Let me just get the cool part out of the way - I took a movie of floating under the L&N (Purple People) Bridge, and it came out pretty cool:

 

L&N From Below

 

I took many fewer pictures this year than last year, mostly because I just wanted to kick back and enjoy it this year, and I figured I wouldn't get many views this year I hadn't already gotten last year.  Oh, and my wife did most of the work last year, because I spent most of the time taking pictures - and that wasn't gonna fly again!

 

And let me say, the weather this year was amazing.  It was about 70 degrees when we started, up to about 75 when we finished, with a soft breeze most of the time.  And the river was at 31 feet, so we had a decent current helping us out - last year it was a bathtub...

 

Anyway, here's a few shots:

 

Say, Eighth & State, were you kayaking near this pirate-flag guy?  I remember you mentioned an American flag, and of course I forgot at the time, should have taken a picture, but there was a kayaker with an American flag not far from this guy, and you said you went up to the USS Nightmare:

 

Soon the Overlook at Eden Park will be poking up in the middle of these three:

 

First view of Carew!

 

Left to right, it's Issue430's boyfriend, Issue430, and St. Rose Church.

 

Same two, now with those condo's at Eastern and Collins as a backdrop:

 

I asked this last year - how long before these houses are torn out?

 

Ah, Eden Park...

 

The Waters Edge at Bellevue construction:

 

Twain's Point, with their river views trees, and Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park, with its river overlooks trees:

 

Boatswain's Lanyard or whatever it is:

 

I can never get enough of this view:

 

Bridges, bridges, bridges:

 

A Br!dge Cl!mb cl!mb!ng group f!n!sh!ng !ts tr!p:

 

These folks just seemed to be hanging out up top:

 

Issue430, David (his David, not UrbanOhio's David) and the bridge:

 

Taylor-Southgate - sure seems long from down here:

 

So that's it...we'd dropped one car off at Bicentennial Commons - two minutes of planning saved us waiting in line for a wet bus ride back to the Four Seasons Marina - thence back to get the other car, home to change, and then to Don Pablo's for margarita's and chips outside on the deck.  Then home for a nap, posting of pictures, and now the plan is sitting and reading the night away...hmm...might make a pizza...ah, the lazy days of summer!

 

 

 

    Riverviewer, you must have passed me near the P.A. Denny. That's where I saw the pirate guy. I stopped at the P.A. Denny for about 20 minutes on the way back down.

 

    I wonder what the Nightmare used to be. There is a substantial crane, and a sort of catamaran bow, so it may have been a stump puller or a pile driver, perhaps? Also, the stern end is damaged. Do you think it was a wreck or a fire? I wonder what will become of that boat.

 

    Thanks for the photos. It was a wonderful day.

 

Very nice. 

Ethan...AWESOME!!!

Totally cool... I always enjoy that perspective from down on the river.  It makes the river look huge!

I knew somebody had to capture this shit.  And I knew it would be you.

 

God bless our River, and God bless Ethan....

Well done Ethan.  We went canoeing on the Little Miami on Tuesday and we thought about going to this but I can't do everything this great city offers.

Of course, I thought this was a different kind of Paddlefest so those leather chaps I bought will just have to sit in my closet.  :-D

I really wanted to take part in this, however, by the time that I checked into it all the reservations were filled for the event.  So I guess I'll have to get to it a little earlier to ensure my spot in the awesomeness!  Cool pics!

 

  For anyone interested in water level photography, my canoe want to get in the water again.

 

 

Are you taking photography requests, or hooking up a river tour?

 

BTW, I looked around for history on the USS Nightmare, and couldn't find anything more than what might have been part of the back story, on the USS Mitchell or something...

 

Oh, what's the PA Denny?

 

 

 

  The P.A. Denny is an authentic sternwheel riverboat that was moored near friendship park with a live band during Paddlefest.

 

    Riverviewer, for as much as you like rivers, I'm surprised that you don't have a boat. Or do you?

 

  I would be happy to share my canoe with anyone who wants to take a ride.

 

 

^Take a ride?!?!!?  Sounds like some type of proposition to me :roll:

No, I don't have any nature of boat.  A canoe, that might make sense though...

 

My wife is interested in kayaking now, though...the main question is how uncomfortable it is to sit crammed into that little kayak, legs out straight, that kind of thing...have you kayaked much?

Very cool!

 

    I have a recreational kayak. It is about 9.5 feet long and 2 feet wide. It is short and stable as kayaks go. It is not the fastest boat at Paddlefest by far. It cost me about $300. I bought a high end paddle, however, for about $80. The best boat is not the biggest or the fastest or the most expensive; it's the one you use the most. I may get another, faster boat in the future.

 

  I go on about 10 trips a year, either in my canoe or kayak. The typical trip ranges from 2 to 16 miles. I have been only slightly sore from sitting in the boat with legs out straight. My kayak has adjustable foot pegs. I have been worn out from paddling, or from carrying the boat. Sometimes the hardest part of the trip is getting the boat back and forth from the vehicle to the water.

 

    If you are going to by a boat, or a pair of boats, take into consideration the vehicle you will be hauling it on. I mounted some rings on my vehicle to tie the boat.

 

    I bought my kayak from D&D outfitters in Springdale.

 

    All boats have to be registered. I think each of my boats cost about $5 a year for Ohio registration.

 

    There's a yahoo group called cincypaddlers that has outings nearly every week in the summer on the Great Miami, Little Miami, Licking, Ohio, etc., as well as trips farther away. The Mill Creek Yacht Club has a couple of trips on the Mill Creek every year.

 

    There is an event coming up that's similar to Paddlefest but on a smaller scale, from Aurora, Indiana to Rising Sun, Indiana.