Excellent trip. Went first week of May. I'm writing this a year later, so details are a little sketchy. A very wide map may be found here.

It was a great time of year to be on the river; gorgeous and sparsely peopled, just a few fishermen in motorboats on the lower sections. The river was perfect, clear as gin, and a total joy to paddle on. Drought meant lower water levels, but stellar, cloud-free days. Usual trouble getting act together on opening day so didn't hit the water till like 3. It was great to be able to load up that canoe. This was the first trip for which I had installed seats, and it paddled like a dream. Tony was patient and barely dipped his paddles to stay back with me.

We put in at River Beach Campground, where I had camped the previous night. Had one little rapid that caused momentary consternation but other than that we had a pleasant afternoon jaunt. Did a quick 6 miles in an hour and a half and found this sweet site (above and the third and fourth pictures at left) on Minisink Island. I awoke early the next morning, and while Tony snoozed, explored the island. I found an abandoned gold mine, a complete Tyranasaurous skeleton, and an underground UFO base, but other than that it was an uneventful morning stroll.

Note for next time: passed even nicer sites the next morning, at the lower end of Namanock Island.

Second day was also warm, still, and clear. Long day of paddling, 16 miles over five hours. Should have gone on to Walpack bend like the hippies recommended but we were both pretty bushed and decided to put in at a site we found just below Tom's Creek, on the Pennsylvania side. Not very nice a site, but any port in a storm, right?

Third day was a nice, easy 7.5 miles in two and a half hours. We paused briefly for a picnic in the sun at the end of the Walpack bend. We hit a little wind, the only wind on the trip, in the Walpack bend, but other that that, the whole trip was easy downstream paddling, with an occasional rapid for fun. We generally had our choice of campsites, though people were already in one we'd had our eyes on. The last night's camp was nice, two sites really, so we had a living room and bedroom effect. The only drag was pit toilet with a nice view of both tents. Tony's lucky I'm not posting those pictures.

The last day was the only day that wasn't clear and cloudless, we even had a spot of rain for a while there. We paddled ten miles, five of which were kind of a drag, the bank being lined with trashy old resorts and campsites. Tony thinks next year we should take out at Smithfield Beach access, and I think I agree. I'm thinking maybe we start further up, and take out there. Passing under and taking out right next to Route 80 was a definite drag.

All in all a killer trip, no disasters (much to the disapointment of long-time followers of the foibles of Dude/Counterdude in the wilderness), great weather, and fabulous times had by all (Otis included).