Hampton | Kayaking in New Hampshire Seacoast

<li>Date traveled – Sept 20, 2013</li>
<li>length of trip – 7.1 miles</li>
<li>weather – clear, little breeze, about 70 degrees</li>
<li>Time on the water- 2.5 hours

This is a trip that I have been hoping to take for a long time. Usually the parking is full. There is only enough parking for a few cars. Thousands of cars drive past the drop in point on a summer day. It is located on route 101 just before reaching the beach. Today there were no other cars. I drove past the memorial for the Hampton marshland and parked as far from the water as possible. The tide was still coming in and it was full moon which meant higher than normal high tide. I put the kayak in the water and decided to go where the current was taking me. Because the tide was still coming in the flow was away from the harbor.

I went into the area between route 101 and Winnacunnet rd. I was going in and out the different water inlets. There were birds all around me. Some of the birds I could not identify. I did recognize blue herons, egrets, ducks, Black Scoter , the illustrious seagull, and other birds that I could not recognize. The birds seem scared of my red kayak (red in the animal kingdom means danger). The tide started going out and I was rowing against the current. As I was closer to Winnacunnet Rd. the current got stronger. I did not know there was a place for water to go out into the ocean on this side of the marshland. (opposite side away from the harbor). It was strenuous going against the current. I finally got to the point where I was rowing with the current. I got to where the car was but decided to go further to the harbor. The current became stronger as I near the harbor. I felt that I was being pulled in. I did not want to go into the harbor. I rowed back to the car after one small detour. As I saw the car I was glad that I parked where I did. The rocks indicated the level of the water at high tide stopped short by about 6 inches before the water would have approached the car. My arms were feeling it when I went ashore. Like normal I felt like I just felt satisfied.

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Date traveled – July 4, 2011
length of trip – 1.9 niles
weather – slight overcast, little breeze
Time on the water- 50 minutes
Kayak trip looking from above

I found a place to park on Towle Farm road. The kayak had to be carried through the woods and down an embankment. I got into the kayak and pushed off. The water was calm. It seemed so peaceful. I was taking my time. First I went up the river. The river was lined by trees on both sides. No houses could be seen. On my left was a rope swing for people to swing in the water. I went as far as I could (which was about 1/4 mile) and turned around. I

went under the Towle Farm road bridge. The lake continued. There was still heavy woods on both sides of me. However in between the trees there was homes. I continued and turned to the left. On the right of me was a field lined with trees. On the left was a cove with fisherman boating. It wasn’t long until I saw Route 95. I knew that was the end. There is a dam right before the highway. I watch the traffic for a while and then turned around back to the car. The pictures below shows the kayak going over the water, Geese along the water bank, launching the boat, rope to jump in the water, statue on a lawn. When I got back I felt that I had a most enjoyable time. However bringing the kayak up the banking was not as easy as bringing down.

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