A perfect day on the water

k_estela

k_estela

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I am just getting around to posting the pictures from a trip I did a couple weeks ago. As some of you know, I spent 10 years working for a canoe shop in CT on the Farmington River. I consider the guys there my extended family and the river my home. With some free time, I decided to take a trip. Here are some pictures documenting the perfect day I had from Riverton, CT to New Hartford, CT.

I dropped in the water around 8:30am after riding up in the vans with a park and rec group. It was funny, I used to guide these trips and the kid leading the trip this day was one of the kids I took down the river years ago. I helped load the boats and we were off.

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You can get an idea for how many boats were on the river this day with this picture.

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Essential gear. Bailer, sponge, water bottle and spare paddle stored under gunwale and seat.

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Also essential, paracord painter line and tie down strap stored daisy chained on the bow.

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While the river is pretty wide, you can usually make your way down channels too narrow or remote to access by foot. Just make sure to have good pry, draw and cross-bow draw strokes!

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Fly fishing heaven. Canoer's zig zagging practice.

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One of my favorite trail nibbles. Grape tendrils!

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Scenery shots

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More coming...
 
Mixing canoeing with fishing. I said it was a perfect day right?
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Looks like a postcard.
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If this were a survival situation, these salmon would be dinner. Good news for them, it wasn't and they were released unharmed.
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My favorite fishing hole as seen from the paddle in.
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Fishing fool. The pool at the base of my feet is 8' deep btw. Perfect swimming hole. Unfortunately, the woods to my back are private property and you can't camp there. Mornings and sunrises are nice there though.
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Live forever is everywhere here. Another great nibble.

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Wolf spiders can be found in the cracks of the bridges. This one is about 2.5" across. The photo doesn't do it justice.
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You pass three bridges on this trip. Here they are. Pleasant Valley, New Hartford and Black Bridge.
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If anyone is ever looking to do this trip, I'm always game. If you want to go through the canoe shop I used to work for, the website is www.mainstreamcanoe.com. You can watch a really cheesy commercial for it there. If I could embed it here, I would. It was done about 6 years ago and still plays on Channel 3 here in CT. Hope this inspires some to get outside and on the water.
 
thanks for sharing, brother.

i will definitely look you up when i am out there one summer.

nothing beats a good paddle - i'm an ocean paddler for the msot part, it might take some getting used to going in a line - LOL....

vec
 
Have they finished the bridge by the burnt down dunkin donuts that overlooks part of the farmington river? Are you ever down hammonasset way at all?
 
I've done a similar trip by kayak. Put in across from the former Hitchcock Chair retail building, and pulled out where the "River Ride" begins in Satan's Kingdom.

The best section IMHO is from Riverton to Pleasant Valley.

Have you tried putting in off RT 185 by the Pinchot Sycamore, and paddling south towards Farmington? It is cool, as the river flows south to north in that stretch. I enjoyed paddling "upstream" and when ready to head back, just turn around and paddle with the current! One person operation:D

Peter
 
Beautiful, much different than down here, which is beautiful too.

On Fish Eating Creek about two weeks ago.

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Me an my Canoe, now I'm down 90 lbs I don't mind pictures of me so much :)

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Great photos my friend, :thumbup: :cool: :thumbup:


...the only place to be on these hot days is on or in the water. :D






k_estela said:
You can watch a really cheesy commercial for it there...

It was done about 6 years ago and still plays on Channel 3 here in CT.
Click to expand...


I laugh every time they run that old commercial. :rolleyes:






Big Mike
 
Suzuki,

That bridge is still under construction. As for Hamonassett. I live 5 minutes away to the East in a town named after the President who served between the two Bushes.

Peter,

We call that stretch from Rt. 4 to the Weatogue bridge (big sycamore tree) the Lower Farmington. I've done it numerous times with groups. Not my favorite as it is really still and very little shade from the sun once you're on the water. The way you do it is the perfect way to do a one man "shuttle." Beats the hell out of hitch hiking.

Kev
 
I love that stretch of river! We usually put in above Riverton at the Hogback? Rd parking lot. The water is always so clear and cold. How were the water levels? Do you have a phone # to check dam release times?--Great pics!--KV
 
KVaughn,

Going with an outfitter, you are only allowed to drop in at certain places. That parking lot north of Riverton Bridge is designated with a sign, "No commercial activity". However, if you go with your own car, it is a good run. It is also really really cold. River cfs was about normal (about 250 cfs) and I had no trouble finding deep water and reading the river. There were times back in the day when the whole river was a rock garden and we ended up out of the boats more than in. As far as a website, the USGS has a gauge and there is a link to it on the store's website.

Kev
 
kvaughn said:
I love that stretch of river! We usually put in above Riverton at the Hogback? Rd parking lot. The water is always so clear and cold. How were the water levels? Do you have a phone # to check dam release times?--Great pics!--KV
Click to expand...

I frequent those parts often on my motorcycle and hike. On a hot day recently, I parked a bit south of the closed gate to the Hogback dam on Hogback road to stick my feet in the water to cool down. I could NOT stand in that water for more than about 20 seconds!

Shortly thereafter, I was down by the brook that feeds Barkhamsted Res. off RT20 and could stay in the water indefinitely.

The release rate from Hogback and Colebrook River is definitely key to water levels.

Peter
 
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