Sunny skies lure kayakers to the Iowa River

WEST AMANA — Gary Carter, of North English, and Mike Leonard, of West Chester, launched their kayaks in the Iowa River Saturday morning as part of Amana’s annual Paddle the Iowa.

“Last year’s was the first time I heard of it,” Carter said.

Amana canceled Paddle the Iowa last year due to weather, but 2023 brought sunny skies and highs in the 90s.

Carter, like many participants, is new to kayaking. “I got tired of maneuvering my canoe,” he said. A kayak can float in less water.

Carter’s been canoeing about 10 years. “This will be my second year kayaking.” Carter has paddled his vessels on the Upper Iowa, the Iowa and Skunk Rivers and at Lake Darling, he said.

Carter and Leonard have also kayaked Lake Belva Deer north of Sigourney, said Leonard.

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Leonard’s no stranger to lakes and rivers. He remembers being out on the water as a child, fishing with his dad.

Kayaking, however, is a relatively new pursuit for Leonard. He’s only been kayaking for about three years, he said.

John Martin, of Amana, joined co-worker Craig Davis, of Cedar Rapids on the low waters of the Iowa River Saturday morning.

Martin’s wife, Ashley, heard about Paddle the Iowa, and the family intended to head downriver together, but Martin’s daughter was sick Saturday, so Ashley stayed home with her.

Son Braden, however, made the trip. He’s only been in a canoe a couple of times, and Saturday was his first time in a kayak, he said.

“I’ve gone out about 20 times,” said Davis. His brother introduced him to kayaking, and he’s paddled the Iowa and Wapsipinicon Rivers, enjoying nature and solitude.

Davis said he kayaks in northern Linn County and, though he’s close to town, he feels isolated in the boat. “You’re so close to the city, but you’re so far away.”

“I’ve only been kayaking once,” said John Martin, and that was in Arizona. “We were there to see Horseshoe Bend.”

Kayakers at Horseshoe Bend pass between 60-foot walls of rock rising on either side of the Colorado River, he said.

After that experience, Martin bought two kayaks. But he wasn’t using them Saturday. He and his son were using Davis’ kayaks. “I have six,” Davis confessed. “So I can invite people. I like to take people who haven’t done this before.”

Davis and the Martins launched from under the bridge on 220th Trail, with granola bars, grapes and baked beans tucked into the kayak hatches for a lunch break downriver.

Jameson Martensen, of Riverside, tossed a line into the Iowa River under the bridge. He and his dad, Zachary Martensen, were waiting for the rest of the family to return on the shuttle from the parking area.

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Zachary and his brother Adam, of Iowa City, planned to fish from their canoe on the way down the river, joined by Jameson. Their parents, Kathy and Van Martensen, of North Liberty, accompanied them in their kayaks.

The canoe is a 1968, 17-footer. “Dad bought it new,” said Zachary. “It’s been in the Colorado rapids.”

His parents took up kayaking recently.

“We did the Great Iowa River Race,” said Zachary. The 9.25-mile race on the Iowa River took place in June. “I think we got 16th out of 97. It kind of got us hooked.

“It’s awesome getting back to the water.”