Sorry for the late details! As many of you know, Sonia has been recovering from knee replacements and hasn't been out on the water. But the weekend is still on! Here are the details: We are planning a recreational trip on the Big and Little Rib Rivers for Saturday. The rivers have no current so we can start and end at the same place. There are separate channels so it won't be an out and back - and to make it more special, it's part of the newest National Park Recreational Waterway, the Great Pinery Heritage Waterway. We will be meeting at 11:00 on Saturday, August 2, at Gulliver's Landing. It's located at 151701 Gadwall Lane near Olivia's restaurant. There is parking, a kayak launch, and restrooms are available. Bring food if you want, or we will stop at Trail's End Lodge after approximately 90 minutes of kayaking for a beer or food and restrooms, then continue back to Gulliver's Landing. Total time including lunch break will be about 3-4 hours. Special attractions on the river include a wildlife sanctuary, an abundance of osprey and eagles, and other fun wildlife. On return we will pass Wisconsin's first paddle park and a rookery park (largest blue heron rookery in the state). Sunday there is a recreational whitewater release in downtown Wausau and lessons are available. Check it out at Wausauwhitewater.org. Several of us did this last year and it was a fun experience. All levels of lessons are available with equipment provided. Do your own registration if interested. An additional recreational paddle may be organized for Sunday morning if there is interest in that.
Those wanting to camp, Friday or Saturday night or both (or even Sunday), can camp free at the Whitewater Park located at 388 River Drive in Wausau. Camping is basically a free-for-all on the grassy area. Cars can be driven right up to your selected patch of turf, small campers allowed, and maybe one or two larger campers if necessary. No hookups, but they have flush toilets and outdoor showers. Fair warning: last year there were some thefts of high-end whitewater kayaks. Our group was not victimized, but if you camp be sure to lock your kayak if you leave it at the site. There are a couple of picnic pavilions in the campground, but no designated campsites with picnic tables or anything. So bring chairs and whatever else you need to make your camping experience the best it can be!
If you come Friday night, Bill will take anyone interested on a sunset cruise of Lake Wausau on his pontoon at 7. Saturday morning there is a Farmer's Market right by the campground where coffee and breakfast items can be purchased. Saturday night Bill and I will host a barbecue in his backyard at 2207 Mount View Boulevard. We will have burgers, chips, watermelon and coleslaw as well as beer, Sangria, soft drinks and games.
If that isn't enough Wausau for anyone, Sunday night is Jazz on the River in Wausau from 5-7 p.m.; program is Battle of the Saxes. Camping is available Sunday night for those staying.
Hope to hear from those interested soon! I miss my paddling buddies.