Two-4-Tuesday

A River Runs Through It

Views of the San Juan River while climbing the Honaker Trail on September 21.  The elevation gain from the river to the top is more than 1,200 feet.

I guess you could say the scenery was pretty spectacular.

Note:  Click on any photo to enlarge.
    

Sunday Sunlight

Sunrise on August 18, 2012, at Aragon Campsite on the Rio Chama.  Jon Carlson is one of the first to greet the morning sun.

  

Three-4-Thursday

San Juan River - Not a Dodge Ram

Michael observes a desert bighorn sheep that had come down to the river to drink.  As with all of the other bighorn sheep we saw during our nine days on the San Juan River, this mature ram was on the Navajo Nation side of the river.  But it was the only bighorn we spotted which was not part of a family group.

Note:  Click on any photo to enlarge.

The ram was not particularly shy.

 

In fact, he seemed to be posing for the photographer.

 

Two-4-Tuesday

San Juan River - This Old House

"River House" near Mile 5.9

Cliff dwelling high over Chinle Wash

  

Saturday Paddlers - San Marcos River

 
Requiem for a Camera - Part II

Seventeen paddlers met at the Power Olympic Outdoor Center, located where Interstate 35 crosses over the San Marcos River. After a somewhat disjointed shuttle, my van and boat trailer were left at Westerfield Crossing (for those who wanted a shorter trip), while most of the remaining vehicles ended up at the Scull Road bridge.  We were on the water before 10:30.  The river was running at an enjoyable 184 cfs, just a little below the median of 200 cfs for May 30.  For some reason, the San Marcos River has not been affected as severely as our other Central Texas rivers by the drought.  And, despite our recent heat wave, we were rewarded with what turned out to be a relatively pleasant day.

Note:  Click on any photo to enlarge.

A very short distance downstream from our launch is Thompson's Island. Three of us chose to run Cape Falls, with varying degrees of success, while everyone else made the portage.  Kathy recorded my near-perfect descent in the forgiving Whitesell Piranha, the only canoe in our group.  Unfortunately, that video is not available for our viewing pleasure.  More on that later.

Just three weeks after his successful completion of the 270-mile Texas Water Safari, John was ready to be on the San Marcos River again.  But for a more manageable 8 miles this time. Here is John immediately after passing under the bridge at Cape Road.

Note:  For eleven more photos showing thirteen paddlers at this location, click here and then click on "Slideshow."

A short distance downstream from the end of Thompson's Island, we encountered a river-wide obstacle.  A large tree on river right had snapped at the base and fallen across the river.  A very narrow gap along the left bank allowed a few of the smaller kayaks to sneak by the tree, but most of the boats had to be hauled over the trunk of the tree to get to the other side.  We waited while the group in front of us slowly (very slowly) worked their way around and over the downed tree.  Then it was our turn.  John and Kenny helped lift boats over the tree, and assisted paddlers (some more agile than others) out of their boats on one side and back in on the other.

A few kayaks were able to make it through the left-hand sneak route.  On Kathy's second attempt, she turned over.  She and her kayak then squeezed through the narrow gap.  After remounting, Kathy decided to paddle back towards the tree for a few photos to memorialize the adventure.  Unfortunately, some low-hanging branches snagged her, and over she went for the second time.  The small cord securing the camera to her vest snapped, and Kathy's last view of her camera was of an orange object heading towards the bottom of the river.  The good news - the camera is waterproof.  The bad news - being waterproof doesn't help when the camera disappears.  This camera had been a Mother's Day gift, replacing the camera lost on the Guadalupe River on March 17.  See that story here.  Anyway,  both the Guadalupe River and the San Marcos River have now been blessed with expensive photographic equipment.  Perhaps a way to appease the river gods, bringing us good fortune in other ways?

A windmill on river right a short distance upstream from the junction of the river with the Blanco River.

After lowering our boats over Cummings Dam, we stopped for lunch.  In this group photo, Joan hides behind her hat, while Miguel tries to hide behind his tongue.

When we reached Westerfield Crossing, I fetched the van and drove it close to the bridge.  Only Kathy chose to take out there.  The rest of the three or four of us who had originally planned on ending our trip there decided to continue on to Scull Road.  As the group continued on down the river, Kathy and I loaded her kayak on the trailer.  After receiving directions to the take-out, Kathy drove off and I returned to my canoe, intent on catching up with the group.

Westerfield Crossing also happens to be where hordes of tubers begin their slow journey, and we had arrived at the height of rush hour.  Large groups of tubers infested the river for the next mile or two, often almost completely covering the full width of the river.  Weaving in and out of the groups of tubes slowed me down, although there were some nice views along the way.  I didn't catch up with the tail end (now why did that expression come to mind?) of our group until Cottonseed Rapid.  Soon we had all arrived at Scull Road.  A quick call to Kathy brought her and the van from where she had parked nearby.

After some shuttling of paddlers and boats back to the put-in and a drive back to Martindale for a tasty meal at the Cottonseed Cafe & Deli, we were on our way home.  Plans to return the next day with snorkeling equipment to search for the camera never came to fruition, bringing this episode of "Requiem for a Camera" to a close.  But be sure to stay tuned for future installments.

 

Saturday Paddlers - San Marcos River

Note:  Click on any image to enlarge.

With low water almost everywhere else, and with the excitement of the Texas Water Safari the prior weekend still fresh in our minds, the Saturday Paddlers ventured onto the San Marcos River.  The river was running at slightly over 200 cfs, which is average for this time of year.  An early start was scheduled by Dear Leader.  She wanted to avoid the marauding hordes of tubers who would be arriving later in the morning.  We launched our boats at Westerfield Crossing around 10:30.  Seven of us would take out at the Scull Road crossing, while the remaining five paddled about two miles further, taking out at Spencer's Campground at the FM 1979 crossing.

Joan and Dan led the way, ...

... with Sally close behind.

Sandra, Nell, and Richard (above), were followed by Nancy G.

It was fun having Greg and Renee join us.  Renee was her usual demure self.

A near collision at Broken Bone Rapid.  Joan came roaring through as I was trying to surf the waves.

Cottonseed Rapids

Kathy enters the main rapids.

What determination!

Success!

Joan makes it through with ease.

Greg and Renee show good form (even if she is splashing him).

Don and Joan keep watch while Richard snaps some photos.

Nancy maneuvered expertly.

Joline (Dear Leader) expresses relief.

Nancy returned to surf the waves.

After taking out at the Scull Road bridge crossing, seven of us journeyed to Lockhart, the "Barbecue Capital of Texas."  Hal and Carey drove down from Austin to join us at Chisholm Trail Bar-B-Que Restaurant.  The food was great and the company was even better - although Kathy limited me to just one joke.

Note:  For an additional 21 photos of this outing, click here and then click on "Slideshow."

Saturday Paddlers - Guadalupe River - Memorial Day

Note:  Click on any photo to enlarge.

After paddling from Nichols Landing to the FM 311 bridge on Saturday, the Saturday Paddlers continued down the Upper Guadalupe River on Monday.  We put in at the FM 311 crossing and paddled the 4.4 miles to the Rebecca Creek Road crossing.  The river was flowing at around 142 cfs, which was adequate.  With about thirty boats in total, "someone" decided to split the group into two, as about ten paddlers started the journey while the shuttle was being run.  The main group caught up with the scouts at each of the two major drops - Mueller Falls and then again at Rust Falls (shown above). 

The main group heads downstream from the put-in at the FM 311 bridge.  In front here are Retha and Gary.

Leading the group (for a while) were Kathy, ...

... Cynthia, and Rodney.

Jon, in his new sit-on-top kayak, Rodney, and I ended up at the front of the pack.  The main current took us through the impressive bald cypress trees in the background.

Mueller Falls

We caught up with the forward group at Mueller Falls.  They watched us play in the rapids for a while, then proceeded ahead again.  I was having too much fun running both the waterfall on river right (twice) and the chute on river left to take any photographs at Mueller Falls.  After taking the left chute, Kathy took the following video of me going over the small waterfall.

Rust Falls 

 

The smaller group stopped for lunch at Rust Falls, where we caught up with them a second time.  I decided to run the horseshoe-shaped main falls in my canoe, and made it through unscathed, although my bow did get trapped momentarily under the tree roots below the falls.  I failed to make the sharp right turn in the confined space immediately following the 4-foot drop.  I think my 14'3" canoe wasn't much shorter than that space.  The main falls are shown in the photo at the very top of this post, next to the cypress tree.

Jon also ran the falls, without any problems.  He was followed by Robert, whose kayak ended up in an almost vertical pin - the bow stuck on a rock at the bottom of the falls, the stern pointing skyward.  Robert was stuck in the cockpit as water from the falls gushed in.  After handing his precious paddle to Diane, Robert was able to extract himself from his kayak and plunge into the water.  Jon then freed the kayak by forcing the stern over the bow, and Robert guided his boat to safety.  The foam pillar supporting the front of the boat had come loose, and one foot brace had been damaged.  But all's well that ends well.

Debbie and Donna enjoyed the area below the falls.

Joan below the middle section of Rust Falls.

This panoramic video view of Rust Falls was recorded by Kathy.

 

Sally and Diane, with the horseshoe falls in the far background.

  

 

After many of us had cooled off in the clear, refreshing water (see Kathy's video of me above), the gang proceeded downstream the short distance to the takeout at Rebecca Creek Road.  This next video by Kathy shows Joline, followed by Robert and Jon, making her way through the rapids located just upstream of the takeout.  Be sure to turn up the volume and listen to Joline's exclamation as her kayak bottoms out on the rocks at the bottom of the small drop.

When we reached Rebecca Creek Road, I was out of energy (not having stopped for lunch) and, despite having consumed about a gallon of water, on the verge of dehydration.  With Rick's help, I was barely able to carry my canoe up to the road.  And if hadn't been for Nancy insisting on driving me the sixty yards to my van, I'm not sure I would have even made it to the vehicle.  Lesson learned.

About fifteen of us drove the short distance to Joan's house and wonderfully-shaded yard for a nice holiday picnic.  Joan reminded us of the meaning of the Memorial Day celebration.  Then the feasting began.  The food (including our Beeville ham) was plentiful and delicious.  A root beer float managed to revive me, and I was even able to tell a few jokes before Kathy insisted I stop.  All in all, a great holiday.

Note:  For an additional 8 photos from this trip, click here and then click on "Slideshow."