Knowing exactly where to paddle in Cleveland was a gamble. After several days of pristine paddling in the Boundary Waters and Turtle-Flambeau Flowage, we were not exactly sure where to check out. After researching area outfitters and message boards, we decided to explore the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. This was certainly different from our two previous experiences. This was very industrial. A city set upon a river. A great city with a deep relationship with the Cuyahoga River. Cuyahoga…
Like a scene straight out of Deliverance (1972), the black waters of Georgia’s Ebenezer Creek are eerie. Approximately 20 miles north of Savannah lies a river with water so black that it looks like it is filled with tea. Decayed vegetation from the surrounding swamp fills the water tinting the color black. The river has excellent examples of water tupelo and virgin bald cypress. The boat landing had a few cars with trailers parked in the lot. The enormous trees…
Suddenly, we were awake on the second day of our 4-day trek down the Connecticut River. The day before we paddled from Enfield to Wethersfield. Today, we will travel the 23 miles to Hurd State Park in East Hampton. This stretch of the river is taxing in terms of stamina of the body and mind as you might have to fight the tide. The river winds through the valley past Rocky Hill, Cromwell, and Middletown to East Hampton where we…
Since we live in Connecticut, we determined that the paddling story had to be epic. With this in mind, we opted for a multi-day adventure stretching the length of the Connecticut River from Enfield to Old Saybrook. That is over 60 miles in 4 days. The origin of the word, “Connecticut,” means, “long tidal river.” It’s an Algonquin term. Over a series of posts dedicated to our adventure through Connecticut, we will illustrate the beauty and importance of the river,…