Saturday Paddlers - Nueces River

Eight paddlers in six kayaks and a canoe ventured onto the Nueces River north of Uvalde. Recent rains had replenished the river's flow to a barely navigable 64 cfs, as measured at the Laguna gauge station. We put the boats into the water at Friday Crossing on CR 408, and the trip ended about 4.5 river (or river bottom) miles later at the 19-mile bridge.

Note 1: Left click on any photo to enlarge.

Note 2: Click here to access 22 more photographs from this outing, then click on "Slideshow" in upper right of Flickr screen.

The group rendezvoused at Dora's Place in Uvalde for breakfast. For some reason, Susan and I were running a little late - we didn't even have time to stop at Haby's in Castroville to grab some pastries - and arrived just a few minutes before the scheduled departure time. Seated around the breakfast table are Nancy, Robert, Joline, Susan, Eva, Bob, and Randy. Randy lives in the area and, although not able to join us on the river, showed up for the camaraderie. He was nice enough to lead us through town on a shortcut to Highway 55, so we were able to make up the time lost to the scintillating conversation at the restaurant. And Joline made sure that everyone understood that the Hwy. 55 signs did not refer to the speed limit.

Joline tries to start a wave at the put-in, but Susan and Nancy refuse to go along. Actually, the first 200 yards of the trip involved a lot of scraping and some walking, so a real wave would have been welcome.

Eva waits for the shuttlers to return.



Why does this soaking wet paddler think that her advice as to the best route will be accepted by anyone else?
















Sky and Joline compete in the "who can stay in her boat the longest" competition.

















Robert and Nancy work their way through the shallow rapid.



























Nancy tries the new sideways technique.













Eva looks for the best route.

Bob shows off the Exxon Valdez approach.

Susan (still wet) to the rescue!

A local washerwoman scrubs the passing boats for spare change.

The lunch stop was made just upstream from the Laguna gauge (tower in background).

The photographer is toasted with frozen margaritas held high.

Perhaps influenced by Robert's suggestion (and the margaritas), I try a rope swing along the river bank.

Very graceful - look out below!

A few points were deducted for the less-than-clean entry, but overall I was satisfied with the judges' scores.

Joline glides by the rocky bluffs.

Don't look back, Robert. Someone may be gaining on you.

Sky working hard.

Susan searching for divine inspiration as she controls the canoe from the stern position.

At the conclusion of the trip, Robert, Susan, Nancy, Joline, and yours truly drove to Leakey to dine on the great Italian food at Vinny's. Some of the less sophisticated members (I won't mention names, but the ringleader was seated to my right) spoiled the atmosphere by mixing the remains of the frozen margaritas with some of the very fine red wine. Well, actually it was a very cheap red wine.

West Fork of the Frio River

Then it was on to Joline's camp houses along the West Fork of the Frio River. As the paddlers arrived, the sun behind them illuminated the hills across the river from the houses.









Did I mention that Robert was quite relaxed?




















A walk at dusk along the river.

A rare sighting of a pair of river wraiths.

Sunday Morning

An early morning walk took Susan and me across the river and up the mountain.


















Are we there yet?













Some wildflowers and a redbud tree greeted the hikers.







Another friendly greeting. Fortunately, there was no banjo music to be heard.

















On the return, we crossed Bluff Creek once, then again below this dam.

The rocky ledges of the West Fork create interesting features.

Ending just as we started - around the breakfast table.