The Prairie Paddler: May 2008

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Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

IMG_0911
Originally uploaded by jayalbionheath

The ground is not already shaking, but the annual South Dakota Canoe Association paddling fair kicks off at 1 p.m. sharp Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Lake Alvin. Bring a buddy, bring a boat, bring a smile, because we plan on making hay while the sun shines, people.

This annual event is a showcase for boats, paddlers, paddles, anything and everything paddling, and we hope to entertain you.

SDCA members will bring as many boats as they can haul, then allow curious public, or other members, to try different craft. If weather allows, we hope to sponsor a couple of demonstrations, including an assisted rescue.

This image I posted is SDCA board member Pete Larsen executing a roll at the 2007 event. There had been several 80-degree days that year, so it's hard to say if Pete will be rolling this year.

Regardless, the event is free, and we'll gather at the northwestern edge of Lake Alvin, where there's a dock and parking area, even a vault toilet, so please come out.


If you know anyone who paddles or who is a member of the SDCA who does not visit this site regularly, call them and remind them or invite them, please.

To get to Lake Alvin, drive to Harrisburg, then take the main road (273rd St.) out of town to the east. You'll approach the southwestern tip of the lake, there's a gravel road there going north (479th Ave.) so take it, then follow the road until you see the parking area, it's on the right/lakeside of this gravel road.

Do not use the main entry to the park that is on Highway 135. If you come that way, continue south to 273rd, turn right, and drive about one mile to the gravel road, which is marked as 479th Ave. Then follow above directions.

SDCA president Eugene Preston and board member ShaRon Kelly will serve as "beach masters" and assist any and all who need it. Both will bring canoes, so anyone interested in learning a few strokes or techniques, come with questions for them.

Bring friends who have asked about kayaking or canoes and want to take a test drive. Ask to borrow someone's boat. It's a fair, after all.

But flotation devices are required for anyone on the water, and we recommend children younger than 16 come with an adult.

We're due some break in this unpleasant spring weather, and forecasts call for sun and high 70s that day, so we'll see you out there, it will be fun.

Who knows, perhaps we'll all be rolling, catching fish, and taking photos. See you Sunday.

Pool training session rollin' good time

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Originally uploaded by Iron Bieso

About 10 kayakers showed up at the YWCA today for two hours time on the controlled, warm waters of the pool. Much was learned, and Pete Larsen was the event MVP, patiently teaching roll techniques to those who sought 'em.

Others practiced exits and self-rescues, assisted rescues, and various other moves. It was a workout! I know I left with a few scrapes and bruises from fighting my way back into my boat.

It was certainly a good first-time event, and we will set another session date soon. We will have it in the newsletter, and we'll post about it here, but if you know any paddlers who might not be on the Net much, pass the word.

We are hoping to get 10 or more new paddlers to the next session, i.e., we'll only have those individuals who paddled May 17 back if we have room, to share the water time.

With luck, we hope to plant a twice-monthly regular YWCA event for paddlers through the winter. Keep coming back here for more info on the next session.

Jarett

Pool Session Details

What: SDCKA Pool Session
When: Saturday, May 17th @ 11:30am
Where: Downtown YWCA in Sioux Falls
Why: To practice safety techniques, wet exits and rolling

What to bring:

• Clean (inside & out) kayak
• PFD
• Paddle
• Spray skirt (if you have one)
• Dry clothes / Water clothes
• goggles, nose plugs or any other underwater device that you prefer

Please park on Dakota Avenue (see map below) and enter through the back alley door (also see map). Jarett or I will be at the YWCA around 11:15 to make sure that the door is open. If you'd like to drop your boat off next to the door and then park, that is fine with the Y. There is open swim/lessons until noon, but we'll want to maximize our two hours by getting boats-on-deck as that ends.
Parking along the street is free on weekends.

Due to the tiles around the pool area, metal/aluminum canoes are not allowed.

The pool is very large and will easily fit 5 + boats in the water at a time. Everyone will get plenty of time to practice up.

The pool temp is currently at 85 degrees - and it slopes from 4 feet to 10 feet. We will have 4 lanes to work in.

Signed up for this event so far is:

1. Jarett
2. Laura
3. Jay
4. Mark H.
5. Bruce W.
6. Rick J.
7. Shel B.
8. Steven D.
9. Pete L.
10. Mary F.
11. Mike Z.
12. Ed H.
13. Kay H.

If you have not signed up yet - please email me at dahlmeis@hotmail.com to RSVP. We are limiting this session to 15 paddlers.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks.

Nine into the rain: wet but worth it

The second in the series of SDCA monthly cruises went down May 10 with rain and a group of nine kaykers on the Missouri River, but a hoot was had across the board, and save for some bitter winds at the end of the event, it was a worthy endeavor and one the club will consider returning to in June and July. Hopefully, on a 72-degree day with mostly sunny conditions.

But even with 50-degree temps and a steady drizzle, the cruise reminded us all again and again that it is a living, untamed entity. The views at the start rocked. My buddy Jim and I made a mental list of "things on the cruise we are glad we didn't end up paddling over" as there are mean-looking stumps, trunks, and debris everywhere.

Our put-in spot is the Myron Grove Recreation Area, aka "High Lines," and as you can see, it has ample parking and a nice dock. The water levels were down quite a bit, but will soon rise when the Corps does their thing.

After we put in, we hugged the Nebraska shore, but soon found the 120-foot long steamship skeleton. Basically all of the stuff sticking out of the water behind the paddlers in this photo here are hull ribs, rudders, and wreckage. The current moves over the wreck, so it was hard to get great images, but I think Steven Dahlmeier may add some.

Our group dressed for the elements. It wasn't too bad, on the cruise, but the rain was continuous, and it certainly wasn't warm. We took a break at a sand bar and stretched our legs.

Cruise leader Rick Johns did a great job organizing this trip. We met at Holmes Welding as planned, loaded boats to a trailer, and
combined cars to go up (and to the bottom) with grace. Rick's knowledge of the river, along with Larry Braaten's riversmarts, really kept us in the channel and off the sandbar shallows, for the most part. In the rain, this was greatly appreciated. It felt good on this big water knowing Rick knew our way, and he wasn't too far away.






You here can see the rain, our constant companion. We did have a few other guests: geese, naturally, a few well-wishing humans who called out good luck from the Nebraska shore, the piping plover were abundant over some of the sandbars, darting and diving in the wind, and we saw at least three eagles, including this poor photo that roughly shows a yearling we saw on the ground, near the water. In the photo, there's a goose-colored mass, and that's him, I do apologize for the low-quality image, but I didn't want to get up on him and the current was not exactly permissive.

Godspeed, little eagle.

After the break, I think no one felt like lounging down the river, as it was simply unfriendly that day, rain-wise. There was little chit-chat or meeting up as we all just chugged downriver. The bridge was a charlatan image, we saw it and thought it'd be dry cars in no time, but alas, it was still 40 minutes (or more) distant.

Yes, that is an eagle is this telephoto-challenged image of my friend, Jim, who joined me on the trip.

This photo shows another "dot" that is an eagle. Of course, the weather pry kept a dozen eagles and ospreys from showing off for us.



At the end, we all pitched in to get the boats from the sand up the bank. Then we executed our shuttle plan and that's when the winds came up.

A high-winds warning was actually issued for Clay County near Vermillion at 4 p.m. and we were off the water about 3:15. So, in the middle of carrying and tying down, we were all in a 40 mph screamer, but we got 'em loaded and got out of there.


I know our "in list" for this trip was nearly 20 before the forecast became so grim, so I think the SDCA should seek to set a June date to revisit this stretch. In good weather, with some friends, it'd be even better than it as was on Saturday.

Post a comment, or contact Jarett or Rick, perhaps we can start kicking around "do-over" dates.

Big thanks to the eight aggressive, team-minded kayakers who jumped in and saw the river at its honest value during this cruise, and as mentioned, to Rick for his oversight. We had a safe, effective trip, and until we control the weather, that's pretty darn good.

Bies

Use the 50 Bypass to Polaris factory

Traffic cone
Originally uploaded by stupz

Diehards:

If you're coming into Vermillion from the east, on 50, there is a nasty rash of road construction just as you enter town. It's nasty.

Take the 50 Bypass around that mess, but make sure you turn left at the Polaris plant, then go back to Cherry Street and continue west.

If you don't turn left, you'll continue towards Yankton and have to backtrack further than you'll want to.

The traffic was one-lane, either way, and it was cones everywhere.

On a brighter note it is not raining now, and the hospitality in Vermillion is excellent.

Also, gas in town here was $3.49; in Sioux Falls at the Flying J it as $3.63, fyi.

See you tomorrow, 11 a.m.

Bies

Waters downstream ... May 31 Big Sioux River trip

Here's some news on an upcoming event.

The Siouxland Heritage Museums will host their second Big Sioux River Fur Trade Canoe Trip on May 31. The 14-mile downstream trip goes from the Big Sioux Recreation Area near Brandon to the Grandview Road boat ramp, near Lake Alvin.

Museum staff provide history of the fur trade in South Dakota and the role of the Big Sioux in the industry in the Midwest.

From their Web site, "Admission for the day will be $22 for adults and $15 for kids 12-17 accompanied by an adult."

It's a bring-your-own-boat event. But they say:

"Rentals can be acquired based upon availability of the suppliers. Space is limited for this unique river tour. Call (605) 367-4210 to register."

I assume this means byob, i.e., the fee does not include a boat rental. Just to clarify. But call 'em up, we had members who did this trip last year and enjoyed it.

Did you take part in this event last year? If so, post to the comments and tell people if it's worth the price, if you would be so kind.

Jarett

http://www.siouxlandmuseums.com/museums/programs/programs.asp