July 1, 2004 Sugar Creek through Turkey Run State Park

I'm not taking my new camera on the water until I get the waterproof case so these pictures are after we took the kayaks out of Sugar Creek at the Jackson Bridge.
If there is a prettier creek to run than Sugar Creek through Turkey Run State Park, I don't know of it.

(Dean and Bryce pose with me at the end of 8 miles on the creek.)

The put-in was at a sandy beach, the same one used by the outfitters and it was nice that we didn't have to pay (it was not so nice that we had to push our kayaks off a cliff to get them to the beach). The water was warm and, in places, swift. The creek is easy to run through the park. There are only a few downed trees. The water was clear and there was enough of it so that I only scraped bottom 2 or 3 times all day.

I got turned backwards one time and almost ran between two downed trees but that would have been showing off so I slipped into the knee deep water and turned my kayak upside down instead.

While Dean and Bryce went for the truck, I changed clothes under my towel like the surfers do on California beaches. Lucky I had a big towel.

John

Dean has some words about the trip:

...

I WOULD SURE AGREE THAT SUGAR CREEK HAS SPECTACULAR SCENERY. THE SECTION THAT WE DID IS ONE THAT MUST USUALLY BE SHARED WITH SEVERAL OTHERS, BUT THE WEEKDAY TRAFFIC IS NOT REAL HEAVY AND THE FOLKS WE ENCOUNTERED WERE ALL FRIENDLY; JUST ENJOYING THE WATER AND SCENERY AS WE WERE.

ON THE WAY HOME, john AND I DID SOME EXPLORATION OF THE BIG RACCOON CREEK AREA AT MECCA, ARMIESBURG AND THE AREA SOUTH OF MONTEZUMA FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE TRIPS. LOOKED TO US LIKE THE MECCA COVERED BRIDGE MIGHT BE THE FURTHEST POINT THAT IS PRACTICAL FOR US OLD MEN TO EXIT THE CREEK.

WE ARE GETTING OUR GEAR, ENTRY AND EXIT ROUTINES STREAMLINED NOW AND WITH A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROPERTIES OF THE STREAMS AND ENTRY AND EXIT POINTS, WE ARE LIKE A PRECISION TEAM. :(

BRYCE TOOK SEVERAL PICS, BUT HIS COMPUTER HAS CRASHED AND WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PICS WILL BE AVAILABLE. I ONLY TOOK ONE PIC ON THE WATER. THIS ONE WAS AFTER john FINALLY MISCUED JUST A BIT, NOT ENOUGH TO EVEN COUNT. COMING THROUGH A BIT DIFFERENT WAS ANOTHER KAYAKER SHOWING THE OLD MEN HOW IT'S DONE. ... DEAN ...

Bryce is having computer troubles and will not have pictures until he fixes them but he posted this note...

... When was the last time you crossed the suspension bridge at Turkey Run State Park? Well today we kayaked under it. We put in at the far eastern edge of the park just upstream from the Narrows Covered Bridge, paddled through the park and on another miles 5 miles to the Jackson Covered Bridge.

I have kayaked and canoed through this area several times over the years and it is always stunning. Clear, sometimes fast moving water with riffles in places, soaring bluffs, and car size boulders along the way highlight some of the journey. It was a creek of the Indians, and it is not difficult to imagine them paddling their birch bark canoes down the stream. John noted when we took out, the Jackson Bridge was built before the civil war.

The previous trip not only left a mark on my soul, but several on my body, most of which have healed by now. Yesterday's trip was kinder and gentler through a truly beautiful and wild part of Indiana. We seemed to be the oldest "kids" on the creek that day, but perhaps enjoyed the trip the most.

I always shake hand with Dean and John at the end of each trip. It is an acknowledgment of the friendship and our good fortune to be able to make one more voyage. I took several pictures that I wish I could show you, and hope to before too long. It was a wonderful day in Indiana.

Bryce