On Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. the Old Lyme Land Trust and Black Hall Outfitters will jointly sponsor the Second Annual Old Lyme Land Trust Kayak Regatta. This event will consist of a two hour kayak tour of one of Old Lyme most beautiful and pristine tributaries.
The group will be led by Barry Gorfain, a certified kayak guide who is also the flat water and sea kayak committee chair of the CT Appalatian Mountain Club. Depending on the number and interest of the participants, the group may elect to explore the nearby Roger Tory Peterson Great Island Preserve and the adjacent Long Island Sound.
The tour will begin on a rising tide from the Black Hall Marina on the Black Hall River on 132 Shore Rd, Old Lyme. This facility, which has been completely renovated since last year’s event, is one of the most picturesque sites on the Connecticut coast having a vista looking westward past the Old Saybrook Lighthouse and as far as Long Island.
Looking inland you can see the serene tidal marshes of the Black Hall River, which extend northward for several miles. This important tributary is not only the feeding ground for many wading and swimming species of birds, but has become a spectacular winter habitat for a growing number of Bald Eagles.
Black Hall Outfitters has become a unique destination on the Connecticut shore offering almost anything you might need for enjoying Long Island Sound. What was once a quaint bait shop, is now a multi-service marina including rental and sale of kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. The store can also arrange individual and group outings to some interesting local waterways and beaches. Their website is blackhalloutfitters.com.
Participants can bring their own kayaks or rent them. Black Hall Outfitters has both single- and multi-person kayaks for rent, as well as sit-in or on-top kayaks. Call ahead to reserve your kayak.
The Old Lyme Land Trust is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving Old Lyme”s natural, scenic and historic land and water resources for the benefit of the public now and for generations to come. Founded in 1966 the trust now preserves over 1,000 acres.
One of the trust’s priorities is to protect waterways and several of our properties can be seen along the Black Hall River and the lower Connecticut River. Another priority is to create access by creating trails on our many preserves so the public can discover for themselves the beauty of our New England forests.
For more information, visit the trust’s web page .