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Trip Description:  You have no excuses. This is an easy short-drive, short-paddle, after-church, after-lunch, no-stops urban trip designed to get you on the water without eating up a whole day. There's not much football happening, basketball is in the doldrums, and your grass isn't green yet. Main paddle will be about six miles with an optional two mile extension after that. We will put in at Milby Park (see below) and paddle upstream (south) in the main channel, explore a couple of bypassed loops of the original bayou, and return to the park. Those who wish can continue downstream towards the Houston Ship Channel as far as the Homeland Security warning sign. Beyond that will get you an enthusiastic greeting from the Coast Guard. The upstream section is a surprisingly nice stretch of bayou considering its very urban and industrial setting. It features generous and equal portions of bird life and floating trash (we will do a species count of each), a couple of interesting waterfront neighborhoods, a golf course, the back end of a chemical plant, and a waterfall, The downstream trip includes freeway overpasses, bulkheads, industrial plants, barges, and maybe a BIG BOAT  or two. Come and enjoy the sweet smell of olefins in the air on a Sunday afternoon.

This will be a flat water trip with the possibility of wind coming up the north-south-facing bayou. It's suitable for short boats, canoes, etc. as long as you can handle your boat in the event of some wind. Since this is a commando trip with no planned rest or lunch stops, be prepared to survive in your boat for 2 - 2 1/2 hours. The upstream leg is Level 1 and the downstream leg is Level 1 - 2.

Directions:  Milby Park is a large nice park in southeast Houston just off 610 South with a picnic pavilion and a two-star porta-potty but no restrooms that I have found. To get there from downtown Houston, take I-45 south to 610 eastward toward Hwy 225 to Pasadena. Exit 610 at Exit 30B toward Hwy 225 to Pasadena but do not get on Hwy 225. Keep right at the fork, follow signs for Central St and merge onto La Porte Freeway Service Rd/S Loop E Fwy. Turn left into the park and drive through to the pavilion. Don't drive on the grass. Link to Google maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=milby+park,+houston,+tx&fb=1&gl=us&hq=milby+park,+houston,+tx&hnear=milby+park,+houston,+tx&cid=0,0,16459365899745839523&ll=29.707177,-95.266228&spn=0.012562,0.020256&z=16

Lat - lon of the put-in is:   29° 42.387'N      95° 15.663'W

There's a kayak trip in here somewhere.

Admittedly, this is the prettiest spot on the trip.

Lacking a photo of the Gran Cascade of the Sims, I chose this one of Salto Belo in Brazil. The object in the red circle is a kayaker plunging 127 feet for a new world record. Our Gran Cascade is similar except that it is HASK Level 1.

downstream terminus

Hazards: Potential hazards include a somewhat rocky slippery put-in, capsize in the cold slimy bayou water, urban animals, fire ants (prevalent in the park), submerged obstacles or debris, and possible large boat traffic on the downstream portion of the trip. This is a winter trip, so remember to dress for possible immersion and have a warm dry set of clothing in your hatch just in case. Remember to dress in synthetic layers (NO COTTON!) and carry good rain gear. Don't drag your hydration tube in the water and make sure your immunizations are up-to-date.