Big Sioux River Cruise

Pictures will go in first this time:

This is what we woke up to Saturday morning. This is Eric's tent which was next to our motor home.

Part of the group ready to launch from the pow wow grounds.

Ryan.

Eric.

Not sure what Ryan is pointing to. Must be one of those Lewis and Clark moments.

The dam at Flandreau.

The pictures from here on down were taken as people
went past the campground east of Flandreau.

Into Farm Island

After some rain earlier in the weekend Pat and I decided to get the boats out again. Since we haven't been down there yet we decided it would be a good day to go into Farm Island. We met at the main boat ramp and headed east along the island. There was a littel bit of a tail wind on the way back and I forgot how easily the Tempest gets turned in the wind. So, I broke down and put the skeg part way down to track straighter. When we got to the point where you can go into the island we went in and into the channel that is the farthest towards the center of the island, past the old Lewis and Clark Monument. We continued until we couldn't go any farther. Pelicans were flying around and we both kept trying to get good pictures of them, but they always seem to stay away or go by when we don't have cameras at ready. I got one picture of some as they were flying right over head by laying back on my kayak. Unfortuantely they were still a bit too high.

Naturally, the wind we fought outside the island was nearly nonexistent in the island. We thought it would be a bit of a chore to paddle back after exiting the island and into the wind. But, it really wasn't too bad. The Tempest cuts through the waves so well that I enjoy going into them more than I do having them at my back. All of the paddling effort is used for propulsion and none is "wasted" on trying to keep on track. By the time we got back to our vehicles we had put on another 4 miles. Just a short paddle, but it was nice to get back to a new spot for the year. Our timing was pretty good too. About the time we got done loading boats, paddles, PFDs, etc., the wind started to pick up.

La Framboise Circumnavigation

On the 13th, the weather was so nice that Pat was able to convince me to go out after work. Not that it took a lot of arm twisting. At about 5:30 we headed down to the causeway to make a trip around LaFramboise Island. Along the main channel there is a spot where you can go in through the island. This makes the trip a little shorter, but at times there isn't enough water to paddle and you end up using your hands to propel yourself through the water. Even though this makes for a shorter trip it probably results in a trip taking the same amount of time than if you went all the way around the tip of the island. We covered 5.7 miles and were done well before dark. Sure is nice now that it stays light so much later than it did a few months ago.

First Paddle in April

With the weather acting a little more like spring we decided to spent the weekend at the campground near the Oahe Dam. There were not many people camping, but there were 3 kayaks between the 2 campers along the water. With Pat coming out to join us there were a total of 4 kayaks out on the water on Good Friday. Gary, Lenise, Pat and I launched near the campground and traveled up the stilling basin. With the warmer weather and the holiday weekend we had to share the water with more motor boats as fishermen rushed back abd forth trying to find some fish to catch. From where we launched we went up to the outlets, back past the stating point, out t the main channel and back for a total of about 4 miles. The boats ranged from the 12 footers used by Gary and Lenise to my 17 foot Tempest, this being the first time it has been on the water in 2009.

Nothing much to report but the fact that I have now extended my streak to 25 straight months of paddling.