Monocacy River Float
Day 1 – Saturday May 25, 2013
The day has been a good one. Starting at 7:30 am, I began my sixty mile trek down the Monocacy. Here at 7:00 pm, the fire is cooking dinner of potatoes and venison. Twenty miles of river lay behind.
Last night the trip got a splendid start. A surprise visit from my brother, who lives in New York, came down for a few days to take a breather from his daily grind. What better way to spend the eve of an adventure such as this than with family and friends. My brother, girlfriend, and joining us later in the evening, my mother, all enjoyed a great meal, wine, and conversation until way late into the night. Gunner’s Grill in Taneytown, MD is my favorite local restaurant in Carroll County. Brooke always impresses with her nightly specials. Topping the night was the live music. Rich Fehle played his guitar and sang a wide variety of music, pleasing even our eclectic group.
The beginning of the Journey
Carring the light weight Old Town 16′ Charles River canoe down to the river.
And the trek down river begins
Please excuse me for a minute while I take my boots off and set my socks by the fire to dry.
Much better.
With four hours of sleep, I awoke this morning and began the float. The morning started with adventure inside of the first two miles. At Starner Dam I attempted to run a by-pass chute and was unsuccessful. The canoe would not fit under the bridge.
Woops, can’t go this way.
Pinned by the rushing water, I could not paddle back up current and the low head of the concrete tunnel halted forward progress. Maneuvering the canoe against the bank, I swung my legs out of the boat, intending to step on a log, then onto the rip rap lined bank. The log rolled and sank. I stood in waist deep water touching the bank with my free hand and holding the canoe with the other.
Standing on the bank soaking wet, I smiled to myself. “You win Dave.” He had said in an e-mail I would get wet on this trip.
The portage was neither too difficult nor long. In short order, I removed all the gear, carried the bags in three trips to the other side of the bridge and lastly carried the canoe. Repacked, I returned to paddling down river, albeit a little damp.
A long winding river lies ahead.
The morning was filled with wildlife. Squirrels scampered bankside. Wood ducks, mallards and mergansers, would give their best acting debut pretending to be injured, luring me away from their new born chicks. Twice during the day, deer crossed the river off my bow.
The day floated by with miles of river behind. Memories came to mind with the miles. I caught a large smallmouth bass in the same waters an old fishing buddy and I used to share. I passed the stretch of river I shared with a fellow softball father who was new to Carroll County and looking for a place to fish. I passed the rock where I took photographs of my daughter for a newspaper column. I looked for the fishing rod lost, not too long ago, when my girlfriend and her son flipped their canoe on a recent trip.
Catching smallmouth on the Monocacy River remains one of my favorite past times, and no matter the miles that lay ahead, I had to make just a few casts.
One disappointment today went in my favor, but concerns me. In all of the twenty miles of river, I saw one man bank fishing, three boys up to no good and not until I began to search for a camp did I run into another boat on the river. Here it is the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and the river is empty. Sure I enjoyed the solitude, but doesn’t anybody else ever go outside and explore the river anymore?
Tonight I am sleeping under the stars. Tomorrow another twenty miles of river lay ahead. Life is good.
Stay tuned, more adventure awaits.
