ACBS Glacier Lakes Chapter Members Defy Mother Nature to Storm the Milwaukee River.
Thanks to fellow Woody Boater John Baas for sending in this well, cool ish grey report from this weekend. And starting a fun filled week of how to beat the heat! Photos from John and Wil Vidal, Take it away John and Wil.
What do you on a Saturday when the heat index hits triple digits, fog shrouds the harbor like Donald Trump’s hair and severe thunderstorms are only hours away? If you are a group of (fool)hardy Glacier Lakes ACBS members, you go woody boating on the Milwaukee River. It’s an annual event headed up by Ken Bourgeois. The plan is simple; launch our boats at the South Shore Yacht Club, motor the two and a half miles north on Lake Michigan to the mouth of the harbor. Then, cruise up the Milwaukee River to see and be seen. We would also hit the Menomonee River and the Kinnickinnick River with comfort, beverage and food stops along the way. With clear skies everywhere west of the lakefront, we were a little (ok, more than a little) concerned when we arrived at the launch site to find fog so thick it made pea soup jealous.
GPS, radar or both would have been nice, but we all knew that if we could keep the shoreline in view on our port side, we’d eventually hit the river opening. Opps, don’t say, “hit”.
Just a couple of hundred yards inland from the soupy lakefront, things cleared up nicely and the cruise was on. And you just never know what you’ll run into on one of these urban river cruises.
Yeah, it was hot. The fog was a little scary and the storms held off until all boats were safely secured on their trailers. It is very strange how just a few hundred feet can mean the difference between clear skies and a fog so thick you can taste it. Thanks to all who braved the elements and especially Ken for organizing the urban woody boating adventure for the Glacier Lakes Chapter of ACBS.
Got a beat the heat story. Chop chop, this is your week. Can’t get it to rain in a small lake in a state near New York. HINT, Maybe we can make it rain here for you.
We also spent some time looking for our buddy Texx. The Harley Davidson museum was our first choice.
Texx was probably napping on a pontoon boat in a nearby parking lot.
Great Coverage and Story, John!! Real sorry I missed it again. Previous commitments kept me away this year. Hopefully, next year.
Great article! Glad you made it a great boat ride and returned safely. Next year..its on our calendar already.
I think, and hope this river trip is on the agenda for the PRE events to next years ACBS International show in Racine, WI, in September, Wink, Wink…
Since I have seen what this river has to offer, especially in the downtown section, as I visit my customers in the area, it has been on my Bucket List for some time.
Dennis – Yes! This river trip is on the agenda for PRE events for the 2017 Racine International Show. Along with a few other PRE event river trips.