Just browsing posts created in this blog in Decembers in the last three years. I see a lot of winter paddling on the South Platte River and some memories from summer trips. Late in December 2007 I was still paddling on the Horsetooth Reservoir.

The most significant event was to start paddling WSBS Thundebolt-x kayak in December 2006.

2006

Are My Paddlings Days Over?

Kayak Building as a Winter Project? Stripper, Stitch-and-Glue, Skin on Frame …

WSBS Thunderbolt Kayak in My Backyard

Winter Afternoon on South Platte River with Thunderbolt-X Kayak

12 Pictures and Reflections from Paddling with a Camera in 2006

Kayaks and Politics: Am I a Racist ?

Paddling Sisson Nucleus Kayak on Lonetree Reservoir

Cache la Poudre in Winter by Racing Canoe

2007

Neutral Density (ND) Filters for Paddling Photography

Kayaking the Aland Archipelago of the Baltic Sea in Pictures by Björn Olin

It is not easy to catch good a paddling water in the South Platte River in eastern Colorado. 5 years ago I made a series of trips on the South Platte above and below Fort Morgan. My trip reports had a common title Paddling on Wet Sand …

It seems that the South Platte has a pretty good flow this winter, so I selected 20 miles above Fort Morgan for my New Year paddling. Sunny weather with temperature above freezing (well at least before sunset), a little bit of breeze, and the river flow of ~750 cfs at Weldona.

I was joined by Rob Bean for this trip. We paddled our Kruger canoes (Sea Wind and Sawyer Loon), probably, the best boat choice for winter paddling. We started at Goodrich (hwy 144) around 12:30 and finished 5 hours later under the Rainbow Bridge at Fort Morgan.

The river was slower than I expected – much wider than between Evans and Kuner, but pretty shallow with multiple channels. It was also much nicer than you could see around Greeley. No feedlot aroma! We had three dam portages. The last one over the Upper Platte and Beaver Canal dam was pretty long, but snow on ground helped with portaging.

You can compare my pictures with those shot five years ago during my 30 mile Texas Water Safari training run. I had much lower water (~400 cfs at Weldona) and a nicer weather in May.

Connie helped us with a shuttle. We finished our trip together with a dinner at Fort Morgan’s Memories.

My last paddling in the old year (Sea Wind canoe on the South Platte River above Kersey – December 30, 2009) and the start of 2009/2010 winter paddling and racing season on the South Platte.

During last September paddling trip to Nebraska with Rob Bean I used my Subaru Outback to carry our two Kruger canoes along Dismal and Niobrara Rivers.

I have 58″ Yakima crossbars on Subaru and Ezee-V racks. We carried my Sea Wind (28″ beam) upside down as usual on crossbars and put Rob’s Sawyer Loon on V racks. I transport a variety of my racing boats and kayaks on these racks (see my review), but it was first time I used them for a “fat” canoe. Of course, in the case of wide boat straps need to be used instead of bungee loops which work fine for Thunderbolt kayak or Surfrigger. I should point out that Loon is much lighter and a little bit narrower than the expedition heavy Sea Wind.

All transportation went pretty well including a longer driving from Mullen to Valentine with a strong cross wind. You can see more pictures of these two Kruger boats in the Dismal River slide show. Pictures presented here were shot by Rob with his Pentax Optio W30.

Related posts:
Dismal River 2009 – Slideshow from Paddling Nebraska Sandhills
Ez-Vee Roof Racks from Kayak Pro – Review

November paddling with a camera during last four year – a selection of blog posts.
2005
Do You Paddle with Your Dog? K-9 Kayaking
Poudre River from Windsor to Greeley with High Water from Horsetooth Reservoir
7 Months of Paddling with Pentax Optio WP, Waterproof Powerbar Size Camera
2006
Kayaking on Saint Vrain and South Platte Rivers near Platteville
Evening Paddling Workout with Sisson Nucleus Kayak
Kayak Photography Links – Tips and Hints for Paddling Photographers
Atlantic Ocean at Fort Clinch, Florida
Paddling during Duck and Goose Hunting Season on South Platte River?
Driftwood on South Platte River – Paddling between Platteville and Milliken
Do Wild Turkey Swim? A Photo Story of White Water Turkey Hen for Thanksgiving
Sunset over St Mary River from Fort Clinch State Park, Florida