Chicago Kayak Newsletter

This newsletter is for the members of the Chicago Kayak Club. 
It details our outings, times, locations, and gives other pertinent information that you will need.
Chicago Kayak Home Page

Current Issue: July 16th 2005

1. Ordering Inuit/Greenland Wooden Paddles
2. Mississippi River Trip
3. Rescue Clinic on the 22nd
4. Skokie Lagoon Clean up on the 26th
5. Lake Geneva July 28th
6  Lake MI Paddle on the 29th
7. IPC web site and safety for sea kayakers
8. CKC member sailing the MAC
9. House for sale on the Chicago River with dock for kayakers
10.August and then Fall CKC Schedule
11.Lake Superior Trip was a blast!
12. Instructors and Instructors Assistants wanted

1. Ordering Wooden Inuit Paddles from Betsy Bay Kayak

Many of you have expressed an interest in ordering a Betsy Bay Inuit Paddle (the one I use)  I have currently about 10 people who would like to purchase one. If you would like to have your name added to the “official” list, please e-mail me directly.  The cost of the paddle is $225 plus $15 shipping.  I am going to see if we can get a club discount or free shipping with our group order, but that may not be possible. Al Andersons paddles are works of art and beautifully made. If you are serious, please contact me at cynthia_gilbert@comcast.net     If we can get a group order, you would  need to send a check to me, made out to them, for the total amount.  Once I hear from everyone, I will contact Betsy Bay and give them an order and get the specific pricing.  Their web site and link to this particular paddle is http://www.bbkayak.com/Inuit1.html

 2. Mississippi River Trip
Tue July 19th

Wed – free time for all – hike, kayak, bike, whatever!  We hope to be on the road by 5:30pm.  If you would like to stay additional days, that is always an option too! 

Things to bring:

Kayaking clothing, plenty of water, sunscreen, hat etc.  Binocculars and cameras are a good choice too!

Hiking/biking stuff – bug juice, flashlight or head lamp, tent, sleeping bag, toiletries, rain gear (fat chance!) 

Food
Breakfast on the road Tue. brown bag lunch for Tue
Dinner on Tue will be potluck – bring something to share with everyone!
Breakfast Wed:I will be making cheesy quesadillas for all
Wed lunch – brown bag 

Comments/Cost

3. Rescue Clinic on July 22nd
We meet at Touhy Ave and Sheridan at the parking lot for Leone Beach. some spots are metered, so please bring quarters. This is almost full, so please rsvp if you plan to attend!

Lake Conditions will determine if we go out or not. If in doubt, check the weather/marine forecast http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn.pl?file=forecasts/marine/near_shore/lm/lmz741.txt  1-3 foot is for certain, 2-4 a definite maybe, anything more is a no go.

4. Skokie Lagoons Clean up on the 26th
Join us for an "After the 4th" Clean up.
We meet at 5:30 at the Tower Road Boat launch and go til dusk.  The forest preserve will be providing all the supplies we need. Bring your family, friends and co workers. The more the merrier!  We need people on land as well as out on the water.

5. .Lake Geneva on July 28th
Depart Evanston 8am arrive Lake Geneva by 9:30
Paddle til lunch, then stop in at Gordys for a  something yummy to eat
Paddle the rest of the afternoon, maybe practice rescues and bracing?
Load trailer by 5:30 and hit the road.
If you are riding with me, please e-mail me for directions to my house at cynthia_gilbert@comcast.net 

The following launch info was graciously provided by Jim Berg: 

There is a nice public launch at Linn Pier, complete with a porta-potty and parking for trailers - if you get there early. There is a nominal charge ($5.50 last year) to launch using a self service fee box but well worth it. I believe the money goes to the local homeowners association who owns and maintains the pier. Bring exact change.

Linn Pier is accessible off of South Lake Shore Drive, at about the center of the lake. Take South Lake Shore Drive out of the town of Lake Geneva. Follow it around, taking the right cutoff, to Linn Pier Road. Go North on Linn Pier Road to the end of the road. 

Link to Google Map:http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=Lake+Geneva,+WI

 Linn Pier is located just West of the Narrows. A good place to put in, depending on wind conditions, giving you options to head East or West or North to Williams Bay.  

6 Lake MI paddle on Friday July 29th
We meet in the parking lot of Leone Beach at 5:30 and launch by 6:00. 
This is a leisurely paddle designed for all levels of skill. This will fill up, so please rsvp asap!

Lake Conditions will determine if we go out or not. If in doubt, check the weather/marine forecast http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/fmtbltn.pl?file=forecasts/marine/near_shore/lm/lmz741.txt  1-3 foot is for certain, 2-4 a definite maybe, anything more is a no go.
 

7. IPC web site has Lake MI safety info
Go to www.illinoispaddling.org and click on the left bar. You may wish to inform your paddling friends accordingly and also spread the word.

8.CKC member in Sailing in the Mac this weekend!

 Our own Michael Dunlap left this morning to board his boat for the famous MAC race.  Michael has been missing from many of our group paddles as he prepares for this, and the Huron to Chicago Race. We all wish him the best of luck!

9. House for Sale on the Chicago River

I am selling my own townhouse on the Chicago River.  The townhouse is great for rowers and river lovers because it has a drop off dock right on the property. 

Thanks! Kate Greene
p.s. you can view the property at tourfactory.com/230160 

10. August and Fall CKC Schedules

Well the Friday night paddles seem to be a big hit –so surely more of those to come. I am working on the schedule, so any suggestions would be welcome. Other than the usual kayaking outings, we are also planning 

11. MN and Lake Superior was a blast!
We had wonderfully warm weather and sunny skies for our trip.  Both Austin and Mike rode up front while I lounged the whole 10 hour drive. What a great start!

We stayed on a homestead, with Kathleen Anderson. She is the owner/operator of Winter Moon, Summer Sun. http://www.wintermoonsummersun.com/  She has sea kayaking guests during the summer, and dog sledding guests in the winter. What a beautiful place. 

Our first day out was on a small lake (Salo Lake) that was fed by a creek - it was full of water lilies. We spent the day paddling around, practicing rescues, and doing some swimming.  We finished off the day with a short hike, a wonderful meal and a good night's rest.

The next day we started off with the hike and did part of the Superior Hiking Trail.http://www.bwca.cc/activities/hiking/superiorhikingtrail.html

This is a 200 mile trail along the shores of Lake Superior through MN and Canada.  Rocky cliffs, scenic overlooks, lots of scrubby pines and wildflowers were our path through this magnificent country.  Later that day, we went to Split Rock State Park and launched our kayaks into Lake Superior. What a nice way to cool off on a hot summer day. The shoreline was rocky cliffs dotted with many landing spots.  We saw split rock lighthouse from the water, and paddled into some caves. Our stop later on was on a secluded beach were we spent some more time frolicking in the water and looking for stones or just laying back and relaxing.  One thing that was pretty neat to see was an old shipwreck.  It was under about 30 feet of water and since it is so clear, we could make out most of the old boat (wrecked in 1905)

Our last day of kayaking took us to Petrell Creek. This was a sweet, hidden creek that meandered through the MN forest up to a large wild rice lake.  The lake was choked with growing rice, so that stopped us right there.  We saw hundreds of tiny frogs, some snails and some fish along with lots of lily pads and of course, lots of wild rice. The harvest will be ready in late August, so we were unable to bring any back. Sure seems like a nice way to spend the day!  We finished our day with ice cold beer and pizza at Hugo's Bar - full of local color and a rockin juke box!

Kathleen was a wonderful hostess and a wonderful cook. I can't recommend staying with her enough!  She also gives CKC members a 10% discount - so don't forget to mention us!

 
    Ferns on the Superior Hiking Trail   A rocky start - Superior HTrail                       Keep going!                              Salo Lake and water lilies

 
Split Rock Light House                                                        Petrell Creek - wandering thru Paradise

 
Austin at the wild rice lake                Mike entering a cave on Superior

 

12. Instructors and Instructor's Assistants wanted
Already know how to teach? Want to learn to be a kayak instructor?  We are looking for people to help out, and eventually be able to teach on their own.  Instructors are paid, Instructor's assistants are not paid, but training is provided free of charge over the course of your learning.

Interested?  Contact us at chicagokayak@comcast.net