11 April 2011

I went for another La Framboise Island circumnavigation after my run this afternoon. The high temperature was 65 degrees with no wind. A perfect day for paddling.

This time I obtained results from the Endomondo app on my phone that more closely matches previous data from my gps. I am not sure what happened the last time, but it was only off about 0.1. The route should should be between 5.7 and 5.8 miles and I only trust gps accuracy (my phone or my garmin handheld) to a tenth of a mile. The first circumnavigation with the app resulted in 5.9 and tonight was 5.7 (rounded).

From 2011-04-11

From 2011-04-11

First La Framboise Island Circumnavigation of the Year

After getting a good run in with my dog, Indy, I decided I needed to start paddling to get into shape for the South Dakota Kayak Challenge. The sun came out for the first time today as I was driving down to the causeway. I chose to complete my first circumnavigation of La Framboise Island tonight. It went well. Nothing of significance to take a picture of though. The water seemed plenty high and I had a head wind in the teens (mph) for the first half of the paddle, but it was at my back later. The air temperature was around 50 degrees. Some stats from Endomondo:

Catchup

Last Thursday, I intended to go paddling with Sol Brich around La Framboise Island. I didn't get back to Pierre until about 6 PM when he planned to depart though. He was taking a coworker out onto the water, so he went ahead and began his float. I was on the water by 6:30 PM. I had a goal in mind... to catch up with them. As I approached the causeway to finish up my cruise, I saw Sol's pickup leaving the causeway. I made it around the island in just a hair over an hour! Some pictures from Thursday (notice how high the water is):
On Sunday, after returning from stripping cylinders in Chamberlain, I decided to embark on a journey up the Bad River. As I said above, the water is very high and I made it further upstream than I have ever before. I made it a full 4 miles upstream from the Bad River boat ramp... a full 0.5 mile farther than my previous record.Totaling 8 miles for the day.

Lake Vermillion, La Framboise Island, and Hobie mirage drives...

Last Friday, I was in Sioux Falls to catch the Wild Colonial Bhoys play at McNally's Irish Pub. Ryan Snuggerud met me there and we talked a bit and ended up doing a little game planning for the 2011 SDKC. Before heading back to Pierre on Saturday, I stopped at the Lake Vermillion State Recreation Area for a little paddling. Besides one fisherman, I had the lake to myself. First, I paddled from the boat ramp over to the bridge and into the small arm of the lake beyond. I then paddled up towards the dam (see picture below). I started to paddle up the north-south part of the lake, but the wind was blowing pretty good coming down the lake. After attacking the wind for a bit, I decided to head back. I would have liked to have made it up into the Vermillion River but I didn't want to wear myself out before the drive home. I think I spent about an hour on the water.

From 2010-09-18

Yesterday, I went for a paddle around La Framboise Island. When I got to the boat ramp on the causeway, I discovered that the steel ramp onto the dock was underwater!

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

A couple of pictures showing the dike structure at the end of the channel alongside the island:

From 2010-09-25

From 2010-09-25

It was a great day for a paddle. Not too much to report. Saw numerous ducks and startled one deer, a doe. After turning the corner around the island and heading back towards the causeway, I came across another kayaker. He was pedaling one of the Hobie mirage drive boats, probably something like an 8 foot model.

La Framboise Loop & Capital Creek

It was a dreary day today, but since there was no T-storms Chuck and I decided to go paddling. We met at the causeway at 1 PM. I was paddling the Storm GT and Chuck brought down his WS Northstar tandem. His girlfriend, Diana, was in town this weekend. Nothing too special, just a quick circumnavigation of La Framboise Island. The water level was high today, both boats made it over the dike structure without touching it. We also skirted up Capital Creek to the box culvert underneath a road through Griffen Park. Total distance was 5.9 miles.

I can't believe I am saying this, but I want more wind!

After camping through a torrential downpour, T-storm, and gale force winds on Friday night, I took Indy home to catch up on his sleep. I on the other hand tried to go paddling around La Framboise Island to play in the waves (on Saturday). Though by Saturday afternoon the wind was dying back down. I did get some playing in, but it was no where near as windy as when John and I did the same last summer. I ended up paddling around the  whole island as well. The high yesterday was 89 degrees... great day to be on the river. There were lots of boats out and lots of shore fisherman taking advantage of the free fishing weekend. I once again had the Pentax Optio W80 mounted to the bow of my Current Designs Storm GT for the endeavor.

This bodes well...

From 2010-05-22

This the sort of thing I bought a waterproof camera with interval shoot and a camera mount to capture.

From 2010-05-22

Cooling the horses off, I presume.

From 2010-05-22

All of my boats have hit the water this year...

Yesterday my tandem managed to get wet. I took a couple more friends out kayaking around La Framboise Island. I was playing with my new Sticky Pod mount and the interval shooting mode on my new Pentax Optio W80 camera. I had the camera mounted to the side of the boat up near the bow. It held really well, but I need to lengthen the interval from 20 seconds to maybe a minute or 5... and probably half a hour for the SD Kayak Challenge.
We stayed outside the channel alongside the island because the water was a bit low. We covered a hair over 6 miles. Nothing else too exciting to write about.

From 2010-05-16

Taking rookies out...

Yesterday, Chuck and I took a couple of non-paddler friends of mine around La Framboise Island. I paddled my CD Storm GT, Chuck paddled his QCC 700X and my friends paddled my Perception Carolina 14 and Chuck's WS Tsunami 14.5.

I also was playing with my new camera (Pentax Option W80) and mount (Stickypod). I setup the camera to operate on interval shooting, which allows me to set a time interval (i.e. 30 seconds) for the camera to take pictures until the flash card is full or a set number of pictures is taken. It is a very neat feature.

We took our time around the island, stopping frequently to adjust the seats etc. in the borrowed boats and give a few tips on paddling, etc. We paddled through the channel/chute alongside the island... less than a hour ahead of us another couple of paddlers beached their boat, scrambled into the island, and captured more pictures of the moose (Yes, Dave P. was one of the two!).

We did have to use our hands to propel us through the last little bit of the channel/chute. When we got to the dike structure, the water was too low to get the fiberglass and carbon/kevlar boats across, though I went over and back in my plastic boat. So we headed out into the main channel and back around the end of the island. As we were coming around the end of the island, through the main channel, apparently a fishing tournament was ending. 20+ boats started coming through the narrow channel at the end of the island. The water got rough and we had to stop to bail some water on the borrowed boats.

Luckily, once we got past the end of the island, the water turned to glass and the rest of the trip was uneventful. Well, besides my camera battery dieing, a function of interval shooting I believe. I then spent a little time paddling backwards!

This trip was probably the longest it has ever taken me to go around the island, but it was still a blast just to introduce non-paddlers to the sport. We covered 6.5 miles.

May Paddle

Well, after the gale like winds of the weekend and the forecast winds for Tuesday and Wednesday, I decided on Sunday evening that I would paddle around La Framboise after work on Monday. To add a new twist to what is becoming a mundane paddle for me, I invited some "non-paddler" friends to come along; I also invited another Pierre paddler that I have been trying to paddle with to come along too. I loaded all three boats onto my rack and proceeded to the causeway at 6 PM.

From 2010-05-03

For various reasons, all of the "non-paddlers" bailed on me. But Sol B., a SD Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources engineer and fellow Pierre paddler joined me. Once I realized who he was a month or so ago, I have been trying to get him out on the water with me.
We started out by leaving the causeway and heading up to the bridges. Sol had a fishing rod along and wanted to see how well the fish were biting.

From 2010-05-03

There were numerous fishing boats out along the west shoreline, but Sol didn't get any bites as we floated past. So we continued on towards La Framboise Island.

From 2010-05-03

Obviously, I was paddling my (still new) Current Designs Storm GT. Sol was paddling a Perception Eclipse. He also has a Perception Carolina, but the older 14.5 ft. model rather my newer 14 ft. model. The picture above may be the first time I have caught a train crossing the railroad bridge; I was pretty stoked. Also, I am using my new camera, a Pentax Optio W80.

From 2010-05-03

From 2010-05-03

From 2010-05-03

We ended up covering 6.8 miles and had a great time. I am loving having a smaller camera out on the water too! I do plan on trying to get the some of my "non-paddling" friends onto the water again, probably sooner rather than later too.

La Framboise Lesiure

The winds around Pierre finally decided to subside today. I sent an email out to the Pierre Paddlers email group, consisting of three other paddlers around Pierre that I know and three identities I have no idea who they are. I also sent an email to a paddler that should soon be adding himself to the email list. The plan was to meet at the causeway at 6:30PM for a La Framboise circumnavigation. Only Dave P. was able to make it down. We took one of the most leisurely cruises around the island I have ever had. I normally try to work on speed. We came across two different groups of young deer playing along the channel/chute that runs along the island. We also saw a pair of bald eagles in a tree (and nest). But, alas, we did not get a glimpse of the La Framboise moose.

Beautiful November Day

Well, Friday was such a beautiful day that I took the afternoon off to go paddling. I just did my routine trip around La Framboise Island. The wind was calm and the temperature was in the mid 70s F. I covered the 5.75 miles in an hour and a half, averaging just under 4 mile per hour. Some pictures from the cruise:The water was very low.

La Framboise with friends

Sorry, I haven't been posting much. I have been keeping my mileage updated though. And last weekend I didn't paddle at all. Instead I spent the weekend in St Paul for the MN Irish Fair. On Friday I met with Cory Diedrich (sp?) and paddled around La Framboise with Cory and his cousin or nephew (I don't recall which). Cory paddled my Carolina and I paddled Chuck's Temptest. I am actually storing the Temptest in my garage while Chuck's garage gets some concrete repair done to the walls. Nothing too spectacular, 5.7 miles.

From 2009_08_14

After the testing of my Carolina, Cory is planning on ordering one of his own! Yesterday, I paddled with Chuck and his girlfriend, Diana. Again we went around La Framboise Island, but with a slightly different route (we came through the main channel at the downstream end). We managed 6.4 miles. We even came upon Cory and his family enjoying the river in Griffin Park.When Chuck and Diana pulled up to the causeway boat ramp, I heard bystanders say "Look at THAT!" and one even pulled out a camera... heh, a geo hauling around a 18', 90 lbs. kayak is a SIGHT!

The past week...

Well, I haven't been very good about posting this week. Though I have kept the paddling days and distance in the sidebar updated. On Sunday, John and I paddled around Farm Island, about 6.5 miles. We paddled against a stiff headwind on the way downstream. We relaxed a bit after coming around the end of the island. Somehow, we managed to move against the wind faster than with it.

On Tuesday, I paddled around La Framboise Island, about 5.7 miles. I was out late enough to get some decent pics of the sun setting.

From 2009_07_21

On Wednesday, I dinked around near the bridges and caught some more sun setting pictures. Only about 2.4 miles on Wednesday evening.

From 2009_07_22

From 2009_07_22

From 2009_07_22

Yesterday afterwork, I helped my mom go out in my parents' boat. And then I went out myself along with Will Coolidge, a pharmaceutical student, and his brother. Will was paddling one of Chuck's boats and Will's brother was paddling Will's boat. We just made a run around La Framboise Island, about 5.7 miles. Will and I believe we saw two immature bald eagles. They were too big to be much else. Anyone that can tell me if we assumed correct, thanks. Not too much else to say.

From 2009_07_23

My mom paddling my parents' Wilderness Systems Excel. A 16' tandem; the front seat slides into the middle for soloing.

From 2009_07_23

Will Coolidge.

From 2009_07_23

Will and his brother.

From 2009_07_23

An immature bald eagle, I believe.

Another after work paddle...

Yesterday (Friday) I went out paddling from the causeway. It was a bit windy, so I continued around the island and played in the big waves some as I paddled downstream. Nothing to special. I wish I could take pictures while I was playing in the waves; maybe someday I will have someone stand on shore and photograph the fun.I managed to shave a bit off the distance somehow... 5.7 miles.

Another La Framboise Circumnavigation

Between the Oahe Days 5k, yesterday's paddle, and two nights enjoying live bands, I was sore and tired today. This afternoon, when the sky began to clear off, I wanted to go out for a paddle. I decided to stretch out on my couch and watch a little TV first. The next thing I know it was after 5:00! I still went out and had an enjoyable cruise around La Framboise Island. The river was active with other boaters, but not too crowded.My gps read 5.8 miles for the trip length. The temperature was around 80 degrees and the wind from the E-SE at 12 mph. I didn't take too many pictures today. I kind of liked how this one turned out. Nothing spectacular, but something to show that my boat was on the water.

La Framboise Island

I went for a paddle around La Framboise Island after work yesterday. Nothing too eventful. I took a slight;y different path. I stayed outside the little channel until just before the dike. The distance was a little shorter today, 5.7 miles. Probably due to a more direct path. A few decent scenery pictures, one pelican, a couple shots of the dike, and a couple of the river traffic. The river traffic is starting to pickup, low June temps have made it later this year than in the past.

Just a reminder: SDCA event in Pierre next Saturday, June 20th.

90 Degree Circumnavigation

It was beautiful today. It hit 90 degrees so I decided to go for a paddle after work. When I arrived at the causeway I wasn't sure what direction I would head until I saw that the water level was up. I quickly decided to circumnavigate La Framboise Island. As I was preparing to launch, a pair of jetskis sped by the boat ramp... I guess I have to start watching out for them again.

I may have seen more wildlife on this La Framboise Island circumnavigation than any other. Started with three turtles sunbathing, a buzzard flew low from the sandbar over to the main island, and finally I saw three or so white tails run into the island. Though I didn't see any other part of the deer. I also failed to capture the buzzard or the deer with my camera. After coming around the island the boat traffic picked up. There were even two boats pulling wakeboarders. It must be summer! The trip ended up being 5.7 miles.

April A La Framboise

After work yesterday, John and I decided to take a cruise around La Framboise Island. It was a beautiful day for a paddle; the high was 65 degrees and the the wind was calm. We covered 5.75 miles.

From 2009_04_13

The water was almost too low to sneak through the "island channel" but we persevered. We did have to use our hands to help get over a fallen tree and the dike, but we remained in our boats.

From 2009_04_13

Picturesque.

Slide show of the pictures I took; including a few of pelicans.

1st Circumnavigation of Bad Humor Island in 2009

Hey, I forgot to mention something about yesterday's post. The fisherman were so thick that we had to put in off a rocky "beach" next to the causeway boat ramp. Because Chuck missed out on paddling yesterday and to "honor" him and his composite boats I have dubbed it "Chuck's Landing." 

From 2009_03_29

On to today! Well, I went out to unload my kayak this morning (I was too lazy last night) in anticipation of the snow tonight and tomorrow, but it was so nice this morning that I decided to try to get a short paddle in before the wind came up. Well, on my way to the causeway I realized that there was open water all around Bad Humor Island (Lewis and Clark's name for it is much better than La Framboise Island).

From 2009_03_29

I managed to paddle around the island and I was off the water a little after noon before the wind got too bad. From NOAA, it looks like the temperature was from 31 -42 and the winds were from 10 - 23 between 10AM and 12PM (I was on the water a little after 10:30AM). Trip totaled 5.7 miles. ...Oh and I have been out 6 times just in March (and 9 times on the year) compared to Chuck's 3 times on the year :) 

February Paddlin' Hooky

The forecast for today was close to 50 degrees and calm, so John Adler and I took annual leave to go out paddling. It was a gorgeous day to be on the river. The high hit 54 around 3pm according to NOAA. John measured the water temp as being 34-35 degrees. We took off from the causeway and headed downstream along La Framboise Island breaking small chunks of ice along the way. The small channel running between the island proper and a sand bar was, obviously, iced in... as well as the Pierre side of the island. After reaching the end of the island we turn about and headed back. We spent nearly 3 hours on the water and traversed roughly 6.8 miles (my gps read 6.7 and John's read 6.9). In all, it was a great day for paddling!

From 2009_02_05

John's pictures: