First Paddle - Saturday

I think the way that I am going to document these adventures is kind of lay out a time table of when we stuff happened and then after putting down a time kinda describe what happened, what I saw, etc.  So...

9:45 am

I met Boe at scheels.  We had decided that it would probably be smart for me to get a kayak carrier for my car since the back of his pickup was so small and were worried that we wouldn't be able to fit both kayaks back there.  We also need to get a cooler for our beverages.

11:00 am

After a few hold ups (Boe's dad forgot his wallet in his pickup) we finally got my rented kayak loaded up and headed out to the old Klondike Dam (entry point #6).  The water extremely high.  The dam had been completely covered and only 2 weeks ago it was a 5 foot drop.  On the way out to the our launch point great tunes were on the radio.  I had my coffee and the sun was shinning.  I knew that it was going to be great day. By the time we got done dropping our cars off at our exit point at the U.S Highway Bridge (entry point #6) it was 12:30 pm.

12:30 pm

Finally we were in the water.  I felt comfortable in the kayak right away which was kinda surprising since I had never been before and the fact that I am 6'7.  It took a little to get used to paddling but it wasn't long before I found my grove.  Within the first 2 min of being in the water I saw a huge hawk fly into some tree's on the left bank of the river.  Then right when we passed that area it shot out.  It was a pretty awesome sight. It always really cool to see a large bird.  Their wingspans are just incredible and they are so smooth when they are flying.  Nothing like the fluttering of a normal bird.  It wasn't long before Boe and I cracked into a beer.  We touched on all sorts of subjects - weights and nutrition (always kinda been Boe and I's thing) - women - and how awesome it felt to be out on the river.  We quickly realized that the sandbar that I had my eye on returning too was going to be completely covered, which it was. That was alright though because even though I had gone this route before it was all new to me because the water had rose high.

2:30 pm

We made really good time mainly because the river was moving so quickly.  I don't imagine that you usually can cover and 8 mile distance in the time we did without the water aiding you so much.  All in all it was a great trip.  We are already making plans to go back out again on Sunday afternoon.