+- +-

Advertisement

Accommodation Options

With everything there is to see and do in and around Big Bend National Park, the area has become one of the most cherished family-friendly vacation destinations in Texas. Lodging options are abundant, ranging from rustic to luxurious. Whether your family would prefer a campground, an authentic Texas ranch, a resort hotel or a vacation rental, you're sure to find it here. There are also plenty of timeshare resales and vacation homes for sale, for those interested in becoming an avid Bender!

Copyright Notice

All photographs and content posted by members are to be considered copyrighted by their respective owners and may not be used for any purposes, commercial or otherwise, without permission.

Author Topic: Exploring Opportunities  (Read 3677 times)  Share 

oldfatman

  • Guest
Exploring Opportunities
« on: May 11, 2008, 09:03:26 PM »
I am in Del Rio for a couple of weeks with my new small sit on top (SOT) kayak.  Today I finally got it out to play.  Amistad is about 14 feet down right now pending some dam repairs.  What his little easy to use boat has done is open a whole new world of exploring opportunity to me.  Much of this area is accessible by boat only.  In the few miles I explored along the shoreline today, it became very apparent that this little boat will be getting me into lots of places I could not legally access before.  There are islands in the lake and many other lakes  that seem like they need a good walk around upon to see what they have to offer.  As I was paddling around, I thought of many other places I have been in my life that a little boat like this would have been great to have along.  A whole new world of exploring awaits those who include a yak in their outdoor life.

Offline Peach

  • Golden Eagle
  • Coyote
  • *
  • Posts: 238
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2008, 09:29:22 PM »
I absolutely love my kayak!  You're right...it does open up a whole new world of exploring...


Offline homerboy2u

  • The Chipewa Cris tribe,Canada:
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5012
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2008, 09:38:17 PM »
Hello OFM...there a re some friends from Acuсa and Del Rio who kayak on often occasions, I will see if i can contact them and hopefully i will try to meet with you as well. :crossedfingers:....


 Amistad Lake offers a wealth of places to explore only by boat or Kayak....put down the keyboard, and just go !!!
Stay thirsty, my friends.

Offline tjavery

  • Golden Eagle
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 1223
  • foto nut
    • http://www.texbrick.com/photo/proj_big_bend
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2008, 07:52:11 AM »
Cool. I'd love to explore the lake in a kayak sometime. And it's something my wife wants to do as well.

We've kayaked from the boat ramp below the Pecos River Bridge twice. That was a lotta fun! The scenery is awesome.

The first trip, we paddled down to the Rio Grande and took a left (towards Amistad), then paddled a bit more and visited Parida Cave.


(my wife, for scale :-)

The second trip, we went north up the Pecos. We made it as far as the railroad high bridge before my son decided that he had enough of the kayaking business. (he was cranky and needed a nap, although he refused to sleep)





best regards,
TJ Avery
Big Bend Photo Project: http://www.thomasjavery.com/proj_big_bend
Photo blog: http://www.thomasjavery.com/blog

Offline dkerr24

  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 1259
  • The worst day hiking > the best day in a cubicle.
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2008, 01:19:00 PM »
Reading threads like this makes me want a kayak even more.  We have a bunch of small lakes around here that don't have boat ramps that would be perfect to launch a small hand carried craft.   With permission of the land owner, of course.

Good exercise for the upper body, too.

Offline homerboy2u

  • The Chipewa Cris tribe,Canada:
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5012
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2008, 02:28:12 PM »
and soon, the Lower Body too
Stay thirsty, my friends.

oldfatman

  • Guest
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2008, 02:34:54 PM »
There are several models of pedal drives out there.  The Hobie model cost about five times what my yak cost and has damageable items under the boat.  The native watercraft can be damaged by bumping things.  Aside from the price, I did not like the deeper water requirements for the under boat drives.  They seem to work very well when the right conditions are met.  However it is very nice to have multiple options to chose from for your fun. 

Offline presidio

  • Soaptree Yucca
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 2488
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2008, 03:14:24 PM »
There are several models of pedal drives out there.  The Hobie model cost about five times what my yak cost and has damageable items under the boat.  The native watercraft can be damaged by bumping things.  Aside from the price, I did not like the deeper water requirements for the under boat drives.

Well, what you need is a pedal powered jet pump so you have no parts except a nozzle under the boat. Of course, you have to pedal really fast, but it would be a great cardio workout. Sort of like the captain of the galley ship wanting to water ski after lunch.
_____________
<  presidio  >
_____________
Wendell (Garret Dillahunt): It's a mess, ain't it, sheriff?
Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones): If it ain't, it'll do till the mess gets here.
--No Country for Old Men (2007)

Offline homerboy2u

  • The Chipewa Cris tribe,Canada:
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5012
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2008, 03:19:50 PM »
Hey OFM.....my friends are looking for you, to tag along in the Amistad Lake.....they will be there at around 5 pm, at spur 454. I do hope you can meet them.

  They will be expecting you....to buy dinner for them :icon_lol: :icon_lol:........no, really they are very nice folks, trust me.

 This is their webpage area related to Kayaking in Amistad , you can post in English...they all speak the language.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2008, 03:22:10 PM by homerboy2u2 »
Stay thirsty, my friends.

oldfatman

  • Guest
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2008, 10:46:27 PM »
You will also be required to register as a motorboat with all the extras that go with it.  The kayaks are very capable of carrying an enormous load of special treats all on their own.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2008, 10:48:20 PM by oldfatman »

Offline Al

  • Dog Face Moth
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 3545
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #10 on: May 12, 2008, 11:24:11 PM »
You're right, it is any motorized boat.  In the old days there was a length and horsepower limit.  Oh well.  We have gone to hell and are not a free as we think . . . if I have a canoe and store a trolling motor with it I am in violation unless registered, even if I never take it on the water.  I am depressed.

Al

oldfatman

  • Guest
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2008, 10:44:08 AM »
Homero,
Thank you for hooking me up with the folks yesterday.  They were very nice folks. I even tried one of the yaks and found I was still unable to balance very well due to the migraine headache, so I came back in very quickly.  Raymond's wife also gets migraine headache and we compared notes of treatments.  It was a wonderful evening and thank you again.
Their website Extremo 4x4 is great.  To my surprise I can even understand some of the messages. The videos are excellent.

Check my log for pictures of these nice folks.

Offline homerboy2u

  • The Chipewa Cris tribe,Canada:
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5012
Re: Exploring Opportunities
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2008, 01:28:56 PM »
Ahh looks like they spolied you OFM...
http://bp1.blogger.com/_qtbKtwygtXs/SCkE-NcKanI/AAAAAAAABIc/6swyGs4t3Tg/s1600-h/ladiesIMG_1865.JPG

 And made some good friends there. These are very fine folks, all of them and I just hope i can get away from work, at the earliest possible time to meet with them.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_qtbKtwygtXs/SCkE-tcKaoI/AAAAAAAABIk/FIjXpTnacOA/s1600-h/menIMG_1866.JPG

 I truly hope you spent some good time there, now trust me and go over to Tlaloc Beach and have the best possible Mexican Style fish you can eat, along with some cervezas...and your choice of Salsa Verde or Roja.

 Nice story on the Old Fat Man Chronicles

 I envy you OFM,Cheers!!! :kaos-cactus06:
« Last Edit: May 13, 2008, 01:31:23 PM by homerboy2u2 »
Stay thirsty, my friends.

 

Advertisement

Looking to plan an adventurous trip at the Big Bend National Park but have a distracting timeshare on the brain? Free yourself from the stress of trying to sell timeshares or cancel timeshares. The professionals at Transfer America will have you enjoying the entire Big Bend Region in Texas before you know it.

Advertisement