Trumbull Canoe Trails - View Single Post - Buckaloons Camping weekend Sept. 9-11

Mary Kane · 09-13-2016, 05:14 PM

Buckaloon?s camp weekend on the Allegheny River
September 9 - 11

We had seven eager campers who headed up Thursday to set up their camp-sites: Rich and Patty (Pinky) Allen, Sue Ramdin, Ron Eells, Judy, Bruce and Diane Ambrose. They endured a bit of rain . . . okay . . . A DOWNPOUR when they set up their tents, but it did not last long. (It also helped to show the rest of us arriving later where all the low spots were, so we knew where NOT to put our tents!) Erick Fromholzer and myself arrived Friday morning and set up our tents (on high ground). Around Noon, the nine of us headed North to the Hospital in Warren for a 6-7 mile float back down to Buckaloons. We unloaded all the boats (2 canoes & 5 kayaks) on the heli-pad/boat launch and four of us waited while the 5 took the cars to the campground and got shuttled back. Just after they left, someone from the Hospital came and said we had 10 minutes to get off the launch because a helicopter was coming in. Pinky took the lead and told us to tie off a kayak to our own and paddle downstream a bit, as she tied the two canoes together. She then did a ?header? into the water as her canoe tipped, but it was just the beginning as she fell again trying to get back to shore. The ?Grand Finale? was the full fledged ?hissy-fit? that ensued with wet gear flying toward shore (and ME, coincidentally??) Erick brought the drivers back just after the helicopter landed and before long we were on our way. (Erick also learned that when the Hospital?s signs say ?2 hour parking? they mean it!) We saw lots of ducks and a bald eagle and had a beautiful, sunny paddle.
Once back at camp everyone had a nice group dinner of grilled chicken Friday night with shared ?sides?. Valerie Bobnar (Monroeville, PA), Mary and Walter Horodyski (Kinsman, OH) arrived and set up their camps and we enjoyed some time around the fire.
Saturday morning, Dave Duska from Erie came, set up camp and we had a bountiful group breakfast. We 13 then headed up to the Kinsua Dam for a paddle to the ball fields in Warren. We were up to 3 canoes and 7 kayaks on another beautiful, sunny day. Ron was well ahead of most of us when we neared a park where there was some ?comotion? going on. There was a ?river lean-up crew? working and a couple of young 15 yr. old teens (not with them) wandered too far out in the river and were swept away. Ron rescued the young girl with his kayak and kept her calm as he paddled her back to shore. The young kid with her was rescued by another kayaker and he had taken in a lot of water and had been struggling longer. When he was helped on shore, Sue Ramdin, RN arrived to help with vital signs and any other nursing necessary. The police arrived with an ambulance and he was taken to the hospital. (They explained that due to his age it was protocol.) A disaster was narrowly averted and the girl was lucky to have met Ron when she did!
Saturday?s group dinner of burgers, dogs, beans and fruit was followed by time gathered around the fire before more rain came. Pinky & Rich just stayed under their canopy, Val headed for her car, I waited it out in my tent. Again, it was not a long time before the rain quit and a few of us rallied after and had a few more beverages under the canopy. The rain had squelched the fire, but not our spirit!
Sunday morning we gathered for breakfast as Greg Kuhn and his girlfriend Leslie arrived from Lillydale, NY, to visit. Greg is a long time member and it was really nice to see him! Bruce, Diane & Dave had to head home, Rich & Pinky weren?t paddling so we determined we?d just launch from Buckaloon?s and head upriver & turn around and come back. Ron lead as we got to the first set of ?riffles? about a mile from camp and we struggled mightily but could not get through. Ron battled upward and onward while we turned and paddled back toward camp. We figured we go past the campgrounds and pick a point to turn and fight the current again to return. We struggled mightily again but had to walk our boats along the shore a bit to get deeper and slower moving water. We managed to paddle back in time to visit with the crew before everyone headed home around 2 pm. Our total count was 15 people and this trip can accommodate many more, so consider this next year! We ?cluster? our campsites together and we are very close to the bathrooms and showers. It has been my favorite for a long time and I will again ?lead? this trip next year! Thanks - Mary Kane.

09-13-2016, 05:14 PM	#10
Mary Kane Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 47 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTW/F/M Award(s): 0	Buckaloons Re-Cap Buckaloon?s camp weekend on the Allegheny River September 9 - 11 We had seven eager campers who headed up Thursday to set up their camp-sites: Rich and Patty (Pinky) Allen, Sue Ramdin, Ron Eells, Judy, Bruce and Diane Ambrose. They endured a bit of rain . . . okay . . . A DOWNPOUR when they set up their tents, but it did not last long. (It also helped to show the rest of us arriving later where all the low spots were, so we knew where NOT to put our tents!) Erick Fromholzer and myself arrived Friday morning and set up our tents (on high ground). Around Noon, the nine of us headed North to the Hospital in Warren for a 6-7 mile float back down to Buckaloons. We unloaded all the boats (2 canoes & 5 kayaks) on the heli-pad/boat launch and four of us waited while the 5 took the cars to the campground and got shuttled back. Just after they left, someone from the Hospital came and said we had 10 minutes to get off the launch because a helicopter was coming in. Pinky took the lead and told us to tie off a kayak to our own and paddle downstream a bit, as she tied the two canoes together. She then did a ?header? into the water as her canoe tipped, but it was just the beginning as she fell again trying to get back to shore. The ?Grand Finale? was the full fledged ?hissy-fit? that ensued with wet gear flying toward shore (and ME, coincidentally??) Erick brought the drivers back just after the helicopter landed and before long we were on our way. (Erick also learned that when the Hospital?s signs say ?2 hour parking? they mean it!) We saw lots of ducks and a bald eagle and had a beautiful, sunny paddle. Once back at camp everyone had a nice group dinner of grilled chicken Friday night with shared ?sides?. Valerie Bobnar (Monroeville, PA), Mary and Walter Horodyski (Kinsman, OH) arrived and set up their camps and we enjoyed some time around the fire. Saturday morning, Dave Duska from Erie came, set up camp and we had a bountiful group breakfast. We 13 then headed up to the Kinsua Dam for a paddle to the ball fields in Warren. We were up to 3 canoes and 7 kayaks on another beautiful, sunny day. Ron was well ahead of most of us when we neared a park where there was some ?comotion? going on. There was a ?river lean-up crew? working and a couple of young 15 yr. old teens (not with them) wandered too far out in the river and were swept away. Ron rescued the young girl with his kayak and kept her calm as he paddled her back to shore. The young kid with her was rescued by another kayaker and he had taken in a lot of water and had been struggling longer. When he was helped on shore, Sue Ramdin, RN arrived to help with vital signs and any other nursing necessary. The police arrived with an ambulance and he was taken to the hospital. (They explained that due to his age it was protocol.) A disaster was narrowly averted and the girl was lucky to have met Ron when she did! Saturday?s group dinner of burgers, dogs, beans and fruit was followed by time gathered around the fire before more rain came. Pinky & Rich just stayed under their canopy, Val headed for her car, I waited it out in my tent. Again, it was not a long time before the rain quit and a few of us rallied after and had a few more beverages under the canopy. The rain had squelched the fire, but not our spirit! Sunday morning we gathered for breakfast as Greg Kuhn and his girlfriend Leslie arrived from Lillydale, NY, to visit. Greg is a long time member and it was really nice to see him! Bruce, Diane & Dave had to head home, Rich & Pinky weren?t paddling so we determined we?d just launch from Buckaloon?s and head upriver & turn around and come back. Ron lead as we got to the first set of ?riffles? about a mile from camp and we struggled mightily but could not get through. Ron battled upward and onward while we turned and paddled back toward camp. We figured we go past the campgrounds and pick a point to turn and fight the current again to return. We struggled mightily again but had to walk our boats along the shore a bit to get deeper and slower moving water. We managed to paddle back in time to visit with the crew before everyone headed home around 2 pm. Our total count was 15 people and this trip can accommodate many more, so consider this next year! We ?cluster? our campsites together and we are very close to the bathrooms and showers. It has been my favorite for a long time and I will again ?lead? this trip next year! Thanks - Mary Kane.