Tumalo Creek Blog

On May 4, 5 and 6, 2012, Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe will hold its Annual Spring Paddle Fest. The festivities begin on Friday afternoon with free two-hour kayaking lessons beginning at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on the back lawn at Tumalo Creek. On Saturday, the party starts at 1…0 a.m. in Riverbend Park. Join the Tumalo Creek crew as well as boating representatives from major kayak, canoe and paddleboard companies, and demo the latest models of the best human-powered watercraft on the market. Both reps and staff will be on hand to answer questions and get new boaters safely and comfortably out on the water.

New this year, Tumalo Creek will be partnering with Lay It Out Events, who will be holding the 24th annual Salmon 5K and 10K Run/Walk and Little Fry Run. The race benefits the Central Oregon Environmental Center. The race will end at Riverbend Park during the festival, and participants are encourage to join the paddling festivities after they finish the race.

On Sunday, the festival moves back to the lawn behind Tumalo Creek Kayak & Canoe where experts will again teach free two-hour basic skills kayak clinics all day starting at 10 a.m. Please call the shop to make reservations, as classes always fill up. 541.317.9407
This is the perfect opportunity for those new to paddling who would like to learn the basics and find a boat that is just the right fit. The demo day is also a great option for advanced paddlers who are looking to upgrade, but would like to gain a hands-on knowledge of what is available before investing in a new boat.

Attendees will receive a coupon towards 10% off one non-sale boat, and 15% off one non-sale accessory through May 11, 2012.

For more information contact, Tumalo Creek Kayak and Canoe at 541.317.9407 or 411@tumalocreek.

Riverhouse Run Photo Shoot

(Note from Laurel: From time to time we have guest bloggers contribute. Here is a tale of a photographer’s recent adventure getting photos of whitewater kayakers on the Riverhouse Run.)

I woke up early first thing in the morning made some coffee and grabbed my equipment which had been charging the night before. I proceeded to check my Google maps and contemplated some unique camera angles I wanted to put together and took off. I showed up and I started hiking around to make sure I was on my game. I said hello to a few of the competitors and then I met Geoff and started a conversation that soon made me realize I had scouted out the wrong stretch of shore the night before. As he threw out roads, trails, and neighborhood names, I tried to look like I had any clue what was going on.

Then I heard those final words “you got a bike?” JACKPOT!!! Knowing that there was no possible way for this to NOT be an epic adventure I replied “YEAH”!!! Then suddenly I heard a few more words “Deschutes River Trail” and knew I would need my Google powers would fill in the gaps.

Geoff and the other kayakers left for the Riverhouse Run and I had very little time to catch them. So I jumped in my trusty Mazda and bolted to the other end of town to pick up the bike. Arriving to my house, I invited my roommate, Anthony, along for the random trek, and as always he was down! I woofed down some cold enchiladas for the extra energy, Googled the trail, and packed up my gear.

On our way back to the other end of town we stopped at a gas station and couldn’t help but notice that the Burger King down the road had a large amount of smoke coming out of the building. We both starred until we got close enough to see what was going on. Then it was clear, it had not been Burger King that was smoking but a car….a car which was engulfed in flames!

As always, I had my trusty Canon 60D by my side and started taking some editorial photos. Traffic was stopped and in came the fire truck. It had seemed that nobody was hurt and all was well, except now I had even less time to catch the kayakers.

Then we arrived at our destination, the Deschutes River Trail. Not knowing for sure if we were at the right spot, we took off anyway. My sense of time was completely lost and I had no clue when or where we would see them, but I knew one thing…..I could at least see the river and that was enough! After a bit of riding and still no kayaks we had noticed that the trail had veered off. Was this supposed to happen? Then around the bend I saw it. It was the stretch of river that Geoff described. I realized it was time to pack the bikes down the canyon. We were unprepared and out of shape but had one thing: determination. That, and nothing else to do. We had no bike locks and so we carried the bikes with us just in case.

All in all it was worth it. We got the shots, and it was an Epic Adventure!