During the night I heard it was raining and I said to myself, "Oh no. Not this again!" But when I got up it was cool and dry and looked like it was clearing up. The weather radar looked promising.
We got to Veteran's Park at 9:00 and it was dry. The shuttle to the private residence on Indian Hill Rd was led by my trailblazer, John M. The homeowners were right there to show us where to park.
We all (7) piled into Jocelyn's car for the trip back.
After launching and finding nothing in the higher, faster water from last night's rain, it started to rain again. First slowly and then more after I said it would let up soon. Never mention the weather forecast or say "Watch this"
John W. wowed us with his standup skills. I guess you can see the trash better in that position.
Some got too far ahead and missed the lunch spot but most didn't. It was getting dry and sunny by then.
Jocelyn walked around on logjams like a cat.
Sally was on a Service Day from work so we got special pictures to show her boss she was actually where she said she would be.
Mariah found a really old rusty steel beer can with a huge crayfish in it. He had lived in that can for a LONG TIME. We released him but he still tried to bite us - the little turkey. No respect. I didn't get a picture.
Rod helped us with his neat 4-wheeler pulling our trailer down to the takeout on his lawn and letting us load up right there by the river.
We found so much trash in the downstream section and in town that it filled one large bag so heavy that it took John M and me to get it on the trailer and Jocelyn and me to get it in the dumpster at the Veteran's Park Campground.
The Upper Platte is clean now and we can concentrate on the other rivers we will clean this summer.
Thanks to everyone who came to brave the high water and the rain. I promise I will have at least one cleanup this summer where it DOESN'T rain on you.
I wish to thank Rod and Mary Jo Meade for their hospitality.
Norm