Day 2: Wisconsin Trip 06/08/2017 Photo Album
Jane and I got off to a nice early start on Thursday morning, and this enabled us to arrive at our destination in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin by 12:30PM. It did not take long to find our lodging in the small town of Westby, WI, and we quickly checked in and shifted our luggage to the small two level room that fronted on to State Street less than a block away from the main street. The Westby House Inn was our home for Thursday through Saturday nights. Our bed was situated in a small loft, and a wrought iron spiral staircase provided the means to move from the first floor to the bedroom. The bathroom was located on the first floor, so night time visits were a bit of a challenge.
The Westby House Inn from the Corner of State and Ramsland
We quickly procured the necessary items required to support a canoe trip and jumped in the car and proceeded to Ontario, WI. In 2014 we visited the same area of Wisconsin, and during that trip we paddled rental canoes on the Kickapoo River. We planned to repeat that experience on Thursday afternoon; however, we both hoped to extend the length of the float.
After a scenic forty-five minute drive we arrived at Drifty’s Canoe Rental in Ontario. We waited a short time while Mr. Drifty checked in a small group of young kayakers, and then we made our arrangements. For $35 we could rent a canoe for the remainder of the day, and that fee included paddles, life jackets and a shuttle back to Ontario. Mr. Drifty informed us that we could select from a two, three or four hour float. We responded that we completed the two hour float in one hour and twenty minutes in 2014, so based on this he felt we would have no problem finishing the longest distance by 6PM. The take out for the longest trip was just beyond Bridge Seven.
Enjoyment
We paid our fee, and Mr. Drifty pushed a canoe down a dirt hill to the edge of the water. We grabbed our life jackets and paddles and shoved off with Jane in the bow and Dave in the stern. In the first hour we converged with several groups, but after that we were nearly the only paddlers on the Kickapoo River. Unlike our previous experience we paced ourselves, and between bridges four and five we paddled only occasionally to reposition the canoe. The river was rarely wider than twenty-five feet, and it curved back and forth, as it passed through woodlands and large vertical rock walls. The rock walls completely shaded the river, and the moss and ferns created the sense of passing through a moist rain forest.
A Big Bend
Jane and I switched positions once, and we each agreed that we preferred our initial spots, so we rotated again for the Bridge 5 to Bridge 7 segment. By 5:30 we glided into a ramp below Bridge 7, and then we dragged the long narrow craft on to land until it was no longer touching water. We waited only five minutes before the Drifty van appeared and transported us back to our car in Ontario. Our trip to Wisconsin was off to an enjoyable start.
Lush Surroundings
When we returned to Westby, we changed and made the short six mile drive to Viroqua, WI. Viroqua is the small town we stayed in during 2014, and we chose Dave’s Pizza as our restaurant for dinner. The establishment offered casual dining, and Jane and I satisfied our appetites before returning to Westby to end our day. We traveled from Marshalltown, IA to Westby, WI and completed a 3.5 hour canoe trip. Our adventure was only beginning.