Omer and Mitch Birthday Paddle

A great day for a paddle. Mitch did the shuttle, thank you! 10 paddlers put in at Turnpike. There was a nice current with low water. We had a new paddler, Rob, doing black water for the first time. He's hooked now. Downfall was more than expected requiring sawing at several trees from Mitch and Gene. Progress was slowed somewhat but we made it to Chalk Banks for lunch and a birthday party for Omer. A baptism at the landing there necessitated an alternate lunch take out about 20 yards down with a steep bank requiring use of ropes to pull out boats. Lunch was great with plenty of fruit, watermelon, and cookies. Thanks to all who brought the goodies. After lunch was the dash to the Wagram Wildlife Access take out 45 minutes downstream. Beautiful section today that would have had no downfall issues with a little higher water.

Songs are from the 1930s, Omer was born 1932, last song is tradition Orthodox Blessing