River Reports / Training Sessions
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3/24/07 - Way Down Upon the Suwannee River - Dan Klinkhamer
3/19/07 - Huron River Report - Joe Roman
3/4/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
2/25/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
2/19/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
2/6/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
1/21/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
1/15/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
1/7/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
1/1/07 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
12/24/06 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
12/17/06 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
12/11/06 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
12/3/06 - Huron River Report - Dan Klinkhamer
11/29/06 - Start of the Winter Paddling Season
11/9/06 - Canoe Racing in the late 60's & early 70's
Way Down Upon the Suwannee River - Dan Klinkhamer
Way Down Upon the Suwannee River - Act Two - A day by day account of the 2007 annual week long Florida training camp organized by Bruce Barton
This year had a similar number of boats as last year with most days averaging about 15 C-2's on the water. There was much concern before the trip down due to the low water levels in that part of Florida. Last year the water gage at the park was measuring over 9000 cfs and this year it was only 3000 cfs. As it turned out, the rivers were lower but there was still a well defined channel in all of them to paddle in and there was also less current to fight while paddling upstream. Also, more of the limestone structures lining the sides of the river was exposed making for better scenery then last year. It was hot every day, in the 80's. Three of the cottages were reserved by paddlers while the rest stayed in the Group Campground. The park manager was able to keep the main campground showers open throughout the week which was appreciated by all, since the Group Camp shower did not have hot water. Bill Schmitz once again provided transportation back to fetch vehicles when we started upstream of the campground.
Saturday March 10, 2007
3 hours 11 minutes
Arrived at Suwannee River State Park in the morning and set up camp in the Group Campground which was reserved for us due to the construction in the main campground. Jon and Ellen Thompson had arrived a day early and had already established their camp. Throughout the day people filtered into the campsite and eventually some would take off the paddle a little. Bill Schmitz and I headed up the Withlacoochee River and after negotiating a shoal (Florida for rapid) about an hour upriver ran into a couple of boats heading downstream. We would hook up with them and paddle back to the campground to see who else had arrived while we were gone. Later in the day I paddled down the Suwannee about 10 minutes to the first shoal but chose to turn there rather than run it in the C-1 and then finding I might not be able to get back up.
Sunday March 11, 2007
5 hours 20 minutes
Got a good look at the Suwannee River today. We paddled upstream for three hours then turned for home. Andy Triebold paddled a C-1 and showed excellent early season form by keeping up with the lead group of C-2's throughout the day. Lunch was at a high white sand dune extending back from the edge of the river. When lunch was over, and the boats were starting to leave, Tad Hill had this brilliant idea, he and Dave Jensen had taken their boat up to the top of the hill to eat lunch and would attempt to ride the boat down the dune into the river. The boat flew down the hill sinking the bow and Dave up to his chest in water when it hit the river. Amazingly the boat popped back up, but had taken on so much water that only about a couple of inches of freeboard remained. Tad and Dave slowly made their way to the side of the river where they were able to get out and empty the canoe.
Monday March 12, 2007
6 hours 45 minutes
Shuttled the canoes up to White Springs on the Suwannee. This was the longest day highlighted by the lunch stop at Suwannee Springs. The low water made this years trip 45 minutes longer than last year. The heat also took a toll on some. Billy from Indiana suffered a sugar problem and would abandon at Gibson Park (at the confluence of the Alapaha and Suwannee). Also, Tad Hill would miss today and the rest of the week due to strep throat.
Tuesday March 13, 2007
2 hours 40 minutes
Shuttled the canoes to the Alapaha River near the town of Jennings, south of the Georgia state line. We would start one bridge further downstream on the Alapaha than last year due to the lower water level. The Alapaha had a few shallower sections early in the trip but soon deepened and presented no problems. Ray Bauer would turn back early due to a flu bug that would later also take out his partner Tom Ackemeyer. Luckily, unlike Tad Hill, both were able to recover after a day of rest and return to paddle.
Wednesday March 14, 2007
5 hours 20 minutes
Today was an all day adventure. We started at Ichetucknee State Park, about an hour or so drive south of Live Oak. After descending the Ichetucknee River to the confluence of the Santa Fe we headed upstream to Ginnie Springs. As seems typical on this day, most of the teams were better matched and the pace hard. After returning to the start point to get rid of any food or drink we were carrying, we continued upstream on the Ichetucknee River about four miles to Ichetucknee Springs. Most of the paddlers swam in the clear cool waters of the spring before heading for the parking lot. On the way back to the campground we would feast at the Golden Corral in Live Oak, where everyone put back on the weight they had worked so hard to get off during the day.
Thursday March 15, 2007
3 hours
Started the day at a boat ramp about a mile below Blue Spring on the Withlacoochee River. From there we paddled upriver about two hours before turning for home. On the way back, Ed Lazar and Dwight Walker got a little crossed up while running a shoal and Dwight ended up out of the boat. Not a good place to be, because of the sharp limestone rocks. Dwight ended up with some damage to both his leg and his boat. Luckily both remained serviceable. Later while swimming in Blue Spring, Matt Streib would find a snake up on the steps leading out of the spring. He kicked it into the spring, and you should have seen how fast everyone sprang out of the water.
Friday March 16, 2007
4 hours 20 minutes
We did a little exploring today. Started the day at a boat ramp in the town of Steinhatchee on the Gulf of Mexico. First we paddled out to the Gulf and made a lap of one of the many island out there. On the way out a dolphin would cross my bow and then move across Jim Bauer and Alison Scott, and Ray Bauer and Tom Ackemeyer bows. I also heard that there were two dolphins riding Ed Lazar and Dwight Walkers stern wake. On the way up the Steinhatchee River we would pass by number of brown pelicans. We would paddle upstream about an hour hoping to see and alligator but none were to be seen that day. On the return, white pelicans were seen riding an updraft to gain altitude for their migration north. As we paddled past Hungry Howies, Marcia Rimer and Sarah Webb were up on the deck waving us in. It did not take much effort to get most of the paddlers to dock and have a cold beer. A great way to end a hot day of paddling. Later that evening I would paddle about an hour with Tad Hill, who was now feeling a little better, but was not quite ready to hammer yet. We would go down the Suwannee and run the shoal below the bridges, explore the power company canal and return.
Saturday March 11, 2006
4 hours 50 minutes
Some of the paddlers with long drives started leaving as early as Friday night. Others left first thing Saturday morning, while others participated in the interval workout at 8 in the morning, which lasts about an hour. I left early Saturday morning for the Okefenokee Swamp hoping to get a glimpse of an alligator or two. I was able to launch at Stephen Foster State Park after signing in at 8:30am and covered all the water that could be paddled without a overnight permit (about 25 miles). note: an overnight permit must be applied for at least 10 days in advance. After about a half hour I had my first wildlife encounter. An otter swam across my bow and up onto the bank. I scrambled for my camera but it was not wound and poorly positioned. I learned lesson number one, keep the camera ready at all times caus when thing happen they happen fast. A little later my first gator flew off the bank and crashed into the water. Around the bend another. I can't get the camera up to my face fast enough, so I started paddling with it in my lap. I gotta get one picture or no one will believe me. Finally I snuck up on a little four footer on a log who let me take his picture. By now I'm seeing lots of them, most about 10 or 12 feet long. I decided to count how many, discarding any that I did not see the body, just the explosion of water when they saw me first. I also discovered that if I saw them first, I could sneak up slowly and once close they froze rather than ran. I always made sure they had an escape route other than through me which would have been undesirable. While paddling around corners I would leave some room to the inside shore because sometimes a gator would be laying there and lung into the water. When I surprised them like this, the wave of these critters would rock the C-1 a tad which can be a little unnerving. By the time I returned to the boat ramp I had racked up a gator count of 94 and while loading up the boat, a kid, who was fishing, said to his mother look at the baby alligator. I walked over, and sure enough there was a two footer floating in the boat basin. Total alligator count was now 95 and I have thrown out at least 50 questionable sightings. If you like Alligators, Snakes and Jumbo Spiders this is the place to go. Oh, by the way, the paddling was not shabby either.
Huron River Reports - Joe Roman
Saturday. March 17, 2007
Sunny and 32 +/- degrees
Water level 3Õ-6Ó
Trip time: 3 hours 12 minutes.
Mike Garon and Doug Gillan and mark Bialek and Bill Dubois paddled C-2 while and Joe Roman paddled C-1. Wind!, always the wind, but in all a nice day to paddle. We made it from the dam to placeway in 46 minutes, and from the dam to dead dear in 58 minutes, from the dam to US-23 in 1 hour 18 minutes, and from the dam to US-23 and back to placeway in 2 hours 3 minutes. Total trip time 3 hours 12 minutes. I made sure to eat before practice this time, so I had plenty of energy, but maybe not enough to keep pace with the C-2 cruisers racing up river, but I was not far behind, not far behind at all.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Sunny and 40 +/- degrees
Water level 3.25 feet
Trip time: not recorded.
Mark Bialek and Bill Dubois, and Tim Feldcamp and Doug Heady in a C-2, While Bill Smitz and Tad Hill paddled C-1. Tim and Doug made the trip to US-23 and back, although Bill S. and Tad H. turned at dead dear, maybe they had to much fun in FloridaÉÉÉ Mark and Bill Dubois turned as well and escorted Bill and Tad back to the dam.
Saturday. March 10, 2007
Sunny and 40 +/- degrees
Water level 2Õ-6Ó
Trip time: 3 hours 30 minutes or so.
Mike Garon and Doug Gillan paddled C-2 while Dave Hallman and Joe Roman paddled C-1. It was a bit windy down from the damn and at US-23, but in all a nice day to paddle. I hit my head on a low hovering tree - that hurt. But Doug drew first blood hitting his head on a tree further upriver, hit so hard he shook the tree violently disturbing the water, yet the canoe stayed upright. Mike was nice enough to point out to me a below water damn when it stopped them dead in the water, yet again they stayed upright. Guess they figured it wasnÕt fair getting wet without Klinkhamer there to pass out any snorkel awards.
We passed Brad Wilson and Joe Pollock on the return trip. They put in at riverbend and paddled up to the damn and back. We stopped to talk a bit, and then I decided to take advantage of Mike and Doug and headed for the damn. DidnÕt save enough strength to carry my canoe from the river to my car, but Mike rescue me with a boost drink giving me enough strength to fasten my canoe to the car and get to a food source. Thanks Mike!
Sunday. March 11, 2007
Sunny and 40 +/- degrees
Trip time: 3 hours 22 minutes or so.
Mark Bialek and Bill Dubois paddled C-2 while Doug Heady paddled C-1. They went down to US-23 and back. They spotted some swans and geese but no threat. The real puzzler was a spotting of Brad Wilson standing next to a cute blonde on one of the bridges waving to the canoes passing by. First, why wasnÕt Brad in a canoe, and second, who was the blonde? Come guys, I doubt the fellas in Florida are laying on a beach somewhere soaking up any sun. CanÕt let them get the edge on us.
Tuesday, March 13 Ð paddle at 5pm. Island Lake Rec.
Wednesday, March 15 Ð paddle at 10am. Island Lake Rec.
Thursday, March 16 Ð paddle at 6pm. Bill Smitz backyard.
Saturday, March 17 Ð paddle at 12 noon. Island Lake Rec.
Sunday, March 18 Ð paddle at 12 noon. Island Lake Rec.
Next Saturday and Sunday Ð anyone up or an earlier paddle time? 10am start time in stead of 12 noon? Any takers?
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday March 3, 2007
30 degrees Kensington Gage 2.8 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Another cold windy day. Mike Garon and Doug Gillan brought a C-2 while Bill Schmitz, Joe Roman, Tad Hill and I paddled C-1's. We would paddle as far as Macabe Road before turning for home. On the way down we passed a TV filming crew from PBS at River Bend. They took plenty of shots of us as we went by. I do not know what show they were working on or rather we will end up in the final cut or not. My guess is it's a documentary on global warming. Picture this, Al Gore as narrator, "a hundred years ago you would never have seen a canoe on the river this time of year, and now on most any weekend ....... "
Sunday March 4, 2007
30 degrees Kensington Gage 2.8 feet
Paddling Time: 3 hours 21 minutes
Another winter day. Bill Dubois and Mark Bialek teamed up in a C-2 while Bill Schmitz, Tad Hill, Joe Roman and myself paddled C-1's. Tad and Joe were limited in time so turned back at River Bend while the remaining three boat went down to US23 before turning for home. On the way down we spotted the first Sandhill Crane of the year along with numerous ducks and swans.
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All,
What do you mean it's cold. Janet and I just paddled for 4 days in the Everglades and it was over 70 deg. every day. We are down here checking out our route for the Everglades Challenge that starts March 3rd. We had a surprise when we found out that someone near where we are camped has a Wi-Fi hot spot which allows me to get on line.
Bob and Janet Bradford
Sarasota FloridaEditors Note - The Everglades Challenge follows the SW Florida coast line from Fort Desoto in Tampa Bay, Florida to Key Largo and covers roughly 345 miles depending on the route chosen. There is a time limit of 8 days or less.
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Although some of us are off to Florida the next two weekends, that should not prevent you from getting out and paddling. There should be a lot of paddlers still in the neighborhood and if it gets a little warmer out they will start showing up.
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It's that time of year again when you need to do an inventory of your paddles. Bruce (Barton) and Bill (Schmitz) normally put their orders in the week after the Klondike Race.
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday February 24, 2007
24 degrees Kensington Gage 1.9 feet
Paddling Time: 3 hours 4 minutes
Well I don't think anyone really expected to see 50 degrees today, as was predicted a week ago, but it would have been nice if it was above freezing. At lease, since I'm retired now, I was able to get out during the week and enjoy paddling in 40+ degrees and sunny last Wednesday. I felt bad for all the paddlers who had to work that day. Mike Garon and Mark Bialek paddled a C-2 while Bill Schmitz and I were in C-1's. During the week I had removed the obstruction below the railroad bridge so now the river is clear to as far as where we turned around, which was about a half mile below Macabe Road. We had not been down that far since the wind and ice storms so was not sure what the river would look like. A new tree had toppled over blocking the river at our turn around point but should not present much of a problem nibbling away a path around the end of it. We could have portaged to get around but with so little river left until US23 we chose to head for home from there. We are now seeing lots of migratory birds, robins, woodpeckers, chickadees, hawks and a variety of ducks.
Sunday February 25, 2007
30 degrees Kensington Gage 1.9 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours
Snow, sleet, rain and wind what more could you ask for. By the time 12:00 rolled around it had stopped sleeting and since only Bill Schmitz and Mark Bialek had showed up to paddle, I suggested that we put in, out of the wind at Placeway and take care of that tree with the saw and pruning shears in the back of my van. That turned out to be a good choice as it was much warmer in the heavily wooded area that we would paddle and kept us closer to our vehicles if it started raining again. It would only take us about fifteen minutes to clear a path around the fallen tree so we then continued on downstream expecting to find more obstructions. The river would remain clear of trees all the way to Rikert Road which is where we chose to turn. At this point we now have a clear river for a minimum of a four hour paddle (starting from the dam), although there may still be problems in the mile below Rikert Road which we have not paddled yet. By the time we got back to the cars it had started to rain again and nobody was complaining about the short paddle.
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News from the MAC Indoor Track Championships in Akron Ohio - In the two events Jacob Dubois was entered in, he placed first in the 800 meters and was a member of one of Eastern's winning relay teams. Way to go Jake!
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday February 17, 2007
20 degrees Kensington Gage 1.9 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
Seven paddlers made the workout today, Brad Wilson and Travis in a C-2, and in C-1's, Bill Schmitz, John Hazel, Tad Hill, Mark Bialek and myself. Although we would make it a little farther down the river than last week, it was only about a few hundred meters. We were forced to turn about one bend upstream from Placeway. If we could just make it a little farther, Placeway Swamp would be behind us and the constricted river would be open probably as far as Dead Deer. Now that the water is receding, a couple of down trees are causing a bit of a problem. One which we pass under has been dropping faster than the water creating a very tight squeeze. I hope to get out a tad early tomorrow with a saw and eliminate that problem.
Sunday February 18, 2007
20 degrees Kensington Gage 1.9 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
About the same conditions as yesterday but with a bit more wind. I was able to get out early and paddle down to where the low squeeze under tree was. By the time the gang got down to me I had finished cutting up the tree and had already started to paddle back towards them. Bill Schmitz lead the group of Tad Hill, Mark Bialek and the C-2 of Brad Wilson and Joe Pollock. There is still one more problem tree located below the railroad bridge which needs to be addressed. It will be more difficult since it lies in fast water about three inches below the surface and is larger than the ones I did today. After joining up with the rest of the group we continued on downstream until ice impeded progress. This occurred about a couple hundred meters further downstream than Saturday and only about 50 meters short of clearing Placeway Swamp. The duck of the day was the canvasback. I ran into two small groups of about six birds on the way down to cut up the tree.
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As of this writing, the long range weather forecast for next Saturday and Sunday has temperatures of 51 and 50 respectively (I'll believe it when I see it). With temperatures in the 30's throughout this week the ice on the river should be gone by the weekend. If you come to paddle next weekend be prepared to go to US23 or ice, whichever comes first. These trips usually take about three and a half hours.***************
Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday February 3, 2007
12 degrees Kensington Gage 2.65 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
It would have been cold out today had it not been for the near hurricane winds and occasional snow squalls. Four C-1 paddlers got out on the river , Bill Schmitz, Tad Hill, Mike Garon and myself. I nicknamed Bill Schmitz boat the Mackinaw since he usually was the first one to smash through any ice obstructions we encountered. The first came about 15 minutes from the dam, at the fishing site. Shortly after that the river began running ice real bad. It had formed large pans of paper thin ice that made a scrunching noise as we paddled through. Making our way past River Bend Access we noticed that the woods were flooded. This was a sure sign of a ice dam ahead. Just below the railroad bridge a raccoon followed us along the right shore. He probably could not believe anyone would be out on the river on a day like this. Eventually we made it to the ice dam, which was located about halfway through Placeway Swamp. On the way back the wind started to really blow hard. In some of the open areas it would push the boats sideways into the ice shelfs along the river. Where the river was straight and open large waves formed as they were pushed up against the current adding to the excitement. Even getting the boats on the cars was a challenge, requiring two people, so one could hold down the boat while the other got a tie down on it. Spring seems far away today.
Sunday February 4, 2007
4 degrees Kensington Gage ~2.65 feet
Paddling Time: 1 hours 21 minutes
Not a good day for brass monkeys. Bill Schmitz and myself were the only paddlers willing to come out today. We ended up putting in at River Bend in order to avoid the wind in the open areas below the dam. The river was running ice the whole time we were out and the main channel was constricted due to ice shelves extending out from the shore. A couple of pop overs were required where we have to go around fallen trees, where, in the lower current areas near the edge of the river, ice had formed. We would paddle up as far as the fishing hole turn, from there we could see that the river was frozen over for the next 100 meters. Two laps up and one down (we were only able to make it about a quarter mile downstream from River Bend) was about all we could take.
Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care, Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday January 27, 2007
30 degrees Kensington Gage 2.85 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 44 minutes
Two C-2 teams showed up for the workout, Bill Dubois and Mike Garon, and Tim Feldkamp and Mark Bialek and four C-1's, Bill Schmitz, Grant Tally, Tad Hill and myself. It was not too bad of a day for a paddle, but would have been nicer had the sun come out. Even though it was really cold the previous week, we had do problems with ice all the way to Dead Deer. With the water dropping and little run off now entering the system we could start seeing a lot more ice forming if it stays cold. Tad Hill had his new Diller II out. He had to take the safe passages rather than risk bashing over logs like Bill and I do. I wonder if that is why the foam core in my boat is waterlogged.
Sunday January 28, 2007
23 degrees Kensington Gage 2.75 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Tad Hill, Bill Schmitz and myself would be the only paddlers today. I think the weather report had a few paddlers staying home. It ended up not being nearly as bad as the weatherman was predicting. We would eventually paddle all the way to Macabe Road before turning. After we got past Dead Deer Cut the river began running ice. With the cold week ahead I doubt we will be able to get beyond Dead Deer next weekend before being stopped by ice. Macabe Road was about as far as we could have gone. By the time we got back to the launching site Bill's feet were froze and I was starting to feel a number of cold spots. The good news is, the end of winter is now in sight.
Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday January 20, 2007
21 degrees Kensington Gage 3.3 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 51 minute
Today saw just six paddlers hit the water, Mike Garon and Bill Schmitz in a C-2 and in C-1's, Brooke Linford, Grant Tally, Mark Bialek and myself. It's amazing how many people have things that just have to be done when the temperature dips below 30 degrees. There are many new trees down in the river due to last weeks ice storm making it more of a challenge to figure out where the new lines are. The good news is, none of the trees block the river and holes have already been hacked in the ones that made it all the way across. We ended up paddling down to Dead Deer before turning for home. On the way back, Grant was able to record his first snorkel about 20 minutes out from the parking lot. He just jumped back in and kept on paddling.
Sunday January 21, 2007
25 degrees Kensington Gage 3.2 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 36 minutes
Four C-1's made the workout today, Bill Schmitz, Bill Dubois, Tim Valko, who paddled up from US23, and myself. On the way down, as we exited Kensington swamp, it began to rain. From that point on, until we finished, the rain slowly turned to ice than snow. Tim informed us that he thought he saw an eagle upstream of Macabe Road and sure enough, as we approached Macabe Road there was the eagle, except this time it sat on a tree next to the river until we were right up to it, so there was no doubt as to what we were looking at. This is the first eagle we have seen on the river in about five years. While carrying my boat back to the car I thought, this sucker feels like a tank due to two days of accumulated ice. When I arrived home, while unloading it from the car, I was reminded how heavy it was so I got out a scale to see what it weighed in at. I do not know what the Saturday morning weight was, but its new weight is a chunky 43 pounds. I'm going to have to wait until my wife is out of the house, so I can bring it in to thaw out, since my garage is not heated and it needs to be back to fighting weight by next weekend.
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Spongebob getting a helping hand moving his boat up from the river.
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday January 13, 2007
29 degrees Kensington Gage 3.4 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
Winter has finally arrived. Paddling C-2 today was Nick Walton and Tim Feldkamp while those choosing C-1's were Bill Schmitz, Brook Linford, Bill Dubois, Doug Heady, Joe Roman, and myself. Although it was not raining or sleeting when we started out that was not the case in the morning. With the skies still gray and threatening I thought it best to only go as far as Macabe Road, so that if it started up again we would not be too far away from the parking lot and warm cars. This ended up to be a brilliant plan, not because it started to rain again, but because I would snorkel on the way back. Its been a couple of years since I've been in the creek so I figured I was due. With the newly arrived cold weather it was nice that there was little wind and the below freezing temperatures must have moved in early in the morning because all the high water grass cuts were still open, and being used by some. For Joe Roman it was a test day. He paddled Nick's Diller X C-1 to see how he likes it. He was seen often at the front of the pack pushing the pace on the way down to Macabe Road. Speaking of Nick, he will be missing for a few weeks due to hernia surgery. That news got me to thinking, seems I know more canoeist who have had hernia surgery than not.
Sunday January 14, 2007
30 degrees Kensington Gage 3.4 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 33 minutes
Weather predictions for today were bleak, freezing rain and sleet. Amazingly by noon the rain had stopped and the three (Bill Schmitz, Tad Hill and myself) C-1 paddlers who showed up were rewarded with a near perfect winter paddling day. I was a little concerned, at first, when I took my boat off the car. It had gained about 40 pounds of ice overnight. Luckily, when Bill Schmitz arrived with his and Tad's boats, he had also left them on the van overnight and they were equally weighted down. Once the boats were on the river, their icicles pointing up along the gunwale, they looked like med evil battleships. We again would paddle as far as Macabe Road before turning, figuring we were already pushing our luck with the weather and knew if we were to go for US-23, when we got there, that would be the time it would start dumping on us.
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Tad Hill getting ready for the Florida training camp.
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday January 6, 2007
43 degrees Kensington Gage 3.5 feet
Paddling Time: 3 hours 12 minutes
The warm weather continues to bring out the paddlers. Paddling C-2's were Tim Feldkamp and Joe Roman, Mark Bialek and Brad Wilson, and Brad Gross and Tad Hill. Paddling C-1's were Bill Schmitz, Bill Dubois, Doug Heady, Brook Linford and myself. Also paddling back to US23 with us was Tim Valko, Bob Mitchell and Nick Walton. Anytime you get that many boats, ruffling up the river you can bet something is going to happen. Nick claimed two snorkels on his way back to US23 while Doug managed one on the way back. With the water up as high as it is now, it makes the upstream section faster than normal. Unlike many rivers, the Huron through Island Lake, the current does not get faster as the water rises, it only gets deeper. This makes it easy to follow the shore and take advantage of the eddies that normally would have very little water. Today our downstream run to US23 was completed in 1 hour 25 minutes while the upstream paddle took 1 hour 47 minutes.
Sunday January 7, 2007
35 degrees Kensington Gage 3.5 feet
Paddling Time: 3 hours 6 minutes
Another fast run down to US23 and back. Paddling C-1's today was Bruce Barton, Bill Schmitz, Tad Hill, Tim Feldkamp, Brooke Linford and myself. Meeting us for the paddle back to US23 was the C-2 of Tim Valko and Bill Dubois. With the lack of snow in the LP we are seeing people show up to paddle that we normally do not see until spring. This weekend Bruce Barton and Doug Heady were both in the canoe. This has got to have the big ski race organizers (Vasa, White Pine) concerned as their race dates approach. Todays paddle consisted of hard sections interspersed with harder sections. With the water up it is nice because if you get a little behind there are a number of places shortcuts can be made. It went without saying that if you were in the lead pack you had to stay in the river bed. Although it rained before we got back to the take out, it still was one of the better workouts so far this year.
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New Years Day as the group paddles past River Bend Access
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Mike Bradford is building a new Gillies design strip C-1. If this design proves successful, Mark Rimer plans to build a mold from it. Sorry, no estimates on availability yet.
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.Take Care, Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Brooke Linford leading the pack past the Huron River Access Site.
Wednesday December 27, 2006
38 degrees Kensington Gage 2.6 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 33 minutes
Not a bad turnout for a mid week paddle. Mark Bialek and Tim Feldkamp teamed up in a C-2 while Bill Schmitz, Brooke Linford, Doug Heady and myself paddled C-1's. Doug normally would have been out skiing this time of year but so far the winter is having trouble kicking in. From what I hear, most of the LP is free of snow. We would make the usual trip to Dead Deer and back with nothing unusual happening along the way. Dave Hallman, who works a few minutes away from Island Lake, skipped out for lunch and took some pictures of us as we paddled by. He said he was envious of us being able to get out during the week, and he should be.
Thursday December 28, 2006
39 degrees Kensington Gage 2.6 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Mark Bialek and Tim Feldkamp teamed up today in a C-2 while Bill Schmitz and I brought our C-1's. It was a nice day so we added a little extra to the normal Dead Deer run, eventually turning at Macabe Road. Other than a few fisherman along the bank there were no others to be seen. I think the fishermen are the fellows who would normally be out ice fishing on Kent Lake but there is no ice to be found anywhere. Bill and I joke that if we did the Chain of Lakes trip it would be the first time anyone has done it in December. Looking at the long range weather forecast, there is not any real cold weather predicted.
Saturday December 30, 2006
47 degrees Kensington Gage 2.5 feet
Paddling Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Sunny, warm and no wind, a good day for a long paddle. Mike Garon and Doug Gillan paddled a C-2 while Bill Schmitz, Dave Hallman, Brooke Linford, Tim Feldkamp, Doug Heady, Mark Bialek and myself chose C-1's. The C-2 of Mike and Doug would make it all the way down to Macabe Road before turning for home leaving Bill, Tim, Mark, Doug and I to continue on down to US-23 before turning. It was a great day to be out on the river and it was not very difficult to sucker the other C-1's into going a bit farther than usual. The water in the river has finally dropped to the point where there is starting to be some areas where you can actually get the boat up on plane. On the way back Doug, Bill and I cut through the weeds where the carp hang out chasing up hundreds of them. ><))))*>
Sunday December 31, 2006
40 degrees Kensington Gage 2.45 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 6 minutes
Bill Schmitz, Mark Bialek, Tim Feldkamp and I would be the only paddlers out on this rainy windy day. Due to the continuous rain we only went as far as Placeway Island before turning for home. We were four wet puppies by the time we got back to the cars but worked hard enough to keep warm for the entire trip.
Monday January 1, 2007
37 degrees Kensington Gage 2.8 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 50 minutes
Thirteen paddlers made the New Years Day paddle. Mike Garon and Doug Gillin paddled a C-2 while Nick Walton, Brooke Linford, Doug Heady, Tim Feldkamp, Dave Hallman, Bob Mitchell, Bill Schmitz, Joe Roman, Tim Valko, Mark Bialek and I paddled C-1's. Most of us would paddle down to Dead Deer today. Mark made it for about a mile before New Years Eve caught up with him and he was forced to turn back. A little after that, while paddling through the Huron River Access turn, Nick Walton earned a snorkel. Mike Garon, who is an expert on the water depth on that corner, gave Nick advice on what way to head to find shallower water. Nick then jumped back in the boat and paddled the remaining hour and a half without incident. We would meet Tim Valko in Placeway swamp. He had paddled up from US-23. After turning Dead Deer Tim would leave us and head back to US-23 shortly before we got back to Placeway. While passing through the woods a herd of five deer crossed the river about twenty meters in front of us. These were the first deer I've seen in Island Lake this year. As we were loading up the boats a light rain began to fall marking an end to another great day on the river.
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday December 23, 2006
40 degrees Kensington Gage 2.6 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 35 minutes
The wind speed and the temperature were about the same today, add to that a steady light rain and it was hard to believe seven people showed up to paddle. Joe Pollock and Brad Wilson paddled a C-2 up from Placeway meeting us at the dam while Brooke Linford, Tim Feldkamp, Joe Roman, Bill Schmitz and myself paddled C-1's. Typical of that kind of day, it took a little while to warm up to it. The wind across Kensington Swamp negated any benefit that going down stream gave. Bill, Joe Roman and I would eventually make it all the way down to Dead Deer before turning while Christmas chores had Tim and Brooke turning back a tad earlier.
Sunday December 24, 2006
40 degrees Kensington Gage 2.8 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
Christmas Eve Day. Even though it was a nice sunny day it was not surprising only four paddlers showed up. Tim Feldkamp had lost his partner and had a C-2 with him, so I teamed up with him while Tad Hill and Bill Schmitz paddled C-1's. We, once again, paddled down to Dead Deer pulling fairly hard on the oar most of the way. Had to keep the pace up so as to leave enough time to do my Christmas shopping. :-)
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Last Saturday Mark Bialek brought his photo equipment out to Island Lake where Brooke Linford used it to take a group picture in the parking lot. He forwarded that picture and one he took during the evening of the Northern Lights. Both turned out well. I thought it might be interesting to use the Northern Lights picture as a backdrop for the group picture. The results follow:
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We will paddle the Wednesday, December 27, between Xmas and New Years. Same time, same place.
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It's time to put away the 2006 Paddling Log Book and open up the 2007. Don't forget Monday, January 1, 2007 12:00 at Island Lake for the annual New Years Day paddle.
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Last chance to log some 2006 hours, next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday December 16, 2006
40 degrees Kensington Gage 3.0 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 43 minutes
Another warm day. Three C-2's and four C-1's would make the workout today. The C-2's were paddled by Tim Feldkamp and Joe Roman, Joe Pollock and Brad Wilson, and Mike Garon and Bill Dubois. Paddling the C-1's was Bill Schmitz, Tad Hill, Mark Bialek and myself. The pace was quick from the start with the C-2 of Joe and Tim pushing it until relinquishing the lead to Bill Schmitz. As we worked our way through the woods above Placeway swamp, while making their way through a constricted area, Joe and Tim captured the first snorkel (or is that snorkels) of the year. Joe reports that the water is really cold, not surprising since Kent Lake had froze over the night before. After a short break while Joe and Tim changed clothes we were once again on our way towards our turnaround point, Dead Deer. After rounding Dead Deer Island the group stayed fairly close together with no boat really able to pull too far ahead. This changed a little as we passed through Placeway Swamp where Mike and Bill put on a surge which really strung the chasers out. Later while passing through the woods we ran across Brooke Linford and his buddy Vince who were paddling one of Bill Schmitz old C-2's that Brooke has rebuilt. It's good to see the old boats on the water. With the water running at 3 feet, a few were tempted to take shortcuts on some of the turns. Tad Hill made was able to move to the front of the pack on the way down by executing two push through the weeds in 3 inches of water shortcuts. He would pay the price on the way back, executing the first slide over to take the lead, then running hard aground on the second to end up in the back of the group.
Sunday December 17, 2006
48 degrees Kensington Gage 3.0 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 38 minutes
What started out to be a gray drizzly day had turned into a nice paddling day by the 12:00 start time. Six C-1's made it to Island Lake, Bill Schmitz, Tim Feldkamp, Mark Bialek, Brooke Linford, Tad Hill and myself. We moved briskly down to Placeway turning a time of 49 minutes to the bridge, which normally takes over 50 minutes. The group continued down as far as Macabe Road passing through our usual turn around point of Dead Deer Cut. It was such a nice day we figured we needed to add a tad more to the paddle. Others on the river were a couple of rec kayaks and our friend Thorsten who was out testing his new high performance yak. All in all, a great day on the river.
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Next weekend we will paddle Saturday and Sunday but will probably cut the Sunday paddle a little short since it is Christmas Eve.
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We will paddle the Wednesday between Xmas and New Years. Same time, same place.
***************
It's time to put away the 2006 Paddling Log Book and open up the 2007. Don't forget Monday, January 1, 2007 12:00 at Island Lake for the annual New Years Day paddle.
***************
Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday December 9, 2006
35 degrees Kensington
Gage 2.9 feet Paddling
Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Still a lot of water in the river for todays paddle. Mike Garon and Doug Gillan brought their C-2, while Dave Hallman, Brooke Linford, Tim Feldkamp, Joe Roman, Bill Dubois, Tad Hill, Bill Schmitz and myself paddled C-1's. It must have been real cold during the week because there was plenty of ice on the river. All of the usual short cuts were froze over and many of the turns had ice in the normal canoe line. Still, it was clear sailing all the way to Dead Deer, with the biggest problem being the wind which was trying real hard to twist the C-1's around in the open areas. Tad Hill averted a snorkel when he got his paddle tangled up in a log and almost got pulled out of the boat. He barely got the paddle unhooked and out of the water in time to slam down a brace, which popped him back up.
Sunday December 10, 2006
47 degrees Kensington
Gage 2.8 feet Paddling
Time: 2 hours 34 minutes
Sunny, warm, plenty of water in the river, it don't get much better than this. Tim Feldkamp and Mark Bialek paddled their C-2 while Bill Schmitz, Tad Hill, Bill Dubois, Doug Heady, and myself chose C-1's. We made the usual run to Dead Deer but if we were in better shape would have gone farther. The good weather even suckered Doug Heady out, who would normally have been skiing. The water dropped another inch overnight, but we need it to get down to about 2 feet before the good planning water starts to show up. We only saw one rec boat today. Where have they all gone? If New Years Day is half way decent we should see quite a few, since the local canoe club runs a float trip on the river that day.
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Don't forget Monday, January 1, 2007 12:00 at Island Lake for the annual New Years Day paddle.
***************
Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Huron River Reports - Dan Klinkhamer
Saturday December 2, 2006
32 degrees
Kensington Gage 3.5 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
A Gray day greeted the paddlers who showed up for the first day of the winter season. Bill Schmitz, Tim Feldkamp and Brooke Linford, who is visiting from Virginia where he is working as a ranger at Shenandoah National Park, were in C-1's while Bill Dubois and myself choose a C-2. The water was very high after several days of rain but we were able to squeeze under the two low bridges without too much trouble. We would go all the way to Dead Deer Cut and by the time we were heading back it was sunny out and the wind had dropped. Overall it was a quiet day on the river, there were no animal sightings and only a couple of hunters in the woods. With the water running as deep as it is now, it takes most of the good planing areas away and replaces them with suck water. The good side of it is, we were able to hold the edges of the river with plenty of water to paddle in.
Sunday December 3, 2006
26 degrees
Kensington Gage 3.6 feet
Paddling Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Everyone in C-1's, Bill Schmitz, Bill Dubois, Tim Feldkamp and myself. Those who showed up got a special present before leaving on the training paddle. Bill Schmitz gave everyone a package of ground deer. I decided to be the first one through Valko Cut this year, and discovered that the cattails really grew in over the summer. The shortcut only cost me about two minutes but my boat looked like one of those layout boats the duck hunters use the rest of the day, due to all the cattails that were in it. After going down to Dead Deer we held a steady pace back to the parking lot. Not a bad day considering the temperature and wind.
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The park ranger says that he should have the 07 State Park stickers in next week.
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Next Saturday and Sunday, 12:00 at Island Lake. This is the routine every weekend until ice out on the lakes. Bring a beater paddle for the first 200 meters below the Dam.
Take Care,
Dan Klinkhamer
Start of the Winter Paddling Season
The first weekend in December is coming up and the winter canoeing season is upon us. We will paddle Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 from the dam at Island Lake Rec Area starting December 2nd. This is the routine until the Klondike Race weekend near the end of March.
Later in the season we will sort out a preferred C-1 day and a preferred C-2 day, but for now bring what you got. Remember, C-2's are a tad more stable than C-1's. Bill Dubois and myself will be paddling a C-2 on Saturday. Be sure to pack your dry bag with an emergency change of clothes just in case of a mishap.
The long paddle for the day will most likely go to Dead Deer, about 2.5 hours total. Mike Garon and Doug Gillen paddled this loop last weekend and report clear sailing all the way. There are usually some who will turn before then. Although we should have plenty of water, bring a beater paddle for the last hundred meters up by the dam. Better safe than sorry.
See you this weekend,
Dan Klinkhamer
Canoe Racing in the late 60's & early 70's
a email message from Jane Cool-TracyGreetings to MCRA:
My name is Jane Cool and while plunking away on the internet tonight, I thought I would see if there was a MCRA website and lo and behold !! There is !!
I have very fond memories of racing with the MCRA. My father, Larry Cool and his partner, Alan Near raced from aproximately the mid to late 60's and into the early to mid 70's.
We spent numerous weekends traveling around Michigan, flying up and down the dirt roads, from one bridge to the next, yelling and cheering for "Dad & Alan" ! Myself and a few of my brothers, Mike, Andy & Matt all tried our hands at racing as well although not as seriously as Dad & Alan. If I remember correctly, I actually won a race or 2. It seems like myself and a friend, Pat Copeland won the Holly Millpond race one year in the mid to late 70's. (maybe we were only 2nd or 3rd but, I remember having several trophies)!! It seems like there were even a few races in ??New York?? and Canada. ??Jamestown?? Quebec?? I remember the Poncha-Stroh ?? race on the Detroit river and there was a race from Holly to Fenton or visa-versa. Those were the days !! Dad used to build cedar strip racing canoes in the garage. I'll never forget the smell of the cedar, fiberglass and resin. That was before they came out with Kevlar. I've tried to talk Dad into building one for me but, hasn't happened yet so, I won't hold my breath ! I've been told that one of his canoe's are hanging in the Fenton Inn on Owen road in Fenton, Michigan.
A few of the fellow canoe racers names I remember are- Al Widing, the Kellog's, "Big John" Baker, Ed Adams, Bill Schmidt, Don Pruet, Gary Munson or Mundy and the Kreuger's. I may have spelled some of the last names incorrectly but, at the time I knew them I was just a little gal so, my memory is just a bit rusty.......and who was the one racer who used to jog up and down Grange Hall road, between Fenton and Holly???? Anyone remember??
My Dad has a photo album full of old pictures which I still enjoy seeing. My-oh-my, do I ever remember Dad preparing for the Marathon !! What a big thing that was, all the way from Grayling to Oscoda. It is so great to see the MCRA is still "up-and-paddlin" and it appears as though there is pretty decent turn-out and the children are still involved. (They will always remember their family canoe racing weekends).
Dad and I live in Eagle River, Alaska. Dad has been here for about 20 years and I have lived here year around for 15 years. We don't do much canoe racing !! But, my husband and I and also Dad & Suzanne, have whitewater rafts and spend quite a bit of time on the rivers during the summer. As I'm sure you have probably heard, we have pretty good fishing up in these here hills !!!!
I really enjoyed viewing your website. I checked out every inch in hopes of seeing a sort of "Alumni" spot and possibly some pictures of the 'ole crew but, enjoyed it just the same. Keep up the good work and enjoy the rivers and lakes !
Happy Paddlin'
Jane Cool-Tracy
