First Trip of 2014 - South Branch of the Raritan River (05-26-2014)

Things have been crazy busy recently, but I did get out for short trip on South Branch of Raritan river this afternoon.  I was encouraged after looking at Facebook posting of Karl Fritz kayaking Appoquinimink Wildlife Area off of Delaware River basin.  I decided that I had to get out for a break.  This was my first trip of the year and it is almost June.

The conditions were perfect.

• Stanton Station USGS: 3.3 Feet.  This is really where it needs to be both from depth and water speed.  I've done this river at 2.7 ft and this is just too shallow unless you enjoy dragging a boat.
• 85 Degree temperature with low humidity.  Just enough to have minor sweat, but not get drenched.

I took my 8 ft Emotion Comet kayaks as they are prefect for this small river.  Also, as I have mentioned before, they fit into the back of the mini Van, so it is really easy to use them.  Interesting that I didn't see a lot of wild life on this trip, but nether less, it was refreshing to get away.  There were numerous other people on the river who were mostly fishing.  I was careful for changes in the river as this was my first trip.  There was one new tree that had recently fallen into the river just south of the Rt 31 bridge.  It didn't block the river.  Also, the large tree that blocked the left branch around Packers Island was washed clear of the channel so it is now passable. 

The put in was River Rd off of route 31 just above Camp Carr.  The take out was River Rd and Case Blvd intersection in Flemington.  Trip is roughly 12 miles which took me 2.5 hours.