Indian Creek Nature Center Cedar Rapids, IA has posted its schedule and speakers for their annual PADDLE DAY on 2/23/19 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

Paddle Day Cedar Rapids IA 2/23/19 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Usually a dozen or so bwca.com members show up for this annual event. After its over we head over to a local pub in downtown Cedar Rapids for some cold brews, supper and talk canoeing. Its a good time.

Come on over if you can.

Thanks for the heads up Walleye13. See you there.

Want to plan get together after?

UBoy

UPBoy,

For sure ... getting together afterwards with fellow paddlers is always a good time.

What happens at said paddle day? Heard about it in years past but never really looked into it. We're about an hour away

Cyclones30,

What happens at Paddle Day?

Just a bunch of paddlers getting together for a half day at at the newly built Indian Creek Nature Center. Great venue to listen to some speakers and visit with fellow paddlers.

A few of us will head to a pub/restaurant in Cedar Rapids after Paddle Day for a cold beer and burger and trade paddling and fishing stories and discuss upcoming trippin’ plans.

Yeah, I think Iowa now has at least three of these things going on in winter/ early spring. Not as big as Canoecopeia in Madison or Midwest Mountaineering paddlefest in the Twin Cities area, but generally a lot of fun. There was a paddlefest in Waverly in late January sponsored by Crawdaddy Outdoors store, then one (a two-day event) in Indianola sponsored by a major paddling store, there (that on probably has the most speakers/ events for Iowa shows, at present), and the PaddleDay at Indian Creek. The Indian Creek event is only a half day yet more pricey at $25, but I think that is because the nature center there generates its own revenues; it is not publicly funded, so far as I know. I'm thinking on going, cause it is an easy drive for me, and I have never gone to hear Jim Pease talk, though I have listened to him plenty on the radio.... he has probably paddled more miles on Iowa rivers than about anybody, and he has the naturalist's eye and ear. And it looks like Vern Fish will be presenting, also, and he is always a good program. The get-together after the show is always fun.

And it’s not only a Iowa Hawkeye get together ... Cyclone paddlers are welcome too. LOL

Wally13: "And it’s not only a Iowa Hawkeye get together ... Cyclone paddlers are welcome too. LOL "

We better be allowed if Jim is speaking! I know him from my time in school there

cyclones30: "What happens at said paddle day? Heard about it in years past but never really looked into it. We're about an hour away"

What happens at Paddle Day stays at Paddle Day!

Ray,
I would have liked to have seen your Wabakimi presentation at the Waverly event.

My son and I went to the Indianola event last Saturday and enjoyed Vern's Ottertooth Canyon trip report.

Yep, Vern drags poor Cousin Dave through some gnarly trips! Love the interviews with laconic Cousin Dave....

We have a family event that was earlier rescheduled due to weather. The weather the 23rd isn't looking so hot either. Unlikely to be there this year and will definitely miss meeting up.

Longer drive for you, Ben. We'll miss you, but maybe see you at Copeia in March.

I’ve been thinking of coming down to see what this is all about. However, we’re getting hammered with the current winter storm, and they’re predicting a bigger one for the weekend. Guess I won’t make it. I know Mike and Ray can shoot the breeze with the best of them, so I’ll connect with everyone at Copia.

Looks like more precip Saturday morning, but I'm still planning on going.

I will be there.

It looks like I will be working, Saturday, and not able to go this year. Vern Fish sent out an email, today. The Lizard Creek paddle at Fort Dodge will be Saturday, May 18th, this year. He will have the details at Paddle Day if anyone is interested in some whitewater.

That is some pretty stream. Hope to go.

I had been holding off due to a potential conflict, but now do plan to be there. Also any beer and wings afterwards... looking forward to it!

Any reports?

I hooked up with some fellow bwca.com members (ghamer, rtallent, UPBoy) at Paddle Day in Cedar Rapids yesterday. Icy roads made the trip over to Indian Creek Nature Center a bit slower than normal but it was well worth the trip over.

I really enjoyed 2 presentations:

-Vern Fish (Waterloo, IA) a retired 66 year old, who has the energy of a 21 year old, gave a great talk on "Expedition Canoeing". Great picture show of his many paddling adventures. He gave insight into how to plan a expedition trip, and what equipment is needed. He talked about several of his trips (Kelley River Alaska, Nanuvut Neultin Lake area, Davis Canyon Lake Powell, Lower Canyons Rio Grande).

His many tripping reports can be found on canoeing.com

Vern Fish Expedition Trip Reports


-Todd Robertson (Iowa DNR Des Moines) introduced the Iowa DNR's new "Interactive Paddling Map". It shows the hazards, dams, certified outfitters, and current river flow conditions for rivers all over Iowa. This on-line map will be a great resource for Iowa paddlers.

Iowa DNR Interactive Paddling Map

Of course … we all met up after Paddle Day at the Chrome Horse in downtown Cedar Rapids for a few cold brews and lunch. We all enjoyed swapping paddling stories and discussing 2019 tripping plans.

Looking forward to attending next years Paddle Day.

Thanks Mike for the great Paddle Day trip report!
I split from the other guys to watch the presentation by Kip Ladage on photography from a canoe/ kayak... also very good. He shared some of his experiences on the water and how to get close to wildlife.
Kip Ladage Photography

Even though I took my camera, I didn't take any photos of the day...

I agree it was a good day, including food and conversation at the Chrome Horse!

Good to see it all went well. Our blizzard is finally over. Over a foot in my driveway, with 3 1/2’-4’ drifts. This is snow removal day.