Cabin hos and strap ons: Upper Iowa TRIP REPORT

“http://community.webshots.com/album/367890272TojbGU

My pictures are up.
Not to bad considering it was a one use 'waterproof' camera.

Includes a halfa$$ed lizs butt shot. ;-)”

“An "F" on your attempt, but thanks for thinking of me! ;-)”

“Hey, also, I was hoping that you guys with your waterproof cameras would have taken a photo of canoeing in the downpour. No such luck??”

“It was raining. ;-)”

“*rolling eyes in a major way*

LOL”

“It was great meeting all of the attendees, I hope I can remember which names go to which faces... I still do not have pictures developed yet, with the old fashion film kind, I did not take very many. I certainly did not take very many of the people in their boats since I was bringing up the rear most of the time.... I still haven't figured out what those long sticks that are wide & flat on one end are used for.


The brief but pouring rain was a memorable moment of the trip, but i rarely pay any attention to weathermen anyway. I managed to find an excuse get in the river a couple of times, once to retrive a 50 gal plastic barrel (alias trash on the river), and to help some capsized canoeists. I was quite suprised that river-cleanup-nick passed several trash items without picking them up.

I was quite reluctant to camp overnight at the chosen spot, especially after passing an very inviting gravel bar just 150 yards or so upstream. My desire to be with the group for the evening caused me to concede to the muddy & steep riverbank and the jungle of grass. We found that it was relatively easy to lay the grass down to make a softened tent spot and there was several beaten paths through the jungle already.

Kent took it upon himself & got a campfire going and several of us took advantage of the heat source and left our backpacking stoves in our packs. From what I remember, most people ate food as if they were backpacking, I must assume they forgot we were 'car-camping river style'.

I have to appologize for the cherry-chocolate cake that I made, I threw the ingredients in the last minute as something easy to make. I felt that I had to make something to try to live up to my reputation. If I remember correctly, the cake took longer to bake than the directions called for.....I guess I need more practice.....

I was quite amazed that bugs were not a problem at our chosen campsite.

In the morning, I decided to leave my cinnamon rolls in the cooler, as it appeared many others were finishing off their oatmeal & whatever.

With the amount of extra cooking gear that I had, I ended up being one of the last boats on the water. Shortly after departing the campsite, Kent's boat was the only one in sight. I decided to not even try to catch up, as it would have been a futile attempt. I decided to FLOAT at my pace. (i prefer float trips---being different than a canoe trip).

Eventually, I made it to the takeout. I managed to get my vehicle loaded in time for a dinner with the group at the restraunt.

During the course of the weekend, Prosecutor & matahara gave me suggestions about my next float trip. I drove up along the Mississipi River & floated the Namakogan/St Croix rivers. I floated about 90 miles in one week. Probably the best part of both trips was the Black Bear I saw that came close to being road-kill about 5 miles from the take out on the St. Croix”

“Your cooking was superb DOD.

Where did you put in on the Namekagon River to start your 90 mile trip?”