Upper I-O-Wanna Canoe/Kayak Trip, June 3 -5

“LOL, yes I buy myself dinner first. ;-)

Oh yeah and I was just WAITING for NS to show up, cuz I just knew he'd post something exactly like that. LOL!

And NOW, JUST FOR NS (geez, NS, you're slippin'... thought you woulda found this!):

ANTONIN DVORAK
Anonin Dvorak was born in Nelahozeves, Bohemia, in September of 1841, and died in Prague in May 1904 at the age of 62.

It was in Europe that Dvorak achieved international acclaim for his musical genius. However, he accepted the post of director of the newly established National Conservatory of Music in New York City from 1892 to 1895. During his years in the United States, he traveled as far west as Iowa and spent the summer of 1893 in Spillville, Iowa.

Dvorak came to Spillville at the invitation of Joseph J. Kovarik, who as a young man, had studied music in Prague. One day Kovarik was reading an American paper in a Prague cafe when Dvorak came in. Seeing Kovarik reading the paper, Dvorak asked if he were an American and if he would consider accompanying him to America where he was to take charge of the New York Conservatory of Music. Kovarik agreed and later became Dvorak's American secretary.

Upon the invitation of Janette K. Thurber, Antonin Dvorak left Prague, Bohemia, on September 15, 1892, and sailed from Bremerhaven on the ocean liner "Salle." Following a nine-day trip, he arrived in New York accompanied by his wife Otilia, his son Antonin and his new acquaintance Joseph J. Kovarik of Spillville, Iowa.

On October 21, 1892, he conducted his first concert, booked by Mrs. Thurber at Carnegie Hall. That concert presented his new overtures, "In Nature," "Carnival" and "Othello.”

After spending some time in the city, Dvorak became homesick for his native country so Kovarik suggested he come to Spillville for his summer vacation. So in May of 1893, Dvorak's remaining children arrived in New York, and, two days later, his family of eleven departed for Spillville. Dvorak and his family arrived in Spillville in June of 1893 and returned to New York in September of the same year. He returned to Spillville for a two-week visit during the following year.

Dvorak's principal compositions written in America include:

Opus 95 "New World Symphony", written in New York but published in Spillville, January 10-May 24, 1893.

Opus 96: "Quartet in F Major" written in Spillville, June 23, 1893.

Opus 97 "Quintet in E Flat Major," written in Spillville, August 1893

Opus 98 "Piano Suite in A minor," written in Spillville, 1894

Opus 99 "Ten Biblical Songs," written in Spillville, 1894

Opus 100 "Violin and Piano Sonatina in G Major," written in Spillville, 1893

Opus 101 "Seven Humoresques," (Pianoforte), 1894

Opus 104 "Violoncello Concerto in B Minor," Nov. 8, 1894-Feb. 9, 1895.
last edited: 1/28/05 8:27:06 AM”

“I'm listening to Paul Robeson singing Dvorak's "Going Home" from his "New World Symphony." It's beautiful. (I bet that was it!)
last edited: 1/28/05 8:29:12 AM”

“Oh yeah and at least you used to be able to go in the Catholic Church any time, cuz it was always open. Dvorak played that same organ when he was in Spillville.

A little culture from Ioway, huh??? :-)”

“Yes lizs, I'm impressed! You know more than I thought. Even StoveStomper must be impressed.”

“LOL, yes I am continuously 'impressed' at lizs. ;-)

The geek in me came out when I read 'Dvorak'. The first thing that came to mind was the Dvorak keyboard, not the music.”

“Yep, that's 'cause lizs is so keyed-in.”

“I'm interested in the trip if you have room.Need to meet uo with the lorax one of these days we keep missing each other.Hiked with pros a few times.This trip is real close to my Isle Royale trip so Ihave to see if I can swing it if you have room.I'm in Milwaukee if that would help anyone needing a shuttle”

“spalpeen..better read all this thread..
Bearmagnet gotcha!
http://thebackpacker.com/trailtalk/thread/36153,5.php”

“or, maybe not..if not, would you please explain this?
“spalpleen had a website up then he removed that info. Why? Because it was the same info as NCB & BigAssAlaskan”
Bearmagnet
8:36:43 AM
1/27/05

I'd email you and stop all this confusion but you've nothing in your profile..how about filling it out if you want to be off the troll list and not believed to be NorthCountryBoy aka BigAssAlaskan”

“Yeah, what MH said...”

“How the heck do ya fill out the profile I thought I did but nothing shows”

“on top, underneath where it says "spalpeen" logged in, there's an "edit account" option. That's it. :-)”

“I did that the first time.I'll try again thanks”

“There,My profile is posted now lets stop the madness I have never posted to a site using another name
HAND”

“I have hiked with Spalpeen several times and he is a good guy without question.”

“Great..end of story..welcome..blame this misunderstanding on Bearmagnet...”

“Well, I'm still a maybe BUT, I've got a canoe and truck I can borrow for the trip. Now I just need to hear from my in-laws as to whether or not they can watch the kids. I'll keep ya posted. :)

BTW, what is this river rated. I've never used a canoe by myself. I handled the Namekagon with a kayak fine. I'll be using a 13' canoe. Think I can do it?”

“Sure Sunshine..I think my Osprey is longer than that and, were it not for the wind on the St Croix River (always from the south when I want to go south and at least +20mph..gr-r-r..), I'd still be using it..if you need any dry bags, let me know...”

“Lizs...email me the put in and take out, so I can look things over. I need to see what the drive mileage is going to be.”

“Lets see...drive thursdsay,float friday, sat sun, drive home on monday. 3 days vacation. Possible! The Drowning Witch might just come north.”

“Ohhhhhhh lala! You're bringing DOD, too, right? LOL! We MUST experience the Dutch Oven treats! Come either way!

Sunny, there could be opportunities to team up with somebody. A few people have expressed interest who haven't posted... and some may need/want partners. Geez, I need a partner. Perhaps Pros.?

Some people have asked if you need experience. NOOOOOoooooooooo! I don't know that this river has a rating. It's just a nice little river, no rapids, few riffles, Great scenery! The biggest "problems" are downed trees and an occasional hole.

As the time gets closer, we can look at who might want to combine in canoes and rent or use extra canoes people might have available. Don't stress it yet. :-)
last edited: 2/06/05 10:31:23 PM”

“Stikky, I don't know that you could canoe a whole day on Friday... would need to check the levels upriver. But don't worry, we can find a place for you to be on the river that day. Maybe you'd want to do a part of the Root up here where I am, 20 miles away? Or, like I said, upriver could work on the Upper Iowa, I'm just way less familiar with it.. and I can't find my canoe map for it!!!

There is a canoe map available. Send in $1.50 for postage and handling to INHF at 505 Fifth Avenue, Suite 444, Des Moines, IA 50309 to have one mailed to you.
(INHF is Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, which protects special places in Iowa.)”

“Thanks Lizs, the map info was just what I was looking for.”

“There used to be one online, on the Iowa DNR site. They had maps for all the canoeing rivers. Seems to have disappeared on the updated site. I searched and searched! They said you could write the DNR to get one. However, I have the one THAT I CAN'T LOCATE, which is a different map. lol... and it's a good map.”

“Ooooh, Mataharihiker, I forgot all about dry bags! That last trip I joined had a conveniently located parking lot to stash our gear. I would greatly appreciate the offer to use a dry bag or two. It will be June so as long as my sleeping bag is dry, I'll be good to go. :D Thanks!!”

“Hey, MHH, ya gots more dry bags for moi??! :-)”

“Yep..you want that yellow, pain-in-the-ass but completely waterproof, camera case again?
last edited: 2/12/05 2:42:33 PM”

“ohhh, nah, I'd need bigger bags. I did get some smaller roll-top bag for the camera.

Perhaps we can stash stuff at campsites. It might be feasible. :-) I'm not stressing details on this till it gets a lot closer.”

“Let's bump this up...

I just got an e-mail yesterday from a campground owner above Kendallville who had seen me mention this trip in my weekly column... and he invited me to check the campground out as a place to stay. So I'll probably have to do that. :-)”

“A free night, I hope!”

“I'm sure he's looking for business. ;-)

I should go look at it.

Here's his website:
http://www.wecamp.com/”

“"Canoe and inner-tube rental is also available at the campground with free shuttle(s). We suggest reserving ahead of time, especially on weekends"

"Quiet Time begins at 11:00 PM"

Whatever happened to roughing it on an island or a wooden shore?

---

last edited: 2/17/05 2:18:49 PM”

“NS, even if you're not there, you always kinda raise a ruckus, don't you? LOL

I don't know where we're staying right now. Chances are good it will be a commercial campsite because that's what you find on this river. However, I am looking at a couple county parks and also intend to contact someone who knows the river far better than me to see if any private land owner might let us camp in a good area.

Do ya wanna raise hell with that, too?

;-P LOL”

“private land owner???

It might help to find a crazy one. ;-)”

“It's looking more and more like I might can make this one.
What's the general outline that this trip has evolved into now???

Kar Kamping????? ;-)”

“Kar Kamping/Kanoeing

KKK trip. WAIT!!! Kayaking

KKKK trip

Might be on private land. I'll have to see who I know and how many favors I can pull in. LOL!

"Where's my county plat book," says lizs, rubbing here hands together....”

“Sounds like you're stuttering, lizs. Don't get too excited.

What's the general outline that this trip has evolved into now??? --- Well, stovie, I guess that would depend on where we women are at in our menstrual cycle, wouldn't it? Better bring a pair of scissors, a bat and some matches just in case. Moooooohaha!

;o) Just kidding... well maybe... kinda... depends what day of the month it is! heee, heeee!”

“LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“liz...
i will be floating the buffalo national river in about 6 weeks with a couple of guys weeks who have floated the upper Iowa several times. maybe i can drag some information out of them. i usually talk to one of the guys every couple of weeks or so... stikmon may float with these guys too.”

“ Upper Iowa River Watershed water quality results
It looks good, but I believe most contamination occurs with the Spring time wash-offs. I know that the lake at Rock Creek State Park near Grinnell is not safe for swimming in the Spring. "E. Coli News" is one site that can be checked before the trip, if anyone is interested.”

“hahaha. NS, you are on top of everything... ummm, so to speak.

I have an e-mail out to a guy I think is the river guru... He was busy today, but said he'd be jotting back a note when he gets time. He used to canoe the river almost year-round, so if he canoes at all yet, should be very helpful.”

“Hey I knew this river was muddy but no one told me my kayak was going to torpedoed by 5 lb turds floating in the water!”

“I've heard the turds will not be a problem.
All the farm raised salmon that have escaped from their pens in Iowa will eat the 'floaters'.”

“Eeeeeeeewe! Maybe I should invest in a wetsuit. Better yet, I'll get some hipwaders! Those will be useful around the campfire, also. ;oP”

“TT's are as honest as fishermen.”

“Turds in backpacks... Baby Ruths in the pool... so it goes... *shrugs* :-)

Sunny, you need the hip waders for a whole different reason. It sure is getting deep!!!! LOL!”

“lizsbaby is the one that has been screaming
"Free the Salmom Seven!
Free the Salmon Seven!"
;-)”

“now, when did I scream that?

I've never heard of the "Salmon Seven." Is that a kewl new rock group?

:-)”

“How many species of Pacific salmon are there? Seven!”

“Hey Stovie if I go I'll have to drive through the Twin Cities I could pick you up. I may even have a kayak for you, if I go that is. I own two, a large 16 foot two person boat and a little 9 footer. Both are fun but on bigger water you have to paddle alot in the 9 footer.”