{"id":6061,"date":"2021-05-23T20:29:57","date_gmt":"2021-05-24T01:29:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billheinz.net\/?p=6061"},"modified":"2021-05-23T22:50:03","modified_gmt":"2021-05-24T03:50:03","slug":"5-22-2021-black-river-melrose-to-north-bend-vv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billheinz.net\/?p=6061","title":{"rendered":"5\/22\/2021 Black River: Melrose to North Bend VV"},"content":{"rendered":"

5.22.2021\u00a0 Black River:\u00a0 Melrose to North Bend VV\u00a0 (2.5\u2019\/mile)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trip Number (21-6) <\/strong>Well we did it again\u2014had a great paddling tour, in spite of last week\u2019s misadventure, today we had ample water (not too much, but enough) and we are back enjoying the paddles.\u00a0 We had guests from Iowa (Dan and Judy), Minnesota (Mark, Michelle, and Ellie) along with us good old regulars; Bill, Teresa, Pat C., Steve, and Me for a total of 10 paddlers.\u00a0 Most of these folks are Teresa\u2019s family and have been with us before, but we did enjoy meeting Ellie for the first time.\u00a0 Ellie is a pleasant young lady going to college but really wanted to spend the few days she has at home this year doing fun stuff\u2014hence the paddle down the Black River.\u00a0 Our conditions for the day were adequate with a water reading of 3.95 feet and a water temperature of 65\u00b0 and a beautiful day of slightly overcast and 83\u00b0.\u00a0 We managed to have a relaxing enjoyable pace of 3.0 mph as we traveled out 10.95 miles.\u00a0 It took us 3 hours and 39 minu8tes of paddling and well over an hour of rest stops to just enjoy the day.\u00a0 The only 2 people that had a challenge today were Steve and Mark as they attempted to do the \u201cshortcut\u201d through the back waters\u2014even though we warned them.\u00a0 The shortcut took considerably more time than us who took the long way around and enjoyed the paddle, unlike Mark and Steve who got wet trying to maneuver the log jam and logs blocking the waterway.\u00a0 Only one of them actually got wet, but we are not telling.<\/p>\n

Our wildlife for the day was quite interesting\u2014Mark actually discovered a skunk in the trees along the bank but luckily we escaped his perfume–but I failed to get a picture of the event.\u00a0 Another miss on my part was a goose doing a fly over attack of Steve, and again, no picture.\u00a0 I need to be careful in the future how I brag about my camera abilities.\u00a0 I missed several Eagles today, also, but did manage to capture a few of the many we did see.\u00a0 We believe the count was over 30, but Ellie, our counter for the day, failed to keep track.\u00a0 Lots of turtles were also seen.\u00a0 The only other big event of the day was \u201cThe Race\u201d.\u00a0 Mark challenged his daughter to a race and Ellie showed him what 2nd<\/sup> place looks like from a good distance.\u00a0 The race was contested for interference, but without any proof, Ellie was declared the winner.<\/p>\n

To watch the video click the arrow and then enlarge the screen with the icon <\/em><\/strong>in the lower right of the screen.\u00a0 To get back to this page just shrink the page back to normal.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When viewing the still pictures below, click on them and they will also enlarge and then move through the selection with the arrow on your computer.\u00a0 Enjoy!!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our music selection for today was decided by:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ellie:\u00a0 Walking on Sunshine<\/span> by the Katrina and The Waves\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Beatles\u2014cannot be used due to copyright<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Steve:\u00a0 Dried Up River<\/u>\u00a0 by The Lone Bellow and a Green River<\/u> encore<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n