Kayaking at Okmulgee Lake

Oklahoma was blessed with some relief from the Summer heat this week. Kayaking conditions are still too dry on the area rivers to enjoy much floating. Because the prospect of a cool morning was too inviting to pass up, I decided to enjoy some flatwater paddling at Okmulgee Lake. I hit the water at about 7am, but I really should have gotten there an earlier. The morning light was golden and lovely reflecting off the mists and water.

Okmulgee Lake is within Okmulgee State Park, so there are no additonal city fees to kayak on Okmulgee Lake. Paddling from the base of the Dripping Springs Lake dam down Salt Creek and taking out at the Boat Ramp at Hickory Point campground on Okmulgee Lake is a safe and shady flatwater trip.

I only stayed out paddling for a couple of hours this Saturday, but it was quite pleasant crossing the glassy waters while the early light came pouring through the trees. I was glad to see that I was not paddling the only kayak on Okmulgee Lake Saturday morning. When I returned to the Hickory Point boat ramp, I saw two more kayaks had just landed.

Hopefully, the Fall rains will come along soon and raise our rivers back up again.

In other Oklahoma paddling news...
Oklahoma City's ban on water skiing on Lake Hefner and the Oklahoma River was expanded to include banning tubing after the OKC city council members approved the change on Tuesday.

Kayak paddle upgrade choices.

Mothership Kayaking Deep Fork River Style

Dianne has had some elbow pain lately, so she decided to run this weekend's catfishing limblines via motorboat. I figured it would be a good time to try and expand my summertime paddling range by doing some 'Mothership Kayaking' - where you move your kayak on a motorboat to cover more distance. I've read about kayaking vacations in Alaska and Canada that use bigger boats to take paddlers deep into some of the most scenic waters in the world. We were only going a few miles up the Deep Fork River, but it would give me chance to try moving my kayak upriver, launching my recreational kayak from the motorboat and re-boarding the motorboat from my kayak.

It takes a shallow running, but very stable boat to chase catfish in the Deep Fork River during the late Summer. Dianne's Generation III Pro Shadow is a 15 foot flatbottom and it works well on these narrow, curvy and shallow Oklahoma rivers. There is room onboard to haul my Swifty 9.5 Sit-Inside kayak, but we found it works best to just tow the kayak on a rope tied to the stern of the motorboat. I tried towing the kayak both empty and while inside the kayak and towing it empty works the best by far. Tow the kayak empty and it follows along behind you like a little puppy. We drive our little fishing boat quite slow, so it was not a thrill ride to get towed in the kayak, but it is still difficult to keep the kayak traveling on a safe course.

Once we got upriver, much farther than I would have paddled on this hot day, it was easy to slip into my kayak off the back of the flat-bottomed boat. While Dianne set out some fishing lines, I paddled around taking pictures as usual. After the day got hot, I eased back into the motor boat and we started towing the kayak back to the boat ramp. Dianne even caught catfish, what a perfect first attempt at Mothership Kayaking...almost.

Did I mention that neither of us have much experience piloting motorboats?

About two thirds of the way back to the boat ramp...we ran out of gas. That is when I got to try my hand at 'Fathership Kayaking'- where you tow your motorboat using your kayak. I predict that Fathership Kayaking will not take off with the popularity of Mothership Kayaking. Mostly, this will be because of the backbreaking labor involved... and the slow progress... even going downstream.

Eventually, we decided it would be easier for her to park the Shadow Pro and fish while I paddle back to the boat ramp and go buy some more fuel. Yes, my old Perception Swifty Kayak saved the day proving once and for all...that simpler boats are better for fool's like me!

Kayak Fishing Gear

Oklahoma Summer Kayaking on the LMF River

This Sunday, I dropped my son off at Hale Boy Scout Reservation in Talihina, Oklahoma. Since he didn't have to be there until 1pm, I decided to sneak in a paddling trip on the Lower Mt. Fork River in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. These days, I rarely find an opportunity to break out the Sprayskirt and ride the current. The LMF is typically the only whitewater paddling to be found in the Oklahoma summertime. Don't be surprised if you AT&T phone doesn't work anywhere in Broken Bow, mind didn't. Luckily Ambush Adventures is right at the take-out and they shuttled me and my boat back to the put-in for a mere five dollars!

While my Wife & Son slept in, I hit the LMF River at about 6:30am and practically had the river to myself for a few hours of pure serenity. At this time of day on the Lower Mt Fork, the river is misty and quiet. The herons hold court as the morning light slowly changes from gray to green to golden. As the sky cleared, the heat & humidity rose too late to spoil a perfect morning of paddling. More of our LMF kayaking pictures in this Flickr photoset.

The water flow was nice at around 35-400 cfs, so the Rock Garden section was a bit bumpy, but loaded with great eddys to 'park' the kayak in and take pictures. The narrow bit before the falls is the most exciting part of the paddling. The current is strong here and the rocks and snags are many. However, if you go with the flow and only use your paddle to keep your bow pointed downriver and to brace when you bump something, you should get through it fine. If you want to avoid the falls, you can cut hard to the right at the end of the narrow section. This will allow you to 'park in an eddy' and take pictures or pick the best spot to go over the falls.

The one downside of paddling the LMF River so early in the day is that I didn't get to photograph the usual fleet of strangers picking their own way down the three-foot Presbyterian Falls. You can capture some very honest emotion on the faces of folks when that ice cold water hits them in the lap as the go over Presb. Falls. On my way home, at the end of my latest Mt. Fork River float trip, I saw loads of people lining up to enjoy the ride. I think Broken Bow offers the 'most fun four miles in Oklahoma' - Kayaking The Lower Mountain Fork River. Don't miss it this summer.

As usual, no kayaking t-shirts were available for purchase. So, I bought myself this kayaking t-shirt online.

There were two major problems on this trip. I hesitate to bring them up, because I prefer to keep my trip reports positive. However, I must warn you that my AT&T cell phone had no signal anywhere in or around Broken Bow, Oklahoma...total deadzone. All the local folks apparently use Verizon. This caused me some issues. I had gotten a kind offer of shuttling from the folks at Broken Bow Canoes

Also, upon arrival at MicroTel in Broken Bow, OK I was informed that despite my so-called "Reservation" and "Confirmation Number", they were full up. The clerk seemed pretty amused by the whole thing. She had they same wry expression on my previous visit to this very flophouse, where they failed to honor the deal we had reserved online. Luckily, someone built a brand new hotel right next door. I did not waste more than a couple minutes in the Microtel and next time I will waste even less.

Bayou Kayaking at Caddo Lake in Texas

Caddo Lake in Uncertain Texas

If you have ever visited our Kayak Texas page then you know I have long wanted to visit Caddo Lake. Caddo is an old, natural lake that is more like an elaborate river system than a lake. It flows down from the Big Cypress Bayou in a series of interconnected fish laden, tree-lined canals, ditches, ponds and shallow lakes. This lake offers more shade than any other body of water I have ever seen. We just got back from a two night stay on Caddo Lake. We did a little bit of fishing, a whole lot of kayaking and we even shelled out the doe for a guided boat tour. If you enjoy the Cypress trees on the Lower Mountain Fork River in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, visit Caddo Lake soon. This shade-tree paddler was in flatwater heaven.

Guided Boat Tour

Normally, Dianne and I won't consider spending our outdoor time enduring the noise and odor of a motor boat. It is one thing to watch them pass by, but being out the water without hearing the birds holds little charm for me. However, Caddo Lake is vast and varied and our time was short. We decided to take the one-hour lake tour at the last minute. To my shock, Billy Carter's Go-Devil® Tours was the highlight of our trip to Caddo Lake. I wish we had taken it earlier in our trip and I will definitely take the tour again upon our return to Caddo Lake. The river guide was able to show us the oldest most scenic areas in this ancient flooded forest.

Caddo Lake is an ancient flooded forest of Bald Cypress trees. The huge water trees are 'curtained' with thick garlands of Spanish Moss that capture moisture from the early morning air. As the moisture evaporates, it has a cooling effect. The tea-colored waters are teaming with unusually large Catfish, Bass, Sunfish and Crappie. Lily pads abound on the Caddo. Lovely white water lilies and bright yellow Lotus border small tree lines in some places and fill lakes in other area. On Caddo Lake you can paddle your kayak into a 'field' of thousands of water lily blooms. Caddo Lake is paradise for fishermen and photographers.

Caddo Lake Lodge

We spent our two fabulous nights at Caddo Lake Lodge, in the small town of Uncertain Texas. The Wells family was nice enough to offer us a discounted 'press' rate to facilitate of first trip to this paddler's paradise. The lodge offered plenty of room for Dianne and I plus our son Dylan and Dianne's mother. The house has ceiling fans everywhere, cold A/C, a large, deep, soaking tub, spacious deck and other luxuries. The large dining room was great at mealtime. The Caddo Lake Lodge website has pictures of the rooms, but my favorite feature was the private canoe launch and fishing docks. The height of luxury in the perfect location. The dock is located on a narrow section of Caddo Lake called Clinton's Chute. We paddled our kayaks a short ways down to an even more narrow and shady branch called Clinton's Ditch. This part is too narrow and shallow to appeal to the speeding Bass boats.

Photopaddling on Caddo Lake

The mix of land and water on Caddo Lake is unusual. It allows you to slip silently through the forest in your kayak. Paddle quietly and you are sure to sneak right up on a wide assortment of interesting wildlife. Such a wealth of trees is of course ideal for Dianne because she loves to set and run limb lines for Catfish and Bass. For the photopaddler, Caddo Lake offers filtered light on the brightest of days, loads of reflections and a unique blend of light and shadow that is like nothing I have ever seen before. Taking the guided tour earlier in our trip would have improved my photopaddling success as the guide took us to see several more ditches through the bayou. On future trips I hope to launch from a few different boat ramps to see more sections of this amazing lake.

I expected the swampy bayous of Caddo Lake to be stinky and crawling with snakes. I surprised to find neither was the case. I only saw one snake the entire time I was in the area and it was being carried away by a hawk at the time! The smell of Caddo Lake was lovely during the hot, muggy season we visited. I have never spent so much time on the water and still avoided sunburn. Dianne and I both bought short-term fishing licenses, but as usual Dianne did all of the fishing, I was too busy exploring the boat lanes, duck blinds and 'bayou architecture'. It is like the Lower Mountain Fork River, but with much larger Cypress and much flatter water.


Kayak Fishing in the Bayou

Neither Dianne nor I have ever found a spot that was so ideal for limb lining. The large amount of cover on Caddo Lake allows the fish the time to grow enormous and there is always a handy limb to set a hook. The trees are often surrounded by very deep water, which is excellent for fishing or very shallow water which is excellent for catching bait. Catching limb line bait just takes a Minnow Trap, Seine or a few minutes with the casting net. You can also buy bait at a number of places like: Jonhson's Ranch, Crip's Camp and other fine local establishments. Dianne had no trouble catching a whopper Bass at Caddo Lake, but it takes a mighty big one to get the record...over 16lbs the last I heard!

Uncertain, Texas is a very economical travel destination for any Oklahoma paddler who is eager to explore water trails that have more in common with a rain forest than with the Great Plains. Check out Caddo Lake photoset on Flickr to see more of our pictures from this great road trip.

I can't wait to go back!

Catfish and Mayflies on the Deep Fork River

Early Summer is a great time for fishing in the Deep Fork River. Dianne and I met up with our friend Greg for some excellent kayak fishing action this weekend. Dianne and Greg ran the limb lines with strong results from Friday evening through Sunday. I chased them around with my camera and tried to stay in the shade as best I could.

Limb lining is one of the most effective ways to catch catfish using a kayak. They like to lay in deep muddy holes in the riverbanks on Deep Fork, but they will come out of their holes for a small perch or goldfish dangling seductively from a tree limb. Blue catfish, Channel Cats and Flatheads grow very large in the Deep Fork River, so choose your hooks accordingly. You can also expect to see quite a bit of action from Aligator Gar, a toothy prehistoric fish that is best handled with fish handling gloves and much caution.

This weekend the fish and birds were very active due to large clouds of Mayflies in the air and covering nearly every leaf on many trees. Once mayflies have molted, they usually gather in swarms over the river to mate. The Mayfly (AKA Ephemeroptera) is considered to be among the first group of organisms to have ever taken flight. That is no surprise to me, since the Mayfly normally only lives for one day...it requires the extra speed of air travel.

It was an epic weekend, we even stapped the lights on our kayaks and did some night kayak fishing. I heartily reccomend it if you like the taste of insects. Dianne and Greg both caught the biggest catfish they had ever hauled into their kayaks...several times. I got some great pictures and had a ball watching the action. You can check out a few of the pictures that I felt were not too bloody to upload on my Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/freewine.

Remind me to give you Dianne's fantastic recipe for pan-fried catfish fillets sometime. See you on the water!
Update 6-19-2010 - Check out the new Kayak Fishing page at OklahomaRoadTrips.com for all the details on limblining for Catfish in the Deep Fork River.

Kayak Fishing and Fathers Day

With Father's Day Weekend right around the corner, Oklahoma's Summer heatwave has kicked in right on time. Float trips on the Illinois River, The Elk River and other area waterways are way up. Fishing season is in full swing whether you are pursuing Bass, Catfish or Crappie. Dianne is catching fish everywhere she wets a line these days. My kayak fisherman friend Scott reports that the Gar are up on Spavinaw. I am glad Summer is here!

The Father's Day holiday has long been a favorite of mine since it usually means Dianne will agree to going paddling in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. I haven't taken a trip down the Lower Mountain Fork River in far too long! Since we have a Texas kayaking trip to Caddo Lake planned this Summer, I may not be able to get a 'haul-pass' to the LMF anytime soon. BTW, I just added a new outfitter for the LMF River page: Broken Bow Canoes (that name sounds a bit grim, eh?). Check them out sometime and let me know what you think: www.brokenbowcanoes.com.

In Northeastern Oklahoma, The Spring River levels have been looking quite good lately. Of course, there are no outfitters working on Oklahoma's Spring River, so plan to self-shuttle if you make the trip. I think it is a lovely river offering an easy Class I paddle from Baxter Springs KS down to Quapaw, OK.

FYI - Fleet Feet Sports in Tulsa, Oklahoma is seeking kayaker volunteers for The Tulsa Triathlon on Skiatook Lake (out in the water in case a swimmer falters). Sunday June 13, 2010 at 7 am.

Free meal and tons of good karma for helping post watch on the water in your kayak, just in case a swimmer falters and needs some help. This is the 28th anniversary of the Tulsa Triathlon, an International distance triathlon on a moderately challenging course. To volunteer, contact Drew Barton at 918) 492-3338. www.fleetfeettulsa.com

Hobie Mirage Kayaks in Wichita Kansas

Low Water Paddling in Oklahoma

Such a dry Spring, like we are having here in Oklahoma, can really harsh a guy's kayaking plans. Not so long ago, you could count on a regular Thursday night water release from the dam in Broken Bow to keep the Lower Mountain Fork River rocking for the weekend. These days, checking the Oklahoma river levels on American Whitewater's site shows not much fast water for early May. I, for one, am praying for rain!

Lake kayaking is the best way to get out and enjoy that new recreational kayak when the rivers just are not right. Good planning is the key to enjoying paddling the nearest wildlife refuge lake or your local reservoir lake. Most lakes have some secret waiting to be discovered like lovely lily pads on Beggs Lake or creepy drowned trees on Dripping Springs. Bald Eagle sightings on Oklahoma's lakes are quite common. You need the right timing, the right recon and the right bait to enjoy lake kayaking in Oklahoma.

The Right Timing

Time your trip to capture the so-called 'magic hours' just before and after sunrise or sunset. Any weather website will provde the daily time of the sunrise and sunset. It doesn't matter if you are fishing for photos or for flatheads. You will see more action during these magic hours. You may need to move your meal times or carry a sandwich, but do seize these hours on the lake. Until the dry weather passes or your wife agrees to that road trip to Arkansas to paddle the Mulberry River, the White River or the Buffalo...lake paddling beats walking any day.

The Right Recon

The right recon work will provide you with a good idea of where to find the slimmer, shadier more scenic parts of the lake. They tend to be the parts most distant from the dam. Launching from the right spot can save you a lot of baking in the sun paddling across open waters playing chicken with Bass Boats. Ask the locals about no wake zones on the lake for the most peaceful paddling. Position your boat in the shade and photograph your subject in a spot of illuminated water between spots of shade. It makes a lovely shot that is tough to setup on even mild whitewater, but is easy in some shady wading cove. Small lakes are low-wake-lakes, so the Oklahoma kayaker can enjoy lakes that are off limits to larger boats. Smaller lakes often offer more shelter from the wind as well.

The Right Bait

If you are looking for action, you need more than hungry intentions...you got to have bait. My wife swears by goldfish for gathering catfish and she turns her nose up at mere minnows. To quote the great bluesman Taj Mahal: 'plenty fish bite if you got good bait'. Paddle slowly and quietly if you are kayak fishing or pursueing wildlife photography via kayak. Nature is attracted to stealth.

Personally, I don't have the knot-tying prowess or the patience to enjoy much fishing, but I also need good bait for kayak photography. Oklahoma lakes rarely offer snow capped peaks on the horizons of my lake photos. However, our unique weather patterns can provide some powerfully colorful light, shadows and cloud backgrounds that simply cry out for a foreground...a subject...some small bit of action. The best bait to draw this kind of action from your lake paddling trip is good company. Whether it is your kids, your lover or your very best dog, a paddling partner improves any trip. Take some friends kayaking this year. Don't let low water keep you out of your kayak.

Kayak Fishing for Catfish

Loads of local folks are gathering up at the usual spots on the Deep Fork River. This time of year, when the Deep Fork River rises it brings white catfish in addition to water. These white catfish are said to merely be blue cats that have altered pigment due to the stained water. My Dad claims they are tastier than other catfish and I am inclined to believe him. He has hung a tooth on many a catfish.

Dianne has been catching them off limb lines from her Old Town Vapor Kayak (Pics on Flickr). The Deep Fork River makes a good fishing line spot for us because it is close to home. Limb lines are a great way to catch catfish, but you have to 'run' them every four hours or so to harvest fish and or re-bait your lines. Our new Kayak Fishing page has all of the details to get your started limb lining for catfish in your kayak.

Watch your fingers during this type of fishing, Dianne caught a rather large Gar today. Gar have teeth like a dog and are much more risky to handle than catfish. Most folks use a thick leather glove to protect their hands from gar teeth. Dianne also uses a lip grip gaf to help keep her prey under control while kayak fishing.

I had a three-day weekend scheduled and the weather forecast suggested I spend every day of it indoors. I am glad I ignored the weatherman. I went mushroom hunting in several spots and paddled both Grave Creek and Deep Fork. Spring is usually short in Oklahoma, don't let it go to waste!

It is kayak buying season. Bass Pro Shops has Old Town Rush kayaks for $299 each and that is a pretty sweet deal. OKC Kayaks is churning out the new kayakers with their social paddles, swamp paddling trips and blemished kayak bargains. Even my buddy Yakker got himself a new fourteen foot sit-inside kayak. I prefer ten foot kayaks for my sunset chasing, but Dianne is finding her twelve foot Vapor to be an excellent platform for fishing. Get yourself a kayak and hit the water!

The Illinois River in Tahlequah, OK has been flowing at a consistently excellent level for weeks. This is the perfect time of year to enjoy some kayaking in Tahlequah, Broken Bow or the waters of Arkansas and Missouri.

Keep Your Kayaking Economical

As a purely recreational kayaker that rarely travels more than an hour or two away from home, kayaking should be a very inexpensive sport for me. Surprisingly enough, my passion for this fantastic sport has driven me to spend a small fortune on my paddling. There is no end to how much money you can spend on paddling...and it is worth every dime! Here are some help you keep your kayaking affordable.

Discover what aspect of paddling truly drives your passion.

Although I did some canoeing as a child, when I tried it again decades later I instantly fell in love with paddling. My wife and I made a short day trip down the Illinois River in a rented canoe one early summer day and I suddenly felt like I knew how I wanted to spend my weekends for the rest of my life. After renting canoes on only two rivers, Dianne and I realized that neither of us cared for sitting in the front of the canoe. We both wanted to drive. Kayaks proved to be the ticket for putting us both in the driver's seat of a much quicker craft.

With many rivers now under our belts, Dianne and I have learned that there are countless things to enjoy about float trips. We love seeing the lush scenery and wildlife, getting outdoors and seeing our neighborhood waterways from a different perspective. I am endlessly amused with the anticipation of wondering what lies around the next bend in the river.

Kayak photography has also become something of an obsession for me and Dianne spends more and more time kayak fishing every year. The fairly easy whitewater rapids on the Mulberry River and the Mt. Fork River offer a thrilling change of pace that is down right addictive. Even the simple workout that comes from paddling across the lake chasing a good sunset is reason enough for me to own a kayak. Decide what kind of paddling excites you most and it will help guide your purchasing choices.


Choose the Right Canoe or Kayak

So far, I have purchased three plastic kayaks, one plastic canoe and one cheap inflatable kayak. Every boat I buy teaches me something different about paddling and about myself. The Wal-Mart inflatable kayak (I forget the brand) cost less than $100. It taught me how important it is for me to have a boat that is quickly ready to get on the water. An inflatable kayak takes two viagra and twenty minutes of sweet-talking to get ready. It did not fit the busy schedule my day job forces me into and it tracked very poorly. We paddled it once or twice and then banished it to the nether reaches of our garage as future yard-sale fodder.

When the plastic Bayou canoe arrived, I was surprised to learn that it weighed in at a far-from-lean 70+ lbs... unloaded! At around $700, it is one of our most costly boats, but it rarely sees water. Canoes make great cargo vehicles on the river, but they can be overkill if all you want to do is enjoy a few hours exploring the local reservoir.

Choose Between SINK or SOT Kayaks

All three of our plastic kayaks are Sit-Inside-Kayaks (SINK's). We rented a few Sit-On-Top Kayaks (SOT's) and found that the most affordable SOT kayaks keep you sitting in a small pool of water much of the time. Although they are unsinkable, it is just as easy to fall off a SOT as it is take-on-water in a SINK. Since we like to paddle a bit during the winter and in waters that are less-than-pristine, a Sit-Inside Kayak is the only way to go for our floating adventures. You can check out the wide range of kayaks available and do some price checking here: Kayaks for Sale.

Boat Length Impacts Speed

When the first plastic kayak we ever purchased started to get a bit leaky, Dianne decided that she wanted to try out a longer boat. In the recreational kayaking world, fourteen feet long is HUGE and most Rec Kayaks come in at around ten feet long. Like most longer kayaks, Dianne's Old Town Vapor Sit-Inside Kayak promised more weight capacity, faster speed and better performance in wavy conditions. Adding length at the waterline, almost always has those impacts on performance and the 12' Vapor is no different. What they don't tell you in the ads is that longer kayaks are more difficult to load and carry off the water and slower to turn when on the water.

The slow turning is an issue for me. I enjoy throwing the kayaks in the back of the pickup and heading for the put-in fast and Idon't want to ask anyone for help. Either Dianne or I can get Dianne's twelve foot long Vapor in and out of the back of the truck, but it is more difficult and it would not work at all with a longer kayak. You can also count on paying around a hundred dollars per extra foot of kayak length above 10 feet long. On the Sea, bigger boats payoff more, but I often paddle creeks where I can reach out and touch both river banks!


Hauling Kayaks & Canoes

A longer, faster kayak is also bound to weigh you down more, especially when strapping to the roof racks on a car or SUV. Most folks who paddle longer kayaks tend to roof rack them. Folks that are new to the practice are often surprised to learn that their roof racks require some additional investment in bracing and tie-downs that can end up costing as much or more than an entire boat trailer! You can't have much fun with your kayak, if you can't get it to the water. Make sure you have a boat transportation plan before choosing your kayak. For most folks the choices are: roof rack, pickup truck bed, toy hauler RV or boat trailer.

Secure Your Kayaks

Believe it or not I spent of a lot of time worried about my kayak getting stolen. Even when we were sharing a single $400 plastic boat, I wondered how those big bass boat owners slept at night. To my knowledge, no person ever tried to swipe any of our kayaks. However, a bit of change and a cheap padlock improved my ability to sleep at night (cable locks work good, too). After paddling waters all over the Ozarks, I can tell you that most people we pass tell us that we are 'working too hard'. I don't think our cheap plastic boats are hugely at risk!

A much bigger security issue is how you secure your gear on the river. Dry bag your gear and tie it to the boat. You can even find small dry bags and pelican boxes for your cell phone & GPS. Keep your wallet bagged or leave it at home. No glass containers on the river.


Plan your Accommodations Carefully

Riverside cabins offer the nicest way to enjoy a few days of paddling, if you have the loot. Tent camping can be a lot of fun too, but if sleeping on rocks turns your gal off the desire to hit the river...you failed. Motels offer a cheap alternative to get lodging that is closer to the water than home and they are much cheaper than river cabins.

If you have old bones like ours, you might prefer the comfort of Trailer Camping aka 'Tramping'. We bought a toyhauler RV to help me and Dianne get a good night's sleep and still get on the water, while the light was good. It wasn't long after that until we were shopping for a river lot to keep the toyhauler parked on.

As I said, there is no end to how much money you can spend on paddling. Just make sure the spending doesn't start to interfere with your time on the river!

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