There being no public access to the Wisconsin River at Blackhawk Island any longer, we were planning to attend an orientation at Upham Woods, get their Paddle Pass (register link), then launch from their private canoe beach Continue reading Blackhawk Island Upham Woods now requires a paddle pass
Recon: Fox River Wick’s Landing Lock & Dam
We are familiar with paddling north on the fox from Hiestand Park in Princeton but we had not paddled south. It made us wonder what the next put-in was and read about the goings on at Lock Road. Continue reading Recon: Fox River Wick’s Landing Lock & Dam
The Opposite of Last Week’s Sugar River Paddle
Last week we paddled the Sugar from Albany to Sweet Minihaha Campground with hundreds of tubers. This week, paddling upstream from Avon Bridge (Station #5) and back, we had the river to ourselves.
On a beautiful early September Saturday, we decided to check out another segment of the Sugar River Canoe Trail. Continue reading The Opposite of Last Week’s Sugar River Paddle
Recon: Sugar River Clarence Bridge Park
Sugar River Water trail is nicely mapped out but we have to know “is it for us”. Some sections are marked as “brutal” on the signage! At least they are honest. One of my worst paddles ever was on the Sugar River due to dead-fall but other places it is very serene. Continue reading Recon: Sugar River Clarence Bridge Park
Dodging the Tubers on the Sugar River 2019
The day was sunny, in the mid 70’s with little wind when we paddled Sugar River Station 11a to 10. We knew we would share the river with some tubers, but we underestimated their numbers. Fortunately, they were well-behaved for the most part, even though a lot of alcohol was being consumed. One set of tubers had an inflatable bull to ride. Continue reading Dodging the Tubers on the Sugar River 2019
Lucky on Lulu Lake (first & last time probably)
We heard about Lulu Lake from Gathering Waters that holds Land Trust Days events each year. The Nature Conservancy has helped protect a total of 2,824 acres in the Mukwonago Watershed. Continue reading Lucky on Lulu Lake (first & last time probably)
Fox River Ice Cream Bridge to Lock Road (park)
Due to various factors, our third paddle of 2019 was in August. The water levels had been high and that was reflected in the park. It was quite a wet field with some standing water remaining.
A couple of changes at the put-in: Continue reading Fox River Ice Cream Bridge to Lock Road (park)
Mirror Lake Sludgy Start 2019
Traditionally our first paddle of the season is Mirror Lake into Del-boo creek with hopes of seeing sandhill cranes nesting. Our usual put-in is the city ramp but the water was very low and there was too much algae to venture in without stepping in it. We went “up the road a piece” to another less-developed ramp but it too was unacceptable. Thus and so Continue reading Mirror Lake Sludgy Start 2019
Devils Lake (First and probably last time)
Most residents in Wisconsin have a fond enthusiasm for Devils Lake State Park. Maybe since we didn’t grow up here in the dairy state we don’t have the same dreamy associations. So to start getting to know this area a bit, we decided to paddle the circumference of the lake. The summer of 2018 was a time of flooding and high water that made many of our lovely rivers inadvisable to be upon.
One thing you will love – no gas motor boats are allowed! Continue reading Devils Lake (First and probably last time)
Lower Nemahbin 2018 (new dam, high water)
Somehow we didn’t get to the Lower Nemahbin in 2017 so we were twice as delighted to go back there on a weekday before the multitudes arrive for Labor Day.
Continue reading Lower Nemahbin 2018 (new dam, high water)