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.

Pierre SDCA Cruise

The turn out for the first SDCA event in Pierre was low, but the fun and enjoyment factors were enormous. Just one soul, Ryan S., came up from the south eastern part of the state. We also had another Pierre paddler meet us at the put-in, Dave P. Btw, Dave paddles a skin of frame boat he built with Rick Johns.As we paddled downstream and began to get close to the edge of Pierre city limits, we saw what looked like a giant beach ball approaching us. It turns out that Chuck used his pop up sail to meet us on our way down. He departed once we got down to the causeway. Though he did help his shuttle vehicles at the end too.

The temperature was in the mid 80s, but we had a SE wind ranging from 14-20 mph with gusts in the mid 20s (NOAA). The wind provided us a bit of fun coming around La Framboise. Our bows were crashing into the waves and I know at least two of the subsequent splashes came over my head! Ryan said something to the extent that this portion of the cruise was enough to make his whole trip worth it!

For a reprieve from the wind, we took the channel alongside La Framboise Island. Part of the island trail system is blocked off to try to keep a pair of eagles from abandoning their nest. Well, we managed to catch a glimpse of the nest as we paddled along.

It ended being an excellant trip, though probably too windy for some. We covered 10.5 miles and had a great time.A slideshow of all of the pictures I took:

Upstream

It was beautiful after work today. The temperature was in the low to mid 80s, the wind was essentially nonexistant, and the humidity was below 40%. Obviously, I had to get out on the river. I put in from the causeway. I noticed that quite a few people fishing from the riprap and the dock today. Also, the dam must have been releasing water, because most of shore of Discovery island (near the causeway boat ramp) was submerged.

I chose to head upstream and it was tough paddling against the release from the dam. I struggled to keep at 3 mph. With the water high, I took a short detour to check out Whiskey Gulch. What little there is of it anyway. I paddled to the island upstream of the bridges. On my way back downstream, I noticed that the sandbar upstream of the bridges is completely submerged with at least a foot of water. The route ended up being 4.4 miles and I easily clocked 6 mph on my way downstream.
I manged to take a couple of nice pictures of the railroad bridge on my way downstream.
The weather is looking good for Saturday. NOAA is saying sunny with the high near 88 and winds 10-20 mph. Check out the below post for more on the SDCA cruise in Pierre on Saturday, June 20th. I have heard from only one paddler and John Adler is leaving on vacation on Friday.

SDCA in Pierre on Saturday

Let's plan to meet at the put in at noon on Saturday (June 20th). Directions here.

More on the planned cruise.

Farm Island

I took a paddle around Farm Island this afternoon. It was a beautiful afternoon, low winds and a high in the low to mid 80s. I put in at the upstream boat ramp near the polo fields and paddled around the island, back past the beaches and campground. I took out on a beach behind some campsites and walked the quarter mile or so back to the launch point to fetch my pickup. The trip totaled 6.5 miles.There was one other kayak on the water, a tandem, and a paddle boat. I also noticed 3 or 4 kayaks and 2 canoes on shore at the campground.Click any of the pictures to visit the full album.Don't forget, SDCA event in Pierre next Saturday, June 20th.

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.