Wheeler demonstrates how Google Maps can be used to plot an urban canoe trip on the Passaic River

People often ask me how I find suitable places to launch the canoe along the Passaic River. Most of her shores are private property, highways, or garbage pits. It isnt easy finding a spot to launch the Nightshade, but there is one tool that makes the job precise and efficient.

This magical device is probably known to all of you. Its called Google Maps.

Plotting a course before you leave home saves the trouble of scouting the shoreline from the car and reveals hidden access points that are invisible from the ground.

To plan a trip, you will need at least a rudimentary knowledge of the geography you intend to explore.

Today I wanted to put the Nightshade in the lower Passaic. I had my sites on the Nutley boat launch, but after studying the satellite images, I decided on the Kearny boat ramp in River Bank Park. This access point started me from further downstream, allowing me to avoid the sometimes-rocky waters between Lodi and Garfield, while still offering me a fairly long upstream canoe ride.

Although I am familiar with this stretch of the Passaic River it always pays to refresh my memory using Google Maps.

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[IVANGROZNEY]

Sorority brothers? Murder on the Passaic Union ave bridge. Do you mean fraternity brothers.

[wheeler666]

zarate man zarate... the two scumbag brothers who murdered poor little jennifer parks. hopefully they're somebody's sorority girl in state prison.

[acabtp]

fantastic video. very well done.

[JerseyTomato2009]

great vid wheeler love cruising the passaic river

[ljbythec]

Turned on to u by NPR. Sad about your river, our river. Great video and narration. Thanks!

[thelammantor]

o hey ur in weird nj ur pretty smart bro like u ur cool

[AnimeDykePhan]

Love your videos, man. Little companions to the wnj publication. Keep up the great work!