July 2011 Mazda Canoe Trip on the Delaware River with Chefsp0t

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2009 Mazda3 hatchback, 1994 Mx-6 w/ a turbo, 1993 Mazda 929
Mods- if this belongs somewhere else please feel free to move it.

It's time to start thinking warm thoughts! Who wants to join me for my annual Mazda Canoe Trip down the Delaware River?!

I had a pretty good turnout last year from another forum (3 canoes total. I would LOVE to have 5+ this year!) but I am extending the invitation to other Mazda owners this year in hopes of having more people joining the fun.

The date will be a weekend in late July. I will be taking off Friday through Sunday and I will post the date here when I decide on it.

Would anyone be interested in taking a weekend and canoeing down the Delaware river? I'll start a list if anyone thinks they'd be down. I'll set a date for people to sign up by and leave the deposit to hold the trip date when the time gets a little closer. Everyone can pay their own balance the day of the trip. It's much easier that way but I will need an accurate head/canoe count so they know roughly how many canoes to set aside for us.

Here's my thread from mx6.com last year. The pictures from last year's trip start on page 10. http://www.mx6.com/forums/meets-events/236613-chefs-mx6-com-canoodlin-trip-july-17th-18th-2010-sign-up-now.html

Details here: Kitattinny Canoes - Paddle the Delaware River

The trip we take is Dingman's Ferry to Smithfield Beach. Here's rates: Delaware Canoeing Rates

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If anyone has a canoe, that's even better. They just charge us to transport them to the launch site from where we pull out. Basically, we drive there, leave our cars, throw all our crap on an old school bus (the driver is effing crazy on these tiny back roads!) and they drop us off at the launch site with whatever canoes we bring or rent. Then we canoe for two days and one night down to our cars.

Camping gear would be as follows:
~A tent + Sleeping bag(s)
~Food (We bring a large plastic tote to keep non-perishable food in) and drinks (don't forget water!) w/ cooler (two coolers if you are bringing beer, there is some sort of law about the number of beers you can have per person but I don't think they ever check)
~A cooking stove (I will bring one but if anyone else has a camping stove feel free to bring one. Depending on how many people come this could be an issue around dinner time)
~A hatchet, saw, or axe to chop firewood. You can bring firewood but you'd better wrap it in garbage bags to keep it dry for the trip.
~Clothes and swimming stuff that you don't mind ruining. We pack our clothes in plastic bags inside plastic totes to keep them dry. Make sure to bring something warm for night/early morning weather (I'd suggest more than one bathing suit because a cold bathing suit from the night before at 7am when we shove off the next day tends to raise the pitch of your voice an octave or two.)
~Swimming/river gear (I bring a mask, snorkel, and fins) and fishing gear if you are into that (be aware that the river is policed and they will be looking for valid fishing licenses)
~SUNSCREEN, SUN GLASSES, BUG SPRAY, RAIN GEAR (just in case), FIRST AID EQUIPMENT (just in case), AND SOME SORT OF DRY BAG TO KEEP YOUR CELL PHONE/KEYS/WALLET IN TO STAY DRY. I bought a nice bag at wal mart in the sporting goods section. Additionally you may want to bring bungee cords, rope, fire starting stuff, and anything else you can think of.

NO FIREARMS ALLOWED ON THE RIVER, not even paintball!

Remember! Everything you bring with you has to fit into your canoe AND you have to lug everything down the river with you. Pack light and pack smart!


Some pictures from previous years.

These are pictures of the camp site we stayed at. There are a few dozen spaced out along the river. You just pull up into a vacant one, make camp, and live on your own for a night. It's always a race to get the best camp sites. Last year we ended up with one of the last ones and we won't be making the same mistake this year. We will send a "scout" canoe ahead to secure our camp for the night. There are "porta poopers" in the woods but you don't want to spend much time in there if you can help it. Some sites don't even have those. It's definitely "roughing it".

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Pictures on the river. It's big and deep in most places. It depends on rainfall and what the local dams are doing about controlling the water level.

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This filled two canoes. You have to pack smart and light. Only essentials (and beer).

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The "DOWN" list: 2 people per canoe- friends are welcome but please let me know how many

Canoe #1: Chefsp0t (Me, Chris) + my brother

Tentative list:

If anyone has questions or comments please feel free to post here.
 
I'll be there, obviously!! Looking forward to it, even if it is just us the trip is fun as hell!!
 
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