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Newsletter of the Prairie State Canoeists
September 1, 2001  - Vol. 33 # 6

From the Chair: 

PSC web site: http://www.psc.ctsserver.com

As we come to the end of another paddling year, it is time to think about the Fall Dinner and even to start planning for the next year. This year we will meet on Sunday, November 4, at the Alpine Haus at 11141 W. Roosevelt Road, Westchester, IL. Alpine Haus is at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Wolf Road, just east of the N/S Tollway (I-294). Because there is lots of construction around there, as we get close to the dinner check the PSC website or call the Alpine Haus (708-409-8640) to find out the best exits off I-294 and I-290.   (Late Flash:   Alpine Haus tells us all exits to the restaurant are open. No special routing is needed!)   Dinner this year will be $19.75 for adults, $5 (PSC subsidized) for children 12 and under. Cocktails start at 5:15 PM and dinner at 6:00 PM.

Click here for a form to register for the dinner.

Contest!
For entertainment at this year's dinner, we've decided to give club members a chance to share some of the stories we tell around campfires in the evening after a day on the river. We're holding a competition for the worst canoeing experience-non-fiction only. Think about the bad trips you've had, choose the one that stands out most in your mind, and write a short one page account. Whether or not you want to use actual names is up to you. Send me your stories by October 1 (150 N Lombard, Oak Park, IL 60302). The board will select the best three stories, which will be read at the dinner. The winning stories will be published in subsequent newsletter as space permits.

Bill

Web Site, PSC Items for Sale, Canoe Classes, Pool Sessions, Canoes and Kayaks for Sale


PSC Web Site

Check out the PSC Website. http://www.psc.ctsserver.com . Hot line for late trip postings: call Bob Kane at (815) 744-8129 if you are planning a last minute river trip and would like us to put an entry on the web for you. Include the details of when and where, with your name and a phone number to contact you. Send address change to Bob Kane, sign-in to Vic Hurtowy, trip reports to Rick Fleming, 23 N. Emerson St., Mt. Prospect IL 60056, 847-253-9383, fax -5216, rfleming@ netconsulting.com (e-mail preferred). Trip leaders do not have to use the pre-stamped envelopes for trip reports - e-mail if you can.

PSC Items for Sale  

PSC T-shirts ($10) and sweatshirts ($20) are available from Christina Taylor at 708-445-0871; E-mail: peace4368@ aol.com. Christina can bring your shirts to a trip or send via UPS.

Canoe Classes, Pool Sessions

Free Style Canoeing. Single blades, solo paddlers and canoes only in the pool! This class is "obedience school" for your canoe and you will learn how to fine tune boat control with Free Style technique. You will get wet, but will be amazed as you learn to control what your canoe can do. Class will be held at Naperville North High School on Sunday mornings from 11 am - 1:30 pm. First introductory session is three weeks and requires some basic
knowledge of canoe strokes, October 21, 28 and November 4. Second three week session is November 18 - December 2 and requires participation in the first session or other previous freestyle instruction. To register for the class, call 630-420-6494.

Canoes and Kayaks for Sale

Canadienne 1988-89, white GRP with aluminum trim, 3 paddles, 3rd passenger seat.
Pully halyard system for stowing canoe in overhead of garage. 1/2 of a car carrier (used station wagon rack for back end). 2001 registration. Practically new condition. $700 complete. Gary Nelson, gnelson@zynrgy.com

Folbot, Super(17 1/2' folding Kayak) with rudder, spray skirt and paddles.$400.00 Folds into 2 bags. Call Tom or Anne at 708 361 4970 or e-mail at afuel40010@cs.com

Old Town 1932, 17' wood & canvas. Recently restored, excellent condition. $1,990. Leo Krusack 603-469-7144.
Two wood gunwales, brand new, 17'7', stained & varnished; two wood thwarts, used 34". $30. Will trade for new pole. Dennis Paterka 773-763-6110.

Bell Flashfire 1993, Kevlar canoe; blue gel coat; wood gunnels; no deck plates. It is in very serviceable condition. $650. Dave and Sherri Johnson 815-634-2811, djohnson@uti.com

Blackhawk Nighthawk 12' solo, Kevlar, wood gunwales. $600 Beth Sandles 773-271-3415
Mad River Explorer, Special Ed. White Kevlar, 16'4" 50-lbs. excellent condition. $1,250. Mike Budrys 847-735-0810.

Perception Mirage 13' whitewater kayak, floatation spray skirt $225 Don White 847-698-2303.

Mad River 16' solo large vol tripping fiberglass $300,
alum john boat 10' $250,
raft white water rubber 8' & 6' $150 & $75.
Sawyer 17'9" cruiser fiberglass $675
Bob Warren 630-739-6040.

Grumman 18' shoe keel, $400, John Fiorio 847-699-2895.

We-no-nah 16' Solo Plus, (solo or tandem) 50lbs,teal, paddled 1 season. $1000 ($1600 new) Noreen Long 847-486-0752.

Aquatera Chinook 16' sea kayak, yellow. never been in the water. $750. S.Vilardo svilardo@netzero.net

Bell Wildfire black and gold kevlar/graphite $800. 815-729-0713 Bill Dethlefsen wecanoe@aol.com .

Newsletter Issues and Deadlines:

Trip Announcements: Always Call Trip Leader in Advance

Is Your E-Mail Address in the Directory?
I omitted two trips from the last newsletter and used the e-mail list from the club directory to notify those on the list about these trips. If you have e-mail but are not in the directory, you missed the announcement. If you don't have e-mail, don't get too concerned. I will not e-mail trip announcements that are merely submitted late.

Trip # 82 Sat Sept 29
Lower Fox R IL Beginner
Larry Forgala 708-425-0733
Rt 52 to Wedron. Correction from last newsletter: this is not a moonlight trip. Let us paddle through the "Dells of the Fox." And enjoy some early fall colors. Take I-55 S to Rt52/Shorswood Exit West. Continue W approx 26 miles to the river. Put-in is at the NE corner of the bridge. Come early, the 9:30

Trip # 83 Sat-Sun Sept 29-30
Kickapoo R. WI Beginner
Dave & Sherri Johnson canoesew@uti.com 815-634-2811
This is our annual fall appreciation trip. Usually the colors are phenomenal and the river valley as seen from the lookout at the Wildcat Mountain St. Park is breathtaking. It is known as the 'crookedist river in Wisconsin." Saturday night we like to have a feast/community dinner. We have a group site reserved at Wildcat Mountain State Park (smaller one in the trees). Call for details, to sign up for what to contribute to the dinner and to reserve your spot.     DIRECTIONS: Take I-90-94 west from Madison. Exit RT 82 at the Mauston (Milepost 69). Follow RT 82 west to RT 80. Go south through Elroy to RT 33 at Union Center. Take RT 333 west to Wildcat Mountain State Park or on to Ontario to the putin. We will carshift from the campground at 8:30. Putin is on the east side of the river at the edge of town at 9:00. Please call/e-mail for more details or to sign up for this trip.

Trip #83a Fri-Sat Oct 5-6
Wolf & Pike or Red Intermediate Whitewater
Rick Fleming 847-253-9383
Fall colors whitewater trip. We will probably camp at the Wolf and select either the Pike or Red for Sunday. Could catch a dam release early Sunday on the Red.

Trip #84 Oct 6-7
Fawn & Pigeon Rivers IN
Paul & Alice Clifford 815-886-2554
Jerry Emerson 219-662-1296
We will canoe the Fawn and Pigeon rivers through an Indiana Wildlife area. This is a great family trip. We will be camping at Riverside Campground near Shipshewana. Carshift will be at 9AM both days from the campground. Those who are interested may join the leaders for an Amish dinner Saturday evening.
Directions: Take Indiana Toll road east to SR 13, Middlebury exit. Go south to SR 120(about 2 miles). Go east (left) 9 1/4 miles to county road 450 west. Go north (left) about 1/2 miles to campground across the river. Bring dump clothes, PFDs, and lunch for both days. Please call the leaders.

Trip #85 Sat-Mon Col Day Oct 6-8
Wisconsin River Camping
Ed Nelson enelson@mc.net
Louis Igyarto
Email Leader for details: enelson@mc.net

Trip # Oct 10
Des Plaines R IL Advanced Beginner
Joan Taylor TaylorJRS@aol.com 630-495-1565
Tom Richardson
Let's do a fall midweek paddle on the Des Plaines. Put in at 10 a.m. at Wadsworth Road and the river on the southeast side parking lot. We will paddle to Oak Spring road (13.8 miles). The river flows though forest preserves with frequent glimpses of wetland. Expect some downed trees to make the paddle challenging. Please call ahead.

Trip #86 Oct 13-14
Raccoon Creek IN Advanced Beginner
Bob Kane paddler@cbcast.com 815-744-8129
Paul & Alice Clifford 815-886-2554
Its that time of year again. The Covered Bridge Festival in central Indiana is upon us. In conjunction with the fest the Indiana DNR releases water from the dam to make for nice canoeing. We will camp at Shades State Park which is located off IN rte. 234 east of U.S. 41. Come join us for this annual fall favorite. Bring dump clothes and PFD's. Lunches are optional since the lunch stop is where the big part of the fest is located. Call the leaders. Carshift at 9:15AM.

Trip 86a Sat Oct 13
Rock River Beginner/Adv Beginner
Rich Rothrock 630-325-7019
>From Oregon, IL to Grand Detour (approx 10 1/2 miles). Great Fall canoeing. Put-in in Oregon at the Park East Access Area, south of the dam and one block north of Rte. 64 on the east side of the river. Car shift at 9:30. Expect rock formations, very few power boats, maybe some bald eagles.

Trip #86b Sat-Sun Oct 20-21
Kankakee R, Jasper-Pulaski Game Preserve
Note: Phone numbers in newsletter are wrong. Here are correct numbers:
Fran Almquist 815-459-8134
Phyllis Wells 847-966-7146
Louis Igyarto 847-587-7462
Beginner (some maneuvering required)
Spend a colorful fall weekend canoeing the Kankakee R. in Indiana. A portion of our trip will be through the Kankakee State Fish and Wildlife Area. An extra bonus will be Sandhill Crane watching on Saturday night at the Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area. This game preserve is a stopover for the annual migration of thousands of cranes. When we were there in the past the count was as high as 16,000! We will walk to a platform in the marsh and watch--so bring binoculars, cameras, etc. Dinner can be a quick snack before walking to the marsh or a late one at your
campsite. We will camp at Jasper-Pulaski. Carshifts will leave the campground at 9 am both days. Directions: From the intersection of US 30 & SR 421 go south on 421 approx. 18 miles to 143. West on 143 approx. 1-1/2 miles to the park entrance on the north side of the road. A very short distance into the park turn east at sign into campground. Approx. 2.5 hr. drive time from Morton Grove, IL.


Trip #87 Sun Oct 21
I&M Canal Beginner
Lawrence Forgala 708-425-0733
A close and easy trip for those who like a leisurely paddle while enjoying the fall colors. Take I55 S to Rt 6 Channahon Exit. Turn rt/W on Rt 6 and continue 2.6 miles to Canal Rd. Turn left and continue to the 2nd stop sign. Turn right, go over the bridge, and immediately turn left into the parking lot. Carshift at 9:30.

Trip #88 Sat & Sun Oct 27 & 28
Elkhart R/Chain O Lk St Pk IN
Igyartos 847-587-7462
Bates 847-587-7623
This year we will alternate from WI and head to IN for our annual "Dells" trip. We will be paddling the Elkhart River and the Chain O'Lakes State Park. Water levels and weather conditions will dictate which we do and when. Carshift at 9a from the campground in Chain O'Lakes St Pk. There will not be an organized dinner for Sat night so come prepared to do whatever you desire. From Chicago take the Indiana Tollway I/90&80 East to IN SR13 (East of Elkhart and Goshen IN). Take SR13 S to US6. Drive East on US6 to SR9, turn right (S) onto SR9 and proceed through the town of Albion about 3 miles until you see the sign for Chain O'Lakes St Park. Turn left (E) and the park gate will be about another mile down the road.

Trip # Sun Nov 4
Lower Fox R IL Beginner
Joan Taylor TaylorJRS@aol.com 630-495-1565
Christina Taylor Peace4368@aol.com 708-445-0871
This is a beautiful late fall trip. Put- in at 9:30 a.m. at Scooters on Robinson Rd just north of the business area in Sheridan and the river. We will paddle to Ayers Landing . There is a $1. Fee for putting in and a $3. fee per boat for taking out. As always PFD's are required and dump clothes recommended. Bring lunch . Please let us know you are coming.

Trip #91 Thurs-Tues Nov 29-Dec4
Northern Florida Rivers Base Camping
Ed Nelson enelson@mc.net
Three days, Base camping. Email Leader for details: enelson@mc.net

Trip Reports

See Web page for trip reports.