Cape Cod pt 2. Weds 15th June 2011

Trip reports that don't have a page dedicated to them.

Moderator: Chip

Post Reply
Briggsy
Posts: 297
Joined: Thu Apr 30, 2009 6:59 pm
Location: Sarasota, Florida

Cape Cod pt 2. Weds 15th June 2011

Post by Briggsy »

Or maybe renamed "Adventure on the High Seas".
As usual Norm was first at the meet point down in Quisset Harbor, Falmouth. I'm not going to try to beat him unless I can pitch a tent at the launch. Bea was with him and we loaded my kayak INTO his truck and left mine at Quisset. 50 minutes later we were shoving off from the shore at Megansett Harbor into calm seas. It was cool and a little cloudy but the forecast was good...."Wind from the north 5 to 10 kts, seas 1 foot or less" and low tide at 1.20pm. So, thanks to the summer mini Nor-easter it looked like we would have everything in our favor rather than a slog against the usual southwesterly wind.
Megansett
Megansett
P6150001.JPG (74.09 KiB) Viewed 7035 times
P6150002.JPG
P6150002.JPG (66.78 KiB) Viewed 7035 times

It was much clearer than last week and we could see the canal traffic light tower, but not what color the lights were. Ahead of us was a lighthouse, Cleveland East Ledge Light, marking the Shipping channel into the Cape Cod Canal. I had marked compass bearings from the light on my chart so I could plot our progress south.
Cleveland East Ledge Light
Cleveland East Ledge Light
P6150004.JPG (66.84 KiB) Viewed 7035 times
We made excellent time, zipping right along, passing Fiddlers Cove before turning south towards Woods Hole. Ahead of us, way in the distance, we could see Naushon Island and most of the Elizabeth Islands chain. As we rounded Nyes Neck, the water got rougher and choppier just as it had last week when we rounded the peninsulas. the expanse of Old Silver Beach stretched out to our left and we all enjoyed getting a helping hand from the waves and wind. At an easy paddle we were making 4 kts .
Nyes Neck
Nyes Neck
P6150007.JPG (73.41 KiB) Viewed 7035 times
We checked out Seacrest Resort at the end of the beach and Bea recounted a previous trip where the Turkeys group was nearly ejected by an over zealous security guard!!
P6150010.JPG
P6150010.JPG (66.89 KiB) Viewed 7035 times
At the end of the beach we had to head south west to follow the coast which meant we were now broadside to the waves. The wind seemed to be picking up slightly and I remember thinking "seas 1ft or less....hmmmm"
Only 1 hr 20 mins into our trip, with the winds help, we were already down at West Falmouth Harbor so we decided to poke our noses in and have a look round. The Harbor entrance was a little choppy due to the out going tide and incoming wind but no big deal. Once inside we admired the boats and paddled to a creek in the far North East corner before retracing back to the entrance.
West Falmouth Harbor
West Falmouth Harbor
P6150013.JPG (66.61 KiB) Viewed 7035 times

By this time the wind had picked up a little more and leaving the harbor was a little interesting. The wind had definitely picked up now and seemed to have shifted slightly, coming from the north west which meant that for the rest of our trip the short steep wind driven waves were coming now from our right rear quarter.
We followed a long stretch of sandy beach with a few houses on for a 1 1/4 miles until we found the channel leading to Quahog Pond. From the Google Earth image it looked like a small marshy area with some channels that may have be worth exploring, but when we arrived the entrance channel was very shallow and the water was rushing out as the tide was still falling.
By now it was 12 noon and so we took a lunch break by the channel. I wandered round the corner to see into the marsh , looked like it would only really be accessible within a couple of hours either side of high tide.
Continuing after lunch, Quahog Pond entrance
Continuing after lunch, Quahog Pond entrance
P6150014.JPG (67.34 KiB) Viewed 7035 times

Nearly an hour passed on the beach before we set off again. I had been paddling in T-shirt and shorts but opted for the wetsuit for the last push home as the wind had now picked up considerably and I was feeling the chill. Our take out point, Quisset harbor, was 2 1/2 miles away but the waves were still coming from our rear quarter. The big ones came in sets of three, were steep, closely spaced and were about eye level/head height, at times it was like riding in a washing machine! Needless to say there wasn't much conversation between the 3 of us. Bea preferred to stay closer to shore, Norm stayed mostly in the middle and I preferred to be out deeper.
As we rounded our last headland we could see "The Knob", the rockpile that marks the entrance to Quisset Harbor a mile away. At the Harbor entrance we could finally turn southeast and get a great ride in. Once inside, all was peace and calm. We all discussed the "excitement" of the last couple of miles! It was about 1.45pm.
Peace and calm of Quisset Harbor
Peace and calm of Quisset Harbor
P6150015.JPG (73.67 KiB) Viewed 7035 times
P6150016.JPG
P6150016.JPG (70.88 KiB) Viewed 7035 times

After loading up and shuttling back to Norms truck, we agreed we'd earned an ice cream at "Holy Cowz" in Megansett.
My GPS showed trip distance 11 nautical miles(12.7 miles), time moving 3hrs 30 mins.
Thanks Norm and Bea for the company, another (exciting) great day on the water!!
ccpt2.jpg
ccpt2.jpg (86.76 KiB) Viewed 7035 times
NorwayLady
Posts: 1338
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:03 pm
Location: Marshfield, MA

Re: Cape Cod pt 2. Weds 15th June 2011

Post by NorwayLady »

I think the dog and the Harbor Master were trying to send us a message as we were leaving West Falmouth Harbor???
IMG_2077_1_1.jpg
IMG_2077_1_1.jpg (72.97 KiB) Viewed 7023 times
Bea
Proud foster mother of Athena (P&H Cetus LV turquoise-white)
User avatar
norm
Posts: 2126
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:13 pm
Location: Stoughton, MA

Re: Cape Cod pt 2. Weds 15th June 2011

Post by norm »

NorwayLady wrote:I think the dog and the Harbor Master were trying to send us a message as we were leaving West Falmouth Harbor???

I hope the barking dog and harbormaster are not signs of unfriendly times to come as we search for places to launch during the summer months!

I'll add some pictures, hopefully Friday night. I spent Thursday night lounging around on the pond in Hanson and then went to PPR after, so I have not had time to pick out some of the better pictures out of the 235 shots I snapped. So many fuzzy and crooked pics! But, I do have quite a few good ones to share.
User avatar
norm
Posts: 2126
Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:13 pm
Location: Stoughton, MA

Re: Cape Cod pt 2. Weds 15th June 2011

Post by norm »

I tried to pare down my pictures, but after cropping and straightening them, I might as well post just about all of
them.

This is the beach we launched from. Briggsy said they prefer you launch from the boat ramp, but sand is easier on the gel-coat and there was nobody around this early anyway. Thanks Bea and Briggsy for carrying my boat across the sand. Hopefully by part 3 my knee will be all better.

A_IMGP9939.JPG
A_IMGP9939.JPG (100.97 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Briggsy giving Bea her copy of the day's chart and showing her the route we'd be taking.

A_IMGP9943.JPG
A_IMGP9943.JPG (146.72 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


A little lumpier to start the day than we had in part 1, but the wind and waves were favorable for most of the trip.

A_IMGP9954.JPG
A_IMGP9954.JPG (81.72 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


A_IMGP9957.JPG
A_IMGP9957.JPG (94.59 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


A_IMGP9961.JPG
A_IMGP9961.JPG (104.3 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Heading in towards Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort. Big place! Probably too expensive for my budget.

A_IMGP9975.JPG
A_IMGP9975.JPG (66.37 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


It looked like there was a small public beach beside the resort and we watched 3 yellow school buses drop off a bunch of kids for a day at the beach.

A_IMGP9989.JPG
A_IMGP9989.JPG (104.49 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Heading into West Falmouth Harbor, I liked the name on the back of this catboat.

A_IMGP9997.JPG
A_IMGP9997.JPG (77.16 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


A couple more nice wooden sailboats.

IMGP0002.JPG
IMGP0002.JPG (77.22 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0006.JPG
IMGP0006.JPG (79.13 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


A couple snowy egrets, or great egrets...I'd have to look it up.

IMGP0018.JPG
IMGP0018.JPG (179.65 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


We turned north and headed under a bridge in the northern part of the harbor.

IMGP0025.JPG
IMGP0025.JPG (115.21 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


I checked my GPS to find that the creek continued on for another 2 tenths of a mile but it didn't look that interesting.

IMGP0028.JPG
IMGP0028.JPG (91.33 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Bea and Briggsy looked over the chart again as we floated gently back toward the bridge on the outgoing tide with the a gentle breeze on our backs. Good opportunity to have a snack so I munched on a pack of almonds.

IMGP0033.JPG
IMGP0033.JPG (166.3 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


This little shack near the bridge caught my attention. I wonder if it is just used as a boathouse or if they use it as a spare bedroom.

IMGP0039.JPG
IMGP0039.JPG (185.47 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


I managed to catch a fuzzy shot of an osprey flying overhead.

IMGP0041.JPG
IMGP0041.JPG (60.38 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


And a cormorant along the shore.

IMGP0048.JPG
IMGP0048.JPG (150.43 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


And another egret.

IMGP0050.JPG
IMGP0050.JPG (154.38 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


On the way out of the harbor as we waited for the harbormaster to pass by in the channel, I found the lines on this house interesting.

IMGP0062.JPG
IMGP0062.JPG (143.58 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Our respite from the wind ended for a little while when we left the harbor, so the camera got put away until we headed into our lunch beach at the entrance to Quahog Pond. Heading into the shallow water as it was flowing out of the marsh was a different type of difficulty than we had just experienced with the following seas that pushed us here so quickly.

IMGP0074.JPG
IMGP0074.JPG (73.34 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


There were plenty of various types of birds to watch as we sat and ate lunch on a sand bar at the outlet of the pond.

IMGP0112.JPG
IMGP0112.JPG (119.27 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0120.JPG
IMGP0120.JPG (81.54 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


This little bird was perched on a sand-covered rock.

IMGP0088.JPG
IMGP0088.JPG (83.14 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Briggsy took a walk around the corner to look at the depth of the water in the marsh. I tried to capture the swirls in the sand left by the water as it dumped out of the marsh.

IMGP0091.JPG
IMGP0091.JPG (107.32 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


A few shots of the marsh that was too shallow at low tide to paddle into.

IMGP0094.JPG
IMGP0094.JPG (67.71 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0100.JPG
IMGP0100.JPG (77.33 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0102.JPG
IMGP0102.JPG (89.62 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


The grassy areas were blocked off by a simple string fence line and signposts with warnings to protect the nesting birds.

IMGP0095.JPG
IMGP0095.JPG (170.03 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Heading back to our sandbar, the contours created by the water were striking.

IMGP0107.JPG
IMGP0107.JPG (85.18 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0110.JPG
IMGP0110.JPG (116.32 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


As we ate lunch we watched a military plane come in. As we prepared to launch, we watched the plane heading back out.

IMGP0114.JPG
IMGP0114.JPG (43.16 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


As we started paddling out into the surf with a little assist from the marsh water still flowing out, I tried to grab a shot of all the birds surrounding us.

IMGP0125.JPG
IMGP0125.JPG (61.74 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Again, with the surf and wind pushing us, the camera had to be put away until we pulled into Quissett Harbor.

IMGP0127.JPG
IMGP0127.JPG (122.44 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0131.JPG
IMGP0131.JPG (97.33 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0132.JPG
IMGP0132.JPG (92.88 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


Weekday paddling is great! So little boat traffic. Just a couple small sailboats.

IMGP0135.JPG
IMGP0135.JPG (130.22 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0156.JPG
IMGP0156.JPG (134.35 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0158.JPG
IMGP0158.JPG (134.42 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


I remember this odd sailboat from last year.

IMGP0138.JPG
IMGP0138.JPG (115.18 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


We took our time coasting into the calm harbor, looking at all the boats.

IMGP0139.JPG
IMGP0139.JPG (109.98 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


I'm still a fan of sailboats over powerboats, so here are a few I liked.

IMGP0145.JPG
IMGP0145.JPG (108.56 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0147.JPG
IMGP0147.JPG (119.05 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0150.JPG
IMGP0150.JPG (124.75 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0151.JPG
IMGP0151.JPG (136.6 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


And a look at the piers at either side of the harbor.

IMGP0161.JPG
IMGP0161.JPG (157.12 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


IMGP0163.JPG
IMGP0163.JPG (78.7 KiB) Viewed 6982 times


And after we got all the boats loaded, Briggsy mentioned stopping for ice cream and Bea started jumping for joy!!!

IMGP0167.JPG
IMGP0167.JPG (212.05 KiB) Viewed 6982 times
NorwayLady
Posts: 1338
Joined: Wed Jun 22, 2005 12:03 pm
Location: Marshfield, MA

Re: Cape Cod pt 2. Weds 15th June 2011

Post by NorwayLady »

Awesome job, Norm.

I had a couple of "oh shit" moments where I thought I was going to flip, but I was determinded not to let panic get the best of me. Very nervy when a big wave comes under your boat and your bow is below the surface. 2 1/2 miles of that stuff is exhausing. We were completly silent while out in the elements, but had lots to say once we got to shore. Great to paddle with two big guys who have their rescue skills down to a science, and for Briggsy always wearing a tow belt!
Bea
Proud foster mother of Athena (P&H Cetus LV turquoise-white)
Post Reply