PJSprog
Elite Member
RNG wanted to see some kayaking pictures from last week. Careful what you ask for ...
On Sunday the 5th, we went to Crystal City Underground near Crystal City MO to do some cave kayaking through an old flooded sandstone mine. There was a group of about 20 people plus two guides. The youngest stepson and his girlfriend went with us, first time in kayaks for both. I was the last to get a kayak, so they put me in one of the guide boats with an LED lightbar on front. We also all wore headlamps.
One of the chambers opened up to the outside, a stark contrast to the darkness inside the mine.
A small opening between chambers just wide enough for a kayak to get through.
There was one area they call "The Squeeze Box" where the ceiling gets so low that we had to lay flat on the kayaks and walk our way through with our hands on the ceiling. My head was scraping on the ceiling at a few spots, with maybe two feet between the surface of the water and the ceiling. It was a fun experience, but definitely not for anyone claustrophobic.
On Thursday the 9th, we went back to the scene of the crime on the Big River near DeSoto MO. Same route as last time, from Mammoth Access ramp to Brown's Ford Park. The skies were ridiculously blue this day, with very few clouds.
We stopped on a small pebble beach a little over halfway to our destination and had a light lunch, then just sat there awhile and enjoyed the sounds of nature.
This was the small pebble beach we stood on last time to ride out the thunderstorm.
There was some very nice scenery that we missed last time because we were paddling with our heads down trying to get through the rain. Bluffs with caves.
I didn't know this until we reviewed the pictures later, but I did get a shot of the tree that dethroned me a month earlier. It's the large trunk in the water on the left of the picture, laying in the river now (it was still sticking out of the bank when I slammed into it). With the water level higher this time, taking the inside of the turn made it easy to avoid this time.
We had a better system for shuttling this time. We bought a pair of foam temporary racks and strapped the kayaks to the top of my car to carry them back to the trailer, rather than going to get the trailer, then going back to get the car.
No uscheduled swims for me this time. It was a long day paddling 11-ish miles, but we enjoyed it.
On Sunday the 5th, we went to Crystal City Underground near Crystal City MO to do some cave kayaking through an old flooded sandstone mine. There was a group of about 20 people plus two guides. The youngest stepson and his girlfriend went with us, first time in kayaks for both. I was the last to get a kayak, so they put me in one of the guide boats with an LED lightbar on front. We also all wore headlamps.
One of the chambers opened up to the outside, a stark contrast to the darkness inside the mine.
A small opening between chambers just wide enough for a kayak to get through.
There was one area they call "The Squeeze Box" where the ceiling gets so low that we had to lay flat on the kayaks and walk our way through with our hands on the ceiling. My head was scraping on the ceiling at a few spots, with maybe two feet between the surface of the water and the ceiling. It was a fun experience, but definitely not for anyone claustrophobic.
On Thursday the 9th, we went back to the scene of the crime on the Big River near DeSoto MO. Same route as last time, from Mammoth Access ramp to Brown's Ford Park. The skies were ridiculously blue this day, with very few clouds.
We stopped on a small pebble beach a little over halfway to our destination and had a light lunch, then just sat there awhile and enjoyed the sounds of nature.
This was the small pebble beach we stood on last time to ride out the thunderstorm.
There was some very nice scenery that we missed last time because we were paddling with our heads down trying to get through the rain. Bluffs with caves.
I didn't know this until we reviewed the pictures later, but I did get a shot of the tree that dethroned me a month earlier. It's the large trunk in the water on the left of the picture, laying in the river now (it was still sticking out of the bank when I slammed into it). With the water level higher this time, taking the inside of the turn made it easy to avoid this time.
We had a better system for shuttling this time. We bought a pair of foam temporary racks and strapped the kayaks to the top of my car to carry them back to the trailer, rather than going to get the trailer, then going back to get the car.
No uscheduled swims for me this time. It was a long day paddling 11-ish miles, but we enjoyed it.
