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Lavaca River

When:
Sunday, October 18, 2015, 9:30 AM until 3:00 PM
Where:
Lolita, TX
TX  
Additional Info:
Event Contact(s):
Chris Arceneaux
832-216-2483 (p)
Category:
HASK Paddle Trip
Registration is required before Friday, October 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Payment In Full In Advance Only
This is an ACA sanctioned event. All participants must wear a PFD. Non-HASK participants must sign a waiver. See all rules at the bottom of this page.
Cancellation Policy:
Notify the Event Contact to cancel your registration.
Capacity:
18
Available Slots:
2
Attendees pay for their own charges

Part of an a-la-carte multi-event weekend in the Greater Blessing - Palacios - Lolita Metroplex. See also the other events posted on the calendar for this weekend, including optional overnight stay at the Blessing Hotel.
 
 
Sunday's paddle trip will be a leisurely 8 - 10 mile exploration of the Lavaca River, upstream of the confluence with the Navidad River near the town of Lolita in Jackson County, Texas. We will meet at the FM 616 bridge at 9:00 to launch at 9:30 a.m. This will be an easy Level 1+ trip on flat water and little or no current, "God willing and the creek don't rise". Bring pfd, water, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, change of dry clothes, and lunch. We'll find a sand or mud bar for a lunch stop.
 
FM 616 put-in
Lavaca River FM 616 put-in
 
 
Lavaca River paddle route
Lavaca River paddle route
 
 
Some of us will be staying at the Historic Hotel Blessing Saturday night and some will be driving from Houston, so directions from both follow:
 
Lat-lon of the put-in is   28°49'57.65"N     96°34'36.26"W
 
From the Hotel Blessing:  Easy-peasy. Drive west on FM 616 to the bridge over the Lavaca River. Entrance to the boat ramp is on the east side of the river from the south side of the highway, I believe.
 
From Houston:
Take Hwy 59 south from downtown Houston about 102 miles to FM 234/El Toro/Vanderbilt. Turn left onto FM 234 and drive south about 10.5 miles to FM 616. Turn left and drive about 2.5 miles to the bridge over the Lavaca River. Entrance to the boat ramp is on the east side of the river from the south side of the highway, I believe.The drive from Houston is about 120 miles, about two hours.

Hazards: the usual joys of south Texas, including mosquitos, fireants, snakes, alligators, some boat traffic.  Bring pfd, water, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, change of dry clothes, and lunch.
 
Now a little local history. 
As you drive down, you might notice that many of the small towns are named after women. Here's who some of them are:
     Beasley, TX was founded in the mid-1890's by Cecil A Beasley, a Richmond banker, who called the town Dyer in honor of Miss Isabel Dyer, who later became Mrs. Beasley.
     Louise, TX was one of six stations on the "Macaroni Line" railroad from Rosenberg to Victoria, so nicknamed because many of the workers were Italian immigrants. A post office was established in 1888 and named after Louise Mackay, wife of the major investor.
     Edna, TX was another stop on the Macaroni Line and Edna was the daughter of Italian Count Joseph Telfener, who promoted and built the line and provided the labor. The first child born in the new community was Edna Louise Traylor.
     Victoria was first settled when a Spanish mission was relocated in 1722. Victoria was named for General Guadalupe Victoria, the first president of independent Mexico. Gotcha.
     Lolita, TX was named in 1909 after Lolita Reese, a granddaughter of Texas revolution veteran Charles Keller Reese.
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Very near our Sunday put-in, there is a Civil war era steamboat submerged in the Lavaca River. It is occasionally partially exposed when the water is low.
http://maritimetexas.net/wordpress/?p=2269
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Upstream in the Lavaca River, we will paddle past a sizable Indian mound on private property. We may be able to spot it by the windmill on top.
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There's lots of historical information in the Blessing hotel. Leave a little time to read up there on the colorful history of its origin.


Contact: Carl Kuhnen   713-444-3315 cell,  713-468-8671 home

  

 

Trip Leader  Chris Arceneaux
 Trip Assistants  Carl Kuhnen, Bob Scaldino, Paul Penning
 Trip Rating*  1+
 Ready to Launch at  9:30 AM
 Duration (hours)  4-5
 Paddling Miles  8-10
 Emergency Initiator  
 Emergency Phone #s  
 Latest Expected Return  4:30 p.m.
 Auto Description/Lic #  Dark Blue Ford Explorer
 Distance from Houston  120 miles

 

 

* Trip ratings are only a guide. Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.

 

This is an ACA sanctioned event. Every participant must wear a PFD.

 

Waivers - Please complete our easy to use online waiver if you are a HASK member who has not signed a waiver within the last 12 months or a non- HASK participant. Read the waiver carefully.  You give up substantial rights when you sign it.

  • Add Smartwaiver with email address “noreply@smartwaiver.com” to your address book to ensure emails do not go to junk/spam.
  • Select a link below to complete the online waiver. 

   ACA-HASK Adult Waiver ACA-HASK Minor Waiver

  • Respond to the “Confirm your E-Signature” email from ACA / HASK to confirm your email address.  Wavier is now complete and valid.
  • You will receive a confirmation email. Please download and print a copy of the waiver and bring it to the trip put-in.