| Hopkinton Lake Hopkinton, NH | |||||
| DATE | June 21, 2004 | TIME | 1030 to 1500 | TRIP LENGTH | 8 miles |
| WEATHER | Sunny. Temp 70-75F. Winds NW 10-15 knots gusting to 25 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. | TIDES | none | ||
| LAUNCH SITE | Elm Brook Recreation Area, Hopkinton. I89 to US202 west, go 1.7 miles, turn right at the boat launch sign (opposite Stumpfield Road). At the 4-way intersection, turn left and proceed 1/4 mile; boat launch is on right. [alternate launch: turn right at 4-way intersection.] |
LANDING SITES | -Elm Brook Recreation Area very small sand beach on the south shore near the "elbow" of the main lake [reached via car by going straight through the 4-way intersection]. |
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| ROUTE | Launch from ramp and circle the lakeshore clockwise. | ||||
| A KAYAKER'S JOURNAL |
Hopkinton Lake was created by the Army Corps of Engineers to control flooding on the Contoocook River: they dug a canal from the river to what is now the northwest corner of the lake and built two large dikes along the northern end to retain the water. If you follow the road past the boat launch you'll find that it continues straight into the water (and, according to the map, comes out the other side). It's obvious, however, that the project occurred many decadess ago, since the lake has evolved to contain a rich variety of habitats for many creatures. I saw two deer, two great blue heron, and a large number of kayakers during my paddle. The lake boasts a large quantity of aquatic vegetation, including water lily fields like I have never seen before. There are two major roads that pass quite close to the lake (US202 and I89), but their annoyance is more than offset by the beauty and undeveloped state of the lake itself. I started my exploration in the northwest section of the lake, where the wind was blowing gusts to 20 knots and the water lilies bobbed in the small waves. Following the shoreline clockwise, I reached the canal to the Contoocook River, only to find it blocked by a tall beaver dam that had obviously been there for some time. There were two heron nesting platforms along the shore, but unfortunately no nests were present. I passed the swimming area on the north shore, which sits in the shadow of the western dike, a huge pile of stones clearly designed to hold an immense amount of water. Leaving the northwest pond, I passed through the narrows and turned left down the long channel to the northeast section. This channel feels like an intimate flatwater river, with overhanging trees and a turtle poking his head above water only to turn and paddle his tiny legs as fast as they go when he saw my kayak approaching. Upon reaching the northeast pond, I was amazed by the fields of water lilies covering more than half the surface -- there were hundreds, even thousands of white flowers sitting amongst a rippling mat of lily pads. I watched a deer grazing on a peninsula, and though he saw me I was too far away to scare him. Unfortunately, the north shore of this pond is dominated by the eastern dike, complete with benches strategically placed along the top for walkers to enjoy (the view must be fabulous!), but if you ignore that then the beauty of this area is wonderful. I returned to the narrows for a quick lunch stop, and found a small beach at the end of one of the access roads. I thought I had the place to myself, until two pairs of kayakers and a fishing boat happened along -- not exactly what I expected for a Monday in June. Fortunately, all the motorboats I saw maintained headway speed only, and seemed to respect both the kayakers and the pristine nature of their lake. Unfortunately, not everyone shares their appreciation -- upon reaching my chosen beach I discovered it littered with the remnants of a personal fireworks display, and these folks had enough cash to match their disdain for the environment. There were cardboard fireworks shells everywhere: on the beach, in the grass, in the water; there was even a large box that automatically shot 200 rounds of the "Saturn Rocket." Why anyone would come to such a precious spot and degrade it by making such noise and then leaving their mess I will never understand. Fortunately, a kind man by the name of Brian came by for a swim while on his lunch hour, and provided plastic bags into which we packed all the junk for proper disposal. I then enjoyed my lunch and headed to the larger, southeastern section of the lake. The southeastern sections of the lake are divided by the tall US202 bridge that spans the lake, and are larger and more open than the northern sections. I paddled clockwise around them, dodging tree stumps here and there and observing heron and a deer along the shore. The center of the largest section harbors a drowned forest, while the southernmost tip is full of water lilies and other shallow-water plants. I sat amongst the greenery observing the lake, the surrounding hills, and the numerous dragonflies with intricate patterns of colors and wing veins. While returning up the west shore, I came face-to-face with a deer not 20 yards away; he stared at me skittishly and then turned, bounding quickly away with his white tail erect. Enchanted, I returned to the launch site, where I proceeded to empty gear from my boat, don my wetsuit, and practice the Eskimo Roll, which I learned this past weekend from an instructor at Charles River Canoe & Kayak (where I am now employed). She put me in a whitewater boat and worked with me in shallow water off a beach, and in 20 minutes had me rolling. On this day, I learned that I could roll my sea kayak, but it's going to take some practice before my roll can be considered bomb-proof. What a perfect place to practice rolling -- a pristine lake surrounded by forested hills on a wonderfully sunny day. Daniel Smith June 22, 2004 |
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© 2004 Daniel E. Smith. Last updated 6/7/04