I am going to go with my traditional Annual Sunday Paddle on the Turtle Creek on Sunday, November 5, 2017.
NOT SATURDAY
The long term weather forecasts now show little difference.
Expect it to be somewhat cold – mid to high forties to low fifties. I plan to wear my dry suit + some fleece. There is a possibility of scattered showers, so rain gear is suggested. Don’t forget your dump bag.
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FIRST WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER – SUNDAY
I am hosting a Stateline Paddlers trip on Turtle Creek ** Sunday, 5 November 2017 ** Car shift will be at 10:00, plan to be there 09:30 to 09:45 to unload. The trip is about 11 miles.
The launch is at on O’Riley Road about 400 meters (1/4 mile) east of the bridge in a small forests preserve on the north side of the creek. Take out will be in Sweet Allyn Park on the East side of Beloit.
If you need directions to the launch, Take I-39 North to I-43, get off at Rt 140 go north about 1/2 mile to Townline Rd., then East about 4 miles to O’Riley Rd and turn North. The road turns right after the bridge, and the launch is at the curve in the road.
The usual rules apply including but not limited to:
Participants provide their own suitable canoe or kayak, paddle(s), PFD/approved life jackets, and wear PFD on water
Minors must be accompanied by responsible adult
Adults must sign in , on waiver sheet
Hydration/drinking water BYO,
Lunch BYO
Dump bag – Dry bag w/change of clothing
Contact: The e-mail list, e-mail to hereagain@grics.net, or my cell phone (815)441-2021
Harry T. (Tom) Meyen
Members of Stateline paddlers and guests welcome
Members of Prairie State Canoeists and guests welcome
Members of Mad City Paddlers and guests are welcome
Trip report: from Tom Meyen
Yesterday, Sunday, 5 November 2017, in company with nine other paddlers in eight other boats I paddled Turtle Creek in Wisconsin from a small forest preserve at O’Riley Road to Sweet Allyn Park just east of Beloit at Shopiere. The weather looked a little iffy during the drive North from Dixon IL, but the mist stopped, and wind was very light by the time we launched. We were rewarded with blue sky and bright sun toward the end of the trip. Our fleet included two solo canoes, one tandem kayak and six solo kayaks.
The river was low, and several of us had to push our boats away from the mud that contacted parts of the bottoms at launch. The current Is always brisk on the creek, even when the water is low, so the trip only took about three hours including a lunch stop. If we missed the ideal channel, dragging bottom was a common occurrence, and once I had to separate the halves of my paddle and use it like ski poles to push off a particularly shallow place. For this I awarded myself a demerit for poorly reading the river. Landing and re-launch at the lunch stop at the highway 140 bridge was a bit more of a hassle than with normal water, but no major problems as all were experienced paddlers.
On the trip I saw two bald eagles and one blue heron and several others spotted two deer that I missed seeing. All in all, there was less wild life seen than in a typical paddle of the Turtle. A downer was the new Ice Cream Shop at Shopiere was closed for the season.
It was a good trip, and I was pleased that I wore my dry suit, not for falling in the water, but as a full body windbreaker. I met one new paddler from Mad City Paddlers, and the group included at least two from Mad City Paddlers, five from Prairie State Canoeists and six from State Line Paddlers. The numbers add to more than ten because many of us belong to more than one club. At least one of the group belonged to one other club related to the Sierra Club.
