Spring!

According to the calendar Spring has officially arrived.  As I look outside at the snow falling once again I have to wonder?  The River’s Edge is now open for the season!  Ev and I have renovated the whole store and are adding more canoe & kayaking gear for our paddling customers.    We have just received a new shipment of Emotion Kayaks and SUP boards(more on this to follow).  Stop by the shop to see whats new and exciting.  Once again The River’s Edge will be participating in the Alle-Kiski-Connie Rivers Sojourn.  Join us for a scenic river adventure; paddling through the beautiful Allegheny, Kiskiminetas and Conemaugh Valleys.  Share in the rich heritage of these unique waterways.  For more information check out the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce website.   The event is May 12-15,  or paddlers can opt for the day paddle on Saturday.  This is a great opportunity to join a great group of paddlers.  Hope to see you on the water!

Summer and the Lazy Blogger.

Well Summer is in full swing here at The River’s Edge and I’ve been neglecting my blogging duties. So far this year we have had great weather and even better water. The Kiski has been averaging about 3.5 feet deep at the Vandergrift gauge. This means great paddling and no dragging! Several small businesses have popped up along the river offering paddlers a choice of sandwiches to seafood! The Dairy Queen has also made a nice path from the river so customers can even stop for ice cream along the way! We have been spending more time on the water this year to better serve our paddling customers. We even took a full moon paddle with a group of friends last month to check out the river at night. Stay tuned for more updates or check us out on FACEBOOK.

Sojourn Success!

Thanks to everyone who helped make the F.L.A.G. Fall Sojourn a rousing success. We started the day early in the morning in Apollo, PA. The water was on the low side, but we still made good time to Leechburg. The three hour trip was enough to build some hearty appetites! Josh and Laura at the Addison House had a wonderful pasta buffet ready for when we arrived. The food is always great and the service superb! A short presentation by Laura Hawkins rounded out our one hour break. A big thanks to Bill for watching our boats and we were back in the water. The trip to Schenley was met with questions from power boats on the lower Kiski wondering who we were and where we we were going. A quick rest stop at the Kiski Campsites and we headed out into the Allegheny River. The contrast between the two rivers is amazing! The Allegheny felt like going into the ocean after paddling the Kiski for most of the day. When we finally heard the music playing at the Riverfront Park in Freeport, I think we all felt a sense of relief. Of course when they made the announcement to the crowd that we were pulling in, I noticed we picked up the pace for the last couple hundred yards. What a great day on the rivers and what a showcase for the region!

The River’s Edge & F.L.A.G. Fall Sojourn!

Come join us  on September 20th for a fantastic trip from Apollo to Freeport.  The River’s Edge Canoe & Kayak will be offering only this trip on that day because we will be paddling with you!  The Freeport, Leechburg, Apollo Group (F.L.A.G.) , The Strongland Chamber of Commerce along with The River’s Edge is sponsoring the event.  We will start in Apollo and stop for a wonderful lunch buffet at the Addison House in Leechburg.  From there we will continue on to Freeport’s Riverside Park for the conclusion of the September by the River Festival!  This is shaping up to be the event of the Fall!  What a great way to spend the day paddling down the beautiful Kiskiminetas River!  For details call: (724) 845-5426 or (724) 224-3400.  Hope to see you on the water!

Family Fun!

Last night I got to go out on the river from Avonmore to Roaring Run.  While the trip only lasted 3 hours it was most fun I’ve had in a long time.  Evelyn, myself, my nephew, his girlfriend, and my Dad (who is in his seventies) made the trip.  Along the way we found my favorite rope swing and stopped to try it out and swim.  The water was perfect!  We ate, drank and polished off a bunch of snacks.  After we pulled out, we spotted our second Great Blue Heron of the day.  We were able to quietly paddle to within 20 yards before it took flight.  The highlight of the trip was yet to come.  As we passed the point where Roaring Run enters the Kiski we spotted a Bald Eagle!  It was resting in a dead snag and took off directly over top of us.  What a way to end the trip!  Life is better on the river.

Trout Season!

Trout season is finally here! The guys and girls have been stopping in the bait shop all week to get ready. The favorite spots are Buffalo Creek, Cowanshannok, Cherry Run, and Mahoning. Of course my fellow members will be hitting it hard at the Parks Township Sportsmen’s Association. Rumor has it they put some very nice trout in the lake this year! The weather is perfect and the fish should be biting. Hope to see you on the water!