Location: White River – River Road Park to Hazel Landing Park
Distance: +/-2 miles
Date: 7/31/08
Gauge: 1.8
Paddle Time: 37 minutes
Paddlers: Doug (Dagger RPM), James (Necky Looksha), Paula (Breeze), Dave (Loon)
Weather: 72 & cloudy, 92% humidity
Left around 6:20 AM, saw a deer, took a little video by tucking my small digital video camera into the straps on my PFD. Pretty cool, but a little more water would have made it more interesting.
A quick trip to get in our July paddle. It was the first time we have gone early in the morning, I was hoping for a nice sunrise but no luck, it was just overcast.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
July Trip #2
Location: White River – 146th Street to Hazel Landing Park
Distance: +/-7 miles
Date: 7/23/08
Gauge: 1.8
Paddle Time: 3 hours
Paddlers: Doug & Julie (Zirconia tandem) Tucker (Dancer), Austin (Pelican Burst), Miguel (Blackwater), Vanessa (Loon)
Weather: 80 & sunny
An evening trip with a stop for a snack. This was a nice paddle with the sun starting to go down. There is a good-sized island around 131st Street so we stopped there for a break and a snack. This was my first trip to both the access at 146th Street and at Hazel Landing.
Apparently the body shop owner at 146th doesn’t mind people using his drive, there were about five other boats there taking out when we arrived. It’s a bit rough getting down under the bridge, and I should have checked before going down there since I couldn’t turn around with the boats there, but overall it’s not a bad place to put in. Access at Hazel Landing Park is nice, too. There is a loop drive where you can drop off boats and then go park. There are steps to the water, but they were a bit slimy with mud. Just upstream of the steps there is a small gravel bar on river right that looks like it would be an easier takeout.
Distance: +/-7 miles
Date: 7/23/08
Gauge: 1.8
Paddle Time: 3 hours
Paddlers: Doug & Julie (Zirconia tandem) Tucker (Dancer), Austin (Pelican Burst), Miguel (Blackwater), Vanessa (Loon)
Weather: 80 & sunny
An evening trip with a stop for a snack. This was a nice paddle with the sun starting to go down. There is a good-sized island around 131st Street so we stopped there for a break and a snack. This was my first trip to both the access at 146th Street and at Hazel Landing.
Apparently the body shop owner at 146th doesn’t mind people using his drive, there were about five other boats there taking out when we arrived. It’s a bit rough getting down under the bridge, and I should have checked before going down there since I couldn’t turn around with the boats there, but overall it’s not a bad place to put in. Access at Hazel Landing Park is nice, too. There is a loop drive where you can drop off boats and then go park. There are steps to the water, but they were a bit slimy with mud. Just upstream of the steps there is a small gravel bar on river right that looks like it would be an easier takeout.
Boating in Indiana Gets a Boost
Here is a link to an article about improving paddling access and information in northern Indiana: http://www.post-trib.com/news/1097639,canoe.article
Boat Insurance
I learned something new today about boats and insurance that I thought I would post in case anyone ever found this blog. Sorry if you already know this. A couple of weeks ago I saw a letter to Canoe & Kayak magazine that talked about someone’s kayak being stolen while they were shuttling on foot. When the person asked their (State Farm) agent about how to file a claim they were told it was not covered under their homeowners and that additional coverage is needed.
Today we were talking with our (State Farm) agent so I asked about it and got basically the same answer; our boats are not covered by homeowners insurance off the premises. Even auto insurance only covers damage to a vehicle if a boat were to do something like come loose from my trailer and damage another vehicle. The boat is not covered.
Today we were talking with our (State Farm) agent so I asked about it and got basically the same answer; our boats are not covered by homeowners insurance off the premises. Even auto insurance only covers damage to a vehicle if a boat were to do something like come loose from my trailer and damage another vehicle. The boat is not covered.
Friday, July 18, 2008
July Trip #1
Location: Eagle Creek – Turkey Foot Park to Lions Park
Distance: +/-2 miles
Date: 7/10/08
Gauge: 1.8
Paddle Time: 2.0 hours
Paddlers: Doug & Julie (Zirconia tandem) Tucker (Dancer), Mercedes (SOT), Austin (Pelican Burst), Dan
Weather: 80 & sunny
OK, this was a bad idea. Last time James and I did this in the small boats it was OK, and I thought the level was about the same, but evidently it wasn’t. We did a lot of dragging, scooting and hauling boats over rocks and low spots. At least the water was cool. There are also a couple of new trees down, one that is really large just north of the park that will be a big obstacle in higher water.I told Dan I now have a policy of staying off this section if the water is less than 2.5…it’s just too much work.
Location: Eagle Creek – Turkey Foot Park to Lions Park
Distance: +/-2 miles
Date: 7/10/08
Gauge: 1.8
Paddle Time: 2.0 hours
Paddlers: Doug & Julie (Zirconia tandem) Tucker (Dancer), Mercedes (SOT), Austin (Pelican Burst), Dan
Weather: 80 & sunny
OK, this was a bad idea. Last time James and I did this in the small boats it was OK, and I thought the level was about the same, but evidently it wasn’t. We did a lot of dragging, scooting and hauling boats over rocks and low spots. At least the water was cool. There are also a couple of new trees down, one that is really large just north of the park that will be a big obstacle in higher water.I told Dan I now have a policy of staying off this section if the water is less than 2.5…it’s just too much work.
June Paddle
Location: Eagle Creek - Lions Park to Lafayette Road
Distance: +/-5 miles
Date: 6/18/08
Gauge: NA
Time: 2 hours
Paddlers: James (Necky Looksha), Doug (Perception Dancer), Michael (Breeze), Ryan
Weather: 70 & sunny
Starting out at the bridge at Lions Park it was pretty muddy due to recent rains. There were several people fly fishing near the bridge, and as I came out last she asked one of the others if we were building boats back there. Fortunately we were able to wind our way through them without interrupting them too much.
Near the Zionsville Road bridge we came upon a group of five or so teenagers sitting on a rock. They thought it was a bit odd that we suddenly appeared on the creek & wanted to know if kayaking was more fun than canoeing. Of course we said yes.
Not too much eventful on this trip, apart from finding a volleyball about a third of the way down that we then took turns either throwing to land near someone & splash them or trying to bat with our paddles. Michael managed to get caught sideways between two logs while messing around with the ball & was hung up for a few minutes. He also provided the most entertainment of the day when he was goofing around & flipped while James took his picture. It’s not a great photo, but you definitely get the idea that he’s going over.
The good news was we didn’t have to get out & carry over any trees or other obstacles, the creek was pretty cleaned out.
The takeout was a real muddy mess, nasty black stuff from being submerged for several days. It might have been easier to take out a little further down where there are usually people fishing, but that adds about 50 yards to carrying the boats out so we decided to brave the mud.
The weather was beautiful, just a light breeze and the temperature was great.
Location: Eagle Creek - Lions Park to Lafayette Road
Distance: +/-5 miles
Date: 6/18/08
Gauge: NA
Time: 2 hours
Paddlers: James (Necky Looksha), Doug (Perception Dancer), Michael (Breeze), Ryan
Weather: 70 & sunny
Starting out at the bridge at Lions Park it was pretty muddy due to recent rains. There were several people fly fishing near the bridge, and as I came out last she asked one of the others if we were building boats back there. Fortunately we were able to wind our way through them without interrupting them too much.
Near the Zionsville Road bridge we came upon a group of five or so teenagers sitting on a rock. They thought it was a bit odd that we suddenly appeared on the creek & wanted to know if kayaking was more fun than canoeing. Of course we said yes.
Not too much eventful on this trip, apart from finding a volleyball about a third of the way down that we then took turns either throwing to land near someone & splash them or trying to bat with our paddles. Michael managed to get caught sideways between two logs while messing around with the ball & was hung up for a few minutes. He also provided the most entertainment of the day when he was goofing around & flipped while James took his picture. It’s not a great photo, but you definitely get the idea that he’s going over.
The good news was we didn’t have to get out & carry over any trees or other obstacles, the creek was pretty cleaned out.
The takeout was a real muddy mess, nasty black stuff from being submerged for several days. It might have been easier to take out a little further down where there are usually people fishing, but that adds about 50 yards to carrying the boats out so we decided to brave the mud.
The weather was beautiful, just a light breeze and the temperature was great.
Monday, May 26, 2008
May Paddle
Location: White River – Indianapolis Art Center to 38th Street
Distance: +/-5 miles
Date: 5/22/08
Gauge: 5.0 @ IMA
Paddle Time: 1.5 hours
Paddlers: James (Dagger Crossfire), Doug (Perception Dancer), Dan S. (LL ) Paula (C.D. Breeze), Luke L. (Necky Looksha), Andy S. (LL Zirconia)
Weather: 70 & sunny
The put-in at the Indianapolis Art Center at Broad Ripple is really nice, but parking is fairly limited. James had to pull the truck into a spot adjacent with the trailer angled behind Andy’s car to make it work. Our original idea to start in Williams Creek off of 75th Street didn’t work out due to a lack of water in the creek. The river was not especially high, but not low enough that we dragged anywhere. Most of the time the current moved pretty well; there were a couple of stretches of flat water, but the river made up for it with a few spots where we could surf some small holes. Good practice for guys with no idea what they are doing.
This was a nice leisurely paddle, with beautiful weather.
One interesting spot is right at the International School. We couldn't figure out what was causing it, but there are eddies going all directions there, in places the water is almost flowing upstream. We were all making crazy turns trying to keep going the right direction.
We took out under the 38th Street bridge, and used the parking off of the loop exist from 38th Street westbound to White River Parkway East Drive. Unfortunately you can only get there headed westbound on 38th Street, but it’s still a decent place to park. There is a pretty steep carry up over the embankment under the bridge, but taking out there eliminates half a mile or so of flatwater paddling down to either 30th Street or the Lake Indy boat ramp in Riverside Park.
This was a nice paddle that would still be decent even if the water were a foot or so lower. Another good one for after work.
Distance: +/-5 miles
Date: 5/22/08
Gauge: 5.0 @ IMA
Paddle Time: 1.5 hours
Paddlers: James (Dagger Crossfire), Doug (Perception Dancer), Dan S. (LL ) Paula (C.D. Breeze), Luke L. (Necky Looksha), Andy S. (LL Zirconia)
Weather: 70 & sunny
The put-in at the Indianapolis Art Center at Broad Ripple is really nice, but parking is fairly limited. James had to pull the truck into a spot adjacent with the trailer angled behind Andy’s car to make it work. Our original idea to start in Williams Creek off of 75th Street didn’t work out due to a lack of water in the creek. The river was not especially high, but not low enough that we dragged anywhere. Most of the time the current moved pretty well; there were a couple of stretches of flat water, but the river made up for it with a few spots where we could surf some small holes. Good practice for guys with no idea what they are doing.
This was a nice leisurely paddle, with beautiful weather.
One interesting spot is right at the International School. We couldn't figure out what was causing it, but there are eddies going all directions there, in places the water is almost flowing upstream. We were all making crazy turns trying to keep going the right direction.
We took out under the 38th Street bridge, and used the parking off of the loop exist from 38th Street westbound to White River Parkway East Drive. Unfortunately you can only get there headed westbound on 38th Street, but it’s still a decent place to park. There is a pretty steep carry up over the embankment under the bridge, but taking out there eliminates half a mile or so of flatwater paddling down to either 30th Street or the Lake Indy boat ramp in Riverside Park.
This was a nice paddle that would still be decent even if the water were a foot or so lower. Another good one for after work.
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