A L O H A!!!
Howzit? It's time again for bus' out the canoes again fo' one easy kine paddle down the Pawcatuck. This year we go island style...Going have da wahines workin da skirts and the kanes strumming the ukuleles.
After a while we'll stop fo' some ono grinds, talk story, play games, kanikapila on da ukes an' den bumbye!
Did you get all that?"
Itinerary:
Gather at the Launch Point: 9am-10am.
We'll meet & mingle and get ready for the paddle down the Pawcatuck River. Any last minute instructions and cautions will be provided.
Anyone who is paddling will drop their vessel off at the launch point (L1), and then drive their car down to the designated Take Out (T1). We'll be sure some one stays behind to watch the vessels. We will shuttle the drivers back to the launch point. If you plan on paddling, please state so in your "Will Attend" log, so we can make sure we have sufficient shuttle space. The last shuttle vehicle will leave the Take Out parking at 9:30am sharp!
Paddle down the Pawcatuck River, Approximately 10am-12pm
We'll put in on the down river side of the dam, and paddle down the Wood River/Pawcatuck River.
The Event - Campfire Luau: Approximately 12pm until 5pm
There is a spot along the river inside the boundaries of Burlingame WMA that is a canoe camp. We will put ashore there, and enjoy a leisurely lunch. We will set up a charcoal fire and grill, where people can grill their own lunch of hot dogs or burgers or whatever else you feel like bringing. There will be coolers of ice, but please bring your own non-alcoholic beverages and tiki mug. We will eat, relax, and sing Don Ho songs throughout the afternoon. There is a rope swing, so maybe some swimming will be in order.
You need to be at the Event Location at some point point during actual Event to claim the "Attended" log (whether you paddled or hiked in).
There will be enough time spent here, that you should be able to explore the WMA a little bit, and maybe grab some of the caches here. We will make sure there is always someone around to watch the vessels.
If you do not wish to stay for the entire lunch, you are free to continue on down the river to the Take Out spot. Just be sure your car is left there.
This spot is accessible via trails in the WMA, so if you don't want to paddle, you can still meet up with us and enjoy the festivities. For those that will hike in to the event, here is a map of the trails from parking. It is just under two miles from parking to the event location.
Once again their will a Cookie Toss Challenge - exact details will remain a closely guarded secret until the day of the event. I will say it will be gender neutral.
I think there also needs to be a hula contest!
The Rest of the Journey: Approximately 5pm-7pm
After lunch, we will continue paddling the Pawcatuck until we reach the take out location, T1. We’ll make sure that anyone who has left their vehicle at the launch point will get a ride back to it. Again, feel free to leave the event at any time, just make sure your car is left at the take out location.
Additional Information:
This is a nice stretch of river to paddle (see map here), and we should not have too many issues with blow downs or jams. There is one tricky spot (Waypoint C2 below). We will all rally there, and do this one vessel at a time. We will have experienced paddlers just downstream for any contingencies.
L1 is the launch location, and T1 is the takeout location. Total paddle distance is approximately 6 miles , and should take about 4 hours to complete (not including any time spent at the event). All paddlers are responsible for their own equipment, including a PFD and water cannons!
Especially the watercannons!
If you have a vehicle that can handle a few people and don’t mind playing shuttle driver, please state so in your “Will Attend” log.
Additional details will be provided as we get closer, and plans may change slightly, so please "Watch Listing" to stay on top of things. The rain date will be TBD.
Note: The Terrain rating is if your are boating. If you hike in, the Terrain is about a 2.5.
While not required, aloha shirts and grass skirts would be welcome!