2 Places · 1 Adventure — Delaware · New Jersey
Defined by tidal brackish marshlands with wide-open spaces and a watery labyrinth of tributaries, Landing Creek is a tranquil and deceptive escape.
After our previous paddle, where we enjoyed a beach experience on Delaware Bay, we loaded up the canoe with a couple of chairs, towels, and a cooler. We planned to paddle the creek into Great Bay, with high hopes of finding a spot to pull off for sunbathing and swimming. That, as we found out, was not on the docket.
About 14 miles from Atlantic City’s Steel Pier, Scott’s Landing Boat Ramp provides easy access for small watercraft. We pulled up to 3 or 4 families fishing from the wooden fishing platform. The boat launch, with its generous parking area, is at the end of Scott’s Landing Road. The tide was relatively low when we launched and the canoe handled the shallow water easily.
Choosing a Paddle Near Atlantic City
It’s important to note that the best paddles in a state are not always near your desired vacation spot. In this case, a little artificial intelligence—and perhaps a little overconfidence—helped convince us otherwise.
After a few days visiting the Lewes/Rehoboth area of Delaware, the next stop on our road trip was Atlantic City with its boardwalk, restaurants, and revelers, both diurnal and nocturnal. Although neither Jess nor Tony is a gambler, this was in fact our second trip to a casino-focused destination in a matter of three months (see the Nevada paddling story). In this case, we chose the vacation spot first and then searched for a place to paddle nearby.
Overall, the paddle was enjoyable, but not exactly how I hoped it would play out. Using an AI chatbot, I anticipated that we’d be able to launch from Scott’s Landing, paddle down the creek and cross Great Bay to find a sandy place to land. It’s important to note that I don’t need a veil of AI-induced ignorance to fall headlong into over-expectation of what I can accomplish. Just the regular dose of foolhardiness does the trick.
Paddling Through Landing Creek
Once we pushed off and left the fishing families behind, the creek was pristine. The murky brackish waterway was bounded by lush green banks. The grass fanned out across the landscape as far as we could see.
Since there were several tributaries and turns one could take, we used GPS to guide ourselves toward the bay. The low tide exposed the mud beneath the grass. It had a particularly rotten smell, which I’m sure was excellent for the marsh but was slightly unpleasant for us. Greenhead horseflies buzzed around us, growing more aggressive as water collected inside the canoe.
When the Landing Creek Meets Great Bay
As we neared the bay, the waves began to rock the canoe. It was windier than expected and the bay was choppy.
With perhaps a little too much confidence, we turned our boat into the bay, hoping we could weather the waves. These were not like the rolling waves of our last paddle—they were more chaotic. The wind was strong, adding to the waves. The bow rose and slapped against the water, and no amount of steering from the stern helped us find a rhythm.
Knowing When to Turn Back
With a great deal of self-preservation, we turned back from the bay and headed up the creek toward the boat launch. By this time, we were skilled in dealing with the flies and we were happy to find calm passage.
This trip was a reminder that a route can make perfect sense on a map and still be the wrong choice once you are on the water. Distance, timing, skill, and determination matter, but so do wind, tide, and judgment. Sometimes the smartest paddle is the one you decide not to finish. In this case, we cut our losses and retreated to a cold beverage on the sandy shore of Atlantic City. It was a welcome tradeoff.
