I got to go canoeing on White River again this Labor Day. My son, his family and I put in at the Cornell Avenue Launch next to Indianapolis Art League−two kayaks and one canoe. Although I had the White River Guide app on my phone, the sun made it hard to keep track of where we were on the map. So away with the phone in a waterproof bag and off we paddled with only our very vague sense of where we were going.

I had canoed from Noblesville to 116th Street last year, and earlier this year, we paddled from 116th Street to 62nd Street. This time we put in a bit farther from Broad Ripple Park, so we wouldn't have to portage around the Broad Ripple Dam, near the Indianapolis Art Center at Cornell Avenue and headed out. The river was calm and fairly clear. We had fun trying to guess where we were passing. From the river, the banks in this area are heavily wooded with sycamores, hardwoods, and lined with stone. It was hard to see what was on the other side of the river's edge. But, having grown up here, we could guess where we were from having driven the area often. First we passed the Indianapolis Art Center and then under the College Avenue bridge. Although the app shows the Blickman Education Trail and Levee Trail, we could not identify them. Next was the Meridian Street Bridge. Along this stretch, we followed a Bald Eagle as it flew from branch to branch. Wow! Spotting the eagle was the most impressive sight of the day.

Now we were heading into west Indianapolis as Meridian is the zero dividing line! We were able to recognize Holliday Park because of the families wading in the river. It was a hot day so the cool water was a welcomed relief. Here the water was shallow unlike the previous legs of the river farther north. I became very aware of BIG rocks sticking up or very close to the surface. This journey was filled with shallow waters and rocks−thus, the broad ripples of the White River. No wonder early settlers were dismayed when they realized the White River was NOT navigable. And, no wonder they thought a canal would be the answer to commerce in the area.

I have now practiced a multitude of ways to get a beached canoe or kayak off a rock or free from the rocky bottom. From scooting left and right to moving back and forth, digging the paddle into the river bed and pushing off, to giving up and pushing or towing the canoe or kayak back to deeper water, we had nearly a dozen times where we had to get unstuck. Only my 56-pound grandson escaped running aground. The shallow ripples of this stretch was challenging−both physically and mentally when deciding on which way to get over a small rapid. As you might guess, the river won most of the time and caused us to have to figure out how to free ourselves.

We passed under the Kessler Boulevard Bridge and the app said we passed Friedman Park. I could identify the buildings of the Riviera Club on the left bank. Rocky Ripple was our next site with more houses flanking the banks. It was fun to see them. We passed Butler University but didn't get a look at the Central Canal at this point. I was able to figure out the Christian Theological Seminary's grounds were next just before we went under the Michigan Road Bridge. We could identify the Indianapolis Museum of Art next on our left and the 100 Acres Gardens. By this time, most of were whining, "How much more time? Aren't we there yet!" By the way, we had stopped at a rocky beach half way to have the lunch we had packed and wade in the water! When we paddled under the I-65 bridge, we could see the Hasler Naval Armory in the distance−our destination. We were now making calls to my husband, the designated pick up person. He advised us to keep going past the 30th Street Bridge for next boat launch. We opposed the notion. It seemed like the 30th Street Bridge kept moving farther away as we tried to close in on it! Finally, we pulled up at the steps just before the bridge, and everyone disembarked and stretched. The trip was done but we reward our efforts with Graeter's Ice Cream on the way home!

My advice to those who want to canoe or kayak the White River, stay north of 62nd street in Marion County. This trip was quite challenging because of the ripples and shallows, but it was fun! We learned exactly how Broad Ripple got its name. We spotted osprey, hawks, king fishers and lots of ducks and turtles. We learned how to get unstuck and we all enjoyed the water, the banks, a three hours' worth of conversation and all of nature.