This was a great short family float. 4 adults & 2 kids; on the Des Moines River.
The water level; @ the Stratford gauge @ our put in was, @ 8.85' & 4210 CFS. The Dam @ waterworks Park was well underwater, so we were able to put in above the bridge; river left.
Rounding the first bend; we spotted a large flock of Pelicans. They kind of played with us; like a herron does. Letting us get close, but not too close.
Taking a break on a sand bar; for the boys to "throw sticks into the river", just in sight of the "Kate Shelley" High Bridge.
Moving on down river towards the High bridge; the pelicans "Leap frogged" their way down ahead of us. We raeched a football field sized sandbar: bewteen the 200th street bridge & the HIGH bridge. For those of you that haven't heard of this HIGH bridge; it's 187 ft high some 2687'bank to bank, double rail bridge. A must see from the river.
We played , made sand castles & had the engineers'; from the differant trains crossing, "blow their whistle"
sevreal times for the boys. An hour later we pushed off.
Pelicans everywhere; high, low, near & far all the while floating downriver.
Taking one last snack break on a gravel bar; river left, before the old hwy 30 bridge, one of the boys uncovered a baby snake. That was a treat. Before long 20 more canoes started floating past us. They too, started @ Waterworks Park, but was heading for Ledges State Park. We exchaged hellos as they floated by.
Pushing off again, we headed towards the Hwy 30 Access. 4.5 hours & 6.4 miles later we loaded up to head back to nearby Don Williams Park ( 5 miles North of Ogden) were we camped.
The Kate Shelley Bridge West of Boone Is worths seeing from the 200th street bridge, even if you can't make a float under it. We wer fortunate to see the Pelicans in migration as a added bonus.
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