Madison, June 11, 2007) Paddle to Work Day is Thursday, June 14 when Dane County residents will paddle to their jobs.

June 13, 2007
Contact: Sue Jones, (608-224-3764, jones.susan@co.dane.wi.us)
Land & Water Resources

Historical Canoes for Modern Day Commuters This year’s event will include commuters in two 25-foot-long replicas of voyageur canoes used hundreds of years ago by fur traders. Today’s modern voyageurs will demonstrate how practical it can be to paddle to work on the more than 22,000 acres of surface waters in Dane County. The voyageur canoe replicas will be included in a flotilla leaving from Starkweather Creek at Olbrich Park on Lake Monona (3300 Atwood Avenue in Madison) at approximately 6:30 a.m., picking up fellow paddlers at Hudson Park, Yahara Place Park, Morrison Park, BB Clarke Beach, and arriving at Law Park boat launch near Monona Terrace Convention Center at approximately 7:30 a.m. UW Campus Paddlers People paddling from Lake Mendota to campus have several docking options. They may tie their boats to the plastic floating western-most dock at the UW Porter Boathouse (home of the UW Crew Team), or leave their boats on land, off to the side of the boathouse. Paddlers must avoid the other Crew Team dock and the concrete apron leading down to the water from the boathouse bay doors. Paddlers may also lock their boats to the tethering cable on Willow Beach in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve on campus, near Goodnight Hall. Explore the Preserve’s online interactive map at www.lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu or check www.map.wisc.edu to locate Willow Beach. Free access to the tether cable is good for Paddle to Work Day only. Contact Bob Wright at 263-5181 for seasonal boat storage rental information. Paddle to Work Schedules and Routes – Reserve a Boat Send your planned routes and schedules to lakes@co.dane.wi.us or call them in to 224-3764. This information will be shared with other paddlers to facilitate larger flotillas. After you’ve paddled, share your experiences via e-mail to the same address. You may also reserve a spot in a voyageur canoe, or request the loan of another boat by using the contact information listed above. Those who are unable to participate on June 14th should paddle to work any day between June 11 and 15. Paddlers should use their own good judgment regarding the weather, and not paddle in high winds or lightning. Boats may be left at Law, or any other City of Madison Park all day to accommodate paddlers wanting to paddle back home after work. Paddle to Work Day, now in its ninth year, is part of the 13th annual Take a Stake in the Lakes Week (formerly Yahara Lakes Week), and has been noted in Outside Magazine as one of the reasons Madison and Dane County are ideal locations for outdoor enthusiasts. Take a Stake in the Lakes Week (June 9-17), is a program of the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission, focuses public attention on the importance of protecting and improving the quality of our lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands through fun and educational activities for all ages. For more information on this and other Take a Stake in the Lakes Week activities, visit www.takeastakeinthelakes.com. ### [Dane County Home Page] [Land & Water Resources Department Home Page] [Parks Division's Press Releases] Date Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2007