IN 46 from the river

The Friday run ended under this bridge where IN 46 crosses the Eel.
When you go from Terre Haute to Bloomington, you'll cross this bridge after you pass Dietz Lake and before you get to Bowling Green. I have driven that road countless times but seldom slowed to look down at the creek. Our take-out was a muddy bank directly beneath the bridge. Maybe we could have done it without the ropes and pulleys but I was glad for the mechanical advantage. If it looks familiar, it was our put-in point for the IN46 to Center Point trip last week.  

Blue and Green Reflections on the Eel

Blue and white sky reflect on the center of a wide stretch of the Eel River upstream of Indiana 46.  

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.  

The Banks of the Eel River

Sometimes landowners try to keep the creeks and rivers back by depositing scrap cars. I don't know if this works for them or not. It is not a pretty sight. 

Too Close

It was the 6th of August on the Eel River between Indiana highways 42 and 46, my first day using the marine pack for my Sony T-1 digital camera. I didn't have to worry about splashing water on my camera or upsetting the kayak and ruining the camera. The camera and the protective case fit neatly in my life jacket vest.

After a few minutes on the creek, I paused in an eddy and asked Dean to paddle over for a close-up.
Dean was busy with his new gear but did take a few photos.