'Paddle the Navesink' a Success

Saturday was a day of water fun on the Navesink River; and a Middletown resident was one of the first up the river with a paddle.

Children and adults placed their barefeet on paddle boats or sat their backsides in kayaks on a windy and somewhat sunny Saturday on the river for the 2nd Paddle the Navesink River Day event.

At the starting point — Maple Cove at the foot of Maple Avenue, Red Bank — an instructor made sure attendees wore life vests. Then they guided them into the river and off they went in their kayaks and paddle boats.

Kevin Moedt, 17, of Middletown was one of the first out into the river with a paddle boat provided by Jersey Paddler of Brick Township and Eastern Mountain Sports of Eatontown.

Next in line on a sandy pathway near marsh reeds were his friends,  Sarah Vates, 15, and Natasha Noel, 17, both of Holmdel.

The three teens placed their feet onto the paddle boats, stood up and, paddles in hand, navigated the river.

Stiff winds made it somewhat difficult to maintain their balance on the paddle boats, which resemble long surfboards with a fin.

Kayakers were also seated, rowing paddles in hand.

"If the winds calm down we would send people out in rowing shells," Linda Ensor, a member of the Navesink River Board, said.

Ensor said she was hoping to have between 250 and 300 people attend the event.

"So far, this is a great success and we are very happy we can offer this event free to all to people in the Red Bank area," she said.

Ensor said she hopes this will become an annual event.

Cindy Burnham, an organizer of the event said that the Paddle the Navesink River Day should have other aspects to it as well.

"I would like this to be not only a boating experience but I would also like people to learn more about health and nutrition," she said.

There were other aspects to the day besides paddle boating and kayaking.

At Marine Park, approximately a dozen booths were set up distributing informational brocures.

Among them were the Navesink Maritime Heritage Association, Red Bank Visitors Center, Clean Ocean Action, Shimano Boots, Oceanic Marina, Rumson, the Monmouth County Parks System, S.E.A.S., a non-profit Society for the Education of American Sailors, and others.

The Navesink Maritime Heritage Association displayed the Clearwater's Garvey, the Adam Hyler.

Adjacent to Maple Cove, Navesink River Rowing hosted learn-to-row sessions and provided information on the programs it offers to adults and to youths who are at least 14 years of age.

At Riverside Gardens Park a band and a quartet performed including the Red Bank Street Walkers Barbershop Quartet, and the Leroy Place Band.