River Stories, 1997-2007
4/8/08
Several river improvements observed:
Dam warning signs and safety lines with orange buoys at the River St.
pedestrian bridge before the Raccoon joins the Des Moines at Scot Ave. dam are now
in place.
Water trail signs are up at the Laurie access west of Madrid, very classy.
1/1/08
It was quite the New Year's Day paddle.
Five started, four made it to the dam and back. (I went about a halfmile and decided it was
enough). It was bitter cold, the wind was in
our faces, but congratulations to the four who kept the tradition alive.
I got some pics of the ice encased paddlers that CIP folks
might enjoy, especially a shot of icy paddler Rick Dietz emerging from the river:
http://www.pbase.com/gazeboy96/image/91082637
12/19/07
It was a lovely cold day for a paddle from Birdland to the new pagoda. It's about 3
miles round trip. There's ice in the water, eagles overhead, and the pretty
reflections of the bridges and buildings. There was very little current, it took me
a little over an hour with some lingering.
I'm doing it again Friday morning at 7:30 AM to catch the early morning sun. Join me
if you would like. Birdland Access is off Pennsylvania Ave. in East Des Moines (off
235). (240-2628)
The Register ran a great series on people who are river keepers and river lovers.
See the story about the "father
of water trails."
People
who paddle, bike, hike, skate, walk, fish and boat, and anyone else who enjoys the Des
Moines River and the trails along it!
Great job with the clean-up.
See photos at the link below.
Photo gallery, Des Moines River and Iowa, at PBase.
More than 1,000 photographs at http://www.pbase.com/gazeboy96
Read about the new Emmet County Water Trail along the
West Fork, Des Moines River.
Kayaking
in Iowa 
