The season has begun and so it is a far cry better than last year, so I hope everyone is out and taking advantage of the new improved season. So far, I am off to a good start since I have paddled a few times around my neighborhood on the Magothy River, The Patuxent, Trapp Pond and with the Pirates of Arundel. I really enjoy the piracies especially since they are usually a laid-back paddle with no place in particular to go so the paddle plan is usually made up as you go. I have been paddling with the POA since joining CPA eleven or so years ago and really enjoy the camaraderie of the group. When I started with the group it was the Pirates of Pier Seven but with new ownership of the marina, they decided to take the fun out of paddling there. As luck would have it, Homeport Farms opened a week before we lost Pier Seven so transitioning to a roving piracy was painless. At first, I was disappointed in losing the location but in the long run it was a blessing in disguise because we are now a roving piracy and get to see new destinations, so you never really get tired of seeing the same place since it changes every week. Over the years I see many paddlers that faithfully attend POA and have since I started with them and some that have come and gone. The good thing is we are always getting new members, so the group size stays steady. If you happen to get a free Wednesday, then please join us for an evening of fun.
I keep threatening to pop in on some of the other piracies just to hang out with other groups and see new destinations and renew old acquaintances. I am always looking for new destinations so visiting another piracy is a good way to see new territory and meet new people. I was told the Pirates of Sugarloaf is the most fun, so it is on my bucket list. The Pirates of Sugarloaf were dormant for a few years, so I am grateful that Laurie Collins and Marilyn Cooper for starting it back up again.
One paddle I really enjoyed was Trapp Pond in Delaware. Dave Battey and I traveled over and met up with Cragg Howard who recently moved nearby so I probably would have never paddled it since you pass so many nice paddle locations getting there. I always pictured Trapp Pond as just a lake paddle, but I was pleasantly surprised since once we made it to the end of the lake, we discovered that you could work your way through the cypress swamp, so we traveled inward a few miles before being blocked by downed trees. The scenery of the pond was really nice with mostly cypress trees and the wildlife was abundant with hundreds of box turtles, eagles, herons and a beaver.
Paddle on, hope to see you all on the water.
Bill Smith
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