Muskrat's Wildcat Creek Expeditions
Newsletter.......Chapter 1523.......June 30th 2024
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The 39th Annual Indiana Paddlers Rendezvous
July 26-27-28, 2024
Hey Wildcat Paddlers,
The Indiana Paddlers Rendezvous is less than a Month away. This Newsletter should provide all the info you need to make plans and mark Your Calendar. Make Plans to Attend the IPR, and Enjoy a full weekend of Paddling on .......SURPRISE.......the WHITE RIVER WEST FORK.
Full Event Details, Times, and Locations are included below.
The IPR has proven to be one of the overall best Paddling Events in Indiana. If you've never attended, rest assured it is Worth Your time. Come prepared to enjoy one of the most Fun Paddling Weekends in Indiana, to relax with Old Paddling Buddies, and to make New Paddling Friends.
This event is open to members of Canoe & Kayak Clubs,
Internet Paddling Groups, and River Protection Organizations
who have their own personal equipment and enough skills
for an enjoyable day on a Swift Flowing Natural Stream.
Please take this opportunity to pass this Trip Announcement
on to any of the above mentioned organizations with which you have connections.
But please avoid wide open public, media, or Facebook announcements.
Paddlers Enjoying the IPR in 2006
Due to the Horrible Loss of Wildcat Park on Our Wildcat Creek, the Wildcat Guardians was forced to find different locations for the IPR. But, because Indiana is Filled with many Lovely Free Flowing Natural Streams, it did not take long to find another Great Place to move this Annual Event. We are moving to the West Fork of White River for 2024. Our Base of Operations for 2024 will be the "White River Campground", located near Cicero & Noblesville (Directions Below and Attached).
Muskrat has once again volunteered to be the IPR Trip Leader. Numerous requests for Volunteers will be posted to the Wildcat Guardians and others within the next few weeks, including a request for "Volunteer Shuttle Drivers", "Registration Team", "Lead Boat", "Sweep Boat", and many others. I'm hoping to hear from Many of You who have assisted with these tasks in the past. If you should have questions about Volunteer positions, please contact Me below:
MUSKRAT'S CONTACT INFO:
Email: garryhill@aol.com
Phone: 765-432-6782
MUSKRAT's Notes on the IPR:
Here is a Basic Timetable for the IPR,
just in case you receive no further information.
The dates for 2024 are Friday, Saturday& Sunday, July 26-27-28.
Directions to all locations are provided below.
Whenever and Where ever You Arrive at the IPR,
Please Proceed Directly
to the Registration Table.
FRIDAY July 26th:
The first activity of the IPR weekend will be a Paddling Trip on the West Fork of White River Friday afternoon. Meeting Time is 3:00-PM at the Strawtown Public Access Site, located in Lafayette Trace Park (Directions Below & Attached). This Trip will run 5.9-miles, ending at the Landing in White River Campground. The Shuttle will begin as soon as Everyone has arrived and unloaded their Paddling Gear.
Friday Evening:
There will be a BYO Campfire Cookout at the IPR Group Camp following this Paddling Trip. The Campfire, Entertainment, and Old River Tales will surround the Campfire thru the Evening.
CAMPING.......
The White River Campround (Directions Below & Attached) is the center of the IPR Activities this Year. This Campground has numerous RV & Tent Sites for all sorts of Camping with Full Utilities. These Sites must be Reserved thru the Campground Staff ahead of time, and most all already taken. However, there are several other RV Campgrounds & Motels located only a few miles away from our IPR Location.
Thanks to Special Arrangements, we have Reserved their "Group Camp" from Friday to Sunday. This is a large Grassy area where ONLY IPR Attendees will be Camping. This is Primitive Tent Camping, with no Water or Electric hookups available. There are Nice Restrooms & Showers about 100-yards away.
If you want to stay in our "Group Camp", there is No Need to make a Reservation. Just sign up & Pay for your Camping at the IPR Registration Table when you arrive at the IPR. But Remember...It will be First-Come First-Served for selection of where to place Your Tent.
Our New Paddlers "Group Camp" will Look very much like
Wildcat Park in the Past (above)
SATURDAY July 27th:
Saturday’s Paddling Trip will Meet & Launch at Derby Downs Park in Anderson (Directions Below & Attached). This Trip will cover 12.7-miles of Easy Paddling, and end at the Perkinsville Public Access Site. There are No Short-timer Options on this part of White River. Meeting Time is 9:00-AM at Derby Downs Park. The Shuttle will begin as soon as Everyone has arrived and unloaded their Paddling Gear. Lunch at The Gravelbar is BYO.
Saturday’s Traditional Chili Supper will begin serving at
6-PM in the Shelter House at White River Campground
(Directions Below & Attached).
>>>>>>> T-Shirt & Chili Supper Reservations are the only advance notice You are asked to provide........
For the Chili Supper, simply provide your Name and your Number of Chili Eaters, so Muskrat can make sure to Cook Enough for Everyone. A special T-Shirt Announcement will be provided at a Later Date, which will show the T-Shirt Design, and ask for Reservations.
Please make all T-Shirt & Chili Reservations at garryhill@aol.com.
The Wildcat Guardians Annual Benefit Auction
(one of the most "Laugh-Filled" parts of the entire weekend) will be held Immediately after the Chili Supper in the Shelter House at the White River Campground.
If you have any items to Donate to the Auction, please present them at the Registration Table whenever you arrive. Or, You can contact Muskrat to make Pick-up connections at some other location.
SUNDAY July 28th
Sunday's Paddling Trip will Meet & Launch at the Perkinsville Public Access Site (Directions Below & Attached). The Meeting Time is 10:00-AM at the Perkinsville PAS. This Trip will run 7.8-miles, ending at the Landing in White River Campground. The Shuttle will begin as soon as Everyone has arrived and unloaded their Paddling Gear. Lunch at The Gravelbar is BYO.
Contact Garry Hill to order a T-shirt, order a chili supper for Saturday, or to volunteer.
For any questions email garryhill@aol.com,
or call Muskrat at 765-432-6782.
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DIRECTIONS.......
Muskrat's Wildcat Creek Expedition Team utilizes the "Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer" for accurate directions to River Access Locations all over Indiana. This Indiana Map Book is the Absolute Best for River People.
An Address for Navigation Systems is also provided,
If & When Available.
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Directions to White River Campground
Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer Page 39:
Find the Village of Strawtown, on SR-37, 6-miles Northeast of Noblesville.
There is a Round-About on SR-37 at the Bridge over White River ……..North Edge of Strawtown…….South side of the River.
From that Round-About, head WEST on Strawtown Avenue.
After leaving Strawtown, watch for a Bridge up ahead.
The Entrance to White River Campground is on the áLEFT…….
…….about 300-yards after crossing that Bridge…….
…….at the End of a LEFT Curve…….
…….Dark Brown Sign: á Campground
…….White Sign……. White River Campground
For Navigation Systems:
11299 E. 234th Street, Cicero, IN 46034
…….Goggle Maps recognizes “White River Campground”
IPR Signs Directing You To White River Campground
Directions to Derby Downs Park
Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer Page 40:
Find I-69 as it passes by the East & South sides of Anderson; Far-Left of Page 40.
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If arriving from the North…….
…….leave I-69 at Exit-234, and head West on SR-32…….toward Anderson.
Now, watch for a Tall Bridge over the White River.
At the 2nd Traffic Light after that Bridge, turn áLEFT onto SR-9 South…….
…….aka Scatterfield Road.
At the next Traffic Light, turn RIGHTâ onto 8th Street…….Go to NEXT…
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If arriving from the South…….
…….leave I-69 at Exit-226, and head North on SR-9…….toward Anderson.
Now, watch for a Tall Bridge over the White River.
At the 2nd Traffic Light after the Bridge, turn áLEFT onto 8th Street……
Go to NEXT…
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NEXT…….Follow 8th Street all the way thru Downtown.
When You come to a Railroad with a Traffic Light, continue ãSTRAIGHT AHEAD.
At the next Traffic Light, turn RIGHTâ on Madison Avenue.
Continue ãSTRAIGHT AHEAD thru 2 Traffic Lights.
The Entrance to Derby Downs Park is on the RIGHTâ , just before You reach another Bridge over the River…….small Water Fountain Shelter on the corner.
There is unlimited Parking on the Pavement & a Grass field,
with an Easy Grass and Paved Trail to a Gravelbar Landing under the Bridge.
For Navigation Systems: 85 N Madison Avenue, Anderson, IN 46012
…….and, Goggle Maps recognizes “Derby Downs Park”
Directions to Perkinsville Public Access SiteK
Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer Page 39:
Find the Village of Perkinsville on SR-13, Northeast of Noblesville,
.......South of Elwood, and North of Lapel.
Now, find where SR-13 crosses the White River at Perkinsville.
On the North side of that Bridge, turn EAST on CR 280-N.
The Entrance to Perkinsville PAS is on the RIGHTâ in 3/10th-mile.
The Entrance is Small, and Very Hard to see ahead of time.
…….Brown Sign: Launch Ramp (picture) â
…….and a Black Mailbox with number “9658”.
There is a Bright White House directly across the road from the Entrance.
There is Gravel Parking for 10-15 vehicles, and a Paved Launch Ramp.
For Navigation Systems: 9509-W 280-N, Anderson, IN 46011
….Goggle Maps recognizes “Perkinsville DNR Boat Ramp”.
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Directions to Strawtown Public Access SiteJ
Indiana Atlas & Gazetteer Page 39:
Find SR-37, heading Northeast from Noblesville, near the Middle of Page 39.
Now find the Village of Strawtown, where SR-37 crosses the White River…….
…….straight East of Cicero.
SR-37 has a Round-About at Strawtown, next to the Bridge over the White River.
From that Round-About, head EAST (Upstream) on Strawtown Avenue.
In 3.6-miles, you will approach an Intersection with Cyntheanne Road…….
…….in the middle of a Right Curve.
The Entrance to Lafayette Trace Park is on the áLEFT at that Intersection…….
…….White Sign: Lafayette Trace Park
If arriving from SR-13, Strawtown Avenue is 2/10-mile South of the White River Bridge.
…….From SR-13, head WEST on Strawtown Avenue,
…….and the Entrance to Lafayette Trace Park is on the RIGHTâ in 1-mile.
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The narrow Entrance Lane heads toward the River, and ends at the Strawtown Public Access Site. There is almost unlimited Gravel Parking space, a Paved Ramp down to the water, and a Shelter House with a Picnic Area.
For Navigation Systems: Lafayette Trace Park
or………..15796 Strawtown Avenue, Noblesville, IN 46060
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There will also be Marks on the Pavement
that will direct you to Every Location for the IPR.
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See You At The IPR,
Muskrat
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GarryHill@aol.com
765-432-6782
Snail-Mail to 1021 Eastcrest Drive, Greentown, IN 46936-1612
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Visit Wildcat Creek On-line at the following sites:
http://www.wildcatguardians.org/
