Monday, June 17, 2013

Long Pond and Round Pond, 2013, part one

Well, today it is not raining... and that is a very good thing!

The weather has not been cooperative so far this kayaking season.  At least not here in the northeast.  We managed a few short paddles but I won't blog about them since I only took a few photos.  We did manage a trip to Long Pond and Round Pond on Saturday.  Yay!

It was windy, but these ponds aren't large so we had rolls on the surface, no waves or white caps.  And although we don't enjoy paddling in windy conditions, it probably kept us on the water longer because there were many less black flies and mosquitoes with the breeze.

This is the put in.  It is off  a dirt road about 8 miles out of Croghan, just inside the Adirondack Park.
The area has a small circle to turn around, with no outhouse.  Getting out on the water is easy with the nice sandy bank.



I have blogged about Long Pond and Round Pond before, so for more descriptions and photos, check out the blogs I wrote in 2010 and 2012.

Here is the lake from the put-in.  There is an FHA camp at the end (about in the middle of the photo) of Long Pond.  On the day we paddled, there were no campers or day activities happening.  If you decide to paddle here in the summer, it is best to go early in the morning if you're looking for a quiet paddle.




These ponds are separated by an esker which has a campsite on it.  It is very similar to the esker on Francis Lake-- pine trees, pine needle strewn paths, etc.-- very picturesque.

 





This is a shot of the northwestern side of Long Pond.   Oops!  Got some Brody ears in this one!




We saw a loon not long after beginning our paddle.  Later we saw another on the other end of the pond.  It could have been the same one-- considering they are such great swimmers-- but we think it was its mate.

At the end of the esker and around its point is the entrance to Round Pond:



The footbridge is high enough to get under on the left side.  But there was definitely less head-room than the last time we were here, due to the large amount of rain we've had.  I think Brody was checking out some reeds that were rustling in the wind as we approached the footbridge.



Across Round Pond is the inlet to the ponds.  We headed there and couldn't believe the amount of pine pollen in the water.



This is not foam or scum, it is just tons of pollen floating on the water's surface.  Anyone with allergies should now understand why they may be having symptoms!


Along the inlet we heard a bird's call and saw him land in this tree.  I was able to snap a shot before he took off.  It's a Cedar waxwing-- I love their black masks-- makes them very interesting to look at.



The inlet area is a bit more protected by trees and so there were less ripples on the surface, allowing for some reflection photos.  As you can see, except for the wind, it was a beautiful day for a paddle.  The sun was warm and the ponds were quiet-- not a soul to be seen or heard.



Brody enjoyed himself as he always does.  He likes being closer to the shore where he can imagine there is a bird, duck or maybe a muskrat to sniff out.



Long and Round Ponds are beautiful to paddle.  We usually see deer here, though we didn't on this trip.  We always see loons and there are many birds singing away in the trees.  

I will be back soon with part two of Long Pond and Round Pond.

Happy Kayaking!

4 comments:

  1. I just bought a kayak last night and am enjoying reading about where I can go and try it out and find quiet paddling locations. Kayaking is new to me though I did quite a lot of canoeing when I was younger and some in recent years. Thankful for tips and advice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Caron. I'm glad you're enjoying my blog and I hope you'll continue reading. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to help if I'm able. I also have a quiet kayaking website: www.quietkayaking.webs.com that has more kayaking locations listed. It is a work in progress. We've now been to 39 different places in New York and I have 24 of them described on the website. Happy kayaking!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Based on your description we went to Long Pond and Round Pond yesterday. With all the rain we have been having we thought it would be the place to go because there would be few waves and no current to take us away. We had a wonderful time exploring the area. We saw 2 loons; We could watch them all day. It was so quiet and peaceful; just what the doctor ordered! Thank you for your recommendation! We enjoy your blog and website!

    The Kayaking Divas

    ReplyDelete
  4. Divas,

    I'm so happy you enjoyed your time on Long and Round Ponds on the 4th of July! It's one of our favorite places. It was a good choice, as you said, due to all the rain. We love the loons also. Have you ever timed them when they dive under water? It's amazing how long they go before coming up for air! Whenever we see loons on a body of water, we are happy. They are fun to watch, plus- due to their eating habits- we figure the lake, pond or river must be decently healthy if loons are living on it! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate it. It's good to know that my blog and website are helpful to fellow paddlers. Happy kayaking!

    ReplyDelete