Canoe Trip on the Sacramento River, October 2012

Putting in

The first week of October (2012), we departed down the Sacramento River at the southern end of Redding for a four day trip. Our friends Dan and Griz, who each had their own canoes, went with us, plus Griz's two dogs (a chocolate lab and a basset hound).

The weather couldn't have been better (although the Bay Area experienced a mild weather front which produced rain, we learned later), the river was as clear and cold, and teaming with salmon working their way upstream.

Our first campsite, an hour after Kathy and I tipped the canoe.

Griz and his dogs, perfect canoe companions.

Griz and Kathy with Bay View Boat Club burgee

Bay View Boat Club Burgee

A deer skeleton at our second campsite at Cottonwood Creek.

Griz caught a trout before we landed at Cottonwood Creek, so guess what we had for dinner? Catch a fish, an hour later it's on your plate!   

Larry, Griz and Dan at the campfire

Campsite #1, almost dusk

Kathy and I tipped the canoe a half hour after starting on Day One; we kept the boat upright, and didn't lose a thing and we were able to swim with the canoe to shore. Emptied out,  the canoe was repacked and off we paddled down river again. 

We found a little nice beach, set up camp and got a fire going. We were lucky; not that much got wet (besides us). By 8pm,  everything was dry, and we were all well into a night of mildly drunken revery. Kathy and Dan, who brought a travel "baby" guitar, sang way into the night (with a little encouraging libation).

Our second night, at Cottonwood Creek campsite

Dan, in the background, on his baby guitar

Ben with monster eyes, me in the background

Dan and Griz at sunset, first night

Kathy had a great time; her first trip on the water in a canoe.  Below are pictures and a short clip demonstrating relaxation techniques.

At the bank of the Sacramento River at Cottongwood Creek; Dan and Griz left a day before us, so we had the whole place to ourselves.  Eat, sleep, and....

Kathy had a hard time believing that relaxing
required so much training.  Eventually, however, she settled down and realized that doing nothing can be everything.  :-)

Evening of Day Three; Dan and Griz left that morning, so we made a table out of our canoe. More bliss was not available.

We ended our trip at Jelly's Ferry, a small BLM landing just north of Red Bluff.  Our friend, Gary, picked us up, and on the way back to his place we visited the Battle Creek Fish Hatchery.  There, thousands of salmon The fish in this photo are about three feet long)  near the end of their journey from the Pacific.  Here, they are waiting in the swirling water before entering the fish ladder into the hatchery.