8 Days on the Delaware River:: A Trip to Remember

By Paul M. Donovan Jr.

8 days on the Delaware River: A Trip To Remember, is about a fishing and camping adventure complete by Author Paul Donovan and his fishing buddy Ray Labarre. The trip was talked about for about 18 years and finally occurred in May 2006. The 120 mile trip started in Hancock, NY and was to end at Kittatinny Beach in Delaware Water Gap, PA Rays 14 foot aluminum boat had taken us up and down the Delaware River many times over those 18 years, but generally in the National Park area in and above the Delaware Water Gap. This time, fully loaded for a week in the outdoors, we were venturing North in waters that are better suited for canoes. The eight-day adventure covered low rocky water situations as well as some rather fast scary rapids as we enjoyed fantastic sights along the scenic Upper and Middle Delaware Rivers areas. There was an emergency room visit, shopping for a new oar, naturally a few fishing stories and a truly unexpected 'boat ride' that kept us moving along. With some stories from past trips and the experiences of this trip all relayed day by day, chapter by chapter, you will enjoy. . . . . . .
8 Days on the Delaware River: A Trip To Remember.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Mar 17, 2011
• ISBN: 9781452084503

Paul M. Donovan Jr.

Paul M. Donovan Jr. was a banker by trade for over 30 years before corporate consolidation forced a career change. He is an avid bowler having previously built, owned and operated a bowling center in his hometown and is currently managing a 16-lane center in Eastern Pennsylvania. He is a member of the local bowling Hall of Fame and occasionally competes in regional PBA events. Paul is very active in the local Chamber of Commerce and has been married over 34 years to Cathy, with two children, Jennifer and Beth. He also enjoys writing poetry and has previously published a book titled “Poetry In Motion, My Thoughts & Reflections”. The 70 plus poems include a variety of styles and formats that encourage you, tell you a story or reflect on everyday happenings. It’s easy reading that will keep your interest but will not overwhelm you. Paul has always enjoyed the outdoors for sports and recreation and especially enjoys fishing and camping on the Delaware River. Over the years, many one, two even three day camping trips with fishing buddy Ray lead to discussions about a week long fishing and camping adventure. The trip became a reality in May 2006. The idea of a book about the trip actually originated during the second night of the trip. Bad weather forced them into the tent much earlier than usual and Paul decided to make a few notes, maybe for a future poem. A few notes lead to three hours of writing and the book idea was born.

Book preview

Contents

Dedication

Introduction

The Trip

Day One - Side Trip

Day Two - Wind & Rain

Day Three - Oar To Go

Day Four - Boat Ride

Day Five - Got Away

Day Six - Bambi

Day Seven - R & R

Day Eight - Over & Out

Summary

About the Author

Dedication

To my wife Cathy of 34 years for

her continual support of my escapades, whether it be fishing, bowling trips, working, or just spending hours on the computer. She’s the best.

&

To my best friend and fishing buddy

Ray, who keeps the boat going in the

right direction and usually lets me

catch most of the fish.

Introduction

My first experience of a river trip was back in 1986 when Ray and I camped over the Labor Day weekend. I’m sure that was the year because I remember the following year I spent Labor Day weekend painting the walls in our new home. It was a beautiful weekend, I remember taking a break, looking out the window and thinking last year at that time I was floating and fishing, and here I was now painting. I can still remember that first trip; one that Ray thought for sure would be my last.

Ray had been going on these trips off and on for about ten years with a group of mutual friends and acquaintances. This group always went the first weekend in August and by 1986, they had their yearly event for a total of fourteen years. The two mainstays of the group were Rick and Brenda Stasak and Rodney and Georgine Labar. Over the years couples have gone, fishing buddies got together and the past few years, even some of their kids were now involved. For whatever reason, I just never got around to going with them. Finally, in 1986, after Ray went on their annual August trip, he wanted to go again and we decided to go that Labor Day weekend. Rays’ now famous words were, Just bring your fishing gear, sleeping bag and food, I’ve got everything else. I was ready for my first official river trip. We went early Sunday, camped that night and came home on Monday afternoon.

The trip started at Eshback, an access point upriver about twenty-one miles from the Delaware Water Gap. Ray’s mom and dad took us up river, got us on our way, and would make sure the vehicle and trailer would be waiting fourteen miles downriver when we planned to reach Smithfield Beach the following afternoon. We were on the river and my love of a river trip had its humble beginnings. I was in my glory as I’ve always enjoyed fishing and now, I have the whole river in front of me. I was up in the front of the boat and Ray was in the back. He handled the motor or the oars and fished when he felt like it, and I fished almost constantly. This was, and still is the routine we enjoy today.

I don’t recall many of the early details of the day other than just enjoying the beauty of the river, floating along and fishing. However, a few things happened that I’ll never forget. One of them was the Canoenudest. Yes, that is a word; at least a word that Ray had said they always heard about, but never experienced. We were floating down around a bend way over on the right side of the river and heading into a long stretch of straight water. I noticed way up ahead there were a lot of people on the shore on the opposite side of the river but we were still pretty far away. As we got closer, still on the other side of the river that was maybe forty yards wide, I was casting in and out and not really paying much attention to the people. We were a little closer when I looked in their direction again and I realized all the people were naked. I said, Hey Ray, look at all those people. Without even looking, he said, Yeah, you’ll see a lot of groups on the river. I said, Yeah okay, but they’re all naked. Well, he looked over and we both just stared in disbelief. There were probably fifty or sixty people, men, women and kids, and they were all naked. Some had turned their backs to us but others just stood there and watched as we watched and floated passed them. We weren’t close enough to get any really good looks, but close enough to know they were naked. We just kept drifting and looking and in a minute or two, we were passed them. Ray finally said, We’ve always heard about them but never ran into them before. According to the Park Rangers, they supposedly came down the river once or twice a year. That was the first time, and actually the last time we ever saw them. What a time for no camera and no binoculars. Most everyone you met later that day or the following day said, Hey, did you guys see the canoenudest?

Another thing I remember was the actual camp for my first night at the river. Ray’s words of, Just bring your fishing gear, your sleeping bag and food, just didn’t cut it. Ray forgot the tent. Ray forgot the pots and pans. Ray forgot his supply bucket with plates, forks, knives, napkins etc. Most of the things I would consider the basic necessities of an overnight camping trip were forgotten, but there was not much we could do about it then.

All the campsites have a specific fire pit with a metal grill, which designates where fires are permitted. If there is no fire pit, you cannot camp in that area. Here is a picture of a normal campsite. This site works well for one tent but could also fit four or five if necessary.

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Luckily, we did have matches to start the campfire, but cooking things would be difficult without a pan, a fork or a spatula. We did have some aluminum foil that Ray had put around some corn-on- the-cob and baked potatoes for cooking in the campfire. I was able to unwrap those items, put the foil together, crumble it and mold it into something shaped like a pot. Believe it or not, we had a homemade pot. We used a pocketknife or two to flip the burgers and steaks we cooked. We also cooked breakfast the next morning so the little aluminum foil pot did its job. I wish I had saved the homemade pot, as it sure would have made a good conversation piece. I remember there were other campers not that far away, and although we asked for an extra pot or pan, we were denied.

Next was the tent, or should I say the tent that was left home. We did have a piece of plastic tarp, maybe ten by ten or so, plus we had some string and a little section of rope. We did all we could to rig up a makeshift lean-to so that we could put our sleeping bags under it. It wasn’t the best setup, but we worked with what we had.

Camping on the river is somewhat controlled as to where you can camp. There are numerous sites along the river and some sites can hold one tent while others can hold ten or fifteen tents. Some are down close to the river and some are up on top of banks. There are even some with toilets. Now, your thoughts of a toilet in the woods is probably a little outhouse with a door, toilet paper holder and maybe even a little opening to let in some sunlight. Yes, there are a few of them, but most of them are not that complex. A toilet in the woods can simply be a toilet seat on a little metal base set on a level spot with a hole under it. No doors, no toilet paper holders, just a place to sit and do your thing. Some have lids and some do not. They are usually located back a little trail off the main traffic area. They are unique and surely serve their purpose. Without the toilets, you generally had to go for a walk, find a spot and do what you gotta do.

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In the woods or in a restaurant, it’s the same thing; women always go in groups.

Being the proverbial last weekend of the summer, there were a lot of boats and canoes on the river. I recall we had looked for a vacant campsite for a while before we were finally able to find one. As I said, there were numerous camping sites and we ended up in one of the largest in that area of the river. That site contained several camping areas that were spread out and everyone was pretty much on their own. It was almost dark as Ray and I were sitting around the campfire, when we heard some voices coming from the river. These were people still looking for a campsite. They had seen our fire and were asking if there was room for another tent. We said there was and a guy came ashore to check it out. I remember giving him a hand and just pulling him up the last foot or two to the flat area where we were. He checked it out, decided there was plenty of room for them and they would get their stuff and be back. He headed back down the dark bank and we could hear his group talking and unloading their stuff. One by one, they come up the bank. We gave them a hand and the first one was that same guy, then a girl, then another girl and another guy. Believe it or not, I knew the second couple. It was Dawn Weiss and Rich Cesare. I worked with Dawn at the local bank and knew her boyfriend Rich from the local town. What an unexpected meeting. We talked briefly and they went on their way to get setup for the night. I don’t remember who left first the next morning, but we didn’t see them again. I remember Ray commenting that night that I always seem to find someone I know wherever I go. In all our other trips down the river, we still have not met anyone else we knew.

I don’t recall any other events of that first trip, but I knew then that I would enjoy doing that at almost any time. Ray was sure I would not want to go with him again because of all the things we did without, but he was wrong. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and actually loved the challenge of really roughing it our first night on the river. No tent, no pots or pans, no utensils; we didn’t need them. Fishing and camping on the Delaware River was now a part of me, and from that point on, I always looked forward to another trip. We did one or two trips the following year but I was yet unable to experience the group trip that included the Stasaks and others. That would happen the following year.

The initial thought about an actual week of camping on the Delaware River surfaced sometime in 1988 or 1989. It took six more years of talking about it before I actually requested any information. The 9/9/95 date on the note with the information received from the Dept of the Interior is what captured the actual timeframe. I received information on the Upper Delaware and on the Delaware Water Gap National Park Service areas of the river. The information was reviewed a few times over the years and a trip was talked about off and on, but nothing ever happened. Finally, the time came when I decided it was discussed long enough and I wanted to do it. It took until 2006 to get to that point and then, all I had to do was to get my buddy Ray to go along with the plan. It was sometime in early March when I told him what I wanted to do, and he agreed if we were going to do it, now was as good a time as any. I told him I would work out a plan and let him know. With a bunch of phone calls and some research on the Internet, I worked out the details and presented it to Ray. We talked about it a few days and decided to do it. It was the end of March and the trip was scheduled for May.

The Trip

Our trip was originally designed and planned to go from Hancock, NY to Kittatinny Point, Delaware Water Gap, PA, for a total of 120 miles. Actually going one mile farther right into Portland, PA would have been ideal, but I could not find a place that we could exit the river in the immediate Portland area. There was a site directly across from Portland in Columbia, New Jersey, but not being residents of New Jersey, they would not let us use that boat landing. We had previously traveled to the Delaware Water Gap on one other trip, but usually we exited the river at Smithfield Beach. The additional mileage from Smithfield Beach to the Delaware Water Gap was about eight miles. If we were going to do it, 120 miles sounded like a good number.

Trip agenda

Day One - Saturday, May 20, 2006

Plan to be on the river in Hancock, NY by 10 am

Travel downriver 17 limes to camp at Soaring Eagle Campground, Equinunk, PA, Saturday night.

Day Two – Sunday, May 21st

Plan to travel 18 miles downriver to camp at Skinners Falls Campground, Skinners Fall, NY

Day Three – Monday, May 22nd

Plan to travel 18 miles downriver to camp at Minisink Campground, Lackawaxen, NY

Day Four – Tuesday, May 23rd

Plan to travel 14 miles downriver to Buckhorn Natural Area in PA located about a mile below Pond Eddy, NY. Actual campsite unknown, but it will be somewhere above the Stairway Rapids.

Day Five – Wednesday, May 24th

Plan to travel 18 miles downriver into the Delaware Water Gap National Park area. Actual campsite unknown, but in the area of Minisink Island.

Day Six – Thursday, May 25th

Plan to travel 14 miles farther down into the Delaware Water Gap National Park area. Actual campsite unknown but in an area below the Eshback access point.

Day Seven – Friday, May 26th

Plan to travel 11 miles farther in the Delaware Water Gap National Park area. Actual campsite unknown, but in the area below Smithfield Beach.

Day Eight – Saturday, May 27th

Plan to travel 10 miles to Kittatinny Beach in the Delaware Water Gap where we would be picked up at 6 p.m.

The upper part of our trip on the Delaware River from Hancock, NY to just below Port Jervis, NY was through privately owned land. The lower area is all part of the Delaware Water Gap National Park Recreation area. That meant that camping in the upper part has to be on private land or in public campgrounds that are located along the river. The Park Ranger that I talked with told me there are no longer any private landowners in the upper area that would allow campers on their property. Unfortunately, the campers that were given that privilege over the years abused it and ruined it for those of us that would appreciate that privilege. Therefore, we had to use public campsites. Many of the sites are spaced out primarily for canoes for one-day trips. One location to the next and you are finished. That works ideally for canoe enthusiasts but not really for someone wanting to float and fish and stop when the timing was right or when the spot looked good. The first four days of our trip were structured so that we went from campsite to campsite, as we had no other options. Nothing like having a timetable to meet while you’re floating down the Delaware River.

In preparation for this trip, I talked several times with Al Henry, Head Ranger for the National Park Service based in the Barryville Office in NY. I eventually faxed him our agenda for the trip so that if there were any problems, people could find us if needed. He never really discouraged me from doing this trip, probably due to conversations we had about the numerous trips in our familiar area of the National Park section of the river. He understood we were doing this in a fourteen-foot aluminum boat rather than in a canoe or a rubber raft. All he ever really stressed was to be careful and to make sure the trip was properly planned. I also talked with the various campsites where I scheduled our stays and explained what we were planning. They were all supportive.

A few weeks before our trip, we took a car ride up to Barryville, NY, about the halfway point, just to check out the river. Some of the river we could see up close and personal as it flowed right along the roadway while in other sections, we were way up in the mountains looking at the river down in the valley. Some of the sights were just beautiful and I just pictured us as we floated along catching fish and just having a grand old time. The plan had come together and Day One was here.

Map 1 and Map 2

These maps show what is known as the Upper Delaware as it travels a total of about seventy-five miles from our starting point in Hancock, NY to the area just below Port Jervis,