La Framboise Island

Yesterday I launched from Griffin Park and continued downstream to the end of La Framboise Island. I then proceeded up the channel alongside the island. There was lots of debris on the shore. As I neared the upstream end of the channel, I noticed that much of the reeds on the adjacent sandbar were gone and showed no sign of returning. In fact, it looked like additional sand was deposited. At the upstream end, I pulled the kayak out and walked further up. Time was a limiting factor, so I didn't get too far. I hope to return and try to get further into the island at a later time.

New Boat

Indy and I took my new (to me) boat out for a maiden voyage. It is a tan colored Mad River Explorer 16 canoe with wood gunwales and wood/wicker type seats. I even managed to do the canoehead type carry to haul the boat. I was impressed, with the thwart/yoke on my shoulders, the 70 lbs. canoe was very easy to haul... maybe easier than my 60 lbs. CD Storm GT sea kayak.

Paddling Forgotten Waters

The governor lifted the boating ban on the Missouri River near Pierre today. Obviously, I had to get on the water... water that I have not paddled since May. I parked on a side street near the American Legion cabin and carried my boat through a hole punched through the levee for storm water drainage.

I paddled downstream along the Pierre shoreline to the end of La Framboise Island and then back upstream to the causeway. The only major damage through this area was to the causeway, which was significant (see videos). I ended up covering 6.2 miles.

Into Farm Island...

I won't go into great detail, but over the past week I have managed to paddle in and about Farm Island on a few occasions. The fingers/inlets into the island I have always enjoyed exploring are even more interesting when I can travel further up them and jump between them by paddling through tall grasses. I have also paddled through the main campground area a couple of times. Also, near the causeway, there is a small inlet that is now much larger. When exploring it, you now can hear water rushing over the causeway somewhere among the trees and you have to constantly fight the a strong current to keep from being pushed into trees/strainers. I am still far from done exploring the area; hopefully I will have more to share later this week.





View Farm Island August 2, 2011 in a larger map

From 2011-07-30

From 2011-07-30

From 2011-07-30

Farm Island

Good news! I nearly had Chuck on the water this evening. I mentioned to him at noon that I was going to paddle Farm Island again and he sounded excited to get out. Sadly, he had something come up at work and could not make it, but I think he will be paddling within a week.

You know it is windy when you come across a wind surfer:




I also explored a little bit of the finger inlets into the island, the campground, and surfed some wind generated waves.

Paddling OVER a bridge.

Big Sioux / Skunk Creek / Big Sioux

I was in Sioux Falls over the weekend for the Dakota Irish Fair on Saturday and to do some paddling on Sunday. After waking up, showering, and packing my tent, etc., I met Ryan Snuggerud at Perkins on Cliff Avenue for breakfast and to discuss where to paddle. We settled on making the run from Lien Park to the Big Sioux Recreation Area. During the paddle, we easily maintained a speed of 5.5 - 6 mph.  It took roughly 2 hours to cover the 11.2 miles. There were plenty of downed trees in the river, but none were too difficult to get around.



View Lien Park to BSR Rec. Area in a larger map

From 2011-07-24

At 1 PM, I met a group of paddlers led by Dave and Mary Fink (and included Roger Debates). We put in on  Skunk Creek at Legacy Park and took out of the Big Sioux River at 26th St. Another easy paddle. We passed a few paddlers and a group of folks tubing down the river. There were a few ripples, but much less debris than in the morning. The only incident that I know of is that Dave Fink managed to take a swim while we were still on Skunk Creek. I am not sure if it was in one of the ripples or not though. It wasn't long before his boat was emptied of water and we were headed downstream again. Roger and I covered about 9.6 miles, including a couple of short jaunts back upstream in about 2 hours.

View Legacy Park to 26th St. in a larger map

Farm Island

Today, the governor opened the river up from the Farm Island causeway downstream. Obviously, I had to go check out what the area was like with high water. I paddled from the boat ramp down to the fingers/inlets into the interior of the island. I went up one of the inlets, noting the Lewis and Clark monument and old building. I then paddled back to the boat ramp and into the campground area. I ended the paddle in the boat ramp parking lot! Covered 4.9 miles.