*** see TRIP REPORT and PHOTOS below ***
***** TRIP REPORT ***** by Glenn Ross
The Queen's Harbour Kayak Club members set out from the Queen's Harbour Sports Complex at 7:30 on Wednesday, July 23rd under cloudy skies. Though most of the day was overcast the trip was great. We launched at Poe Springs with help from the staff of Santa Fe Canoe Outpost. After a short delay, as we had to wait for 1 missing kayak to show up, the trip was underway. The members of the group were Mary Domask, Holly Taylor, Denise Pointner, Lisa and Shannon Beardsley, Glenn and Debbie Ross, Steve and Donna Yablonski, Dave O'Hara and Jackie, Hope Evans, Harold Smith, Doug Izard and Bill MacLeod.
The river was a little low, but it did not create any problems for anyone. A few members of the group traveled up the inlet to visit Naked Ed and were not disappointed, as Ed didn't put in an appearance. Ha Ha. Rum Island Spring was beautiful, but a bit chilly and crowded due to summer visitors. After stopping for lunch at Ginnie Springs, Lisa and Shannon showed everyone techniques for assisted deep water rescues, essentially righting, empying water and reentering a kayak in deep water. It was a great display and we learned how to kayak more safely.
The trip was beautiful and peaceful. Our group had the river to ourselves for most of the trip. Our only company was the birds, turtles, fish and one small alligator that were enjoying the river along with us.
We hope more of you will join us for the next trip.
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Date: Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Time: Meet at 7:00 am, at the QH Sports Complex to Car Pool. Arrive at Santa Fe Canoe Outpost around 9:00 am, shuttle and launch from Poe Springs by 10:00 am.
Pick Up Shuttle from Ginnie Springs and Highway 47 Bridge will be determined and there will be one shuttle from each end point, allowing time to swim and play once you arrive. Tentative pick up times are 2:30 pm for the Ginnie Springs Bunch and 4:00 pm for the Bridge Bunch. (please keep in mind these times are not exact but estimates.)
Level: Easy/Beginner - Moderate/Intermediate
Location: Santa Fe River
Length of Trip: approximately 6-8 hours
Trip Leader: Glen Ross and Steve Yablonski
Trip Info:
The plan is to travel to the Canoe Outpost, http://www.santaferiver.com/, and purchase the trip and rent kayaks, if needed. Then the staff will load us into their vans and take us to Poe Springs. Poe Springs is a very nice YMCA camp on the river with a large spring for swimming and viewing. Starting there will also allow us to miss most if not all of the low water portage locations. From there we will kayak down river to Ginnie Springs for lunch and a short swim. If you wish, you may end your paddle here stop here and arrange for shuttle service back to your vehicle, but the group will continue to our scheduled take-out at the Highway 47 Bridge.
The fee schedule is on the web site above.
Outpost to Poe Springs by Outpost Van ride. If we stay at Poe Springs there is a $6.00 per person entrance fee. If we just launch-and-go the fee can most likely be waved.
Poe Springs to Rum Island . 2 miles, approx. 1 hours paddling time.
Rum Island to Ginnie Springs. 1.5 miles, approx. 45 minutes paddling time.
Ginnie Springs charges a $10.00 entrance fee per person for anyone who wish to stop and take-out there. Outpost may also charge a small pickup fee (estimated at $10.00 per van-load).
Ginnie Springs to Highway 47 Bridge. 7 miles, approx. 1.5 hours paddling time.
The price of the trip will vary depending on the options selected above.
The estimated cost of the entire trip - Outpost to Poe Springs by Outpost Van ride then take-out at the Highway 47 Bridge – will cost $20.00 per person for the shuttle service and if you need to rent a kayak a $35.00 kayak rental charge ($40.00 for a tandem).
Technically if we stop at Ginnie Springs for lunch we should pay the $10.00 park fee for a total of:
· $35.00 with your own Kayak
· $50.00 with a rental Kayak / $65.00 for a tandem Kayak
We plan to meet at the QH sports complex about 7:00 a.m. on July 23rd and carpool.
Glenn Ross has room for two more kayaks on his truck and an extra sit on top that someone may borrow.
Lisa Beardsley also will have room on her truck for an additional kayak and has a sit on top someone may borrow.
Please e-mail the club or sign up on the blog if you are going to participate.
You may also be interested in viewing the following link:
See you on the Water!