Hey Lower River Peeps

We're making a trip down to Martinez Lake from McIntyre Park (Blythe) and wanted to see if anyone else was interested in going.  I don’t know how much interest we will get with giving such short notice, but we will be making the trip on Saturday, September 19th.  With less water being released by the end of the summer, I felt the sooner we planned the trip the better.  The trip from McIntyre Park to Martinez Lake is estimated at about 65 miles.  Day use and launch ramp fees at McIntyre Park are $10. We will be leaving McIntyre Park between 9:00 to 9:15 AM.  For those that are interested the phone number is (760-922-8205) the address is (8750 E. 26th Ave, Blythe, CA 92225) and the website link is http://www.destinyrv.com/mcintyrervresort.htm. We made a trip similar to this about a month ago and we made it about 50 miles south of McIntyre Park before heading back to McIntyre Park.  For those that have never been down that way the scenery is completely beautiful.  There is a lot of interesting places to stop on the way down to Martinez too.

Between 10:00 to 10:30 AM the first stop will be at Walters Camp to meet up with some of the Lower River Peeps (BarryMac and Friends).  Waters Camp is estimated to be about 35 miles south of McIntyre Park.  On our last trip it took us about an hour to get to the gas dock from McIntyre Park which is about ¾ of a mile back in the Walters Camp channel.  The gas dock is open Thursday thru Monday and they only sell 91 octane.  The last time I was there they charged me $4.25 a gallon.  For those that are interested here is the phone number (760-854-3322) and address (2556 Walters Camp Rd, Palo Verde, CA 92266). 

The trip gets real interesting after Walters Camp with green vegetation back dropped by chocolate mountains.  This area is also full of sandbars so you will want to keep a look-out for them.  The sandbars are pretty easy to see if you are looking for them and you can usually maneuver around them.  This trip is probably more appropriate for a PWC, Jet Boat or a Pontoon Boat.  However, I did see a Master Craft direct drive floating down the river in this area.  On our last trip we took the Sea Doo and we didn’t have a problem, we just drove straight over the sandbars. 

About 15 to 20 miles south of Walters Camp is the Picacho State Recreation Area.  This area was an old gold mining town in the late 1800’s with about a 100 citizens.  The Picacho State Recreation Area has several boat-in-only camp grounds with bathrooms.  The following is a link to the parks map http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/641/files/PicachobrochureFINAL.pdf.  We will probably make our second stop at 4 S Beach, Carrizo or Paddlewheeler which are camp sites.  If we have time we might stop at Taylor Lake.  Our last stop is about 15 miles south of 4 S Beach and will be at Fishers Marina/Landing, I called today and they have a gas dock with a pretty good restaurant.  The following is the link to the Fisher’s Landing website http://fisherslandingresort.com/default.aspx.

Let me know what you guys think?

well I will bw launching out of walters sat morning some time so Ill be on the look out for you guys stop by the big sand bar below walters it will be PACKED this weekend.

It's times like this I miss my cruiser................

One will turn up, lol

Ray

whats your boat look like so I can keep an eye out??

I will be taking the Sea Doo on this trip.  The trip is about 130 miles which would probably equal 80 gallons of fuel for the Southwind or 24 gallons of fuel for the Sea Doo.  At an avarage of $4 a gallon that's $320 compared to $96. 

We're meeting up with some of the Martinez peeps at Waters Camp and then heading down to Fishers Landing if you want meet up for that part of the trip.

Here's a picture of my Southwind and the Sea Doo, like I said though this time we are taking the Sea Doo maybe down the road will make the trip with the Southwind and launch at Walters Camp.

Are you saying that the sandbar that you will be on is completely underwater and that you will have a beer waiting for me as I cruise over the sandbar dodging innocent bystanders?

You mean this one, by Draper Lake?

yep thats the one I was there sat and sunday it was packed met alot of really cool people.

ya we did but on my buddys camera Ill post thm as soon as he emails me.

Wow shows how much I was paying attension I thought you were doing that run this last weekend!    I was looking for you haha. But I will be back there the weekend of the 19th..

this was heading out saturday morning weather was a little nerve racking it was pouring when we woke up




 And this was coming back in on saturday the rain came back hard it took out my radio and soaked my dizzy and killed her


And this last one was sunday I drank alittle to much I love having a dd


I thought we got pics from the sandbar but I guess not

I just checked the water release for this weekend and the water will be extremely LOW this weekend.   Anything under about 10000 coming out of Parker Dam is LOW for the lower river.


http://www.coloradoriverinfo.com/waterflowreports/

No worries.  Been going to McIntyre Park since 1996.  We always use the pipe across the river as a guide.  If you can see the whole pipe than the water is too low.  We like it when the pipe is 1/2 way or less visible.  Good luck on your trip.   Remember when you read the waterflow report that the water released on Monday will be Tuesdays water and so on. 

Hey Rich
Thanks for the information.  Locals of the McIntyre Park area have expressed that the water is usually higher at McIntyre Park than that of Big River (just below Parker) in the morning.  On our last trip we made we left at about 10:00 AM and the water was up.  Using the website you provided I researched the water flow from the Parker Dam and it looks to be similar to the flow of our previous trip (9000 on August 10th and 9000 on September 19th).  Here’s a picture of what the water level looked like at McIntyre Park at about 10:00 AM on Monday August 10th.  I was told by a McIntyre Park local that if the water level is at the base of the telephone poles or higher the water level is considered up.  There's more pictures at my riverdavesplace thread  http://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22983&page=2

The pipe I am talking about is on the AZ side of the river.  When you come out of the cove/marina at McIntyre look straight across the river and you should see it.

Gotcha on the water flow..it will probably be lower than our last trip but were taking the Sea Doo so I don't think it will be a problem.  So where is this pipe across the river that you speak of?  I looked at the original picture that I took of the launch ramp and couldn't find anything that fit your discription.  Also is there any information on how Palo Verde Dam releases their water? 

when we left the river last time we drove into blythe for fuel in the trucks. as we got onto the 10 headed home we were behind a 70's blazer with a mcintyre mob sticker on the back window...