Aurora Paddlefest

I too had a great time out on the lake as safety boater both days. All the people out on the lake that I talked to had nothing but positive comments about this opportunity to get into a boat. I saw a family of 4 out there both days in various boats - they had a ball. I even had to get rid of a spider out of one child's boat so she could continue to enjoy her time on the lake. What fun it was to see kids out on the lake.

Our campground was a little muggy but well protected from the wind that took down a lot of the canopies during Saturday afternoon, but our tents (there were 4 of us staying overnight out there on the north part of the island) stayed put and didn't take on any water inside. Lots of lightning bugs shining their white lights - I'm used to seeing fireflies with yellow lights, but these gave off a white light - hundreds of them. A couple of bull frogs seranaded us all night long.

Thanks Tom L, Gary M and Tom E for all your work to put on this huge party for us boaters.
Dan


Thanks to all the voulenteers from our club. I was impressed by the sheer numbers.

Joe Carey

I&M Canal Trip Saturday, June 19

I just returned from a wonderful day paddling with Joe, Ginger, Dan, & Doug. Highlights of the trip include paddling OVER Aux Sable Creek in one of the remaining I&M Canal aqueducts and picnicking by lock 8.

Hey Dan, we did not need any saws to clear deadfall this trip!

C ya on the water!

Chuck Nilson

Wednsday Night Paddle

Another awesome night on the Fox!!!! The river had a surface of glass and the puffy clouds above had as many images as the mind could create. We started to paddle at 5 minutes before Pat, only to find out we were actually paddling 5 minutes past Jim. We paddled the Fox in style, as the flotilla of 11 hogged the river daring any boat to intrude on the armada. Most of the group paddled up to Hagar Pottery LLC Inc. Two stagglers took on the Stewardship of the river.aka..Went picking up trash. They were soon rewarded as one of them found a baseball that had been hit out of the Brewers Baseball Stadium and had been floating down the river ever since. It was signed by Robin Yount !!! As the R AND T inscription on the baseball was clearly unmistakeable..To make thing EVEN BETTER....They were treated to the sighting of ....8 Baltimore Orioles ...( The birds ) perching in a single tree....That was so cool... We paddled up Beatrice creek. Ducked under the bridge..no pun intended..picked up more river trash...Hey I'm not RIVER TRASH. but I do live on the river...and paddled to Voyageurs landing.

Thanks to a great group of people

Thanks to Dan for his Kayak Taxi

Thanks to Alecia Alex Bill Dan Keith Jim Michelle Pam . and.( Not Last ) Pat... Oh I could also insert the Nameless Person here.

Thanks for sharing the river with me

see you on the water

TNP @ Pierce Lake

Doug braved the bad weather forecast yesterday afternoon for a chance
to paddle, and it turns out it was a good choice. We were both early
and eager to get out in case storms were coming, so we launched and
kept an eye out for others to show up until 6:00 and then made our
way around the lake. It's a small lake at about 165 acres, but
sometimes there is a lot of wildlife to be seen. Highlights on this
trip included many Cedar Waxwings, several Turkey Vultures perched in
a dead tree near the shorline and a 34" Muskie that was pulled out of
the water as we paddled past. The worst weather of the evening was a
few sprinkles as we launched, and I wasn't upset about being a little
warm in my paddling jacket as the sun came out.

As we came back to the launch area, we spotted several other kayakers
heading out which was the Stateline Paddlers club. Jim from Paddle
and Trail was able to join them this time too, so Doug and I joined
them for another trip around part of the lake. After that highly
physically-stressful paddle, we felt that a stop at Culver's was in
order which conveniently was on the way back to the highway for
Doug. "Turtle" was even the flavor of the day, so this really turned
out to be a nice evening!

The TNP will be back out here on 8/3 and we'll see what we can find.
I have posted a couple of pictures from this trip as well as some of
the fun we had at APF over the weekend.

Steve

Wednsday Night Paddle

8 paddlers showed up for tonights paddle , albeit, one was quite late. Sorry, I take no prisoners..The sky was cloudless and the wind was perfect for sailing..Skirts off to Dan Leigh, literaly, for hosting a bracing clinic..braces are just not for teeth we learned. The clinic started on dry land..rolling a kayak on dry land is ..well just weird. We soon took to the water..While the clinic went on, a few paddlers went searching for Pirates and Nessie...I hope someone will fill in the gap about the clinic, as Doug and I went searching for Nessie...Our trip was great as we filled our boats with fish, played beach volley ball and dined on all the Fox River Smorgasbord could offer...THEN WE SAW HER !!!...NESSIE..She snarled at my boat as if she needed a toothpick and I was just the cellophane wrapper.That Beaver is HUGE!!! We paddled out of there ...right quick !! We met up with the paddlers from the clinic...They could sense the TERROR we endured. We paddled to the take out and ended the paddle. A special rethanks you to Dan for sharing his talents with us..( Did I mention about someone giving us a recap of the session???)

Thanks to the great group tonight

Thanks Bill, Dan, Doug B,Darria, Jo-Jo , PAT and the Cagless one whom I may never mention in name.

Thanks for sharing the river with me

Joe