July 9, 2011 Kaydeross Creek

Today Tim & I decided to paddle on Kaydeross Creek. We have avoided it for several years because when we paddled it in 2008 (or 2009?) we came upon a very large tree that had fallen across the creek and totally blocked the way through. We had to get out of our boats and try to find a way over the tree and then find a spot to get back in the boats. I had a lot of trouble and Tim finally had me get back in my kayak and shoved me over the tree and back into the water. Since that is NOT an option with our current kayaks, we have stayed away.

Where Nancy launched from

So, once again we put in at Grays Crossing near North Line Road in Ballston Spa. There is a short carry from the parking lot to the creek. We put my boat in first. It was very muddy and created a big muddy suction on my feet.  Once I was seated in my boat I tried to ignore all of the mud that ended up in the bottom of my kayak.

Where Tim launched from

Tim noticed a better spot to launch from, so he carried his kayak over a foot bridge to an area with less mud. He said he had much better footing there. I waited along the side of the creek for him to get settled in his boat and catch up to me.

And off we went...

View from the first turn.

This was the view as we started out. The water was shallow and there was some current, but no problem paddling through.

We passed this stump with day lilies growing on it.
It was prettier in person.

We enjoyed the luxury that you didn't always have
to paddle. There was usually plenty of current to keep you moving. Here I am, just floating along.
There were some areas where this worked against you. When we had to paddle around log jams, there were areas that you had to paddle hard to avoid trees & rocks along the side of the creek. When we went around one log jam Tim stayed left and I kept a little farther to the right. I was able to duck under some branches and get through. Tim got pushed up against a tree by the strong current and had great difficulty getting free. He injured his back in the process and there will be no kayaking tomorrow.

Tim hits the "rapids"

At this point we still hadn't gotten to the Rt. 9 overpasses yet! We approached a turn in the creek and could hear the water moving around the turn... "rapids". We pulled off to the side to evaluate the best spot to go over the little rapids. We decided the center was the best, and Tim went first (my sacrificial lamb). That spot worked for Tim, so I followed in the same spot. It was a fun little ride. The concern is that there might be a rock hiding in the ripples of water.

My guy

We had some really nice water along this section.
We didn't see much wildlife on this trip. We usually see a number of birds at the least.

Finally we make it to Rt. 9 ! It had taken us 90 minutes to get there. We still had to go under I 87 and paddle a little farther to get where we parked my car. We never had to stop for the Big Tree that had kept us away for 2 years. I can't even say that I could tell you where it had been! There was 1 spot though where we did have to get out of our boats and pass our kayaks over a tree limb (in thigh deep water) and then sit on the limb to get back in. It had all worked out so well;      UNTIL....

We hit the BIG log jam!!!!! There was no getting around or over this one. It was just a tangled mess of trees, limbs & sticks. There was no choice. We had to get out, carry our kayaks up the hill and get around the jam and back down to the water. Tim had hurt his back, so this was not the best thing for him to be doing. We carried my boat first and then had to go back for his boat. Twice the fun!

The view from the top of the hill as we moved the boats

 

Boats in the mud while we decide where it's best to re-load

    We finally make it to the I 87 overpasses.










Just a short paddle now to get to the area where we parked my car. We pulled off to the side of the creek and got out. We had to carry the boats over a little water and up a hill to the car. The mosquities were as thick as thieves! We got my kayak up to the car and had to go back down to get Tim's kayak. It took us 2.5 hours to get from the start to the finish. If we had no log jams to deal with, it would have been a great paddle. But as I look at Tim sitting here with the lumbar support behind his back, I am pretty confident that we won't be paddling the Kaydeross again any time soon. The only way around it would be if we paddled with someone willing to bring (and use) a large chain saw! We do not recommend this trip for "the Yakkers".

Our muddy kayaks are still sitting on top of my car. Normally Tim would have them washed, dried & hung back in the garage. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be able to get them down. I volunteered to drive around with them on my roof all week, while he rests his back!