Kayaking Hubbard Pond

We kayaked Hubbard Pond in Rindge (NH) for a little over an hour on Monday. While it was nice enough, Doug and I agreed that it's not one of our favorites. But don't let our opinion discourage you from trying it -- this pond has had great reviews from others (including our favorite authors of the AMC Guide to Quiet Water NH and Vermont).

A highlight for me was our picnic lunch at nearby Cathedral of the Pines. More on that in a minute. For now, let me tell you why we weren't so impressed with Hubbard.

For starters, the access road (.4 mile of dirt) is very rough. We're talking deep ruts, mud, and standing water --probably has something to do with our rainy summer! In any case, DO NOT attempt this road without a 4-wheel drive or all-wheel drive vehicle.

Second, we had to deal with a wind-driven current. Nothing too bad, but we really had to paddle to control our boats. I guess I shouldn't complain about that...it's good exercise. Lastly, we both found the scenery a little boring. There were lots of lily pads in the water and pine trees dotting the shore, although the AMC Guide says it's beautiful in the fall when you can see the foliage against the backdrop of Mount Monadnock; But to be honest, you really don't see too much of the mountain from the pond.

The one good thing is that except for a lone shorefront camp (or marina?) at the southern end, there's absolutely no development on this pond. That's because Annett State Forest literally surrounds Hubbard on three sides.

Now on to nearby Cathedral of the Pines. This is a beautiful outdoor place of worship with a stone altar dedicated to all service men and women who have given their lives for our country. Altar of the Nation is set on a hilltop looking out on Mount Monadnock. There are some small but pretty gardens, a number of headstones and a few inspirational monuments. There's also a paved and canopied picnic area where we ate lunch. It's just a nice peaceful place to stop, reflect, and be inspired. You can learn more about Cathedral of the Pines here.

Things to Know Before You Go: You should have a 4-wheel or all-wheel drive vehicle to drive this access road. Also, there's logging going on in nearby Annett State Forest, so beware of falling trees as you approach the pond. There are no facilities here.

Directions: From Rte. 101w in Peterborough, turn left at stop light onto Route 202 toward Jaffrey. Travel 6 miles to Jaffrey Center intersection; Turn right and then immediate left at next stop light, staying on Rte. 202 to Rindge.

Drive 3.8 miles before turning left at stop light intersection with Rte. 119. Travel 1.5 miles to first blinking yellow light intersection where you will turn left on Cathedral Road. Follow signs for Cathedral of the Pines and after passing the entrance, drive another .7 miles to the access road. It's easy to miss, but it's a sharp curve on the right.

You can help protect our waterways

If you are out there kayaking or canoeing, enjoying New Hampshire's beautiful lakes and ponds, you can take an important step to help protect our waterways. Last month, as we finished our paddle at Thorndike Pond in Jaffrey, a young man approached us and asked where we had last kayaked. He wasn't being nosy; he was a volunteer (or paid employee?) for the New Hampshire Lakes Association who was there to educate boaters about the need to wash their boats after each outing.

The reason? To prevent the spread of aquatic plants, like variable milfoil, from lake to lake. According to the NH Lakes Association web site, "Exotic aquatic plant infestations in lakes and ponds are undesirable because they make recreation in and on the water dangerous and unpleasant, disrupt the ecological balance of these water bodies, reduce shoreline property values, and are difficult and expensive to control."

It's simple. If you want to continue to enjoy the water, please take a few minutes to hose down your canoe or kayak after each outing!

Short Paddle on Exeter River

My friend Nancy and I took a short paddle on the Exeter River last week. I had read mixed reviews about it on online. One paddler said the river wasn't worth the trip--it was boring and you could hear road noise the whole time. Another couple gave it "two thumbs up." In the end, I went with my trusty source, the AMC Guide to Quiet Water New Hampshire and Vermont and decided to give it a try.

This was a short paddle (a little over one hour) and to be honest, we didn't cover a lot of distance. But I enjoyed the river nonetheless. Exeter River is not like some of the crystal clear ponds we've paddled in more remote locations. But it's a nice little adventure if you take it as it is.

We put in at Gilman Park and followed the advice of some fellow paddlers to head right from the boat launch. The water is murky and there are lots of dead trees on the banks, giving the whole experience a somber note. At the same time, I found it peaceful. This is a narrow windy river that snakes around for about 6 miles. The snaking part is exactly what I liked about it. You never knew what you were going to find around the next bend in the river.

In the short distance we covered, we didn't see many places to go ashore because of the dense shrubbery and trees, but the other couple who paddled for three and a half hours reported that there were several spots to pull over for a picnic lunch. They also saw turtles, ducks, a red-tailed hawk, and a bald eagle. (Read their full report here on paddling.net.) I'd definitely recommend you get out on the river and experience it for yourself. Then come here and let us know what you found.

A safety side note: If you're in New Hampshire, you know what kind of crazy weather we've had this summer-- rain, rain, and then more rain, along with a tornado and flash flooding. Not the best of times for those of us who enjoy paddling. While we were out on the Exeter River, we kept a close eye on a dark ominous cloud and we were never more than a few paddle strokes from shore. Be sure to scope out each situation and use common sense.

Things to Know Before You Go: There's limited parking -- maybe for 4 to 6 vehicles, so try to avoid busy weekends if you can. Nearby downtown Exeter has some great lunch spots. Nancy and I enjoyed delicious salads outdoors at The Green Bean. There's also a place called Loaf and Ladle that's supposed to be good, as well as other options.

Directions: From the junction of Routes 27, 101, and 108 in downtown Exeter, head south on Route 108. Go .7 mile, passing Phillips Exeter Academy and turn left on Bell Avenue just after a bridge. The entrance to Gilman Park is .3 mile down this road.

Paddling Turkey Ponds

(Click on photo to see more photos on smugmug.com.)
Well, we never quite get the early morning thing right when it comes to kayaking. We got up at 5 a.m. to head to Concord and two connected ponds: Great Turkey Pond and Little Turkey Pond. The trouble is we didn't actually get out on the water until 6:45 a.m. -- a little late to catch early morning wildlife activity. Wildlife or not, these two ponds are awesome!

Based on information in the Appalachian Mountain Club book, Quiet Water: New Hampshire and Vermont, we chose to take exit 2 off I-89, head south about one mile and just past a small bridge, take the dirt road on the right. Let me say that this road would be extremely difficult without 4-wheel drive and/or a truck. There are some good-sized rocks here. An alternative might be to park on the side of the road and carry your boat in (maybe 3/10 mile?)

Well after getting the pickup truck stuck on a rock and gunning it in 4-wheel drive, we were there! These ponds offer a good amount of water (about 339 acres) and many different areas to explore. We paddled up the western shore of Great Turkey Pond and passed underneath I-89 to continue paddling to Little Turkey Pond. Heading back, we paddled more to the center with occasional stops to investigate the eastern shore.

There is barely any development at all -- we saw two houses and what looked to be an unoccupied kids' camp -- and that was it. The only distraction you have to contend with is the road noise when you're near I-89, but before long, that fades into the distance.

The Turkey Ponds are really picturesque. There's open and wooded shoreline, tree-covered islands and some interesting granite boulders. We spotted a great blue heron (okay, that counts as wildlife!) and also enjoyed the many fragrant waterlilies. I could have spent hours getting lost in the pond's beautiful reflections and all the shades of green from the shoreline alone. Take my word for it...if you can manage the rocky put-in, the Turkey Ponds are definitely worth it.

Things to Know Before You Go: Motorboats are allowed, although we only encountered a few small fishing boats with trolling motors. We also saw some water skiing channels, but no sign of skiers this early in the day. The AMC book says there's a wonderful hiking and biking path that circles the ponds. Unfortunately,we didn't have time to explore those today.

Directions: Take I-89 to exit 2; head one mile south on Clinton Street (Route 13). Shortly after crossing a small bridge over Turee Pond, look for an unmarked dirt road to the right. The AMC book describes two other access points, one off exit 3 and Stickney Hill Road (has a steep carry-in) and the other is on the north end of the pond off Routes 9/202. Consult a NH atlas for more specifics.

Kayaking Thorndike Pond

(Click on the photo to see more photos on smugmug.com)

We paddled Thorndike Pond in Jaffrey today and thank goodness we did! It's been five weeks since we've been out kayaking and I was getting a little cranky about not having my de-stressing time on the water. I guess you could say it was worth the wait.

This is a fairly large pond (about 265 acres) with lots to offer. To begin with, I'll say Thorndike is not as secluded and traffic-free as some places we've paddled. Motorboats are allowed (although we only encountered one lone powerboat on this holiday weekend) and there's a kids' summer camp, which seems low-key. At the same time, the pond is large enough so you can find plenty of quiet spots to go off on your own.

Thorndike struck me as the perfect spot for a kid to be a kid -- you know, a place to practice cannonballs off a floating dock or to splash into the pond from a tire swing. Within 15 minutes of being out on the water, I could sense my tension melting away.

We paddled to the right from the boat launch and soon discovered Whittemore Island; a sign indicates its managed by the Nature Conservancy. We didn't go ashore, but it looked like a neat place to explore or to stop for a picnic.

Judging from our NH atlas, the pond has an hourglass shape, with the upper half of the hourglass elongated. There's plenty of open water, a few smaller marshy areas, and the island I mentioned. It also has some great views of Mount Monadnock. There's some shoreline development, but nothing too intrusive. We spent a pleasant two hours on Thorndike Pond and I'd encourage anyone in the area to give it a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Things to Know Before You Go: Parking on the roadside is limited and there are no facilities here. Thorndike is not far at all from one of our all-time favorites, Gilmore Pond. This means it's also near Kimball Farm Ice Cream (yum!). You can read more about both here.

Directions: Take State Route 124 to Jaffrey Center. Turn right on Thorndike Pond Road. Take a left on Gilson Road (unpaved) for 1.4 miles to a right on Dublin Road. There's a small gravel put-in on the right.