Poropotank Paddle 9/29/2015

On 29 Sep 15, nine Tuesday Groupers met at Tanyard Landing on the Poropotank River for a day of paddling. Bob A, Buck, Bruce and Margaret, Sandy C, Jim A., Jack S, Ken V., and Bob M. all defied the weatherman.

The prior four days, we experienced wet stormy weather throughout the Tidewater region and the tidal flow was at its highest this particular Tuesday while hurricane Joaquin was skirting the East Coast and pushing water toward land. The nine who showed up to paddle were ignoring the weatherman’s call for rain and significant wind. I must add that something is happening with the Tuesday Group—everyone is arriving early, not just on time. So, we put in promptly and started upstream. The day was overcast and the wind was mild since the Poropotank is not the largest of rivers and the wind doesn’t always align with tree breaks—that is a good thing. We have done this paddle a number of times in prior years and the big suspense is always the unknown condition of Leta Point, our lunch stop spot. This year we experienced the high tide enhanced by the area storms and wind. We could almost paddle up on the point of land. Bruce went first and quickly pulled the rest of us onto land. Lunch was uneventful, but we were able to brag about having gone furthest upriver than ever before. With the enhanced high tide we were able to go well beyond the bridge on route 14 before turning around and heading for the lunch site (also known in prior years as shoe suck point where a few shoes have been lost when the water was lower and the mud was up).

The group made this a leisurely paddle and we took in the many sightings of bald eagle, herons of many stripes, muskrat, and Kingfishers. The botanists among the group noted that the grasses were still intact with very little being crowded out by phragmites. The final few miles found us paddling a little harder. The sky was starting to show inklings of the weatherman’s predicted rain, and we knew we were headed to Short Lane Creamery for the specialty of the house. In all, this was a pleasant day, with good friends. We were free from worry as all the OLD TuesdayGroupers had gone on a bit of travel and only the strong were left!

Brian

View Jim's pictures: https://jimarendphotography.smugmug.com/Sports/Kayaking/Poropotank-Paddle/