Thoughts on a First Voyage

I had asked Fred, a couple of weeks ago, if it would be tempting fate to think about future trips on the water, as the boat is still a long way from being seaworthy. His response:

Certainly it is not too early to plan a voyage. Doesn't every boat begin with a particular piece of water in mind?

To that end, I have planned my first trip in the boat.

But, before a true voyage can be contemplated, one must run sea trials. I will do my trials at a rainwater overflow pond a couple of blocks from my house.
I will portage the vessel from my house (marked "A") to the pond (marked "B"), where it will be put through its paces

Should the boat prove seaworthy, the Great Voyage will begin.

The Mighty DuPage River flows not far from my house. The closest point of access is on the campus of North Central College, near the football stadium. I will transport the boat, overland, to this access point.
House at Figure A, Launch at Figure B

The crew will consist of myself (commander), Charles (First Mate), Henry (Ship's Boy). Our dunnage will consist of three sleeping bags, a tent, fishing tackle, and stores and provisions for a two-day voyage of discovery. (Including, but not limited to: water, beef jerky.)

We will proceed upstream, through Central Naperville (along the riverwalk)
and so upstream along the DuPage River.

(I must go survey this stretch of water: upstream of the Riverwalk proper (near the old quarry), is a set of rapids that might be difficult to traverse upstream. I don't think the draft of the boat will be deep enough to ground, but it might make for tough going. We may have to disembark at a small islet and pull the boat for a stretch, using lines and the towpath.)

Once beyond the rapids, we will have an easy time of it upstream to Burlington Park County Forest Preserve.


We will continue upstream at whatever pace suits, running from Burlington Park to the McDowell Grove Forest Preserve. It is probable we will spend some of the voyage fishing along this stretch, as it is known as good bass water.


Within McDowell Grove, the river widens at a nice, lazy bend with a large island. At this point we will disembark for lunch and a respite on the island. Perhaps a dip in the river to cool off, if it is warm.

But we won't stop long: We must continue the voyage of discovery. Immediately after leaving the McDowell Forest Preserve will will cross under Interstate 88 (The Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway) and under Ferry Road.


North of Ferry Road, we'll pass through Warrenville and into the final stretch of river. Around the last bend, we'll come adjacent to the Blackwell County Forest Preserve, our final destination.


This passage, too, will require some pre-scouting. There appears to be a small channel cut from the DuPage through to one of the two lakes on the Blackwell Preserve. (Marked with red arrows, below.)



Whether this channel is navigable is unknown. Somewhere along here (hopefully up, near the lake), the boat will be moored for the evening, and we will set up camp in the campground in the Blackwell Preserve. (The camping ground is just off of the main road, where the secondary roads make a couple of loops back upon themselves on the map.)

Depending on how much time is left in the day, we will set up camp, and then we may take the boat out on the lake to fish, or to swim.

The second day will be the opposite of this, with the great benefit of being entirely downstream. It is my hope to push off from the channel outside of the Blackwell Preserve (the one marked with red arrows, above), and from there drift back downstream, all the way to the North Central athletic fields.

Here is a map of the entire journey:
Blue: Overland portage, Red: On the Water

This seems like a very good trip to me. I know there are several small islands along the way, and we will certainly take along materials to chart the water and to mark the territories we claim on the voyage. Henry, a born naturalist, will undoubtedly keep a catalogue of all of the flora and fauna we pass, and Charlie will have to keep the ship's log, which will necessarily include a precice record of events (departure, discoveries, any battles, and arrival at ports-of-call), as well as the ships books and accounts of stores (the provisioning list, prepared in advance, and then a record of when and how the stores were consumed.)

Hopefully, along the way, they will become proficient at handling the boat. It is my hope that by the end of the summer (or certainly next summer), they will be able to make small voyages -- perhaps just up to the MacDowell Forest Preserve for lunch -- alone. What better way for boys to spend their summer, than in a boat of their own?

Depending on the final displacement and weight capacity of the boat (I'm really going to need a name for her once she is joined), I may invite Charlie's particular friend Christopher along on the trip, so that they have a crew of three for their adventures. We'll see.