Saturday Paddlers - Guadalupe River

With the Guadalupe River running at a little over 160 cfs, about twenty-five paddlers launched at Nichols Landing for the 5.6-mile trip to the FM 311 bridge crossing.  A big surprise was the friendly and helpful attitude of the attendant at Nichols Landing.  Perhaps Comal County is interested in attracting tourists after all.  Now, if they would only charge visitors the same parking fee as county residents, I'd really be convinced.

Note:  Click on any photo to enlarge.

About two miles downstream from Nichols Landing, several of us took the small detour up Spring Branch to view the waterfalls along this charming creek.  Pictured above are my Whitesell canoe (an old canoe newly acquired) and Miguel's and Joan's kayaks, pulled up at the foot of the first waterfall.  Well, not everyone can have a boat as beautiful as mine!

The second set of waterfalls is created when the creek spits into two to pass around this tree.  The one on the right (as approached from below) is shown above, while Joan is sitting below the left-hand waterfall.

Miguel relaxes on a chair someone left behind at the first falls, holding some trash that had also been left behind.

Ed on his way to the second set of falls.

The rapid immediately downstream from the Hwy. 281 bridge was jammed with bathers, most of whom never bothered to look behind them to see what might be approaching.  I narrowly avoided several of the clueless horde, and did not have an opportunity to take any photos.  Too bad, because there was some interesting wildlife.

A short distance upstream from the FM 311 bridge, the river splits into two, with a swift channel passing around the right side of a small island.  It makes for an exciting run, with a large rock at the end of the channel where it rejoins the main river creating a small rapid.  In these photos, Retha crashes through the waves created by the boulder.

Next up was Demetrius, who was paddling a kayak for the very first time.  By the time we arrived here, he was definitely getting the hang of it.

Success!

Joan made it look easy.

Waiting for the final two paddlers to appear.  Joline wonders where they are.

Finally, Larry appears, ...

... followed by Robert.

Note:  For an additional 17 photos from this outing, click here and then click on "Slideshow."