On June 11th, we participated in the 7th Annual Fools’ Flotilla, an event created to bring awareness to the (great) work that the River Alliance of Wisconsin does. Timothy volunteered to help keep boats in line while Barry, Emilie and family canoed it. It’s a ton of fun – very family friendly – and is a highly recommended event to consider joining in on (or even just viewing it from the banks and bridges of the Yahara River between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona can be quite entertaining).
Here’s how the Alliance explains it:
“For just a brief moment, experience the transformation of the small but mighty Yahara River running through our urban neighborhood into a celebration of water, art and music!
Costume up yourselves; dress up your boat, your kids and the dog too. Float from the dam at Lake Mendota to Yahara Place Park, site of the Marquette Waterfront Festival sponsored by the Marquette Neighborhood Association. Bring some instruments and play along with the floating bands. No cost and no registration required. Just show up!”
Every year, the paddle starts just downstream of the lock at Tenney Park and ends at the Marquette Waterfront Festival in Yahara Place Park which is a very compelling reason to end the spectacle there. But you could also choose to turn around and follow the band back to Tenney since the there isn’t much of a current between the two lakes (and my how small our isthmus is, right?)
Either one you choose, it’s something you should consider putting on the calendar for next year.
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Related Information:
2017 Photo Gallery: Isthmus.com
Miles Paddled Video:
Timelapse Video:
Photo Gallery:
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