I went with the Teeny Tiny Campers Group to Fort Parker State Park to paddle the Limestone Bluffs Paddling Trail with a number of paddlers.
On Friday Sailor Don decided to investigate the trail, he is a very experienced paddler. When arriving at Confederate Union Grounds he discovered that the launch site would be rather difficult. It is concrete stairs and a difficult launch site. He further discovered that the trail would have us crossing the Fort Parker Lake for some distance with stiff winds and whitecaps. He was paddling a Wenonah Open Canoe and the water on the lake was bouncing in his canoe and he mentioned it was rather difficult to get back.
It was voted on that we would paddle from an alternate launch site. This site is a boat ramp within the State Park and is free. It is a concrete boat ramp with nice mud on the sides perfect for launching a canoe or kayak. There is ample parking and is around the corner from the primitive camping sites. This paddle is on the Navasota River and is also the Limestone Bluffs Paddling Trail from the State Park.
Sailor Don had his GPS and once launched we paddled 2.8 miles on the Navasota River up to the largest bluffs on the entire trail and then paddled back to the boat ramp. It was a very nice paddle for a total of 5 1/2 miles. We had blue heron playing tag with us all the way up and back, we saw turtles, buzzards, blooming red bud and a variety of greenery.
This is where I would like to launch for the Fort Parker Trip with the Houston Canoe Club. It's still on the Limestone Paddling Trail, the boat ramp is FREE and we don't have to worry about shuttling cars and boats. Everyone can load on their own car and head back to camp, there is plenty of parking and a port-a-pottie for last minute breaks. There is no place for you to stop along the banks and get out of your boat to rest and have lunch although it is a nice easy paddle. When I left today the lake was rough with white caps, high winds and would be rough for anyone in an open boat or kayak. I will keep an eye on the water levels, especially since we have had hard rain in the area all weekend.
Looking forward to doing this trip again it was really nice. Timing was critical and we somehow got the paddle done in no rain, then the bucket let loose and poured the entire rest of the weekend.
|
|
|
My Friday view until the monsoon rain hit.
|
|
It was a nice weekend. The paddle was
great and the rain held off until the paddle
was complete, then the bucket let loose.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
A demonstration of synchronized paddling
by the Tiny Campers Kayak Team. (Under
the FM 1633 bridge over Navasota River.)
I had a wonderful time and somehow we
managed to avoid the rain. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| Kim and I playing around at an old bridge. |
|
|