On boats and early season

We're lucky that two of our best friends are again joining us on the Big Sioux River for the Earth Day event April 25. Bret and Dawn are the best and coming up from Omaha, so they get points for distance traveled.

Here's the Big Sioux at the Highway 13 bridge in Flandreau, looks really nice in the sunset.



As the event approaches, I have been working hard on pairing people and boats.

Laura and I have our kayaks, Slippery 2



and Penelope,



and we have the Red Rocket


and the gray Necky Looksha IV to offer them.



Also, we have another friend, Shelly joining us that day. We have another kayak set up for her. So we're sponsoring as many as we can!

But now I'm in the process of evaluating which paddler fits best in each boat.

One thing's for sure: The sea kayaks will be a big adjustment for the rec-boat paddlers. I hope I choose wisely. I think we'll do a bit of beach work before the event, let them contribute.

I recommend arriving early - we hope to start launch at the powwow ground around 10 a.m. that Saturday - to work on things like this. Unless you've already been out, but for many, it might be the first of the season, so fired up I am ... see you out there.

I'm already thinking about it as I want to make sure we stay dry. That water will be crazy cold. Bring a dry bag.

Anyone who knows the ice out dates on Lake Alvin, Big Sioux River, etc., send them to me, please. Even if it's an estimate.

Thanks.

Jarett