Re: [Paddlewise] Thimble Islands in CT

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    Congestion is a big problem if you put in at Stoney Creek. I've been 
there when I was 6th or 7th in line to unload the boats at the small boat 
launch. There is no parking lot so you'll need to leave your gear at the 
launch and to go find a spot on the street somewhere. Many of the locals 
see kayakers a lot like kayakers see jet skiers, as an annoyance. My boss 
who has a big boat moored there calls them speed bumps. Stay clear of the 
docks just east of the boat launch where a couple of tour boats and the 
island taxi dock. Those guys will run you over and never look back.
    If you don't mind a few more miles of paddling you can put in west of 
the Thimbles at a public boat launch on the Branford River or just east at 
the mouth of the East River. I like putting in at the East River and 
paddling the 5 or 6 miles to the Thimbles and then back. There are very few 
places to stop and get out of the boat. There's a small beach about 2 miles 
east of Stoney Creek called Leetes Island that you can use and a small park 
between there and the East River. If you decide on the East River launch 
don't put in at the Guilford docks. Depending on how they feel they might 
charge you as much as 5 bucks a boat to put in and park. Drive around to a 
public boat launch a few 100 yards up the river in Madison where it's free 
and there is lots of parking.
   Have fun.



At 09:11 AM 7/10/03 -0400, Bill Leonhardt wrote:
>I've sent this request to two list.  Apologies to those who get a duplicate.
>
>This Sunday, I hope to paddle with a friend to Connecticut's Thimble 
>Islands.  I've read the short write-up in Tamsin Venn's book, "Sea 
>Kayaking Along the New England Coast" but there's not a whole lot of 
>information.
>
>Has anyone done this trip?  Please share highlights, cautions, etc.
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