With universities and schools getting back into session, we
decided to do one more family trip before elusive time was taken up with
studying.
Sept 4th of Labor Day week-end, we went to the
South Llano River for a day of paddling.
We had four boats for our little trip.
We had heard of a waterfall on the Llano upstream from the Hwy 377 road
crossing. Paddling a total of 2.5 miles
upstream, enjoying the sun, water, deer, wild turkeys, and sounds of nature we
made it to the waterfall.
The river was low, showing around 50 CFS. The north winds were high between 10-15 mph
with gust up to 20 mph. The southbound upstream
trip crossed four rapids and one pipe-bridge which we had to portage
around. With the water so low, the
rapids were fairly easy to walk through.
On the downstream trip the boats were dragging bottom at the rapids and
a couple required us to get out and walk. Aside from the rapids, the paddling
was smooth and easy. During one stretch
of the upstream paddle, I took my spare life jacket and held it up like a sail
to catch the wind. The wind was strong
enough to push the boat upstream for over 100 yards. The downstream trip against the wind was not
as easy. Once we made it to the
waterfall, we swam and enjoyed the clear cool water. A couple of us sat under the fall letting the
water cascade down on us.
As part of our expedition was the testing of an experimental
canoe. This canoe combines paddling with
the luxury of a Jacuzzi.
Actually, we played around
paddling up to the fall and letting the water cascade into the boat.
Overall it was a very pleasant day.
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The author,
Charles Zipprian
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