Grandview Paddle-8/16/2011

On Tuesday, 16 Aug 2011, ten Tuesday Groupers headed out to North Hampton for a paddle up the Back River to Long Creek and Grandview on the Bay. The weather was temperate, the humidity was low, but the wind was puffing at 15 knots. The wind made for nicely shaped waves on the Back River. Since the breeze was coming from the Northwest, we were on the far shore from their source and were feeling the full effect they had in developing the waves. Two foot (plus) swells are not large, if you are in a large boat. They feel large in kayaks and canoes. So today the Tuesday Groupers tested their mettle and set out despite reservations about impending disaster--you know, like drowning! It was thrilling. Ellis and Dewey were the only canoeists. Phyllis, Jean, Bob M., Mark C., and Brian were in kayaks. Of course Mark showed up with his pedal power kayak which made everyone else envy him as he slipped by the waves with ease. Evil thoughts were emanating from the others as they worked hard to stay upright on the Back River. The tide was coming in, the wind was at our back, and that made the waves even larger. The waves formed a criss-cross pattern as we edged toward the entrance to Long Creek. All of this intrepid group survived without a tipover. A few received a number of good splashes--Dewey took a few swells in the face but couldn't arrange to switch with Ellis in the back of the canoe while we were underway.

After the Back River excursion, our spirits were high, and our adrenaline level was even higher. Our euphoria was clear as we turned into Grunland Creek. wha? Grunland Creek? Well, our euphoria blinded us as we turned early and went down the West side of the Grandview Nature Preserve along Grunland Creek. Ever the optimists, we hailed this as the Inaugural Paddle on Grunland Creek. We recognized the error when we reached Beach Road. There was no bridge to go under--we deduced that no one had removed a bridge--watch out Sherlock. So we turned around, went back to the mouth of the creek and slid over to the next creek, our intended destination of Long Creek. The Creeks were relatively placid and the breeze was to our back. It was a perfect day for paddling on either creek. We were enamored with the flight of a number of Osprey, one Eagle, and a host of Egrets and Heron. Frogs were skittering, and fish were jumping. And then we reached Salt Ponds and cruised out to the Bay for lunch and swimming on Grandview Beach.

We had seen numerous nettles and jellyfish on the creeks, but did not see (or feel) any on our swim in the Bay. The only stinging nettle on the beach was a resident of the neighborhood to the North who came and informed us it was private property and that we were trespassing. The Tuesday Groupers were polite and smiled as we were readying to leave anyway instead of asking him why he was trespassing. The resident has been in the papers (again yesterday in the Daily Press) with property disputes with his neighbors and the City of Hampton. The wind was still up, the Bay looked navigable, but we decided that with the extra paddling we had already done, we would travel back up Long Creek to avoid the mile long sandbar recently constructed at the North end of Grandview Nature Preserve. It was a good decision. It was pleasant. When we neared the mouth at Back River, we realized the continued strength of the wind. It made paddling exciting again! But all made it back to Dandy Point. What an exhilarating day! This called for breaking the new Hard Core rules of no ice cream, so we headed out to Dairy Queen which had been spotted by eagle eye Phyllis. I got a LARGE! I didn't see anyone get a SMALL. Another great day to explore with friends.

Brian