Trip Report:  Christmas Paddle from Cedar Hill Park, December 22, 2024

 

Originally plugged as the annual Christmas party for the Houston Canoe Club, this was the paddling portion of the holiday celebration.  We all enjoyed the more formal party at Brent’s house on December 8 but several of us needed the outdoor variation.  All celebrants came wearing reindeer antlers or Santa caps so the spirit continued on the water.

 

Christy Long and I tandemed in the green canoe, Fran Wilcox, Bob Scaldino and Wendel Bordelon kayaked.

 

Our route took us through Mac Bayou

 

Into Mac Lake

And into the Mac Bayou channel north of Mac Lake.

 

The northern terminus of the bayou is at a T-intersection with a submerged leg of the pipeline right-of-way and we headed East.  There was just enough water for us to pass through although an emerging growth of giant salvinia and other aquatic weeds will likely spell trouble at lower water levels and warmer temperatures.

Here are the reindeer heading down the channel.

The reward at the end of the submerged cut was a broad grassy landing spot in the sun where the herd of us enjoyed our lunches.

 

Further exploration determined no more paddling area beyond with wide grassy swaths of buried pipelines.

 

It was a lovely day to be out and about with the holiday spirit.  Merry Christmas indeed.

Here is a map of our route.

Trip stats:

Participants:  Christy Long, Fran Wilcox, Bob Scaldino, Wendel Bordelon (HASK), Natalie Wiest (coordinator)

Distance paddled:  7 miles (3.5 miles each way)

Lake Charlotte gage: 2.7 ft

Temperature (Anahuac) 8 a.m. 46     noon 59     3 pm 63

Wind speed (Ellington)   9 am 9mph NE    noon 7 mph E    3 pm 14mph E

 

Trip report by Natalie Wiest

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