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Ohio River

Grandview, Indiana (Mile 742) to Andersen Bar (Mile 736) 

July 19, 2013

Today I put in from the quaint little community of Grandview, Indiana.  Located just about 45 minutes from downtown Evansville with a population of just over 700, Grandview might be small but they sure do have a great picnic facility and boat ramp!  The first two pictures below were taken as I drove into town…

The next two photos were taken as I drove around the park (Harold Schroeder Park).  One of the plaques here indicates that this area was originally known as Sandy Creek Landing back in the 1700’s/early 1800’s.  Why that name?  Well, I'd soon find out that Sandy Creek meets the Ohio River directly alongside the boat ramp!  There's another stream too, directly across the Ohio called Blackford Creek where there was another settlement back in the poineer days called Blackford.  According to the web link, the name was derived from the fact that there was a river crossing here on the farm of a man named Black.  The father of one Abraham Lincoln was said to have been among the early settlers to cross the river at this point! 

Today I got on the water a little later than I would have liked so I wasn’t able to go as far, yet the Sandy Creek made things a little easier – its mouth was completely blocked off by a deadfall!  I now had to decide which direction I wanted to go…

Since the river had been running high this year I hadn’t had many choices as far as direction.  In fact, it was now the middle of summer and I’d only paddled once in Henderson, Kentucky where I’d found the current to be quite strong.  Today, however, the current had waned enough that I’d actually have a choice as far as direction.  That left one other factor to consider – the wind.  Often times on the Ohio the wind is blowing hard enough to offset any current.  Would such be the case today?  I decided to float around a little while and see...  How far and how fast would I move in either direction?

I waited… 

…and waited… 

…and once I’d seen that I was going downstream at a fairly good pace despite being against the wind my choice was clear - the current was clearly stronger than the wind.  I was heading upstream.  I’d rather do more work at the beginning of a trip when my energy is fresh rather than later when I’m more fatigued.  This is how I think about such things.

Another decision now:  which side of the river to paddle on?  Me, I decided to stay in Indiana to begin and then return on the Kentucky side.  I saw something going on up ahead, you see…  At first I thought it might be a load of barges but they didn’t appear to be moving.  I wouldn’t know what this was until I got up to the Little Sandy Creek about 1/2 mile up.  In the meantime I did notice that Grand View has a pretty long stretch of undeveloped beach…

Then, once I’d reached the Little Sandy, I found that I wouldn’t be able to get in very far – perhaps 50 yards.   I always enjoy these side streams though.  Aside from providing a chance to get a little more “up close and personal” with the environment, I love the sweet scenes they provide! 

…and as for what I’d been seeing up ahead?  Below it lies, seemingly inert with its own towboat in attendance.  I wondered what the Army Corps of Engineers was up to here…   

Further on, there was a pleasant beach oasis on this same Indiana side…

Around this point I began to see a little more action as a couple towboats crossed paths on the opposite side of the river.  Yet, having a different camera than normal, I found that my distance shots didn’t turn out too well.  I was, however, able to get a decent shot of what was coming up next - a boat ramp and community park.  This park looks like it ushers in the community of Lewisport, Kentucky.  As I first looked over Lewisport's website I learned a new term – rip rapping!  Apparently rip rapping is a process by which shorelines are protected from erosion by lining them with rocks, stones, concrete or whatever such material is available.  You’ll see this process being utilized all over the river system – especially around towns or roads that lie close to the water.  Below are some shots of Lewisport…

From here you’re going to pass through an area where you’ll catch some great glimpses of the surrounding farmland, both on the Kentucky side…

 …and in Indiana…

 There were also more great beach spots on the Indiana side than I’d seen in quite some time…

Just before you reach Anderson Bar you’ll find the mouth of the South Yellow Creek Fork on the Kentucky side.  You might be able to make it back as far as I did before hitting blockage - roughly 100 yards in. 

Anderson Bar is now looming up just ahead.  Note what a wide view you’ll get here as the river is just beginning what will become a sharper right curve– a curve amid which you’ll encounter the namesake of the bar - the Anderson River.  It was here that I decided to head back.  Anderson River would have to wait.

…on my return I continued to find attractive scenes along the shorelines.  Below are are a couple in Kentucky...

One last shot of Grandview as I made my departure...  With a great put in amid a great community, a bevy of great shoreline scenes and plenty of action (but not too much) I’d happily recommend this trip – in total or in parts.

DIRECTIONS:

I came from Evansville and simply took Indiana Route 66 East all the way to Grandview.  You’ll drive almost due east into Rockport, Indiana and then you’ll hit a dead end.  Make a left here.  Route 66 will continue in a northeasterly direction and once you find yourself making a sharp left curve you’ll want to get ready.  You’re entering Grandview here and you’ll see the park off to your right.  Take the second right and then another (almost immediate) right into the park.  The ramp is just ahead.