The Saint Joseph River Trip - Installment Two

     It is Sunday, the weather is great and the big day has finally arrived; it is time to get in the water. All the supplies have been acquired and we are ready to go. It was first decided to launch at the ramp just below the Race in South Bend, but we never received an "official" OK from the SB or Saint Joe Parks folks. Someone suggested that we launch from River Street, directly across the river from the ramp. This spot would have been good had both teams been experienced, but considering the strong current since it is only a very short distance from the SB Dam, it was deemed prudent find a more suitable spot further downstream.
     We found a good spot and just a bit out of the main current. This location I believe is called Riverside Park and the only drawback was that this site was about halfway to Niles, reducing the miles to be paddled by a considerable number, which we later discovered was a "blessing in disguise".
     As the canoes are loaded items are checked off to make sure we have everything; 2 tents, 6 sleeping bags, 2 ground covers, 1 cook stove, pots and pans, 2 ice chests (one with vegetables and the other with meats that do not need to be frozen). 1 lantern, 2 flash lights, batteries for flashlights, First Aid Kit, collapsible water tank with 5 gallons of water, 6 propane cylinders of 14 oz capacity, matches, firewood starter, ponchos, 2 bailers, sunscreen, insect repellent, personal toiletries, 6 back packs with clothes, 6 life jackets per USCG requirements, 1 floatation custion, 1 signal whistle per canoe, flip video camera, 2 fishing poles, fishing licenses for the adults metting requirements of Indiana and Michigan as well as a Michigan Sports Permit (never expires and only cost a dollar), tackle box, map (chart) book, phone numbers of campsites, 2 cell phones, dry bags for cell phones and flip video camera. Everything on the check list was there, but one thing was not on the check list, and it got left behind. The few photos taken by my wife are of the loading and launch preparation. The next set of photos, which will be in another post, are from when we got to under the rail bridge at the mouth of Saint Joseph / Benton Harbor. Everything in between is on the flip video now on a ROM disc, and I can't figure out how to upload it.

All that water and work of course calls one to take care of nature and someone snapped a shot.

Then we are off on the great adventure. More will follow from our journal at the next post.

They disappeared behind a turn in the river; were they ever seen again??????