Avon/Simsbury - Farmington River Paddle

Date Paddled:  Sunday, July 8, 2012
Number in Group:  13
Estimated distance: 3.3 miles
Weather:  Sunny and warm, 85°F
Resources:  Farmington River Watershed Association, Huck Finn Adventures
Highlights of the trip: Wildlife, views, just enjoying the water

Although this was not a trip officially planned by the Farmington Valley Homeschool Hikers, most of the people who went on this trip do hike with us, so I thought I'd post about it.

From the Farmington River Watershed Association website (see above).

We started our paddle at Alsop Meadows in Avon (access point 22) and paddled to Route 185 and the giant Pinchot Sycamore Tree in Simsbury (access point 23).  Huck Finn Adventures has their base at Alsop Meadows and I appreciated that they were willing to help me get my kayak in the water even though I wasn't renting from them.  Others in the group did rent canoes and kayaks and were picked up at the Sycamore tree when they were done.

Starting out.  Route 44 bridge ahead.

Shortly after we started, we passed the Route 44 bridge.  We soon came to another small bridge decorated with flowers.  After seeing a golf cart pass overhead, it became apparent that we were passing Blue Fox Run. 

A little further on, on the western side of the river, we could hear gunfire.  The gunfire comes from the Nod Brook area noted in the Simsbury Walk Book.  This area is used for hunting dog training and field dog trials.

Mama and some ducklings.

Adult female and juvenile Common Mergansers.

Even for the middle of the day, we saw a fair amount of wildlife.  In addition to the ducks and mergansers noted above, we also saw a Green Heron, a Great Blue Heron, and quite a few fish.  We had a fisherman with us, and he caught a few.  Maybe he can tell us what kind they were.

B decided to swim part of the way.

A perfect day to be on, or in, the water.

Heublein Tower on the Metacomet Ridge.

We passed the Heublein Tower and could hear more gunfire, this time from the eastern side of the river.  We were passing the CT State Police firing range.  Eventually we came to the Route 185 bridge and our take out point at the Pinchot Sycamore tree.  There were quite a few people swimming in the water here and the parking lot was pretty full.  Someone had helped me shuttle my car here, so I loaded up.  Others had parked on Nod Road, just across the bridge (good to remember if the lot is full).  Huck Finn came and picked up the rest to take them back to their cars.  The entire trip, taken at a pretty leisurely pace, took about 2 hours.

This was a fabulous trip.  I think we should plan another one as part of our hiking group this fall.