Trip Report - Paddle the Rock River Sunday Oct29 - with Wedding Bells
We paddled in support of a White Water Park in Rockford, Illinois.
According to my GPS, the trip from Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve to Beatie Park was 10.2 miles. We started paddling about 11:46am. I took out at 2:40pm. The trip took 2 hours 53 minutes.
The parking lot at Atwood Homestead is very large. It has a cement boat ramp and bathroom facilities.
Beatie Park has 2 docks, a low kayak dock and a floating dock. There is a large parking area next to the park.
The weather was almost perfect, bright sunshine, half moon rising in the east, temperatures near 60 degrees, but very windy. I have driven over the Jefferson Street Bridge many times, but never saw its beauty from the river level.
There were 90 paddlers in 76 boats. Some canoes and kayaks held 2 or 3 people. We launched in groups of 12 to 15. Thank-you to our car shifters. They really are key to a successful paddling trip.
There were a couple of high speed motor boats on the river also, but they were heading upstream, and not threatening our downstream space on the river.
Wedding Bells - We were told that a guy popped the Big Question on this paddling trip. Will you Marry Me? She said YES !! I hope the ceremony will take place on a river or lake, on a Paddling Trip, surrounded by hundreds of paddling friends.
Two of our paddler friends, Alice & Varic in a canoe, were not able to complete the trip. They took out at Sportscore One Park. They made arrangements with a boater to shuttle their truck and get back home safely. Alice wants to try a paddling trip again asap.
The purpose of this trip was to support the Whitewater Park in Rockford.
Please write a letter or send an email of support using the following information.
Use the following web site for talking points to write the letter.
This is a very nice trip. I could paddle it 5 or 6 times a year and never get bored.
Beautiful homes along the river, both sides!!!
Lee Butler