Kayaking to the Old Saybrook Breakwater "Outer" Lighthouse

I woke up to the sun shining and Long Island sound smooth as glass and decided it was a perfect day to kayak to the Old Saybrook Breakwater Light. I didn't load up the new roof rack for nothing and it was time to get the Kayaks in the water. The Breakwater light is known locally as the Outer Light and is one of two lighthouses marking the opening to the Connecticut River.

The Breakwater/Outer Light is the youngest of the two and was constructed 75 years after its older brother known as Lynde Point Light on a rocky jetty. I knew the history of the lighthouse well having watched its green flash in the distance every 6 seconds and when foggy a blast of the horn every 30 seconds. Many a night I watched its green light pulse from my bedroom window. It was lit for the first time in 1886 and stands at only 49 feet. While I have never been in it I am told it has 4 floors with a tiny staircase inside.

It had even made the local news when it was reported that it was to be sold by the federal government and the local town had been rumored to be interested in buying it. I don't think it actually happened however and I had heard that it was bought by a private family.

The lighthouse is a prominent feature along the shoreline and even graces the state license plate. It has survived numerous hurricanes and stands as a beacon to any who venture up or down the Connecticut river.

After a healthy breakfast I pulled the kayak's out and carried them down our new fortified sea wall to the beach which its self had survived many a hurricane until Hurricane Sandy did some damage a years ago.

Once in the water I began the roughly 2 mile trip along the Old Saybrook shoreline passing the Knollwood & Fenwood Pier's before paddling straight out to the Outer Light. The sea stayed calm and in no time I was bobbing around as I relaxed and took in the Light House.

A few guys had set up shop using the breakwater as a fishing spot. It was a little choppy since many boats were going up and down the river. The current was also keeping us moving. Having forgotten a hat and not put any sun lotion on we decided to head back. This time we must have been fighting the tide since the current made it more difficult to return. We opted to paddle along the breakwater and along the shoreline passing Katherine Hepburn's old summer cottage along the way. I have heard that the house is back on the market minus a portion of land for $15 million.

It took about 55 minutes to paddle back compared to the 35 minutes it took to get there and it was obvious we were both a bit tired and maybe a little burnt. Round trip it was 4.11 miles and took my just over an hour and 30 minutes to make the trip. I got some great pictures and enjoyed the paddle.

Task 94 - Kayak 6 new places (1/6) - Kayaking the CT River (Essex,CT)

Location: Connecticut River (South Cove, Essex,CT)

Dan and I decided after breakfast that we would like to Kayak along the Connecticut River in Essex. The scenery is amazing with the marina's and all the power and sail boats. The Connecticut River makes a sharp turn in Essex and as a result the river created South Cove which provides a great place for boaters like me to stop to Kayak and enjoy the natural beauty of the shoreline it has carved.

We started our kayaking trip at the end of Main Street at the Essex Town Dock. They have a great launch ramp here that is great for canoe's and kayak's as well as for  jet Ski's and power boat's. Once we were in the water we paddled along the shoreline past a few of the marina's which had a few seriously large yacht's docked. The Lucky Seven was at the end and it was really a beauty.

We then entered South Cove with Thatchbed Island on our left and the main land on our right. South Cove is a quiet well protected cove. The houses along this stretch of the river vary greatly from the classic New England styles to the far more contemporary homes. It also was home to a variety of wildlife. We saw snowy egrets, swan's and comorants nesting and swiming around the uninhabited Thatchbed Island.

As we rounded the cove and along the front of Thatchbed Island we encountered a small boat with a fisherman hoping to catch some local seafood. He hadn't caught anything yet and I doubt he did.

As we approached the marina's again we went a little farther out and relaxing amungst the many sailboat's morred in the river before returning to the launch ramp.

Parking was pretty easy considering it was a beautiful weekend. I think it is mainly because there isnt too much to be found in the way of shops at this end of Main Street. Next time I am going to go the other way and explore North Cove and the Fall's River that flows into it.