This trip was posted only 18 hours in advance, so we didn't expect a crowd. It was just John & Lois and Fred, launching at Shumsky at 9 AM. When we arrived, there were no people around and only one car. No cars at the takeout either. As is normally the case, we picked up some trash along the way, including a canoe paddle and two busted floating tubes (having a knife handy to get the air out is really useful). It was a very peaceful trip to Beitner, though it was a bit disconcerting to find as much trash as we did, especially since the Boardman River Clean Sweep took place only 4 weeks earlier. Where does all this stuff come from? We found out later.
We took a short break at Beitner to off-load our trash, use the potty and put on spray skirts. From there it was down through the rapids, and on to the takeout at the Lone Pine Trailhead. We took the time to play in the rapids and see the "new" river that has evolved since Brown Bridge Dam was removed last fall. That stretch is a bit different, but just as much fun as always. We forgot to bring a saw, and there is one tree that is down leaving a two foot slot, just big enough to pass through. It wasn't hard.
We were done before noon, and returned to Shumsky to retrieve the car we had left earlier. There were fourteen vehicles parked there, plus three trailers. And the area between the parking lot and the water (where we normally stage our boats) was completely filled with masses of people with giant tubes and a variety of gear that they were obviously planning to use to float downstream. Giant styrofoam coolers too. Almost everyone was holding a beer can - or two. Oy! Time to plan another cleanup!
Judy (currently on the injured reserve list) joined us for a delightful lunch afterwards at Spaghetti Jim's, across from Cherryland Mall, next to the bagel shop.