I offered to call the coast guard and dared him to call the cops, so we could see who would win. There are currents, but they’re not bad at all. Reservations suggested. In addition to lessons and rentals, Branford River Paddlesports features guided tours on stand-up paddleboards, which allows you to explore Connecticut’s coastline in a truly unique way. yes. As friends and I often say, there’s no such thing as bad weather — only inappropriate gear and clothing. It ain’t called “Corrupticut” for nothing. two choices that I know ofYou can check the Connyak website or you can check the archives here. Bay of Islands Kayaking Map. Open year round. If you have kayak racks on your car, make sure you’re legally parked – paddlers don’t get any leeway there. ALL TOURS LAUNCH AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS Outer Island Tour meets at the Stony Creek Boat Ramp on Thimble Islands Rd Branford, Ct The Farm River East Haven CT three hour tour is a serene paddle on the river with a stop on Kelsey Island Beach. The three-story Thimble Island House on Pot Island encouraged tourism by offering hotel rooms in the mid-1800s, though today it is a private residence. For now, I’m just focusing on a simple day trip that visits three of the islands. Directions: From Providence, take Rt 95 south to Ct Exit 56. From tumbling mountain rivers to the secluded islands of Long Island Sound, Connecticut provides a wide variety of opportunities for kayakers. Outer Island includes granite outcropping, boulder and cobble … There are more than 100 Thimbles today and they can be reached from shore by kayak, tour ferry or private boat. https://trvlguy80.blogspot.com/2014/07/thimble-islands-boat-tour.html Hotels in Thimble Islands Flights to Thimble Islands Car Rentals in Thimble Islands Thimble Islands Vacation Packages Connecticut may have travel restrictions in place, including self-quarantine, due to … When the ice melted, the sea level rose to cover all but the tops of the pink granite hills which now form the Thimble Islands. American Indians inhabited and fished the islands and aptly called them Kuttom-quosh, or “beautiful sea rocks.” The islands were used for sheep grazing, boatbuilding, granite quarrying and by the late 1800s were a popular summer destination for city folks. This week my friend Alan and I kayaked from Island Bay to the Thimble Islands in Stony Creek, Branford, Connecticut. Very scenic, lots of islands, and only 3 legal places to land/launch. You can launch your kayak here or arrange for lessons or tours from Connecticut Coastal Kayaking (www.ctcoastalkayaking.com) or other local rental companies. There are currents, but they’re not bad at all. Please support our work by subscribing today. Town ramp in Stony Creek can be a little tough to find parking in the summer. Magazine Park, Cambridge. Joining the fun were Robin Francis and Mike Maronich, who were aboard a super-fast, racing tandem surfski; Kurt Hatem, paddling a single racing sufski; and Curt Anderson and Bill Hills, who, like Phil and me, were in single sea kayaks. Join us for a paddle in the Thimble Islands of Branford where there are 365 islands, rocks and reefs, one for every day of the year. He backed down. By Terry Tomalin. Trying to keep pace with surfskis in sea kayaks would be like attempting to pedal a fat-wheel mountain bike alongside carbon-titanium cycles in the Tour de France, so we agreed to split up and rendezvous in about an hour at Outer Island. And it’s not legal to land on any of the islands – a main reason the locals aren’t all that friendly to kayakers. The islands are a quick, 20-minute drive-and-paddle from New Haven, Connecticut. Kayak Launch Location. Outer Island, the outermost of the Thimble Islands, located off the coast of Stony Creek, Branford, Connecticut, is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. Builders filled in around the largest of them and created a man-made island with a home and gardens. Chemical toilets in season. Kayaking The Thimble Islands: The Diamond Necklace of the Connecticut Coast This week my friend Alan and I kayaked from Island Bay to the Thimble Islands in Stony Creek, Branford, Connecticut. Go off-seasonThe best launch is downtown in Stony Creek. The Thimble Islands contain all sorts of odd bits from history, including buried treasure legends, a quarry that provided the granite for the Lincoln Memorial, and President William Taft's "summer White House." ). The Thimble Islands Ferry Service runs hourly trips to Outer Island daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for $15 round trip. Black Hall Outfitters , Three Belles Outfitters , and Indian River Marina are a few places to start researching an outing along the Connecticut Coast. This location offers kayaking lessons for children and adults, guided tours of the Thimble Islands, and even kayaking and stand-up paddleboard summer camps. Town ramp in Stony Creek can be a little tough to find parking in the summer. Any tips on launch sites, best places to see, things to avoid, after paddle places for seafood with a view, can I really see seals there, etc …would be appreciated for planning a trip. Pricing: Rentals: kayak-$20/per hour; tandem kayak $35/per hour; stand-up paddleboard $25/per hour. This 365-island chain, whose summer residents include “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau and his wife, TV journalist Jane Pauley, once had been home to President William Taft and Tom Thumb of P.T. Meet at 10:30 at the Stony Creek boat ramp and plan to be under way at 11:00. Our destination: a distinctively picturesque archipelago known as the Thimble Islands. In a state with such an abundance of options, choosing the best place to go kayaking is a daunting task, but whether you want to test your whitewater skills or spend a … From our American Ale to our Coffee Stout, we have something to satisfy every type of beer lover's taste. check out faulkner island tooThe advice on how to see the Thimble Islands already posted is good advice. Directions. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2705&q=323804&depNav_GID=1635. Go straight across, and under railroad bridge into Stony Creek. Pine siskins are well designed for extreme cold, Deal removes obstacle to nearly $1 trillion in COVID relief, General sorry for 'miscommunication' over vaccine shipments, AP sources: Trump floats Sidney Powell as special counsel to probe vote fraud claims, Trump downplays Russia in first comments on cyberattack. Eileen answered all my questions over the phone. Its premier coastal setting has made it a magnet for summer visitors for well over a century. also of interest to yaHudson Valley and Beyond Canoe and kayaking Club . If you need to rent a kayak, you can pick one up from Portland Paddle and launch from the Eastern Promenade Park (about a quarter mile from downtown). Thimble Islands Things To Do DO: Hop on the Sea Mist Thimble Islands Cruise with Captain Mike Take a 45 minute cruise around the mauve-colored Thimble Islands (named for the prolific Thimble Berry, not their size.) Stand up paddleboards, kayaks and fishing kayak rentals, beginner instructions, SUP yoga and guided tours of the Thimble Islands. Thimble Islands Connecticut: Launch from Stony Creek. Branford. Sit On Top Kayak; Arctic Hawk; Matunuck; Pax; New Arrivals & Specials. Since it’s a long haul, you should kill two birds w/ one stone (as long as the birds aren’t on the endangered species list). Go straight across, and under railroad bridge into Stony Creek. This is an excellent choice for beginners as water is often slow and steady. Capt Bob was a character and knew just about everything there was to know about the Thimbles, including fastastic stories about the islands before the 1938 hurricane. By the end of the 19th century, a number of private homes were built on other islands, and the Thimbles gained popularity as a summer retreat. Spending a few days in the wilderness of Florida Bay is a great way to decompress and blow off some steam. Chimon Island may be reached by private vessel, such as a kayak, as there is no available docking facility. Known for its storybook archipelago of pink-granite islands, the low-key Connecticut town of Stony Creek is the perfect place to drop anchor and unwind. The Casco Bay Islands sit just a mile off the coast of Portland, ME. I paddled the Norwalk Islands and heard the Thimble Islands are great also. We tarried only long enough for a snack before climbing back in our boats for the return paddle to the Branford River State Boat Launch. There are several launch … Tugboat Annie’s is a great spot to rent a kayak … Note the this does not mean that you won’t be confronting a jack-booted storm trooper Nazi thug if you do land. http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2705&q=323804&depNav_GID=1635 The River Avon in Bristol, or Bristol Avon as it is also known, rises in South Gloucestershire.It then flows through Wiltshire, to Bath and the Severn Estuary. 21 reviews of Thimble Islands Cruise "Rocks boats and great stories A great way to spend a summer day. Read on for guides to planning your own kayaking trip to Connecticut, connecting with other Connecticut paddlers, and many other resources! Outer Island Visitor Information. North Cove launch, Essex, Ct, (west bank of the Connecticut River) Gillete Castle , Connecticut River Map. Parking is limited. I had spoken to Eileen a few days to reserved and arranged for the kayaks to be delivered to Thimble Islands boat launch. https://trvlguy80.blogspot.com/2014/07/thimble-islands-boat-tour.html It takes around 3 hours to get to Paihia from Auckland or 2 hours in a rental car (just joking drive safe! Home to the Thimble Islands Bed & Breakfast, the village of Stony Creek is renowned for the enchanting archipelago of tiny islands that hug its shoreline. The Great New England Hurricane that roared across New England in 1938 swept away many buildings and claimed seven lives on the Thimbles, and today only 23 of the islands are inhabited by residents who live in 81 houses that range from tiny, seasonal cottages to stately mansions. A stiff northeast wind whipped up whitecaps and buffeted our boats the other day as we exited the Branford River, rounded Indian Neck Point, squeezed between Jeffrey Rock and Clam Island, and entered the open waters of Long Island Sound. 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