Kayaking the Icicle and Wenatchee Rivers

From the first time we saw the rivers that flow through our new home-town of Leavenworth, Washington, we knew we wanted to take a kayak trip while we were visiting here. There are several companies that rent equipment and provide shuttles, but we are always looking for a way to do it for free. We found that combination here.

We first dropped off a bike at our designated take-out spot in town. Then Mark dropped Denisa and the boat off at a put-in spot up-river by the fish hatchery. We inflated the boat and got everything we needed out of the car.

Then Mark drove back to the take-out spot, parked the car, and picked up the bike we had stowed earlier. Mark rode the bike several miles back to the beginning of our float. Who knew that this self-shuttling a kayak ride was so complicated?!? Mark took this selfie picture as he rode on the road towards the river.

He was snapping other pictures, for proof that this is a beautiful area by bike or by boat.

We locked up the bike at our put-in spot, and we were on the water by 10:30. It was just a couple minutes down the river that we saw our first wildlife of the day--a mother deer and her spotted fawn in the shade beside the water.

It looks like spring instead of summer, as we also passed a mother duck and her ducklings. You can see them in the bottom left hand corner below.

For this portion of our voyage, we are on the Icicle River that flows straight out of those mountains. True to its name, it is as cold as an icicle. 

When we put a foot in the water, in only twenty seconds it was numb and achy from the cold water. We shared the Icicle River with many people riding on tubes. They confirmed that the water was equally cold to their (ahem) posteriors that were in constant contact with that cold water. So we were glad to be riding high and dry in our trusty Sea Eagle kayak.

The water flowing out of the mountains was perfectly clear. We could see all the rocks below us.

After an hour and a half of effortless floating on the Icicle River, it flows into the wider Wenatchee River. Our floating speed picked up as we joined the faster pace of the larger river. Have we mentioned that we love the mountain views around town?

It took about two hours to float the four miles of river this morning, and the weather was absolutely perfect for it. Mark used his paddle to steer us in the right direction, but Denisa hardly got her paddle wet today.

We exited the water in town, and loaded the boat into the car. We took the short drive to pick up the bike, and we had completed our totally free float down the rivers surrounding our new little town. Considering that tourists usually pay over $30 per person for floating in that chilly tube, we think our free float was better. 

We really are enjoying our week here in Leavenworth. We braved the crowds again to spend a little time downtown on the weekend. We are still marveling at all the flower baskets that are brimming with blooms. We don't understand how they can keep these baskets looking full and beautiful all summer, but they are everywhere!

In keeping with the Bavarian theme, the local chamber of commerce sponsors authentic music at the downtown gazebo. How can tourists not be happy with accordion music and  guys wearing leather lederhosen yodeling in the background as they browse the shops downtown?

We have really enjoyed our week in Leavenworth. But it is time for us to hit the road to new adventures as we continue to wander His wonders.