be difficult to get back to the launch.

LIKE ALL OUR PADDLES, THIS PADDLE IS ONLY FOR EXPERIENCED AND ENERGETIC PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE KAYAKING, THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO GET SOME TIME ON THE WATER. YOU MUST HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE BEFORE PADDLING WITH US.

DIRECTIONS: From US 6, take exit 9 and go north on Rt 134 to Rt 6A. Go right on 6A and drive east for 2.75 miles...bear left at a fork onto Lower Rd. Drive 0.2 mile and turn left onto Paines Creek Rd and go about 0.7 mile to the parking lot.

We launch PRIOR to the barricades, on the left...there is a small, paved, downward sloping ramp to the water that is not obvious as you approach it.

Make sure I can contact you in case weather forces cancellation.