Saturday, August 07, 2004

Eel River Bryce


Bryce tries out Dean's new kayak and looks good in it on the Eel River Augus 6, 2004. Bryce reports on the trip:

It was a beautiful day for the boys of summer, but it was hard not to notice that the crisp, clear air seem to have a touch of fall in it. On Friday we ran from SR 42, near Poland, to Bowling Green on the Eel River. I almost cancelled out of this trip. I had a tough day at work on Thursday and did not get home until late, but the boys picked a trip close to my back door and I could not refuse. Yesterday's worries quickly dissolve when you travel through Indiana at creek level. You are drawn into the scenery and pace of the creek, and the world slows for a few magical hours.

Dean had his beautiful new kayak out for its first journey. John had a new waterproof custom-made housing for his very nice camera. I had nothing new to share with the boys, but did not seem to be any less happy. You have probably figured out by now that we are all gadget freaks. Dean let me paddle his kayak for a while. It is stable and tracks as straight as an arrow. The only problem is that like John's kayak, it does not like to turn quickly.

The trip was gentle for the most part, flowing through sections of farmland with high cut banks, with the last row or corn planted impossibly close to the edge, alternating with wooded areas where the trees on each bank form a canopy overhead. It was a great day, great creek and great buddies to pass some time in outdoor Indiana.

His photos are available here.  Posted by Hello