Club Paddle, Picnic and Anything Floats contest

[Kathy Yinger]

Saturday, September 10th is the club’s Conodoguinet Paddle, Picnic and “Anything Floats” contest

So what is your choice of vessel? Is it a canoe, kayak, SUP, raft? Well, put them all away (except for the group paddle portion) and get your creative minds thinking? Start your blueprints, search the internet for ideas & hide it in your garage so nobody steals your ideas. After all, YOU want to win the top prize.

The day will start off with a nice paddle down the creek (starting in Middlesex Township and end at Willow Mill Park). So you can either paddle to the picnic or show up for just the festivities at Willow Mill. Times will be announced closer so watch the messageboard, FB, and the September newsletter.

The Anything Floats contest will follow the picnic.

Happy Vessel Building,
Kathy Yinger

Topic

[ChrisH]

For the paddle meet at Scott Farm at 10:00. Scott Farm is the Appalachian Trail maintenance facility located at 301 Bernheisel Bridge Rd, Carlisle, PA 17015. Drop boats and gear and head back to Willow Mark to catch a shuttle ride back. The group should be on the water by10:45 or 11 and arrive at Willow Mill Park around 1:00.

Those wishing to attend the picnic only can arrive at Willow Mill Park in Silverspring Township around 12:00. We have the old bumper car pavilion reserved. This is the pavilion nearest the launch ramp at the far end of the park.

The club will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, drinks, and picnic ware – plastic utensil, plates, cups, etc. Club members are asked to bring something to share – salad, side, dessert, etc.

There are a some non-paddling activities that you can participate in like disc golf (bring your own discs). Looking for attendees to bring some picnic games – bachi ball, corn hole, etc. If we have a couple kayaks and bag chairs we can introduce everyone to Kayak Kan Jam.

After the picnic lunch we will have the “Anything Floats” event. Prices will be awarded to first to complete the course, the crowd favorite – most innovative, best built whatever, the crowd decides. The course is to be determined but it’s not long because most of the participating craft are likely to break up before the finish. There is also a prize for best crash and burn – captain going down with the ship. We don’t want to discourage anybody from participating so bring whatever you got or make. Dress it up, make it look fun and float it. Prize award will be weighted to craft that are built from something else. For example using pool floats or an inner tube to complete the course will be fun but if a craft is made by putting a deck on top of inner tubes or weaving pool floats into a boat, award preference will go to the constructed craft.

Hope this piques your interest and we see you for the paddle and or picnic.

[ChrisH]

After much deliberation I have come to the conclusion that I must cancel the Conodoguinet paddle scheduled for Saturday, 10 September. The annual CCGH club picnic will be held as planned at Willow Mill Park starting at 12:00.

I have been watching the water level on the Conodoguinet for the last week. The creek is flowing below 1 ft on the Hogestown gage. At this level much of the planned trip would turn into a hike and boat drag. A couple weeks ago I paddled a section of the Conodoguinet below Willow Mill Park. This trip was very tedious and difficult because of the low water, and the water is lower now. We can paddle the creek another time when it will be more enjoyable.

Even though the paddle is canceled we can still have the picnic as planned. The picnic is at Willow Mill Park, Mechanicsburg / Silver Spring Township. We will start as planned at 12:00. The club will provide burgers and hot dogs, drinks, and the needed picnic dinner ware. Attendees are asked to bring a side dish, salad, or dessert to share. Please let me know via email if you plan to attend so I can estimate how much food to purchase.

We will still have the Anything Floats competition so bring something that floats (besides a real boat). There will be an award for the first craft to complete the (short) course, the crowd favorite craft, and the best crash and burn. We don’t want to discourage anybody from participating so bring whatever you got or make. Dress it up, make it look fun and float it. Prize awards will be weighted to craft that are built from something else. For example using pool floats or an inner tube to complete the course will be fun but if a craft is made by putting a deck on top of inner tubes or weaving pool floats into a boat, award preference will go to the constructed craft. In addition to the Anything Float race I will bring a couple kayaks and we can try some Kayak Can Jam. It’s easy, fun and can be played by anyone who can throw a Frisbee.

Hope to see you at the picnic, let me know if you are coming, email me at holladcd@gmail.com . See you Saturday,

Chris

[Author]

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