Buffalo Bayou – Briarbend Park to Allen's Landing
May 25th, 2013
by Will Blumentritt
I didn’t have sufficient spare time to make the LaGrange to Columbus Loop trip, but wanted to at least take a local trip. It had been well over a year since I took the Briarbend Park to Eleanor Tinsley Park at normal water levels, so I posted a trip and had two takers – Sherri Blifford and David Jacobs. We met at 8:30 at Briarbend Park and headed out on a shuttle to leave 2 vehicles at Eleanor Tinsley Park. However, upon arriving at ET Park, we found it closed due to preparations for next weekend’s Free Press Summer Fest. So we circled around and made Allens Landing our take out Point.
It was ~ 9:30 before we were back at Briarbend Park, and unloading the boats and gear. There was a shuttle group of kayakers just finishing up their safety lessons, so we found ourselves with some extra time as the group beat us to the put-in line by about one minute. We finally hit the water at 10:30 with a water flow of ~ 140 CFS. Winds were coming from the east but were mostly shielded in the bayou by the trees.
The trip was beautiful and the company was excellent. While I had advertised the trip as a leisurely trip, given the group, I knew David paddles fast and I am finally trying to learn double-blade paddling, we actually paddled pretty aggressively, averaging about 3.75 MPH.
I still favor the part of the bayou west of Loop 610 (Memorial Mews to Woodway (by the way, the Woodway take out is now closed for reconstruction). However, my next trip down Buffalo Bayou will be from Eleanor Tinsley Park to Hidalgo Park, as I have never been east of Lockwood. Hidalgo Park is the last stop before the Turning Basin, which is off limits for paddling.
The total trip came out to 15 miles: Total time on the water ~ 4.5 hours, including a 30 minute rest stop.
Photos by Sharri Blifford.
- Will Blumentritt
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| The author, Will Blumentritt |