Do not fear, the streak still lives!!

A little computer issue that lasted longer then expected does not negate the fact that the Duper boys did get out in February to hit consecutive month 27. Dan and Kent took out the two solos in one outing and Dan and Pat took out big blue tandem in another outing.

Kent ventured away from the core team the first weekend in March and made the downtown Naperville run with his 2 brother in laws, one being a Duper virgin. I have not confirmed this but I assume Kent took care of the usual initiation rites in my absence. The following weekend Pat and Dan did the same run, both experiencing a case of the frozen digits even though it was not unusually cold. As always with the winter kayaking, if we could only solve, with 100% success, the cold finger issue we would be set for years to come. Of course, despite this occasional inconvenience, the Duper boys are committed for a long run keeping the streak alive.

April, with warmer weather I hope, is just around the corner and month #29 will be put in the books.

3rd annual New Year's Day float (26 consecutive months)

The Duper boys headed out for the 3rd annual New Year's day float greeted by fresh falling snow. As you can see from the pictures it was absolutely gorgeous paddling through the Arboretum. Kent and Pat took out the tandem and Dan followed behind in the single. Is it wrong for 3 men to go out in the woods together and enjoy the magnificent scenes that only a few others dare to enjoy? Of course it is not wrong, we can not help that so many others lead such sheltered lives!

Not only was this our 3rd annual New Year's day float it extended our consecutive month streak to 26. I suppose when it is 126 or 226 this number will sound trivial but you've got to document it and you must hit 26 before you can get to 126.

On Wednesday, 1/9/08, Dan had to go to Bonita Beach Florida for a conference. Always looking to squeeze as much in to the trip and to take advantage of being in another part fo the country, Dan rented a kayak and explored the mangrove lined Estero Bay. Although it was 80 and sunny, this solo trip was not nearly as fun as the ones shared with my Duper brethren.

Santa float makes it 25 consecutive months

Saturday 12-22-07, Pat (elf boy) and Dan (Santa) made the 2nd annual Santa float through down town Naperville. The festive garb and the timing the weekend before Christmas had people in a holiday mood. Many people enthusiastically acknowledged the blue kayak with 2 bearded men braving the elements (it really was not bad, about 50, but overcast). Although the downtown acknowledgment of the people was to be expected, it was towards the end of the float that gave us the most pleasure. As we were finishing up the last mile or so, passing by the million dollar+ luxury homes, 2 people came running out of their house yelling for Santa as if they were 2 little kids seeing Santa fly by on his sleigh. I can only imagine they were laying on their couch watching TV when in the corner of their eye they saw some nuts floating down the river.....then it occurred to them that those nuts were Santa and one of his elves! The fun we have on the river just never ends.

Wednesday 12-26-07, Kent and I did the same trip done by Santa and his helper a few days before (Pat could not make it due to "jammie day"). There were no special outfits this day but we did test drive some recently received kayaking accessories. Dan's new kayaking boots proved to be quite adequate (they truly were not tested since we did not hve to step into the 34 degree water!). The best part was the dual testing of the 2 pairs of gloves Dan received. One was a pair of Reactor kayaking gloves and the other a scuba diving glove. Dan had recently came up with brilliant idea that scuba gloves may be the perfect answer for winter kayaking and the only drawback associated with it.....frigid digits!! Dan's plan was to wear one of each (suggested by Pat, the giver of the scuba gloves) and do a side by side test. When informed of this plan, Kent was quick to suggest that he too could participate in the test with the other two unused gloves. I am glad to report,we gave both gloves a thumbs up (conditions were sunny and 40'ish). Nothing of significance on this trip although we once again talked of some overnight kayaking / camping trips that never seem to materialize. Let's "just do it."

Consecutive Month 23 and 24

Mid October was our 23rd consecutive month as we de-flowered another Duper virgin. Perry had the iniation rites performed in the normal way...right in the middle of the woods with the great horned owl looking down upon us. Perry will deny all accounts of this trip as he refuses to acknowledge the existence of an owl on the Duper or any initiation rites of passage that were performed on him. Dan, Kent and Pat, the original Duper boys, all just smiled amongst themselves in a way that only they could understand and appreciate. It is not our place to question the existence of the almighty owl or why he is present during the daylight hours, we just know what happens on the river stays on the river (other than the nonsense I write on this blog!!).

The lack of rain seriously threatened our streak on the river (easy readers, we do not STREAK on the river). Alternate plans were being made by Dan and Pat to go visit a lake to keep the streak alive......why you ask? If you have to ask I do not expect you to understand. We got our 1st significant rain in a couple of months and the 24th month was no longer in doubt. Dan and Pat hit the Hidden Lake to Community park run on Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Two interesting nature sitings, a 6 point buck and a squirrel swimming. I am not sure if that is normal but it is something neither one of us had ever seen.

Friday after T-day Kent and Dan hit another tried and true route: Community park to Royce road. We had a serious tree blockage which resulted in Kent staying in the kayak and getting soaked and Dan portaging and staying dry. We saw our wounded heron buddy as well as 4 deer crossing the river. Does anyone else realize what they are missing out on by not using the Duper? There was at least one other nut enjoying the river this day....as you can see in the 1st photo a fisherman was out wading. The middle picture is Kent and Perry approaching the 7 bridges rapids and the 3rd one is Kent on the November trip. Sorry for the out of order pictures. Double click on the photos for a larger view.

Larry does the Limbo!!

Larry and James visited from Kansas and brought along their two kayaks hoping to find some quality river time. Unfortunately, the lack of rain left the Duper in a sad state of water deficiency. We did however, make our way to Churchill Woods forest preserve to give the East branch of the DuPage river a try. Before we headed up stream, we explored the islands near the put in sight. As you can see from the 1st picture (click on it for a larger view), Larry became one with his kayak and was somehow able to get under the bridge. James and Dan did not feel it was in their best interest to attempt a similar feat.

Although we had no significant wildlife sightings (outside the usual herons, ducks, carp etc.) or any fantastic tale to tell, it was the 1st trip involving 3 solo 'yaks and it involved a couple new paddlers. We are still a week or two away from some quality tree color but as I have said many times before......time spent on the river with good friends and family is a pretty good way to kill a few hours. October is here and I will surely be out again soon to extend my streak to 23 consecutive kayaking months. LET THERE BE RAIN!!!

2 river trips, one entry

Kent and I put in at Hidden Lake on 9/15/07 and had a world's record slow pace down to Community park. The float through the Arboretum was enjoyable but the river was about as low as we have experienced. We did very little paddling and let the slow pace of the river take us peacefully to our destination.

A very uneventful float but enjoyable nonetheless.

On 9/22/07, the Duper boys ventured down to Shorewood to recreate our excellent adventure from 9/1/07 when the rapids were raging. A funny thing about rivers, they prefer to have water in them. Although we did not get stuck very often, the payoff at the end of this route is supposed to be the class 2 rapids that we experienced 2 weeks ago. No water = no rapids. This is a nice stretch with or without rapids and we did start to see some color on the trees. We need some rain!!!

Streak = 22 mths. Rapids at Shepley!!!

Kent and Dan took the 2 solo 'yaks down to Hammel woods to give Dan a taste of the Illinois' rapids. The Watertrails map (see link to the right) says in times of high water this section provides nice rapid action. Although the river was clearly about 4 ft lower than last week this was the best action Dan has experienced in the Pungo classic. Definitely worth the 45 minute drive. The 5.44 mile river trip took a little over 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete. We saw 2 deer on the bank, a hawk and some blue heron. Even with breakfast, the total time of this little adventure was about 4 hours. Not bad considering even our smallest trips seem to take 3 hours once you do the car drop off, etc.

This September 1 trip brought the consecutive month streak to 22.