Index of States Kayaked by Charlene Swankie

I DID IT!  Finished the 50th State, Hawaii, on my 70th Birthday, almost a year ago now.
This is a work in progress… I will also add elevations.  I am also updating the state pages with more details.  (updated 5/7/2015)

State	Order	Date	Location	Elevation
Alabama	46	10/23/12	Justins Bay, AL (solo)
Alaska	49	8/20/2013	Holgate Glacier, Holgate Arm near Seward, AK
Arizona	2	06/2009	Watson Lake / Vickie Walker; Cibola NWR (N.P.)
Arkansas	43	10/7/12	Beaver Lake (solo)
California California2	1	3/2008 ? ? ? 08/30/2009 08/03/2009	1) Monterey Bay(many times) 2) Morro Bay (fb) 3) Spooners Cove @ Montano de Oro State Park (fb) 4) Elkhorn Slough 5) Gold Lake (fb) 6) West Shore of Lake Tahoe(*maiden voyage) / Elle Beals (fb)
Colorado	39	10/11/11 and Summer 2012	Jackson Lake State Park nr Orchard (solo) (*Pelicans) Meadow Creek Lake nr Rifle (solo)
Connecticut	20	10/25/10	Put in @ Westerly, RI and paddled back and forth from CT-RI down to Little Narragansett Bay. (solo) (*Swans)
Delaware	23	11/02/10	Cape Henlopen @ Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge-put in @ Boat Ramp Access Rd. (solo)
Florida	29	11/26/10 12/19/10 12/30/10 10/?/12	1) Santa Fe River @ Columbia State Park, High Springs / Judy Luke family 2) Cedar Kay /Gary Lepak 3) Ichetucknee Springs State Park/Gary Lepak 4)   (solo)
Georgia	28	11/16/10	Tybee Island (solo)
Hawaii	50	5/16/2014	Off Maui	/sons
Idaho	6	10/18/09	Upper and Lower Priest Lakes (solo), Priest River, ID	Moose Family Video
Illinois	36	09/23/11	Lake Shelbyville (solo)
Indiana	35	08/19/11	Lake Monroe @very large boat launching area off Hwy 446 (solo)
Iowa	37	09/28/11	Clear Lake @ McIntosh Woods State Park (43.12237,-93.45856) (solo)
Kansas	41	10/02/12	Wilson Lake @ Wilson State Park – Otoe Launch (solo)
Kentucky	34	08/18/11	Fredericks Landing, Wilder, KY Boat Launch (solo)
Louisiana	47	10/25/12	Small unnamed pond/marsh nr Hwy 190 and Hwy 90(Chef Menteur Hwy) east of Slidell (solo)
Maine	17	10/12/10	Long Pond on Mount Desert Island, Arcadia National Park (solo)
Maryland/DC	24	11/02/10	Put in @ Ocean City Municipal Airport on Sinepuxent Bay… near Mystic Harbor & paddled across to Assateague State Park/Island (solo)
Massachusetts	19	10/21/10	Secret Lake in Athol / Kay Gleason
Michigan	14	08/31/10 09/05/10	1) Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary @ Alpena (solo) 2) Launched @ Gross Isle (solo)
Minnesota	12	08/03/10 08/07/10	1) St. Louis River @ Floodwood (solo) 2) Ely – Boundary Waters Canoe Area (solo) (write up BWCA)
Mississippi	45	10/12/12 10/24/12	1) Sardis Lake @ Engineer Point Public Use Area 2) Pearlton
Missouri	44	10/09/12	Coombs Ferry Public Use Area, Blue Eye, MO (solo)
Montana	7	10/19/09	Flathead Lake (solo), Lakeside, MT
Nebraska	38	10/10/11	Lake McConaughy, Ogallala (solo)
Nevada	3	08/25/09 12/03/09	1) Cave Rock, NV (solo) 2) Callville Bay Marina @ Lake Mead (solo) fb
New Hampshire	16	10/19/10	Harriman Reservoir in S.W. corner of state. Rt. 9, Molly Stark Trail.
New Jersey	22	10/27/10	Sandy Hook nr Fort Hancock @ Gateway National Recreation Area (solo)
New Mexico	40	10/15/11	Lake Caballo nr Truth or Consequences  on Rio Grande River (solo)
New York	15	09/25/10	Grand Island @ Beaver Point / Matt Beals
North Carolina	26	11/10/10	Jordan Lake / Judith Sookne
North Dakota	11	07/28/10	Langlier’s Bay on Lake Oahe (solo)
Ohio	33	07/28-29/11	1) Mad River / Cheryl and David Simmons (6.5 miles) (fb) 2) Buck Creek State Park lake (solo)
Oklahoma	42	10/06/12	Robert S. Kerr Reservoir @ Sallisaw Creek Park (Cherokee Nation) (solo)
Oregon	4	08/31/09	Siltcoos Lake, OR (solo)
Pennsylvania	32	07/24/11	Loyalhanna Lake. Camped @ Bush Recreation Area (solo)
Rhode Island	21	10/25/10	Put in @ Westerly, RI and paddled back and forth from CT-RI down to Little Narragansett Bay. (solo)
South Carolina	27 or 28?	11/13/10	Folly Beach (solo)
South Dakota	10	07/28/10	Missouri River on Lake Oahe @ Mobridge (solo)
Tennessee	30	07/18/11	French Broad River to Nolichucky River nr Newport / Leadvale @ Rankin Bottoms. (solo)
Texas	48	10/30/12	Mountain Lake nr Grand Prairie (fb)
Utah	8	11/02/09	Quail Creek Reservoir nr St. George (solo)
Vermont	18	10/19/10	Harriman Reservoir, nr Medburyville (solo)
Virginia	25	11/05/10	Kayaked here. First Landing State Park @ Broad Bay N.W of Virginia Beach .(solo)
Washington	5	09/9-15/09 09/9-15/09 09/12/09 07/01/10	1) Elliott Bay @ Alki Point  (solo) 2) Wenatchee – Turtle Island @ Lincoln Rock State Park (solo) 4) Port Angeles / Gary Lepak 5) Port Townsend /Gary Lepak (fb) 5) Port Angeles / Gary Lepak
West Virginia	31	07/23/11	Sutton Lake (solo)
Wisconsin	13	08/14/10	Apostle Islands National Lake Shore, north of Bayfield, WI (solo)
Wyoming	9	07/23 or 25?/10	Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area @ Horseshoe Bend Lake(solo)

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State List

I thought an index of states might help followers who want to see where I have been.  Some state photos are only on Facebook at this time but I will try to get blog pages made for those as soon as I can.  Thank you for following along.

State / Location / Date / Link

Alabama - 2012?

Alaska - Will be my 49th state. 2013-4?

Arizona #2 - Watson Lake June 2009. Photos not on Blog yet, only on Facebook.

Arkansas - 2012?

California #1 1) Monterey Bay bef July 2009 2) Morro Bay-Photos only on Facebook for now. 3) Montano de Oro State Park. Photos only on Facebook for now. 4) Lake Tahoe 8/3/09. Photos only on Facebook for now. 5) Gold Lake 8/2009. Photos only on Facebook for now.

Colorado / #39 Jackson Lake near Orchard, CO  -  Oct 11, 2011 -

Connecticut / #20 Put in at Westerly, RI and paddled back and forth from RI to CT to mouth of Little Narragansett Bay.  Oct 25, 2010.

Delaware /23 Cape Henlopen – Nov 2, 2010 Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Beach Access Rd. Nov 2, 2010.

District of Columbia ?

Florida / #29 1) Santa Fe River in Columbia State Park – High Springs, FL – Thanksgiving 2010  2) Ichetucknee Spring State Park  - New Year’s Eve 2010. 3) Cedar Key, West Coast of FL – Dec 19, 2010 -

Georgia / #28 Tybee Island, Nov. 16, 2010

Hawaii Will be 50th state!

Idaho / #6 Priest Lakes – Oct 18, 2009

Illinois / #36 Lake Shelbyville – Sept 23, 2011.

Indiana / #35 Lake Monroe – Aug 19, 2011

Iowa / #37 Sept 29, 2011 – where was this???

Kansas 2012?

Kentucky / #34 Fredericks Landing, Wilder, KY – Aug 18, 2011

Louisiana 2012?

Maine / #19 or 17? Acadia National Park – Long Lake near Mountain Desert Island - http://swankiewheels.blogspot.com/2010/10/17th-state-paddlemaine-oct-12-2010.html

Maryland / #24 Sinepuxent Bay near Mystic Harbor @ Ocean City Municipal Airport – Nov 2 2010.

Massachusetts / #19 Kay’s Secret Lake – Oct 21, 2010

Michigan / #14 Thunder Bay Marine Sanctuary, Alpena – Aug 31, 2010 - Gross Isle – Detroit River -

Minnesota / #12 Boundary Waters Canoe Area near Ely – Aug 7 2010 - Floodwood, MN  - St. Louis River – Aug 3, 2010

Mississippi 2012?

Missouri 2012?

Montana / #7 Flathead Lake – Oct 19, 2009

Nebraska / #38 Lake McConaughy, Ogallala, NE - Oct 10, 2011

Nevada / #3 Cave Rock (east side of Lake Tahoe) July 2009  Callville Bay Marina, Lake Mead – Dec 3, 2009 - http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=1573053507#!/media/set/?set=a.1166302649071.2021521.1573053507&type=3

New Hampshire / #16 Oct 5, 2010 – where is this???

New Jersey / #22 Sandy Hook  - Gateway National Recreation Area.   Oct. 27, 2010.

New Mexico / #40 or 39? Lake Caballo near Truth or Consequences – Oct. 15, 2011.  On the Rio Grande River.

New York / #15 Grand Island – Beaver Point – Sep 25, 2010 -

North Carolina / #26 An unnamed lake – Nov 10 2010

North Dakota / #10 Langlier’s Bay on Lake Oahe,  July 28, 2010.

Ohio / #33 Mad River – July 28-29, 2011 - http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=1573053507#!/media/set/?set=a.1880713828904.2087534.1573053507&type=3 Buck Creek State Park Lake – July 2011

Oklahoma 2012?

Oregon / #4 Siltcoos Lake – Aug 31, 2009

Pennsylvania / #32 Loyalhanna Lake, Bush Recreation Area – July 24, 2011.

Rhode Island / #21 Put in at Westerly, RI and paddled back and forth from RI to CT to mouth of Little Narragansett Bay.  Oct 25, 2010.

South Carolina / #27 Folly Beach – Nov.  13, 2010.

South Dakota / #11 Mobridge, SD on Missouri River on Lake Oahe – July 28 2010.

Tennessee / #30 Newport / Leadvale – July 18, 2011

Texas 2012?

Utah / #8 Quail Creek Reservoir near St. George – Nov. 2, 2009

Vermont / #18 Oct 19, 2010 – name of small lake???

Virginia / #25 First Landing State Park near Virginia Beach -  Nov 5, 1010

Washington / #5 1) Port Angeles – Sept 9-15, 2009  2) Port Townsend Sept 12, 2009  - http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=1573053507#!/media/set/?set=a.1121698694000.2016126.1573053507&type=3 3) Port Angeles – July 1, 2010

Washington / #5 Elliott Bay @ Alki Point

Washington / #5 Wenatchee – Turtle Island

West Virginia / #33 or 31st? Sutton Lake – July 23, 2011

Wisconsin / #13 Apostle Islands National Lake Shore – Aug 14, 2010

Wyoming / #9 Big Horn Canyon Recreation Area – Horseshoe Bend Lake – July 25, 2010.

   
   If you have suggestions for places to kayak in the states I have not yet visited, please email them to me at charlene.swankie@gmail.com.



    

12th State Paddle – Minnesota

Two paddles: 1) St.Louis River @ Floodwood, MN and 2) Ely – Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

I parked at an Indian Casino last night... and slept in this morning, then went inside, lost $3 on machines, got free cokes, had a wonderful tour of a Leek Lake Indian museum and film.  I could hardly pull myself away.  Luckily the gift shop was closed for lunch by the time I got there... so am doing a quick check of critical email and then on to Floodwood to meet vandwellers.  The sun is out, the air is fresh, and no bugs.  Does it get any better than this?  

I’m at Mike’s (visionquestrv) Mom’s house in MN now, with Mike, Heidi, and Suanne.  Wonderful screened in porch… we are really enjoying.  Here is the message Mike posted to Vandwellers today:

So, we are having a little Vantramps get together here in the North Woods!

Charlene and Suanne are here with Heidi and I and my Mom and "Jerry" (her husband). We are having a great time of course! Wish you could all be here too! (no idea where you would park, but, we could figure it out)

Just thought I would mention it! BTW, the raccoons that were out playing by the house last night left Charlene alone...No matter how much I tried to prompt them :)

-Mike
97 Roadtrek 170P "Taj Ma Trek"
HTTP://WWW.VanTramps.Com

We are having so much fun… all kinds of stories, looking at rocks, mending things, cleaning out the trailer, etc.  Mike’s mom is as sweet as Mike is.  The little house on the river is divine.  They have bird feeders all over the place, that Jerry made, and birds, squirrels, chipmunks, flying squirrels, and skeeters.

Shifting stuff in trailer.  Boy what a mess.  First I have too many rocks and plan to create a rock garden here to leave behind.  Why can’t I stop collecting rocks?  I have a platform built in the center of the trailer, which I slide the kayak in on.  It’s about shoulder height from the ground, so I don’t have to lift it (doctors orders).  But the stuff sitting to the side of it… keeps sliding over toward the kayak and it became very hard to pull the kayak out or slide it back in.  So I have unloaded a bunch of stuff and plan to fix it by putting some 2x4 scraps of wood.

One morning soon, I’m going to take the kayak down to the river and take a quick paddle.  This will not be THE Minnesota paddle… that will take place in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW).  But I can keep in shape with a daily morning paddle here.  I have a cousin in Ely who works in a mine up there.  Maybe some other cousins there too.  Their mother died in March this year.  I don't think I ever met her or my Uncle... but they should know the boundary waters area. 

8/2/10 - My printer died on the way here.... and Epson is suppose to be sending a replacement here.... but it's not here yet, so I need to wait for it.  I have to call them today and see what's up.  It should have been here.

My eyes are better, and whatever I had is gone, but unloading part of the trailer yesterday did something to my back and I'm now nursing that.  Didn't hurt until I laid down last night.  Ughhh.

Oh, last night I got to watch nocturnal flying squirrels coming to the feeders.  That was really neat.  Rained most of the night... so I'll be taking it easy today.

Suanne and I are going to make supper tonight. Stew.  Wish I could do it with solar... but no sun here.

8/3/10 - Today, I paddled Minnesota.  This morning I paddled 4 miles down the St. Louis River in Floodwood, MN.

Started off from Mike's mom's house... and got seen off with Suanne taking photos of my launch and then passing Mike's Mom and her little pooch, Molly, where were sitting on the steps down to the water in front of their house.

Mike's mother drove down to the local park and I left my van and trailer there.  My kayak was left at there house.  Then she drove me back to the house, and I put in there and then paddled down river to where my van was parked. 

A camper there helped me haul the kayak out up this steep hill, dragging my butt behind the kayak.  Wish I had had photos of that one.  I left my kayak at her place and we drove my rig down to the local park (about four miles away)... and I rode back to her house and put my kayak in there. It was a nice paddle. I saw a bald eagle.

When I arrived at the park a camper there helped me pull myself and the kayak out... a very steep and slippery slope... and get it loaded back in the van... then they fed me a hamburger. How sweet. Funny thing... their names were Judy and Jerry. Mike's mom is Judy and her husband Jerry! How strange is that.

Nice paddle. I think I saw a bald eagle, some small ducks, a larger duck. And crows.  Lots of little “fav fishing spots” along the river.

Suanne, thank you so much for the photos.  I so seldom get photos of me with the kayak, these are very special.  I really appreciate it. 

Suanne left today... going toward Maine.

Tonight we should be able to see an aura-borealis (spelling?).  What fun is that?  I did four miles down the St. Louis River, in Floodwood, MN. 

Mike and Heidi leave tomorrow going to visit his sister.

8/4/10 - I drove north from Mike's mom's to Fortune Bay Casino...   http://www.fortunebay.com/index.php  and will park here tonight and then explore tomorrow.  Boundary Waters is a wilderness canoe area.

Due to influence of writers like Sig Olson... I have always wanted to canoe the area. http://www.bwca.cc/ I have cousins up here I've never met.  If I can get to a point where I can stand any more people... I may try to find them and visit.  Maybe one of them can go out on the water with me. People ask how I decide where I will paddle. I drive someplace I want to paddle, and then do between 4-7 miles so far.  That's all I can do right now.   

I began checking email and a sister wrote that her daughter was dating a man who had two best friends from Ely, MN... where we had an uncle and cousins. She thought they must be related. I checked my genealogy software this morning and find the boys are second cousins to her daughter. I managed to find them both on Facebook this morning, and have been chatting with one. He is trying to put me in touch with his dad (my first cousin-I've never met)... and I'll have another mini reunion.

Anyway... it was delightful to spend time with Mike and Heidi and see the renewed Taj (floor and shower), and visit with Suanne (we cooked dinner together for everyone one night) and to have the photos Suanne took of me and kayak. Mike's folks are great. The house is like a little dream cottage... with yard filled with bird/squirrel feeders. The place is visited by all manner of wildlife... and I had planned to take a bunch of close-ups of them all but had to leave too suddenly.

But it was a wonderful little gathering. Thank you Judy and Jerry, and Mike and Heidi and Taj, and Suanne and little white car(?). Wish we had had a few more days to visit and take photos!

(Photos... taking photos of Mike and Heidi... like trying to capture a photo of a ghost or vampires... they are so elusive... so I only got a couple of blurs and have been banned from even posting them. Shame on you guys... that's no fun! But I'll get you... one day.)

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2040142&id=1573053507&l=d155b322ed

I will write up the Boundary Water Canoe Area paddle separately though that was also MN and still only my 12th state paddled.

Charlene

10th and 11th State Paddles – South and North Dakota. Both on the same day (July 28, 2010). Yahoo!

7/28/10 - I just paddled across the Missouri River on Lake Oahe, at Mobridge, SD, near the Drive-IN theater where I put in early this morning.  This is just after I launched into the river.  I’m debating if I can paddle all the way over there.

What a challenge.  Here’s the message I posted to the Vandweller’s Yahoo Group:

--------------------------------------------------------------

I'm so thrilled I could scream, but no one is here to hear me!!!!

SCREAMING NOW. I JUST KAYAKED ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER AT MOBRIDGE, SD.

God, this feels good. And I'm tired but happy. It was almost 4 miles.

Geez.... does it really get any better???

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I’m getting closer.

I started across the lake… and my shoulder was hurting a lot.  About halfway across my shoulder stopped hurting.

    

 

I made it over there, can I get back to the van?  I’ve got to go back over to where that square thing is (a drive-in movie screen).  Getting closer and very tired.

Back to van and loaded by 11am and it was hard to load the kayak… the stuff in Trailer has shifted.  I spent the day by the river and watched a lovely sunset.

Below is a message I sent to Vandweller friend, Mike:

________________________________________________

I just freaking paddled across the Missouri River.  Found prehistoric fossils on the shoreline over there.   I am stoked.

I managed to transfer some funds to my checking account.  So, now if my kinfolk down here have written and want see me, I'll head toward Aberdeen.  If I haven't heard from them yet, I'll head up along the river to ND and find another paddle spot... Will play it by ear... the maps aren't telling me anything. 

I freaking just paddled across the dammed river/lake.

And back again.

Got to be an easier way to load this dammed kayak.  Stuff has shifted way to much in the trailer.  If I can see my family, I'll try to dump some junk on them.  Maybe even some rocks (who said that?)

I paddled across the freaking river!!!!!!

C:)

_______________________________________________

 

7/28/10 – After that paddle I drove north on 1804 and crossed the SD/ND border and stopped at the first place on the Lake.  The guy there, directed me to the boat launch one mile farther north… Langlier’s Bay on Lake Oahe… the same lake/river I just paddled this morning.  I needed a softer paddle and this spot was perfect.

OH, this is so awesome.  I just spend the afternoon paddling ND.   Smooth water, sweet quiet, fossils, petrified wood, agates, etc. in the shallow waters.  Two states in one day!  It did get better.

The water was so clear and calm that I just pulled myself along with one had while I watched for chert, and other goodies.  What a great way to end a wonderful day of paddling.  Can you believe that water?

I had not heard from any relatives regarding a visit to Aberdeen, so I'm on my way north on 1804 to I-94 and MN.  See you all next time around.  I really like the spot I found in North Dakota as I found petrified wood, fossils, agates, etc. so I'll be back to Langlier’s Bay.  I love that spot.  No bugs.  Beautiful water.  Fossils, petrified wood.  Few people.  Great great great, but not if you want to go to town daily.  Fantastic boondocking.  I've made a connection here.   Lewis and Clark camped here way back when.... and there was an Indian encampment across the bay on the north.   I want to go over there next time and look for artifacts.  I really love this place.  Wait til you see my stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30715601&id=1573053507

The drive from there to Bismarck, ND is one of the most beautiful drives I have ever taken.  My EVER is really big.  I hardly have words to describe the beauty I saw – pheasants, hawks with small birds chasing them, a redtail hawk, dragon flies, etc.   I think it might have been “You would have had to have been there” kinda thing… so judge for yourself.

View Full Album

When I got to Bismarck, ND tried to do the "bragging' rights" thingy... when I discovered my inverter had bit the dust.  Boy oh boy.  First I checked all connections... nothing.  Then I checked all the outlets from the inverter, nothing.   Oh, shoot.  Just when I'm trying to tighten my belt... this.  Then, then... I realized my laptop was really low on power... not even enough time to ask questions of the tribe.  So I emailed Mike really quick and shut it down.  Now, breakfast for $1.68 (large coke and mcmuffin thingy).... at Subway in Wal-Mart, plugged into their power and charging.

What to do??? Find a Frye's??   Buy a what????   I think I need a bigger inverter.  Mine is 1200 or 1500????   I don't know, it's a number... and it's in the van????

Don't I have a 12v plug-in thingy for the laptop???  Where is it?  Exhausted from the two-state paddle today (boy was it good)... I tore the van up looking for it... nothing like that to be found... and now stuff is all over the place.  Shoot... go to sleep.  And I spotted the most amazing moonscape I’ve every seen… a totally black sky with the moon large and low in the sky and bright ORANGE.  To the left of the moon was a storm front coming in from the West… and the edges of the clouds were lit up by the moon.  A small sliver of the moon was shaded but hardly noticeably so.  Awesome.

So... figure the thing out and get back on the road, but first a shower and do my laundry.   Got back to the van and checked the inverter again... and it is working????  These mysteries drive me nuts (or is that a short putt?)

SD and ND are done so it’s on to MN.