Kansas Riverkeeper, Friends of the Kaw

Chasing the Channel – Blog No. 13

KAW 173 Weekend #1 Junction City to Wamego (45 Miles)

We rolled into the parking lot at Junction City and I checked the radar for the thousandth time.  Thunderstorms were forecast for the eastern part of the state, but in Kansas you just never know what it’s going to do.  I was hoping the west side of the river would be spared. 

The humidity was high as we unloaded our boats and gear and shuffled up and down the boat ramp.  We still had another shuttle run to make, but half of us would stay and gear squared away.  We finally launched the 173 team off of Junction City in two waves and arrived at our sandbar 6 miles downstream in time for the edge of a small shower to just clip us.  Yeah, we got wet but let me tell you, it was refreshing! 

After the brief shower, the clouds parted and the sun came out for a beautiful evening.  We enjoyed getting to know each other around the campfire, sharing funny stories and the bonfire question:  what was your favorite river to kayak and why?  We learned about many different river experiences around the campfire that night. We also did a little sandbar CSI….where we find animal tracks and try to figure out which creature created the tracks and why! 

Up early the next morning and we know we’ve got 21 miles ahead to Manhattan, so we shove off and enjoy the beautiful Kaw morning.  The sounds of the song birds, quiet trickle of the river, shade of the banks, and the coolness that comes off the Cottonwood trees in the early morning.  It’s a spectacular place to be. 

People often ask me, “what is your favorite section of the river?”  Well…you see, my heart lives in the section from Eudora to De Soto…my home and the place of my childhood farm.  There is something so special about that section…yes, it is beautiful, but I think for me it’s the memories.  My second favorite place on the river, though….is Ogden to Manhattan.  Have you ever seen the Flint Hills from a kayak on the Kaw?  If you have, you know what I’m talking about.  The crisp color of green rolling hills with the Kansas River woven in between in the valley.  This lush green tree canopy that creates a path in between and a vessel for me to travel through this most magnificent place that I can only see from the river.  You can literally feel yourself in the Flint Hills…. the river behind you is above, the river in front of you is below…and you are riding the river down the hill.  To feel it and realize it, is an amazing experience. 

We arrived at Manhattan in the late afternoon, resupplied with water and bid farewell to a couple of friends that were ending at Manhattan.  The rest of the crew went on to the sandbar for the night and again enjoyed a beautiful evening around the campfire.  I can’t explain what happens around a campfire, but if you’ve ever been there, then you just know.  Magical friendships form and experience cemented together that forever bind you to that day.

Along the entire KAW 173 weekend, we saw bald eagles, blue heron, deer, turtle tracks, otter tracks, racoon tracks, and a pretty little sand frog that seemed to perfectly blend in with the sandbar.  We are always grateful for the time spent in their home. 

On Sunday, we decided we would get on the river early because we heard that the coffee shop in St. George had donuts and it was open until 11:00 am according to Google.  However, Google failed!  We arrived at St. George and no donuts, but the memory of paddling for donuts lives on!  We had a great time joking about who would get the donuts and who would not….and if there were only a few, how we would split them and many other moments of fun and laughter.  We went on to enjoy a wonderful day of paddling all the way to Wamego, arriving in early afternoon.  Just enough time to grab a bite to eat at the local deli or a cup of coffee at the coffee shop before heading home. 

Our KAW 173 Weekend #1 was a success – thanks to great flows, great weather and even better team of folks to enjoy the experience.  We made new friendships and enjoyed spending time with old friends too. 

Our next adventure along the Kansas River Water Trail is the last weekend in July.  We will depart Wamego and paddle 38 miles to Topeka – right through one of the most gorgeous and quiet sections of the Kaw.

In the meantime, we’ve got a few public paddles (actually a lot) …and a bunch of events to tend to.  Oh…and advocacy, there’s always advocacy!

See you on the river,

Dawn

You Kansas Riverkeeper