This lake is probably quite pretty, but we really couldn’t see much of the water surface. We got to it too late in the season – it was just packed with vegetation. The canoe did ok in this thick plant material, but kayak paddles would probably get tangled due to the different pattern of paddle strokes. We heard about Red Cedar Lake in one of the paddling books, and it sounded idyllic; we guess they must have gone in the spring. We probably will not try again this year.
Continue reading Red Cedar Lake 2018 (first time)
Category: Waterways (other)
First Time on the Black River
Background:
We won a guided paddle trip on the Black River in the River Alliance Auction. Ken Schreiber worked for the DNR for many years and knows the Black River well and suggested that the Hall’s Creek to Black River Falls segment would Continue reading First Time on the Black River
Skokie Lagoons (First time!)
Deb’s sister-in-law declared a goal to paddle the Skokie Lagoons which is north of Chicago. Our friends Jeanne and Katia live close by and the weekend we were driving through we decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, my sister-in-law could not join us but we are determined to help her achieve this achievable goal. Continue reading Skokie Lagoons (First time!)
Mississippi River with a guide
We bid and won an auction item from the River Alliance – a guided Mississippi River paddle with John Sullivan! Since up to four paddlers could go, we gave it to our friends for a Xmas present. We enjoyed Continue reading Mississippi River with a guide
Ennis Lake 2015
Leisurely one-hour paddle on this serene isolated lake with clear water very sparkly in the late afternoon sun. Continue reading Ennis Lake 2015
Illinois Fox River at Big Bend, WI
This trip is a segment of Illinois Fox River 1 in Mike Svob’s book.
Flow at Waukesha gauge 05543830: 101 csf (median for this date 43csf)
Left at 4pm. 1.5 hour drive from Madison to Big Bend Village Park which has a nice concrete boat ramp and plenty of parking.
1 hour to unload boats, find bathroom. Floyd E Swayze Memorial Center(Lions Club) is next to the landing, but it is unclear if it is public or private. Mobil Gas Station is 0.5 miles.
In water 6:20. Turned around just past golf course, approx 2 mi from put-in. Slow current, no blockages or grounding. Water clear but lots of duckweed.
Saw ducks and swallows-not much else. Heard cranes. Pretty and quiet. Encountered family of kids and dad and fishing boat. Very cloudy. Dewpoint 72. Out at 8 o’clock in darkness.
with J&K.
Illinois and Michigan Canal (Illinois)
We picked this location because it was close to the Farnsworth House, which we toured beforehand, and Oswego, where we saw a program of short films (Luna Fest) after canoeing. It was a cloudy, cool, breezy day in the 60’s. Continue reading Illinois and Michigan Canal (Illinois)
Kickapoo River (not the crazy section)
This was a Saturday, and we really don’t enjoy the upper section of the Kickapoo with the raucous weekend boaters. We sought out a lower section, not as popular which is fine with us. This trip is a section of Kickapoo River 5 in Paddling Southern Wisconsin. Continue reading Kickapoo River (not the crazy section)
Baraboo River Wonewoc
Launch
Put-in to Baraboo River at Wonewoc (state road 33 near state road FF) – seem to remember it was a city boat ramp but this note is being written years later. Paddled upstream 2.5 miles. On river 4pm, off 7pm Home 9pm Continue reading Baraboo River Wonewoc