IN: 1, 2, 6
OUT: 2, 4, 5
Colorado River Odyssey – Mission 5
Mansfield Portage
Mission 5 started at the civilized hour of 8:30am on Saturday, September 5th, when 1, 2 & 6 converged at the north base. Critical equipment for the day included 5’s strap on canoe wheels, a Radial Flyer red wagon, and 2’s fiberglass Old Town two man canoe. All was loaded onto the Jeep along with 2 and 6. 1 folloed in the Hyundai out to the low water crossing just below Mansfield Dam. There, the Hyundai was positioned as the shuttle vehicle. Then all proceeded in the Jeep to take in the view at the overlook point just south of the Dam, and on to the park entrance. The cute teenage girl behind the window gave a pleasant greeting and told us the entrance fee would be $10. That transaction complete, 2 began to explain that we would be walking out of the park with the canoe and then returning with another vehicle. This was met with a blank and baffled stare. 2 tried to explain further that we were paddling the entire length of the Colorado River, and that portaging the dam was something we had to do. Even more befuddled, the attendant began to blabber that we’d need to pay for the additional car and $3 per person re-entry fee, but a more mature woman in the back took over and told us it would be fine, just to let them know we were simply going in to pick up our car.
So off we went down to the boat ramp to take the canoe off the car, load our wheels and wagon into the boat and head off to round channel marker 4, less than a quarter of a mile to the northwest of the boat ramp.
The paddle was calm on a beautiful clear morning with a light breeze building out of the southeast. We were soon round the red buoy, at the ramp again, and carrying the canoe up to a shady spot where we strapped the wheels to the stern and the Red Flyer to the front. We headed off on the sidewalk, past the entry booth, onto the park road, past some construction and just before RR620 we took a left onto the narrow asphalt path that leads under the 620 bridge and down to the low water crossing. We had some issues keeping the canoe aligned, so we turned it around for a while with the wagon on the uphill end. We made it down without any real excitement, other than great appreciation for the folks who had the foresight to construct this right of way when the Dam was built. Unfortunately, it is now falling somewhat into disrepair and becoming grown over in places. Upon reaching the water, despite a steep, rocky bank, we decided it was essential that we put the canoe into the water, rather than simply rolling across the low water barrier. We then paddled the short distance to the other bank, where we took out.
1 drove 2 back up to Mansfield Park, where a long Labor Day line of cars and boats had formed at the entrance. Rather than waiting, 2 got out and walked in to retrieve the Jeep. We met back at the low water crossing, and after loading up, 1 & 6 took the 2222 route to the Rudy’s on south 360. 2 took a short dip in the chilly dam bottom waters of upper Lake Austin and then followed, taking the Bee Caves Route (slow!) to BBQ. As always, the BBQ was enjoyed immensely, and it was decided that the joy had to be shared with 5, who was stuck at home working on an FDA Audit report. 1 did the honors, delivering a spicy chopped beef sandwich, the consumption of which was documented, and the ultimate disposal of which has now become just one more piece of immortal 456 history.
Johannes
