Medina River Cleanup

Seven Saturday Paddlers participated in the Fifteenth Annual Medina River Cleanup on May 2.  It was our sixth consecutive year to join in the fun.  As usual, we were in charge of Section 4, a 3-mile stretch of the river running from Moffett Park in the town of Medina to the low water bridge at Chenaults Lane.  With the river running at 24 cfs, as compared to 7 cfs the prior year, there was enough water to keep us in our boats for most of the journey.

Gary, Al, Henry, Terry, Larry, and Bob pose for a photo at the put-in.  Malcolm had already launched his kayak and was busy picking up trash at the Patterson Road low water bridge.

Bob's paddle makes a run for it as Bob discovers that the small falls and tight turns the river makes near the start of the trip make maneuvering difficult in a 15-foot canoe.

Larry prepares to line the even longer canoe he shared with Al over the next small falls.

Larry and Al back in their canoe after ramming an obstruction inconveniently located in the middle of a tight turn.

The Medina River shows off its beauty as we enter the home stretch.

With the trash we picked up loaded into the bottom of Larry's trailer, Bob, Larry, Malcolm, Terry, and Al celebrate at the takeout at Chenaults Lane.  We were ready to head back to Bandera City Park to enjoy the delicious BBQ dinner (and adult beverages) provided by the organizers of the cleanup.

Note:  To view all eleven photos from this outing, click here to be transported to my Flickr page.  Then click on any of the photos to activate a slide show.

Medina River

Water at Last!

Due to some nice rain showers, two of our favorite local rivers were finally running at levels sufficient to entice paddlers. On Saturday, I joined the Saturday Paddlers on the Guadalupe River. We put in at a private park a short distance upstream of the Gruene bridge and paddled down to Interstate 35. The section of the river below the bridge was new to me.  

On Sunday, I met up in Bandera with seven paddlers from San Antonio, the Canyon Lake area, Corpus Christi, and Houston to enjoy the Medina River. We ran the 9.3-mile stretch from the Peaceful Valley Road bridge downstream to Bandera City Park. The river was running at about 300 cfs at Bandera when we launched shortly before noon and around 275 cfs when we arrived about four hours later at the park.  After almost three years of extremely low water on the Medina, it was great to be back on this beautiful little river.

The small waterfall a short distance from where we launched presented a challenge.

Unfortunately, I botched my attempts to video Kathy Cusick and Gary Tupa running the main falls.  However, I was able to capture Gary successfully testing the water pump in his canoe.

 

Kirk Cammarata and Debbie Snow were ready to lend a hand ... 

... as Dan Carroll observed the carnage.

Bing McClellan and Dan enjoy the cypress canopy.

 Gary found an inflatable friend on the river, ...

... which Kirk for some reason found amusing.

All in all, it was a great day on the Medina River.

Three-4-Thursday

Granddaughter Nix

Proud Grandma shows off her Christmas present.

"Hey," said Nix, "did you see what Santa brought that kid over there?"

Three-4-Thursday

The last overlook we visited at Canyon De Chelly provided us with a view of the Antelope House Ruin.  It was now time to head to the Four Corners Monument to obtain our Navajo Nation hiking and camping permits for our paddling trip on the San Juan River.

Two-4-Tuesday

The "island" rock formation in the center is known as the Navajo Fortress.  We viewed it on September 27 from the trail leading to the Antelope House Overlook in Canyon De Chelly National Monument.

Sunday Sunlight

We spent our last night on the San Juan River at Fossil Stop Camp (mile 20.3).  Shortly before sunset, the clouds to the east and the canyon walls across the river from us reflect the sun's rays. 

Sunday Sunlight

From our camp at Chinle Wash, the morning sun on September 30 gave us a view of Lime Ridge across the San Juan River from us and of mist rising from the river.