Lots of new folks joined us this weekend, including on Memorial Day as we wrapped up the 3-days of paddling. The rain Sunday night nixed our plans of running Jay's route, so we opted for a Perry to Lawrence float instead. We put in the water around 11:45 with roughly 20 people in the fleet.

Nice, easy paddle today. And sunshine? Let's just say more than one of us is sleeping very gingerly tonight and nursing a sunburn -- you all know who you are. Regardless, had a blast on the boats, on the sandbar, and even in the water as we officially started the sandbar jumping (or getting dragged in) part of the UAC season. Thanks, everyone for making this a great weekend. Click here for more photos from Memorial Day.

On Saturday we had a brave crew. Despite what I'm sure was their better judgment, they followed us down the trail at Jay's, trudged through 8-inch deep sticky mud for about 50 yards, and climbed into their canoes and kayaks to make their way down the Kaw.

I'm pretty sure that by the first sandbar they forgot all about the mud. Hope to see you guys back soon. Maybe next time we can paddle with you! Click here for more photos from Saturday. 

What do you get when you mix a river, a bachelor party, and a group of pharmacy students? We could tell you, but we all agreed what happens on the river, stays on the river.

Needless to say, these two groups had a great time on the river. And I think the bachelor party canoes only capsized 6 or 8 times by the end of the day.

Can't wait to have both of these groups back on the river with us. Check the photos above for more from this awesome float.

On a day that was likely to bring us rain, wind and dark clouds, we managed to squeeze in our 2010 Fundraiser float at just the right time. The rain started right when we hit the boat ramp at the end of our journey from the Perry Lake spillway down the Delaware and Kansas Rivers.

Thanks to Nikki for helping us put this together, and to everyone who came along and helped us support a good cause. For more information about what the folks at the Health Care Access Clinic do, visit their web site at http://healthcareaccess.org

For photos from this weekend's float, visit the photo gallery.

While we have been on the water already this year, last weekend marked our first official UAC public float of 2010. Steve rang in his birthday on the Kaw with some of his college buddies. Plus Paul and Stephen -- a couple of sociologists currently on assignment at Fort Leavenworth -- joined us for the trip.

Sunny skies and a smooth flowing river made for a perfect Sunday afternoon. Even scored a few morel mushrooms on a river island on the way down. Hopefully we'll see these guys again yet this season. The season's just getting warmed up - stay tuned!

Click here for more photos from this float.

After waiting several weeks for the ice on the Kaw to melt, Puppy, Uncle Ron and Baywatch conducted a little test-drive (er, test-paddle) Friday. And we're happy to report that the Kaw, and Up a Creek, are officially open for business! Some of these winter floats will no doubt require cold weather gear, but if you're game, so are we!

 Check out the rest of the photos from our first run of the decade!

I figured it was time some recognition was handed out to someone who plays a key role in UAC's best floats. Anyone who has floated with us at least once has either experienced or heard us brag about "Jay's Run", our favorite little stretch of the Kaw that just seems to out-shine any other stretch that we paddle. Meet Jay.

Jay's Run, however, is not your typical public access boat ramp. To get to this favored stretch of the Kaw we have to drive down a gravel road, which turns into a dirt road, and then a path that skirts the edge of a soy bean crop, and finally walk down a small hill (often through the mud) about 200 yards to the river's edge. It's all worth it as we hit curvy river bends, bald eagle nests and perfect sandbars around every bend. Jay makes this possible for us, not only by letting us drag large groups of sometimes unruly people past his house and through his property, but also by occasionally cutting down the path and clearing brush to make the journey to our little Mecca on the Kaw a bit easier.  Best part about Jay's Run? We're the only game in town that runs it!  Here's to you, Jay! And your drinks are on us at the campout this year!

Last Saturday's group (who, by the way, chose this name for their float) hit the Kaw on a beautiful sunny afternoon and paddled the 10 miles from Perry to Lawrence with Up a Creek. While I was not along on the river to enjoy the festivities, the photos seem to indicate they enjoyed themselves. See for yourself: