Category: Kayaking/Fishing

Kayaking Team: Dave Miller, Justin Eller

Date: July 3, 2024

Near the north entrance to Eastwood Metropark just off Harshman Road we parked at the kayak access point along the Mad River. Due to a downpour an hour earlier, the Mad River was moving fast. The river looked deeper and wider than my half dozen trips along this area in past years. Justin had a smaller kayak with a skirt, and he practiced rollover maneuvers about 30 times. We went through two rapids at Eastwood Park and then about three miles downriver at Riverscape Metropark we went through more rapids.

We got delayed, stalled at the Riverscape Water Fountains and just when we were going to risk it and paddle between the giant sprays, they stopped. The final set of rapids was a half mile farther just before Monument Street where we took out.

The course was nice, challenging in some areas and smooth in others. We saw lots of blue herons, turtles and geese. We noticed as we got out at 8:30pm, that other paddleboarders and kayakers were just getting into the river. I then realized that they were going to watch the big City of Dayton Fireworks display from the river since it would begin in an hour.

Kayaking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Justin Eller, Holly Eller

Date: July 16, 2023

We put the kayaks in at the Prairie View Recreation Area just below CJ Brown Dam & Reservoir at Buck Creek State Park. Justin and Holly have paddled here before so they were our guides. Buck Creek was not very wide, had trees down in several places, and a lower water level than normal. Still, it was very enjoyable as during the 5-mile paddle we crossed under at least eight bridges and saw deer, turtles, cranes, fish, and ducks. We even had a close geese encounter when about ten of them flew right at us just barely above our heads. In separate areas we enjoyed fast moving whitewater chutes, one natural chute and a few large rocks to dodge. This was my first time paddling through fast white water and it was a blast. The kayaking ended at Snyder Whitewater Park which had four whitewater chutes in a row. My kayak took on a lot of water.  The 2.5-hour trip went by real fast, and I look forward to kayaking here again when the water level is higher.

Kayaking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Holly Eller

Date: December 25, 2023

After a wonderful Christmas morning church service at St. Henry Catholic Church and a surprising 55-degree temperature outside, we decided to kayak on the Great Miami River in Moraine. We put in at the East River Road Landing and paddled north a mile before catching the current and heading back. The river level was lower than normal, but we saw two blue herons, ducks, and a few large fish. I reached into the shallow water and brought back six colorful shells. I wore my scuba wetsuit and a Santa’s hat. Rosie and Holly also dressed in Christmas attire. We are blessed every day and today we were blessed to enjoy the partial sunshine, wildlife, and the great outdoors. Merry Christmas everyone!

Kayak Team: Dave Miller, Jacque Kelly, Nick Kelly

Date: August 22, 2023

The surf was a little choppy, but we kayaked north about a mile down and back observing occasional beach houses among the trees. The Lake Michigan lakeshore had either sand or thousands of smooth rocks. Looking over the side of the kayak, the water was often very clear, and I could see rocks, seaweed, or occasional small fish about ten feet down. The water was somewhat cold, and I was not wearing my wetsuit, but it was an enjoyable kayak trip. After kayaking we enjoyed making smores over the firepit.

Fishing Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller, Jennifer Clark, Mike Clark

Date: August 29, 2023

Captain Mike Clark and 1st Mate Jennifer were going to take us 30 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean in Mike’s boat and fish for large tuna or other fish. Mother nature intervened and the weather would not cooperate. Showers off and on all day. So, Jennifer bought shrimp for bait and helped keep Rosie’s line baited as we fished off Mike’s dock. The pinfish were biting as fast as we dropped our bait to the bottom. Rosie ended up catching four pinfish and even, near the end, began baiting her own hook (a first-time accomplishment). I caught four pinfish and an eight-inch bluefish which had a very sharp row of teeth. It was a fun time and the Clark’s invited us back again to fish the ocean someday.

Kayaking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: August 29, 2023

While visiting Mike & Jennifer Clark, we paddled their kayaks out onto Banks Channel. Our goal was to thread our way through water trails in a big marsh south of us. We left Mike’s personal dock and paddled a half mile south but had to turn around due to boat traffic and the rougher waves. A quarter mile north of the dock we barely paddled under Banks Channel Bridge and back. Our heads almost bumped into the top of the bridge due to high tide.  

Kayaking Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: October 23, 2022

This was my first time and Rosie’s second time kayaking at this north end of Caesars Creek Lake. We entered Caesars Creek via the Haines Boat Ramp. As we paddled south the creek widened and eventually, we came to the large lake. We continued paddling until we came to and then circled a small island. Sea gulls flew everywhere. Caesars Creek Lake is a little lower than normal due to the drought, but the Caesars Creek branch is much lower. In some places, the creek had a depth of one foot or less, so we had to navigate to deeper areas. It was a relaxing, sunny fall day.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: June 23, 2022

We booked the Glacier Raft Company and enjoyed a 12-mile fun white water raft ride down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River. The first part of the three-hour trip we floated through glacially carved flatlands and hills winding around the southwestern edge of Glacier National Park. We then entered beautiful canyons where the current picked up and we hung on during a half dozen Class 2 and Class 3 rapids. The river was extra fast and challenging due the heavy rains and some snow the week before.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: November 7, 2021

Biscayne NP is the last crocodile habitat in the USA.  The croc numbers grew from 60 to 240. At the NP Visitor Center, we saw three manatees swimming by the boat dock. We boarded the boat “King Fisher” and bounced across Biscayne Bay for six miles to the outer barrier islands and maze of mangrove trees. Anchoring at Hurricane Creek (photo#1), we boarded paddleboards instead of kayaks. The park ranger guide Harold led us through a forest of dense mangrove tree “islands” where we paddled for 90 minutes. I saw a small stingray, two black tip sharks, sponges, small fish and got to hold an upside-down jellyfish (Photo#3). In Photo #4, the dark outline of the black tip shark is in the upper right hand corner. The boat then took us over to nearby Adams Key, actual real land, where we ate our sack lunch, and I hiked a .5 mile trail full of mosquitoes. On this small island, a former two story building called the Cocolobo Club once served fishermen as four US Presidents (Harding, Hoover, Nixon & Johnson) vacationed and fished here.

Expedition Team: Dave Miller, Rosie Miller

Date: 1987

On day ten of our fourteen day 3,500 mile trip we drove to Page for a 15 mile raft trip down the Colorado River. The expedition company’s van took us down and through a two mile tunnel of solid rock where we climbed aboard a 22 foot raft in front of the 710 foot tall Glen Canyon Dam. The dam is only 16 feet shorter than Hoover Dam. Once the raft began floating downstream we looked overhead to view the incredible Glen Canyon Bridge (Photo#1). When built in 1959 the bridge was the highest arch bridge in the world. The majestic canyon walls connect Glen Canyon & the Grand Canyon. Glen Canyon itself is designated a National Recreation Area. We stopped at sandy Petroglyph Beach where we saw carvings from ancient canyon people going back over 3,000 years. Further downstream the sun striking the canyon walls (Photo#2) accented the beautiful colors. The guide pointed to canyon areas (Photo#3) where scenes from sci-fi movie “Dune” was recently filmed. Later we stopped on a sand beach and were allowed to jump in the cold river water if we desired. Rosie and I (Photo#4) both jumped in and jumped out fast. It was the coldest water that I have ever been in. Back on the raft the sun and the rowing quickly warmed us up.  Later we paddled around the towering sandstone walls and cliffs above Horseshoe Bend. This was a fun raft trip and I have great Super 8 film (where the photos came from) of the adventure.