13038 Hwy 61 North
Burlington, Iowa
phone: 319-752-1857 or 1-800-RIVER-12
paddle@canoeskayaks.com
I PADDLED the IOWA
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Please note - Hwy 99 between Burlington and Oakville has a detour at the time of this posting. Reconstruction of a bridge is schedule to be finished by June but please check if you drive this route. There is a detour but it adds time to the trip.
DESCRIPTION - I PADDLED the IOWA will be a group paddle from Fred T Schwob Access in Wapello to Ferry Landing Park north of Oakville. This is a 16.5 mile paddle and will take approximately 5 hours. This is a self-paced, easy paddle. Beginners are welcome. This is not a race but a fun, social time to hit the water and meet other paddlers.
SCHEDULE-
For paddlers with their own boats, boats may be dropped off at Wapello put-in beginning at 7:30. Boats will be watched while you drive to Ferry Landing for parking and shuttle.
Parking: All participants will park at Ferry Landing Park (end of paddle).
Check-in: 8:30 - 10:00 Wapello Fred T Schwob Access
Shuttle: Person shuttle leaves Ferry Landing at 8:00 and 9:00 to drive to Wapello put-in
Launch: Approximately 10:00 a.m. from Fred T Schwob Access in Wapello.
Lunch: We will plan to stop at a sandbar for mid paddle break and lunch.
Landing: Approximately 3:00 at Ferry Landing Park.
All people shuttling takes place before the trip.
- If you are renting you should meet at Ferry Landing for parking and shuttle. If you drive thru Wapello we would appreciate it if passengers were dropped off the save shuttle bus space.
- If you are bringing your own boat you must drop it in Wapello and drive to Ferry Landing for parking and shuttle. Due to limited shuttle space, only the driver should go to Ferry Landing.
FERRY LANDING PARK- Ferry Landing park is located at the mouth of the Mississippi river across from New Boston, IL. From the northern edge of Oakville, drive approximately 6 miles on gravel to the levee on county road X71. Look for our signs to find your way. Ferry Landing park offers primative camping, fishing and a boat ramp. The park is maintained by the Army Corp of Engineers, has updated cleaned outhouses, no water, and free unreserved camping under a spacious canopy of Cottonwood trees covering 1/2 mile of waterfront. Additional Louisa county information is available at www./ccb.org/park_guides.htm
FINDING THE BOAT RAMP IN WAPELLO (possibly the hardest part of the trip) If you are coming into Wapello on Hwy 99 (across the Iowa river bridge) you will turn on the first street (North 2nd) to your left. There is not always a street sign present.
If you are coming into Wapello on Hwy 61 you will be looking for Hwy 99 or Franklin Street turn. It is across from the big grain elevator in the middle of town. Drive past the court house and turn right on North 2nd..
From Second street you will drive 4 blocks to Spring and turn left.
REGISTRATION FEE - The registration fee for the event must be paid in advance and mailed in on the attached form. The fee includes people shuttle, bottled water, safety support and snacks.
CHILDREN - Non-paddling children under 8 years old can ride for free. This means there are two adult paddlers and the child sits in the bottom of the boat. Please supply your own life jacket ( a few availalbe for rental - please call).
RENTALS - River Basin will have canoes and kayaks available for rental for the trip. Canoes are $32 (including tax) for two or three people including paddles and jackets. Small children may ride with adults but must sit in the bottom of the canoe. Please call for kayak rentals as numbers are limited to first come, first served.
If you have your own canoe or kayak, you are welcome to bring your boat and we will provide shuttle service for your person. You will be responsible for dropping your boat in Wapello.
FOOD - We'll have box lunches available by pre-purchase. This year we will transport lunches to the lunch stop for you.
THE IOWA RIVER - The Iowa is a great canoe river, and is the cleanest, shallow, wide river with consistent flow in the state. Paddlers will have the whole river to themselves with only an occasional john boat.The Iowa is a very wide and very quiet river. The more scenic portions of the paddle will take you through low lying corn fields, wooded islands and along the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge where bird sightings are frequent. The river is a sand bottom and should have many sandbars by the end of June. Sandbars are known for sudden dropoffs, so swimmers must wear lifejackets, no exceptions.
WHAT TO BRING - Cameras & cell phones should be in a waterproof bag with a way to secure them to the boat. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes and plan for the possibility of getting wet. Coolers for water or snacks are fine but no alcohol allowed. Sunscreen and water are recommended. There will be plentiful supplies of bottled water at the put in and on the route..
TRAVEL TIME - Driving between Wapello and Ferry Landing is approximately 30 minutes each way. If you are driving to the trip on Saturday morning, allow 1. 5 hrs from Iowa City, 2 hrs from Cedar Rapids, 3.5 hrs from Des Moines, 1.25 hrs from Quad Cities, 1.5 hrs from Galesburg.
SOUTHEAST IOWA AREA - Hotels and B&Bs are located in historic Burlington, 30 minutes from Wapello or Oakville. Roy El Motel 319-523-2111 and Hotel Wapello 319-523-2341 are located in Wapello.
Restaurants - Oakville - Tommy's Tap --: tavern with burgers, Oakville restaurant-- breakfast & lunch
Wapello - Sub Station, Moyer's Tackle Box - bkfst, lunch
Dairy Treat: great ice cream, homemade pies and sandwiches, Olde World Cafe - breakfast, lunch, coffees, gifts.
Burlington - Big Muddies and The Drake are on the Mississippi: good food variety, reasonable prices, Martini's Grill: Chef Peter Harmon's steak and seafood specialties, Mississippi view, top rated. Fun City is Burlington's new indoor attraction with indoor water-park, go carts, bowling, and other games. Fun City is part of the Pzazz hotel complex.
SAFETY:
- YOU MUST WEAR A LIFEVEST WHEN ON THE WATER
- THIS IS AN ALCOHOL-FREE EVENT
- PARTICIPANTS UNDER 16 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT/GUARDIAN. ONE ADULT MUST BE IN EACH CANOE.
Click here for registration form (registration form coming soon)
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Click here to e:mail us at: River Basin Canoe & Kayak