Freeze Trip Report
by Sherri Blifford
Ron and Judy paddling on the Freeze Trip
Click on image to enlarge.
Photo by Sherri Blifford.
On Friday, January 24th, Mary Zaborowski and Paul Woodcock led the pre-freeze trip from Webberville down to Utley to join the 17th annual Freeze Trip organized by the Alamo City Rivermen. Nine of us met early that morning to paddle 14 miles and camp out on a sandbar.
It was cold.
Ah, to the river... Down the river we went.
Well, for a few minutes, anyway, before the first canoe careened into rocks, flipped and hung, suspended on them.
The water was very cold.
The rescue was both efficient and heartwarming, with lots of helping hands plucking gear out of the raging water. oh, ok, maybe not raging, but you get the drift here (sorry about the pun but after three days of puns, they're a habit).
We set up camp and some of us headed out for the shuttle while Dana Enos built a fire and Judy organized dinner. The great shuttle escapade is better shared over a campfire so you only get the condensed version here: It included flipping the second canoe with real style and an upstream paddle back to camp in the dark.
Coffee and talk with Mary Z,
Bobby Hatfield, Bruce Heiberg,
and Judy Nunnelly
Click on image to enlarge.
Photo by Sherri Blifford
Now we're really cold.
A great bonfire and amazing food, along with really bad puns and jokes, restored spirits. No freeze-dried stuff served up in this crowd. We had steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, beans, and garlic bread. Mary Z - aka Mother Hen - fussed over her brood, cooking vast quantities of food and cheering them.
The official Freeze Trip started Saturday morning at the Utley bridge when 11 more HCC members joined the group, bringing our contingent up to 20. Members of clubs from Dallas, Ft. Worth, Austin, San Antonio came, too, for a total of 74 paddlers.
We paddled eight miles down a stunning stretch of river, edged by barren trees, and eased over some small rapids with no more mishaps.
Even before the tents were all pitched, work on the great Dutch oven cooking began.
Jan and Fraser at breakfast
Click on image to enlarge.
Photo by Sherri Blifford
Dinner was followed by a bonfire and sparklers. The rain didn't start until we were snug in our tents.
Sunday started with great coffee, bacon, sausage, eggs, cheese, salsa, potatoes, and tortillas. Breaking camp reluctantly, we headed on down the river through some nice rapids, which everyone ran smoothly.
On the next set, the third canoe flipped. Fortunately, it was the last since there were no more dry clothes to spare.
A trip like this is one of those stellar experiences everyone should have at least once. The river and woods have a special quality in the winter. Better still, these people can make you laugh the rain and cold away. They inspire, encourage, and share. Best of all, at the end of the day, they'll raise their mugs high and toast with a cheer
"To the River!"
Now here's the story you didn't see in print.
Ron and Judy
with their canoe loaded
Click on image to enlarge.
Photo by Sherri B
The second canoe flipped at the sandbar when Ron put one foot in it, lost his balance, and fell over the side. Not really a test of his paddling skills, it was still spectacular for the sound effects. We won't quote him.
Canoe number 3 to go was snatched out of the river by a tree from Nancy Bell and Anne King, or at least, that's how the legend has it.
The shuttle was a Keystone Cops routine. After paddling south to the bridge, we had a caravan of five vehicles heading to Bastrop. We forgot about 5 PM traffic on a Friday. With 20 minutes between each of us, just getting across Highway 71 with no traffic light to help, we got separated.
From there, the story differs, depending on who is telling it. One person left the others and went to the park. The others waited on the highway. Lost one returned to the highway but the others had gone to Walmart (assuming all women love to shop??). We had cell phones but no numbers to call. We had 2-way radios - in the wrong cars. We all went in circles looking until dusk. Finally, we all went back to the bridge.
You just rub two sticks...
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More food
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